This Is The Place: Red, White, and Blue

This Fourth of July I spent my day aboard the Jupiter giving tours of This Is The Place Heritage Park.  Can you think of a more perfect way to spend your holiday than remembering the past and talking all about the amazing people who helped make our country the great place it is today?  

Truthfully, being on the train for 8 hours can be a hot and tiring way to spend your day so I always try to come up with different ways to stay entertained.  I decided to have a little photo scavenger hunt and search for red, white, and blue around the park.  The park was recently given a patriotic over-haul in preparation for the Fourth, as well as Pioneer Day, so the colors were found in abundance!

I am pretty much obsessed with the buntings they hung from the buildings and homes. Kind of wish they could stay up all year...

Did you know the red, white, and blue stripes on the barber pole are meant to represent blood, bandages, and veins? Back in the day, barbers didn't just cut hair and shave beards. They also pulled teeth and performed bloodletting.  

Just one of the many, many things you'll learn up at This Is The Place!

I love wearing red, white, and blue on the Fourth of July so it worked out perfectly that my train conducting outfit just happened to be those exact colors.

Fellow train conductors Rachel and Geordan!

The train conductors weren't the only ones looking patriotic...

Kris and Diamond Jim.

There are always so many wonderful people who come up to the park.

The cute little boy above, Kaden, made sure to get on my train every time!

He was so awesome at shouting "Full steam ahead!" to get the train moving.

Getting to know Kaden and his family absolutely made my day!

The people I meet and work with definitely make this job!

FantasyCon

This past week FantasyCon took Salt Lake City by storm.

And I got to experience it all firsthand. 

In October, This Is The Place will be holding an extravagant Witches Ball. 

Members of the Vignette teamed worked a vendor booth at the convention to promote this upcoming event at TITP.

I was excited to wear a ballgown and pretend I had long hair again. (The wig was almost a perfect match to my real hair color.)

I also was looking forward to the people watching and as predicted,

there was never a dull moment.

I saw some of the most amazing costumes and met some of the most interesting people ever.

I ran into lots of friends...

and made some new ones.

Although, I can't saw I am the type of person who would buy a ticket to something like this (despite what you may think due to my theatrical background and the fact I dress up like a princess every weekend),

I really enjoyed my day at FantasyCon.

It was fun to see people go all out with their costumes and then find the confidence to actually wear them in public.

I was inspired by all the different artisans and vendors.  They are so passionate about what they do and many of them make a living selling their super unique products/services/art. That is a dream of mine- to make something artsy to sell at markets and events. 

I just need to find the right first...

Salt Lake is a fun city, alright. Always something unique and exciting going on!

The Julie Andrews Hat

This summer I am taking a bit of a break from teaching. Instead, I can be found traipsing around This Is The Place Heritage Park in a sunny yellow dress and a large straw hat. 

Whenever I wear this hat, I get the urge to twirl down a hill singing, "The hills are alive with the sound of music!" 

Guests visiting the park have referred to me as the Julie Andrews lookalike and I am completely flattered because she is one of my idols. 

Now I just need to get that husband of mine to watch "The Sound of Music" so he can appreciate the resemblance, too. How has he not seen this movie before?! 

You can guess what we'll be doing for date night in the near future. :)

I will keep posting photos and sharing my summer adventures from the park

but I know you'll love experiencing it in person, too.

So come and visit me sometime at This Is The Place!

A Year of Dates: June

I think Patrick and I are just kids at heart because our favorite dates are usually places or activities geared for people under the age of twelve; Utah Children's Theatre, Disney movies, 

building forts, the zoo- you get the idea.

For June's "Year of Dates" date, we walked and picnicked among life-size dinosaurs at the 

Ogden George Eccles Dinosaur Park.

Although this fun park was designed with a younger audience in mind, we of course had a blast!

As we approached the entrance, both Patrick and I exclaimed "Jurassic Park!"

The Dinosaur Park is tucked away on the outskirts of Ogden and between all the trees and ginormous dinosaurs scattered about, you definitely feel like you are in a scene from the movie.

(However, unlike when we watch the movie, I held Patrick's hand while at the park because I wanted to, not because I was scared.)

Last month we visited the Natural History Museum of Utah and were blown away by their collection of fossils.  The Dinosaur Park has a smaller collection of fossils, which were nicely displayed in their main building, but it really is the outdoor exhibit that makes this place worth visiting.

The Dinosaur Park won points with us for having plenty of shade and several picnicking areas.

(I always like the option of being able to bring your own food.)

And for moms with kiddos in tote, 

the trails are mostly all paved and stroller-friendly.

We are already halfway through our "Year of Dates."

It's true, time flies when you're having fun!

Dad, Papa, Garbanzo, Daddy-o, Garrrrrr

We had such a nice Sunday in Erda celebrating this man...

Even though it was Father's Day, Dad baked his own dessert for the celebratory dinner because he wanted pie and he is the master pie-maker in the family.

After dinner, he was showered with love and homemade cards.

(The card Jay, Aubrey, & co. made was so sweet! See above.)

I was so happy that Jay and Aubrey were able to come out to Erda, because I love holding Miss Esther and playing with Grant.

Grant kept busy playing with the racetracks us kids had growing up.

At one point all the adults were busy visiting and no one was left to watch Grant's car racing so he turned to  Ziggy and said, "Watch this, cat!" Then, he kept looking over at Ziggy and grinning after each car made it to the end of the track.

So cute and funny, that boy!

 Racing toy cars is serious business!

 Here's some of the family keeping entertained by reading the reviews for the Hutzler 571 Banana Slicer. 

I think Jay was crying at one point from laughing so hard.

A must read next time you're bored!

 It is rare for the family to get together and not play a game or two of Catchphrase. It is our absolute favorite.

Anyway, in case it wasn't obvious by Garrett's victory dance captured in the above photo, his team won.

A visit to my parent's isn't complete without swinging in my favorite chair.

(Patrick was trying to get a photo of the grouchy face I was wearing after losing in Catchphrase, but when sitting in this chair you can't stay mad for long.)

Happy Father's Day, Daddy-o! We love you!

End of the School Year Summary

I wanted to write a detailed post about my experience this past school year as a "travelling teacher." (That's the best title I could come up with when people would inquire what I do for work.) However, from the moment my last class of the school year ended, I have been in summer break mode and haven't wanted to look back.  I am now forcing myself to write a short summary of where and what I taught during the 2013-14 school year because I do want to have some sort of record...

Dancing Moose Montessori School

Zumba Kids Jr, Yoga, Drama, Kindermsusik

Song of the Heart Studios

Kindermusik

Utah Children's Theatre

Musical Theatre (as well as choreographing "Into the Woods Jr." and "Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse")

Stretch-n-Grow

Dance Fusion

In addition...

I continued my princessing with Pirate and Princess Parties,

taught Zumba classes,

and

had an wonderful time volunteering at Turn City for the Arts.

I learned so much this past year and had many memorable moments.

I love so many different things and felt so grateful for the opportunities to share my interests and passions with others.

However, I spent more time than I would have hoped lesson planning and driving so I have committed to trying to avoid ever taking on this many classes at one time again.

I have scaled my teaching schedule back for the upcoming school year and I am striving for quality over quantity. That's one of the reasons I had to make myself write this little post- so that I'd have that goal in writing!

Yoga with "Miss Mandi"

So many lovely thank you notes from my cute students!
One of the things I love about being a teacher. :)

Natural History Museum of Utah

Dear Husband,

Thank you for waking up early on a Saturday morning to go to the museum with me. I had fun seeing your excitement over all the dinosaur fossils. It was easy for me to imagine the little Patrick that dreamed of being a paleontologist when he grew up.

I love you! Can't wait for our next outing!

xoxo MM