Day 3

Today we took our time getting going. Our plans were to visit a couple of lesser known spots. We fueled the car up, got a coffee from Starbucks and we were off. We drove north out of Moab. Stopping just outside the entrance to Arches. There is a huge sand dune there the kids played in. It happens to be right on a fault and a good place for hunting rocks, so we did that as well. We found a lot of cool rocks and one little fossil. Then we continued north to a little dirt road. Down that road we were able to view dinosaur fossils sticking out of the side of the hill. They were left there for people to view them in their natural setting. It was so cool! Then we drove a bit farther north and up another dirt road. Here we hiked up a million year old, dried up, river bed. After looking and looking we finally found million year old dinosaur foot prints. They were captured in the mud and are still there for us to see. After that we ate lunch by the Colorado River and then took the most amazing hike up Negro Canyon. It was about 4.5 miles and amazing. We had the best hike. Utah keeps surprising me every day.

Today I am thankful for Ryan's love of dinosaurs. His love lead us to some amazing things today!

Days 1 and 2

I have been so busy I forgot to tell you all about yesterday. So tonight I will fill you in on the adventures of the last two days.

Yesterday we visited Arches National Park. We hiked and drove until we were exahasted. This little corner of the world is simply amazing. We saw arches galore. Played in the sand between fins. Hiked in huge canyons. And much, much more.

Today we took a drive south of Moab. We knew we wanted to go towards Blanding, Utah but had no plans from there. We ended up driving some 300 miles, and for lack of better words, were simply amazed. We saw three different sets of ruins, from three different Native American tribes. We saw more arches. We visited Natural Bridges Monument. We hiked and drove. The best was when we dropped off a 1100 foot Mesa. They carved the road into the side of the Mesa. It was so steep, but the view was incredible. When we made it to the bottom and looked back we couldn't even see the road. So crazy steep and so amazingly gorgeous.

Today I am thankful for my new video camera. I can't wait to share the drive down the Mesa.

Utah

We left Boise at 9:00am and landed in Moab, Utah about 8:00pm tonight. It was one of those drives that took all day, but there is so much to look at it didn't feel as long. The boys did great. They each had an IPad loaded with movies and games. At one point, using the cell phone as a hot spot, they had Internet and were surfing the net. What I wouldn't have done to travel like that when I was a kid.

We have seen some beautiful country already. Arches and Canyonlands National Parks are less then five miles up the road. Depending on the weather we will spend time hiking in both of these places and visiting and biking in many more. Hopefully I will figure out how to get pictures on here. The IPad doesn't like to cooperate with the downloading process.


Tonight I am thankful for safe travels. We saw three wrecks on our way here, so glad we made it.

Boise

We got into Boise, late, last night. It is our first stop on our spring break adventure. Today we toured the Capial Building and the Boise Zoo. I enjoyed the seeing the Capital a lot more then the animals all caged up. I think the boys were more impressed by the zoo. Now we are relaxing, at my brothers place, waiting to go to dinner.

My husband got a Spot for Christmas. Below is a link that tracks us using the Spot. If you are curious check it out. Tomorrow will be cool because we will drive over 500 miles.

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0mOBbhqbiNCWbeHAItOBSC6oZyxPGPjxH

Today I am thankful for my IPad. Without it I would be falling way behind in this class.

We have been working on getting ready for our trip all day.  I decided that I would sit down and work on a little homework while my husband watches WSU play a little basketball.  I stopped for a moment and looked around...both of my boys are curled up on my bed reading, while my husband enjoys his game. Our dogs are even tucked into "their" spots on the floor, ready to call it a night. What a lucky person I am to have such a good spirits surrounding me.  It makes me take a deep breath, it reminds me that I don't need to stress about getting ready to go.  We will be ready and what we forget we can buy if we need to:)




Today I am thankful for my new camera.  I got a waterproof Kodak video camera.  I can't wait to try it out:)

2 days...

For many, spring break has already come and gone.  For the elementary students here is the valley, spring break is just about to start.  And I can't wait.  
We are pulling the kids out a day early and off to Utah we will go.  Our plan is to spend a day with my little brother in Boise and then drive to Moab, Utah.  While in Utah we are going to go hiking, exploring and mountain bike riding.  I am sure there will be plenty of other adventures too.  
I have my homework done for the next two weeks, laundry is almost done (so we can pack), the house is somewhat clean (I hate coming home to a mess) and the list of necessities is made.  We will now spend the next two days shopping for groceries (we eat picnic lunches out the of a cooler), packing clothes and filling the car.  
I can't wait to see where this next week takes us. We have no plans, just a hotel room.  So we know where home base will be, but no idea what we will do each day.  It should be a blast.


Today I am thankful for my syllabus.  Without it I wouldn't have been able to get my work done in advance so I could enjoy my time with my kids.

this one is from Dylan:)

Ryan is going to a friends house tomorrow and spending the night.  That means me, mom and dad get to have a night without Ryan.  So we can sit in bed and watch TV together.  This makes me feel good because Ryan isn't here to bug me and so I can spend time with mom and dad.  I might talk them into going to the store and getting candy and a movie.  Then we can go home and curl up together and watch the movie while eating candy.  

Today I am thankful for spending time with mom and dad.

Dylan was bored so I told him to write my blog for me.  Obviously he is excited about spending time with just me and his dad.  He gets to do this a lot, but he thinks it is special every time.  I am sure he will curl up between us to sleep as well.   He even remembered to write what he was thankful for.

Today I am thankful for teaching my little boy the importance of being grateful for the small things in life.   

Subbing

Subbing is a hit or miss game that I play.  Some days I work, some days I don't.  Some days I have an amazing group of kids, some days I don't.  You just never know.  I don't want to jinx myself, but this week is going well.  I have work every day, I know I have work in advance and the kids have been amazing.  Yesterdays class was so good I walked away wanting to come back and I get to tomorrow.  Yeah!!  Today's group was almost as good.

I have been subbing for a long time.  I know what I am doing, so my days usually go pretty well.  Every now and then I get a class that makes my mind crazy.  These are the days that I dread.  Knowing that my week is off to such a good start makes me enjoy what I am doing that much more.

Today I am thankful for consistency with work.  Something I don't get a lot of.

Welcome Spring

So it hit me tonight...spring is here.  I know not officially, but in my household it has started.  I realized this when we sat down to dinner at a quarter after eight.  For many this may be a bit late.  For us, in the spring and summer, this is the time we eat.  You see, spring sports take over our lives this time of year.  My youngest is playing in two soccer leagues, so we have soccer 4 days a week.  My oldest has baseball tryouts this weekend and then we will have baseball at least 4 days a week.  We have already been practicing between illnesses.  My youngest is still undecided about baseball this year, but if he plays, then we will be even busier.  YEAH!!!!  So dinner is going to be late, the house is going to be a mess, but we get to watch the boys play ball.  I love it:)  I will post pictures so you all can experience the joy of spring along with me.

Today I am thankful for late night dinners.  It just works for us:)

Voting

As I have stated before, I am a firm believer in the power of the vote.  I did my civic duty today and voted in a bond election.  For the second time and as many months our citizens are to chose if they want to raise their property taxes to build a new high school.  
You may ask why I bring this up.  Well, it goes beyond the high school today.  Today the Idaho House  voted 48-22 to approve the first of two public school reform bills.  As I have stated before I am against these two bills, for multiple reasons we will not get into now.  What is really bothering me is the inability of our elected officials to stop and think.  As citizens we chose who we want in office.  Sometimes our votes pay off and sometimes we have to settle for the other guy.  Regardless of who is put into office they were elected by the people and they are to serve the people.  So why, when the majority says put the brakes on, did these two bills pass?  Why do those, who have chosen to work for the public, not make decisions for the public?  If you follow Lunas Bills you will see that they are dirty.  That his investors are all to profit from the bills he created and unfortunately the schools, teachers and students lose.
So here I sit...wondering if the high school will be built.  I know what my gut tells me.  I can look at the recent voting records of my fellow Idahoans and see the put money before kids.  I also wonder what happens if the high school is built, but because of Lunas bills, we no longer have teachers willing to work there.  




Today I am thankful for my parents.  My husband and I are down with some nasty bug.  They stopped by, didn't enter mind you, with cough drops and cough medicine. 

To Health

“To insure good health: eat lightly, breathe deeply, live moderately, cultivate cheerfulness, and maintain an interest in life.”

 William Londen quotes

This quote made me think of all my blogger friends.  You all are choosing to attack life.  Trying new things, going on new adventures and surrounding yourselves with people that make your life more meaningful.   I know that we have all been sick and can not wait until spring, but for now keep plugging along.  Summer will be here before we know it:)

Today I am thankful for new friends. 

Where is spring???

Just when I think life is getting back to normal I am knock back again.  Dylan was home sick for two days.  Running a fever with a wonderful cold.  Now I have an upper respiratory thing going on.  We have never had a winter where we have been so sick.   I JUST WANT SPRING TO ARRIVE.  Maybe with spring will come health and routine back to our lives.  I made it to the gym one day last week.  One.  That's ridiculous.  Now I couldn't cardio if I wanted to.  Two weeks.  That is how long we have to get it together in this house.  Then the kids are on spring break and we are off to Utah.  So here is to positive thinking.  We will be healthy and the weather will be wonderful very very soon.


Today I am thankful for something so simple.  I am thankful for hot tea.  It feels so good on my sore throat and tastes yummy too.

Not again...

I was making an attempt at getting my homework done when in comes my eight year old. He insists on sitting on my lap, not unusual, and complains of a headache. I mentioned that going to bed early might help and he didn't resist. Bad sign. So we curled up together in bed while he tried to sleep. Next thing I know he is running a fever. My oldest said they had six absent from his class today and lots of kids had headaches yesterday. Could the sickness really be starting again? As I lay here watching my boy sleep I find myself hopeful this is a fluke. That he will wake up tomorrow his happy self.

Tonight I am thankful for fever reducer. They take the worry away when your baby is sick.