Enough Said

Start the Weekend Early

On Thursday of last week we went on an adventure to Castle Dale to see my dad's play, Man of LaMancha. It's a favorite of mine. My dad directed and acted in this play fourteen years ago {when I was fourteen} and Christian and I had a chance to see it at the Shakespearean Festival about six years ago. This most recent production was amazing. The high school students did an amazing job, the set was fabulous, and Neal even made an appearance in the play as the Inn Keeper {the same role he played fourteen years ago}. If you ever get a chance to see this play I highly recommend it, or google it and read about it!

Carter is a little too young {wild} to appreciate the theatre, so he stayed with Melissa and Devin and "helped" them with Parker. After the play was over I picked Carter up, he was more than happy to run around the set with the swords and fight anyone in sight. Unfortunately, I was only armed with my cell phone camera since Christian is using our camera in Wyoming right now.

Our little adventure got the weekend started off right. We hung around Castle Dale on Friday and got to visit with Jayna {too bad Mike was at a gun show}. We made our way home with a stop in Springville to visit Tatum, Kelly, and Paiton. It was fun to visit and watch the kids make a complete toy tornado.

We were so excited to see Christian's car in the driveway when we got home. This single parent all week thing has really got me baffled. Only two more 1/2 weeks, then we'll all be together again.

Rock Springs....Here We Come

Last week on my home finding trip to Rock Springs, Christian and I fell in love with this house. Later that week we put in an offer, gave them some money, and pending the sale of our house in Herriman....bought this home. Here are few pictures that Christian snapped last night after work.


This picture is pretty dark, but you can see the outline of the house.


Still too dark, but a little more detail.


Entry way.


Great room.

Kitchen.

Dining Area.

Deck off the dining area.

What a Day Wii are Having

Despite the unseasonably warm and beautiful weather we are having, today has been one of those days! During a short phone call to my sister in law Carter took the liberty of shoving {at least} two bobby pins into the disk drive on the Wii. When asked why he did this, he answered ,"just push the honk {controller} and the bobby pins will come out of the maybe {Wii}"

Carter calls the Wii the "Maybe" because every time he asks if he can play it, I tell him maybe.

When we returned from a warm and wonderful walk to school, Carter hid himself behind the couch and peed everywhere! Good Grief!

I Immediately Regret This Decision

Carter had never had a friend party until this fateful year. In my attempt and misguided effort to keep all things "even" between my children, I decided to throw Carter a friend birthday party since I had throw one for Cali when she turned three.

I did not anticipate the craziness of three year old boys. I had several games planned and "helpers" {Cali and some neighbor kids} to help administer the games. Well, the "helpers" turned out to be just as wild as the boys. Bethany told me that I, "brought this on myself" which is true, but the whole thing just went so much more smoothly in my head.


Carter ate a few cupcakes befor the party even started...this sugar fueled kid had a very hard time with the concept of sharing and letting everyone play the games. I guess he thought that because it was HIS birthday HE didn't have to obey any of the rules to the games.


These are pretty much the only pictures I was able to take of the mass chaos. I made some cute dinosaur cupcakes and Dorey let me borrow a very cute dinosaur birthday banner, you'll have to take my word for it.....


I would never have survived without all the help of the mother's in attendance. Thank you again!


Bethany showed up just in time to see the party at it's height of craziness, and to deliver this darling Wonder Pet!

Carter's Birthday Wrap Up

Carter kept telling everyone that he was six. I couldn't figure out why, until I realized that he'd had enough birthday celebrations to send him into his sixth year. Here are some of the pictures from Carter's the 3rd-6th birthday parties!


It started off with a fantastical dinosaur cake. Designed and built by the great birthday cake creator....Gwen Peacock!


We all loved the bright green frosting.


Presents from the Peacock's. Thank you!

No visit to Castle Dale would be complete without a trip to the high school. This is a picture of my dad's latest creation. It is the set {designed by him and built by student slave labor} for his play, Man of LaMancha this weekend.

We can't go to Castle Dale without going to the park to climb trees and play on the playground. There were also several uninterrupted hours of Frankie the Goat, but somehow I forgot to take some pictures of my youngest sibling.

On to the Pollastro's for more cake!

More presents, this was Carter's favorite, Hungry Hungry Hippos from Cali.

More presents....

And Parker!

Delicious Cuisine

Yesterday Bethany and I rode to Rock Springs to meet Christian and look for potential real estate. It was so nice and fun to have Bethany to ride with, even though she was technically "sick". Christian's mom Vicki and his sister Melissa came to tend the kids and they had a fun day too. Oddly enough, there seemed to be a strange food theme to the day. It went like this:

1. Bethany and I ate at the Village Inn in Rock Springs {We immediately regretted this decision} there was one employee working. The guy who sat us at our table was the same guy who took our order, {and every other order in the place} and was the same guy who was bussing all the tables, and was the same guy who was ringing up the customers at the cash register. After 45 minutes of waiting, we finally got our food. By this time we had to scarf it down {we immediately regretted this decision as well} so that we weren't late for our meeting with the realtor. When I was paying {remember same guy who waited on us} I asked him if he was the cook too. I don't think he thought I was all that funny.

2. Later that night we ate at a fantastic Chinese place called Bonsai. It was the most amazing Chinese food I've ever had. And by amazing, I don't mean amazing like the Rice Garden inside of the Smiths on 9th and 9th. It was great. This food makes moving to Rock Springs even better.

3. Today I was talking to Cali and she told me that grandma made her some Chicken Noodle soup "the other day" {which meant yesterday}. I asked her if it was good and she said, "yes, it was so good that I even drank all the moth." I asked her if she meant "broth", she said, "yeah, whatever the soup juice is called." I laughed so hard.

4. Also today while I was sitting on the couch with Carter he told me that he wanted to pretend that he was Parker {we play this game all the time}. He said, "Parker is hungry" I asked him what he wanted to eat and he told me that I would have to feed him like Melissa feeds Parker with the milk that comes out of her tummy.

Happy Birthday Carter

We can hardly believe that he's three years old! He was born on November 10th, 2005 at 3:37 p.m., right in the middle of an episode of Dr. Phil. We've been celebrating his sweet little life all weekend. Party with the Peacocks on Friday. Party with the Pollastro's on Sunday. Party with friends today, and we'll probably have another one when daddy gets home on Friday! Pictures to come....

A Theme?

Halloween 2006


Halloween 2007


Halloween 2008

Will Disney run out of princess before Cali grows out of this "phase"? Only time will tell.....

Halloween Festivities

First there was the ward Halloween party. Cali really got after the eat-a-donut-on-a-string-with-no-hands game.

Then there were homemade cookies, courtesy of Bethany.

Let's not forget the endless hours working on the perfect princess face.

She takes her duties as a princess very seriously.

Next, there was a school Halloween parade.

Carter did his best to patiently await the Halloween parade.

Bethany's cookies were so good, they called for another batch!

We then readied ourselves for Trick or Treating.

Carter didn't have much to do to get ready, since he's been wearing his costume for 10 consecutive days.

Belle and Little Red Riding Hood were the prettiest Trick or Treaters in the neighborhood.

I cannot even tell you how many times I was "poured" throughout the night.

I'm Cali Pollastro, and I Approve This Message

I've seen this tag going around the blogosphere where you go into your picture folders and select a certain picture. My friend Natalie picked the fourth folder and fourth picture. My friend Camille picked the sixth picture in the sixth folder. So, keeping with the tradition of living somewhere in the middle, I decided to pick the fifth picture in the fifth folder, and I found this little gem. Here is some info about this picture:

1. Easter 2006
2. Cali was younger than Carter is now. I have yet to introduce food coloring dye into his world. I actually shudder at the thought. However, Cali colored all of the eggs in front of her mostly by herself, and without staining herself into the next century.
3. I thought she was such a big girl then.
4. I remember putting Carter to bed and then Christian and I got all the colors ready and let Cali stay up past her bed time to color some eggs.
5. I forgot how curly her hair was, I wonder if I cut it that short if the curl would come back?

Happy Halloween!

My sister Jayna joined the blogging world just in time to post some pictures of her Halloween get up. She looks so strange and scary and so wrong, but so funny. I am so happy that she decided to jump on the blogging bandwagon, I'm sure there will much more hilarity where this came from!

www.mikeandjaynamiller.blogspot.com

Farewell Video

Josh (our friend and co-worker) made this awesome video for Cammie! (This is Bethany)

A Fond Farewell

Bethany hit the nail on the head when she said "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times." She was referring to my last day of work, which was today. After scampering around to get my final things in order, I had an exit interview with my boss. During the interview I couldn't help the tears from coming. My time with University Health Care has been wonderful, challenging, and the staff is second to none. I don't think my boss was ready for the tear fest and recommended that I regain composure, because my fellow co-workers were throwing me a surprise party.

So there I was surprised, and honored, shocked, and red faced from crying. When I entered the room everyone yelled SURPRISE! Then they started to clap. I tried to hold it in, it takes a lot to get me crying, but once I start it's hard to stop. So there I was again, squirting tears in front of all my co-workers. I was truly overwhelmed with their support and appreciation.

Of course, my wonderful sister was there too. She grabbed my camera and started snapping pictures and passing out her world famous sugar cookies. It really was the best and worst of times. Here are some pictures from this memorable event!

No Wednesday or Friday would be complete without a lunch break with my sister. Pay no attention to my bawled out eyes, I really tried to get my act together.

My work friends: Rudy, Scott, Josh and Isaac {quite possibly the best guys ever!}

My mentor and hero Margo Beecher.

Change Change and More Change

When Christian decided to accept the position in Wyoming, I was faced with the reality of having to quit my job. Quitting a job may be easy for some, but not for me.

I've worked for the University of Utah since August 1999. When I was hired there I was just barely 19 years old. My supervisor, and future best friend, Nicole took a chance on a young newly married student and we had the best time. I worked for in the Registration/Records Office of the Registrar's Office for four years:

August 1999-March 2000: Data Entry Clerk
March 2000-May 2001: Assistant Supervisor
May 2001-September 2003: Supervisor

When Cali was born in July of 2003, I had every intention to stop working all together. However, I was approached by Ralph Boren {The Registrar} to accept a part-time position as a consultant on the upcoming electronic grades project. I accepted the offer, and in October 2003 I started doing the research necessary to start the project. After the project was completed I took a permanent part-time position in the Student Systems office.

October 2003-June 2004: Egrading Consultant and Coordinator
June 2004-November 2005: Tester, Trainer, Functional Expert {all things technical}
November 2005-January 2006: Time off with Carter!
January 2006-March 2007: Tester, Trainer, Functional Expert {all things technical}
March 2007-September 2007: Registrar's Office Process Analyst

Last October I made a huge change and expanded my knowledge base of the campus from academics to health care. I had worked with Rolene Coulter on hundred's of student related projects, and she recommended me to Teri Olsen at University Health Care. After some chatting and reviewing my resume, she offered me a position as a Project Coordinator in the Education and Development Office, where I have spent the past year.

October 2007-October 2008: Education and Development Project Coordinator.

Now you can see why it was hard for me to leave. I've spent close to a decade at the U. Through all of this I finished my degree, worked with the smartest people, made the most wonderful friends, and felt like I made a difference in the lives of students, faculty, and staff. Now you can see why today, my last day, the tears flowed. In fact the tears started Monday, and I may shed a few more tonight.

I have never been one to fear change or oppose it, I've had some very wonderful changes happen in my life and have been grateful for all of them. I have recently found out that sometimes doing what is best for your family, isn't always the easiest thing to do personally.

Sunday Evening

Sometimes there's nothing better to do on a Sunday evening, than perform cheers from Jr. High. Go Bulldogs!

Drugs?

As a kid I remember participating in Red Ribbon Week at Castle Dale Elementary {Go Cougars}. We had Peer Helper assemblies and other activities to remind the kids of Castle Dale to stay drug free. Fast forward 20 years.....

Cali's school is having red ribbon week this week. The kids get to wear a red ribbon and bracelet, and there are even free and discounted items at local stores if the kids wear their ribbons to the store. I fully agree with the concept of keeping kids off drugs. But we have run into a few snags this week {imagine that}.

How do you tell someone to "live drug free", if they don't even know what drugs are? So, in order for Cali to get in the spirit of Red Ribbon Week, we have had many many talks about drugs. She's still a little confused. She told her class that her neighbor smokes, and I had to stop her from going to that neighbor's to tell him not to do drugs. On more than one occasion this week I have muttered under my breath, "damn you red ribbon week...."

To Infinity and Beyond {All Day Long}

After eight straight hours of wearing his Halloween costume, and after referring to me as "cowboy doll", "child's plaything", and "Woody" all day, I was able to pry Buzz Lightyear from Carter's sweaty body. Buzz is now wearing toothpaste, chocolate milk, and macaroni and cheese. I'm not entirely sure if we {Buzz and I} are going to make it all the way to Halloween in one piece.

Family Pictures

On Thursday my friend {and fellow Castle Dalian, Aimee Wright} was kind enough to take some family pictures for us. It's been just over two years since our last photo shoot, and we thought it was time for some updated pictures. She is great with kids and did a great job, we especially liked the way she captured each personality. Here are just a few of our numerous favorites.