Kids are back in school!

Only...one of them is schooling at home and the other is back at school.

Colter is a Freshman at Teton High School. For the next thirty days, that is. Then he joins Annika, who is a 6th grader at the Idaho Virtual Academy. It's a virtual school, virtually in our living room.

Annika and I started yesterday but the preparation for this started the week before. Today is where the rubber hits the road because all the easy orientation and tutorials happened yesterday so we'll see how well we both do with the real stuff.

I say, we, because I'm learning side-by-side with them. I'm going back to school too. I never thought I'd be doing this. Then again, I never thought we would be living in Idaho either. So as their "learning coach" my role is supposed to be there to help them through their classes. At the information seminar, we were told that the learning coach is not so much the teacher to the kids as much as they are a mentor.

Well, if it walks and talks like a duck, it probably is.

But I kept that to myself. I decided to reserve judgement until the day I potentially find myself creating a crater-size hole on the wall with my head or sucking my thumb in a corner with drool dripping down the side of my mouth.

I know what you're thinking.

Who's hare-brained idea was this? While I've been known to think up some seriously stupid stuff in my life, I can honestly say that it wasn't me.

It was Jud's fault. He put this crazy thought into motion and I just kept the ball rolling. In the end, Annika, who initially said no, actually was more than eager to go to IDVA. Colter took a little longer. Actually, the jury is still out on that but we think that this could be a good move for both. We asked the kids why online schooling was appealing to them (notice, I didn't say homeschooling because I am still in denial) Anni wants to go to college sooner and Colter wants...well...food.

Those who can laugh without cause have either found the true meaning of happiness or have gone stark raving mad. ~Norm Papernick

So, yeah, we're happy for them.

My eleventh hour decision to go to the KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show) held in Las Vegas this year turned out to be a well-deserved break for me. Jud asked if it was worth the expense because these trips tend to burn a hole in one's pockets.

Despite my reservations as I prepared to leave and the major flight delay that brought me into Vegas at 2 in the morning, I think it actually came to be a rather productive trip.

Awesome weather! Blue Skies! NO SNOW!!

Ahhh, the weather...how's that for a good start. It was unusually cool for Vegas. It was in the 70's. I did not mind it one bit! I had a chance to catch up with old friends and my cousin who was generous enough to wait patiently for my flight to finally show up and drop me off at my resort. We even had a bit of fun by going to the History Channel's Pawn Stars store. I had hoped to see Chumlee but no such luck that day but I did come away with cool t-shirts, a little bling for myself and pictures (thanks to Resty) to remember the day!

Fun time with Mitzie and Resty at the site of Vegas Pawn Stars

Oh yeah...and I also did actually learn a few things along the way. I picked up a couple of new hardware lines for the business, took some classes for the CEU requirements I need to maintain my design certification, and had a to-the-point conversation with the Whirlpool rep about what I thought of their dishdrawers...they suck, DON'T EVER INSTALL ONE!

The best pedicure I've ever had still going strong one week later.

And since this is Vegas, I had a great time checking out the sights, even went to a buffet (I don't recommend it), played the penny slots, had drinks and sushi with the girls at the Encore, and splurged on a spa visit for an awesome massage and pedicure. And just when I thought I had experienced all I could from this town, a shuttle driver who took me back to the airport helped me re-center and gave me a parting lesson. I was running behind and he was kind enough to wait patiently for me (there seems to be a pattern here). I was so flustered and felt so bad because he could have gotten into trouble since they're shuttle drivers, not chauffeurs. Instead, he told me not to sweat the small stuff, because in the end, it's all SMALL stuff.

It is a lazy Sunday and on the first day of May, it was a regrettable 35º F mid-day. We're just hanging out and watching the tube–the Travel Channel is our favorite go-to station. With any luck, we'll have learned something productive and useful should the country go to hell and a handbasket As the family chronicler, I have been a slacker at keeping up. On the other hand, this winter has blessedly gone fast.

Jud, of course, has been fishing. And fishing. And fishing. Winter has not stopped the obsession. On just about every weekend, he's been out and about looking for that primo ice hole up in the park.


And for the most part, it had been rewarding. We've had a great season for healthy trout dinners. But it looks like winter has got it's hold on us and we are all pretty tired of it. Take this photo that Jud took at the top of Fred's Mountain LAST WEEK!


They had to dig their equipment building out of some pretty deep snow, a few feet of which is recent. I was in Las Vegas for a trade show basking in some incredible sun and 70º plus weather while they were dealing with this stuff!

But we did have some snippets of fun along the way! Spring break found us making our way to Salt Lake for a few days. We decided to hit a few Travel Channel restaurants featured in our favorite shows. That included the Blue Plate, Crown Burgers, and Kobe Restaurant where Man vs. Food featured its very interesting Hellfire Challenge. We didn't partake but we saw a few people try it while we were there.

Our own verdict? The Blue Plate in Sugarhouse was awesome combining great food with great local-dive atmosphere. Plus, if EVER we decide to go back to Utah, I have a fondness for that neighborhood that keeps growing every time we go there. Crown Burgers was so-so. So same. So lame. I can't say that there's anything there that is worth repeating and there's we didn't care for the one-free soft-drink refill. Now, Kobe is a luxury to try and try again. Providing you can afford the tab because when you belly up to the bar for the sushi, you'd better be keeping track of what you're ordering because it can add up if you're not paying attention. Luckily, we picked up a Restaurant.com certificate to help with the bill because it would have cost us a fair amount for our order.

Where to next? Well, Jud and I plan to head back to Las Vegas for a long weekend to celebrate our anniversary in June. We could go to one of our condos but Jud has decided to try for a little luxury on the Strip. Should we try the Trump Towers? Planet Hollywood? Bellagio? The new City Center hotels like the Aria or Vdara?

We still have no concrete plans for the Summer break but we've got our sights on a few options. But we'll keep those under wraps until we know for sure. Whatever our choice, it will be a great time for the whole family whether it's a repeat of old places we've been to or new places we haven't.

I was reminded recently not to sweat the small stuff because in the end, it's ALL small stuff. That said, it is good to simply enjoy the process....

Anni is back in school. I am back on ME mode for whatever that's worth. I haven't quite gotten my head wrapped around the fact that Thanksgiving is just around the corner and Christmas not far behind.

Where did the months go?

Sorry, no pictures. I've taken plenty...believe me...just not for this particular blog. Colter will end the first half of the school year in a better position than where he was this time last year. There's always room for improvement. Anni is back in school. Why I don't have a picture of that is beyond me. Maybe tomorrow. I'm going to be towing the munchkins around for their pediatrician appointments in Jackson.

Please...please...let the roads be good. My snow tires have not arrived yet and I've already had a little slip n' slide last Saturday.

So which came first?



The Turkey?

Cute guy, isn't he? Stripped down to the skinny and he's even better. Ron said deep fried Butterball...oh boy! Should be good!

A seafood feast though is incomparable. Too bad my mom has decided to hang up the apron for this Thanksgiving and celebrate in Vegas instead. Maybe Christmas?

A nice FB chat with Tanner today (or was it yesterday?). What a great kid! However, twice now, I've been given the memo about making myself present for the family gathering.






 Or the Tree?

Jud's having issues with his shoulder. I hope we can cut down our Christmas tree on Thanksgiving weekend. Hate to break tradition and I don't feel like dealing with a fake tree. There's just nothing like the smell of fresh fir!

Yes, I've become anti-social over the years.  I've also increasingly become less tolerant of...well, can't get into that. My therapist will tell you that it's a protective mechanism. I prefer my little blue pills.

Hey, at least I'm honest.





Not to worry, I'll have a better attitude by tomorrow morning. If not, then I'll just have to keep my game face on until I work out my anxieties at the club.

Seriously though, the turkey or the tree?

For the record, it's a balmy, BEAUTIFUL, 60-degree day. September gave way to October and October into November. This weather is an anomaly but what a wonderful fall season we're having!

We took the kids to Jackson for the annual Town Square Trick or Treat. This is the way Halloween should be with hoards of people in costume. It was pretty busy downtown!


Anni scored with the candy and even got this very interesting eyewear from one of the stores to complete her outfit. Is that the gleeful wicked witch?


Colter dressed as .... himself! Okay, he bowed out this year and just stayed in the truck with his dad waiting for us. Pity because he could have scored on the goodies the way Anni did.


I dressed up, of course. I wore a kimono.  I certainly looked the part. Hey,why not. Japan is only a stone's throw away from the Philippines. It could happen.


Already, we're seeing the stores gearing up for the Christmas holidays and the Halloween stuff aren't even put away yet. I have a serious beef over the commercialism of our favorite events. I find that I no longer look forward to Christmas the way I used to. It's supposed to be the BIG event you couldn't wait to see again every year but it loses it's charm and meaning when it's screaming at met everywhere I go when it's only October. But that's a gripe for another day.




In the meantime, we're ENJOYING this weather. Jud when to Henry's lake yesterday for a little fishing and texted me these pictures from his Blackberry. Wish I had been there. The again, I don't have his can-do attitude for waking up at the butt-crack of dawn to go fishing.




 







Of course, the drawback is that I missed the view. I like this one the best with the water churning behind the boat leaving a wake. It's pretty cool! Pretty good shot for a camera phone.
 


 Oh, but now this is a good one too. I was heading over the pass on Thursday. You could almost dive into it and go for a swim. Very Shangri-La!