Looks like I need to hit the Mid-West!

I have visited 30 states (60%) and forgot to check Wyoming. Oops! I looked into flying my family to Illinois to see Nauvoo and Carthage, last week. And then, I looked at hopping to Philly to visit my brother and his wife (they're moving there next month for Medical School.) Fun dreams, since it takes about $500 bucks each person! I wonder if I'll ever get to these other states? I do want to see Nauvoo, but really don't care about the other states.
Create your own visited map of The United States

Table Rock in the Rain

I've gone on MANY Field Trips up Table Rock, but this was MY first time in the RAIN! It was really fun to be with Katrina.

We hiked with Katrina's 2nd grade class and a 4th grade class that does a "reading buddy" program with Katrina's class. It was sweet to see the 4th grade girls paired up with the younger girls and be their friends.

Chocolate/Cheese Field Trip

Rachel (green shirt) and her 3rd grade class went on a field trip to Our Local Chocolate Factory. I, of course, was the first parent volunteer to sign up. It would be un-American to miss out on Free Samples.

The kids were fascinated watching the man put the soft caramel center into chocolates. I was able to sneak away to the sample table more than once, during this interesting demonstration.

The best product I sampled was these mouthwatering, spicy/pricey treats. I bought some for Damian (they're really for me). Just like those hamburgers he always buys when we go out.

After the Chocolate Factory, we went next door to Our Local Cheese Factory. Apparently, this is the only Raw Milk Cheese Co. in the US that is allowed to export cheese to Europe! I found it very cool that there are two award winning little factories in my little town. Next time you come visit, I'll take you to both. It'll take 10 minutes!

Rachel enjoyed taste testing her favorite food, and I liked the Lavender Cheddar variety. I also tried Curds for the first time . . . delicious!

One of the best parts of being a stay-at-home mom is the Field Trips!! Thanks Rach, for asking me along!

I snuck into Katrina's class to see her in action. It was free time and she was "playing school" with her BFF. I love her cute letters written on her wipe board!

Ben hadn't wanted me to leave him at Preschool today, for Rachel's field trip. I promised to come back early and help in his classroom. When I arrived (just in time for snacks!!) Ben ran to the board to show off learning to write his FIRST LETTER!! He now writes the letter "B" on everything. I have to keep pencils/markers put away, or I find his "Tags" all over the walls!

Ben's favorite book is Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. After I called him "Pigeon" for awhile, he decided I didn't EVER need to come early to his Preschool, again. Here is an important parenting technique you may want to pick up from me.

Ready for the Big Secret, by Sarah Idiart?

"Annoy your Kids into Independence"

Nix the Post Office Field Trip!

I think the USPS is really going to be obsolete soon. Here are my reasons:

1. Stamps cost more than gas. I can drive local birthday/shower/christmas cards around cheaper than I can send them! I really thought I'd always send letters. One of my hobbies was keeping up with my pen pals all over the US and World, as a kid. Of course, stamps cost .20 then. I can't even send a postcard for that amount now!

2. You can email quicker than sending a letter. I get so many evites, ecards, email messages! When I think of the amount of mail I sent to missionaries overseas, during college, I'm amazed! The letters would arrive a few weeks after I sent them, the Elder would write back . . . the whole process took a month! The anticipation was so fun. Now I check my email inbox 3-4x a day, and forget to check my mailbox . . . I email my missionary brother and he reads my letters and writes me back instantaneously, once a week. Of course, it's not handwritten. I DO miss that. But it's FAST! All our bills are paid online, I check to see if I have overdue library books online, I check for sales at the mall/grocery store online. I think all that arrives in the mail is JUNK MAIL and birthday cards from people over age 50. And Wedding/Graduation announcements in May.

3. The Post Office Field Trip stinks. I went on one as a kid and got to go in the back and put my letters through a machine that postmarked them. Then we delivered our mail right into our own PO Boxes! All these kids got yesterday for a one mile walk was a 5 minute lecture about the processing plan that their letters will go through. And the man used big words that no one understood. Not even me. You can tell the girls are REALLY interested:

After the lecture, the kids walked to the park to play before returning to school. That part was fun. And Katrina and her best friend looked cute in their "shades." I vote for a trip to the Fire Station when Ben in in Kindergarten! Even if the lecture is boring, the fire trucks are cool and the firemen much nicer to look at than postal workers!

Back at school, Katrina had a minute to play a board game she made. What a cute idea. Her teacher is so great! We have been very blessed with wonderful teachers for our great kids this year!

1st/2nd Graders to McDonalds!

Rachel (black sweatshirt) has had a wonderful year. She was blessed to have Mrs. Lunte for a second year (1st/2nd blend) and to be in the same class with her cousin. She was in class with her best church friend (pink sweater) for the third year, and met a new BFF (in the white sweatshirt). She LOVES school and I'm grateful to her teacher and friends.

Yesterday, we walked 1.5 miles to McDonald's and picked up burgers and fries for everyone. Mrs. Lunte is the sweet blonde at the front of the line. Rachel is hiding behind the Grandma in the back. (Her new BFF, brought BOTH her Grandmas!)

We walked to the park to eat lunch and then the kids played on the playground equipment for a few hours. I sat and visited with the other chaperones. There were two Grandmas and one Great-Grandma along with me. We were commenting on how much energy the kids had and laughed, saying, "Energy is wasted on youth."

Then I realized one Granny had 50 years on me. So I got up and Mrs. Lunte and I chased all the kids and played freeze tag with them for about 30 minutes. And then I remembered, "I'm out of shape!" And so I rested up for our 1.5 mile walk back to school.

And then I thought . . . kids can keep their energy, and their freakishly ugly teeth, too!

Katrina's Field Trip

Katrina and her best friend booked it to the Library, Ben and I could hardly keep up!

Once there, Ben found the ScoobyDoo Comics and "read" them.

The librarian introduced the Summer Reading Program (Bug Theme). Katrina wouldn't make eye contact, I think the giant bug freaked her out!

The girls talked about that "freaky big bug", while I dreamed about being the story time lady. I really love costumes!

Follow the leader, back to the school! Next week, we have a trip to the post office!

Table Rock Hike, Take Two

Josh adores his 3rd grade teacher . . . and I just requested her for Rachel, next year. She is spunky, fun and very petite. Can you tell who she is, in this picture? She looks like one of the kids. Josh is the kid whose mother dresses him in BYU attire from head to toe.

Today's hike to Table Rock was much hotter than my visit, last month. The top of the Plateau was covered in wild flowers and I TRIED capturing the gorgeous views. You'll just have to climb it, in the spring, to see what I mean!

Another view I kept seeing, even though I TRIED to avoid it, was obnoxious 3rd grade boys. Josh's two best friends are the two on his left, in the orange and lt. blue shirts! It's been fun having them all in the same class this year, I hope they have the same teacher next year!

There is a flower that only grows on the top of the Table Rocks and no where else in the world. It wasn't in bloom, so Josh took a picture of the "Blue-Eyed Mary" flowers, instead . . . in honor of his cute blue-eyed cousin, Mary . . .

Damian is healing from his accident, and Josh didn't fall off the cliff today. I am a grateful woman!

Table Rock BIKINI

OK, Remember that photo of the Table Rock Mountain, taken from my backyard? Today I climbed it, with Rachel's 2nd grade class . . . it's only a 5 mile round trip hike, but my body feels like I hiked 10!

Yeah right, if I hiked 10, I'd be dead.

It was great, I learned a ton (we had a BLM tour guide along). Even though it snowed lightly, misted a little and Rachel forgot a jacket, so she used mine A LOT and I had none, it was fine. I'm from Alaska, remember? I really wish I would have listened to the teacher and dressed in layers, though. I'll remember next month when I hike it again with Josh's 3rd grade class. Of course, with the crazy weather we've been having, it will probably be 100 degrees for his hike! Maybe I'll make my bottom layer a bikini.

NOTE TO SELF: Buy a bikini by May 1st for Hike. Can use on my cruise to clear ships deck of innocent bystanders . . .

I enjoyed hanging with my Best Pal, Julie (in the first photo). The second is of her daughter, Rachel's cousin and Rach. . .all best friends in the same class at school.