Pumpkin Carving

Claire has been after me for weeks to carve pumpkins. Not wanting to do it a month before Halloween, we finally picked out our pumpkins on Saturday (the 20th). We bought tools and transfer patterns this year which worked out wonderfully! (I highly recommend it-the tools make it so easy!) Anyway, she wanted this difficult-looking owl....So we bought two pumpkins, one for me to try out my new skills with an easy-rated bat, and another to carve the owl out of of if the bat went well.


As you can see, they actually look like what they were supposed to be! I have to say, I am very impressed with my new carving skills. I typically can't carve a toothless grin on a pumpkin, let alone a owl! Now you can see why I recommend the kit. It really makes it easy, but time-consuming. Claire was a trooper and helped empty out the pumpkins, but had to wear gloves because she didn't want to get goopy. (This coming from the girl who picks up bugs on a regular basis!) After an hour of watching, she got bored and went in to watch cartoons. We were able to light up the pumpkins that night and I'm still excited when I think about it -- you can tell what they are supposed to be! :-)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

School Thoughts

Last week, Claire had spelling words to study for the first time. She and I went over her words for homework, practicing now and then in the car. There were 11 words, a few of which she continued to struggle to spell. Yet, on Friday, she got 100% on the test! When we got home that day, I asked her how she did. She casually replies, "Oh, I think I got them all right. I got a sticker on my paper." The sticker was important, in fact she could care less about getting them all right. I, on the other hand, was totally excited she did so well.

As a teacher, I assign spelling words, homework, tests, etc. all the time. I have never been on the parent side of the equation before. It's a completely different world. I feel tied to her and her accomplishments....her wins are mine too. I now understand how a parent can feel when their child comes home with a good (or bad) grade. I can also understand why some parents become unglued when those bad grades come home. I didn't think I would feel so closely joined to her school work. But, I do. Every once in awhile my eyes are opened to new and bigger things, and I think this is one of them. Just thought I would share my new insights with you. :-)

Fall

Fall in Las Vegas = Wind Gusts. Or so I've come to believe. It's gorgeous, clear, blue skies, and the sun shining brightly down. It is picturesque outside our window. Well, it is, except for the wind. Just like back East you come to know the different types of snow falling, here you come to know the different types of wind blowing. Breezes are great, but those gusts make it darn chilly. Yesterday we were out with jackets; today, it looks the same but there is no wind so its now short-sleeve weather. It's something I still have to get used to--taking a sweater with me just in case the wind comes up. Well, that and I have to keep saying I love the "wind-blown" look my hair has recently. :-)

Traveling

Here's a picture of our latest trip to Venice. Well, a Venice look-alike anyway. Recently our good friend from Michigan, David, came to visit us for a week. While he was here, we of course did all of the tourist-y stuff, like go see St. Mark's Square and see the gondolas at the Venetian. (In the picture.) Although I've never been to Venice, this is how I imagine it, but here it's air-conditioned and you don't have to worry about weather. To me, it's the next best thing.

While David was here, we also saw the water show and the beautiful garden exhibit at the Bellagio. The gardens change with the seasons and they are always amazing. We ate dinner at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville (Claire's choice-she loves the Caribbean atmosphere.) One night, we had the buffet dinner at the Flamingo. My grandpa keeps thinking they still have $3.99 buffets--not quite. Good food, but go VERY hungry so you can feel you get what you pay for.

We were also able to go up to Mt. Charleston (where it was a very chilly 43 degrees.) Lunch was very quickly eaten outside so we could hurry and get back into the Jeep to get warm again. We did go on a quick hike on one of the many trails, but half way realized we weren't on the trail. By the time we got back to the trail we were supposed to be on, we were had hiked enough and went back. Overall, we had a great time while David was here. It's always fun to show people around town. And, each time I get to know the city a little better.

I even have my own travel guide I've created with brochures, print-outs and maps I've collected. (You'll laugh when you see it...everyone does.) It's where my OCD comes out a little. (well, a lot) BUT, our company can look through it, decide what THEY would like to do and we can go from there. Because they have my guide book to look at, I don't have to be responsible for coming up with ideas on the fly. To me, it's much easier this way. When you see it, you'll want one too. :-)