What happens in Vegas....comes home in your heart.

I have just spent the most amazing week meeting the most amazing people!  I want to link up with What a Teacher Wants

and a Burst of First and share my experiences.

It started early Sunday morning with hundreds of miles and not much to look at except this:

7 1/2 hours later we were in Vegas, checked in and ready to have some fun.

My plan of action was to try to meet some of my favorite teacher/blogger/presenters before things got crazy and it was still quiet.  My plan worked!  I introduced myself to Deedee Wills of Mrs. Wills Kindergarten (we have emailed few times) and as luck would have it Kim Adsit of KinderGals was there too.  They are amazing ladies...sweet, talented, and I learned so much from both.

Deedee Wills and Kim Adsit

 Then....who should I see in my second class of the day?  Fran Kramer of Kindergarten Crayons.  She is A...MAZ...ING as well.

Fran invited me to sit next to her for the session.  Could the day get any better than this??  YES!!  We went to lunch.  The chance to connect with Fran (and the amazing bloggers she introduced me to) was beyond words.  I cannot tell you how intelligent these ladies are, yet they are also kind, humble, and funny!  I laughed so much all week long.

Katie Mense of Little Warriors, Tanya Solano of Ms. Solano's Kindergarten, Tiffani Mugurussa of Time 4 Kindergarten, and Fran Kramer of Kindergarten Crayons

Tuesday started the same way...searching out this fabulous lady in the quiet before classes.  I spent much of the day learning from her.  Let me just say she lives up to the hype.  Deanna Jump is real.  She is down to earth, fun, friendly, kind, generous, and smart.  I am going to spend the rest of the week digesting what I learned from her.

Am I using the same adjectives over and over again??  That is because they fit all these ladies and gentlemen I met. Here is just a sampling of people I begged to take a picture with me:

Dan Colquhoun

Just for the record....no one complained.

What did I take away from all of this??  My heart is full.  These ladies are so encouraging.  I want to improve my teaching, my blogging and my creating so I don't let them down.  I want to get better and better and these ladies helped me to believe that I can.

This is Paul and he is the founder of TpT.  He and Amy are creating a community of teachers who care about students and each other.  They want to help us reach each student in the very best ways possible.   In the process of doing that lives are being changed...for the better.

I am spending this week creating a plan of action.....Have you set any goals?  for the summer??  for next year??  I would love to hear them.

Currently..... it's July!

Summer has arrived!!  School is out!  And I am still waiting for the day when there is nothing on my plate.  But that is okay...right now it is all fun things I have planned, company and grandkids, bloggy meetup and conferences.  Part of me wants the nothing to do feeling, it is summer after all, and the other part of me is so excited for all the things that are going on.

Today it is July first and I am trying to squeeze in some blogging before my mom goes home.  I LOVE linking up with Farley of Oh Boy it's Fourth Grade for her monthly currently.  It is always fun to see what everyone is doing, make a new friend or two, and share what is going on in my little corner of the world.

My mom comes every June to Utah and Nevada from Pennsylvania.  She comes and stays with my sister and me.  We travel around, hang out, go shopping, get spoiled, and go to the Shakespeare festival in Cedar City, Utah. 

My mom is a writer and the bard is one of her favorites.  Her trip is never complete without a visit to the festival.  This year did not disappoint!

Then there is the 4th of July...family, we twist arms ask nicely trying to get everyone to come to see us.  

      Then there are friends, a group of us that always hang out together all day long at the city park (we are on second generations now...little kids of the kids we partied with 20 years ago). We have food, games, water fights, crafts, and did I say food? 

My crazy husband, going for a mohawk look last year.

Yes...there is a camper because we stake out our favorite spot the night before.  You can always find us, because of the historical flags.  My husband is a collector and we put them ALL up for the 4th.

At night we break out enough glow sticks that people think we are vendors.  Little small town Elko does a pretty good job of having a fireworks show.  Fun all day long.

Can't wait to read what you are doing for the 4th!