A girl who loves to travel

As I was getting on the plane headed to Kalispell, MT this nice old lady looked at me and said I bet you travel a lot. I replied with yes! I'M A GIRL WHO LOVES TO TRAVEL! This summer I have been all over and yes I could blog about all of them and write novels about each place but here are the highlights...

San Fran!

While is San Francisco my dad and I had a full weekend planned. We took the train in so we didn't have a car. We for sure got steps in everyday we were there. The first night we were there we went to a Giants game. They lost, but it wasn't a total lose for us since they were playing the Cubs so we could go either way. 

They next day we walked to the Coit tower and then to Pier 31 were we got bikes. We biked the bridge and circled back to Pier 31. It was about a 10 mile loop. Man our legs and butts hurt after that! That night we went to a musical play called "In the Last Five Years". AMAZING! I cried and laughed and cried again. It was so good! If you haven't seen it I highly recommend it! 

The next day was our last day. It was a chill day in gardens and museums (De Young and Legion of Honor). Before leaving we stop at my new favorite dessert place in San Francisco, Beard Papa's. Best cream puffs I've ever had! 

Chicago!! 

Next stop was a visit to my aunt's! It was full of fun. While driving down to Ohio for my cousin's soccer game, we stop in Indianapolis for Indy500 practice. It was an incredible experience. The cars were loud and fast!!
After our adventure driving through many states, we ended in Michigan for Memorial Day for a day at the beach. We ate delicious hot dogs and shopped at outlets.
On one of the last days I was at my aunt's, my cousin (Ryan) and I went to the city of Chicago. It is always a magical time when in the city. We ate Potbelly's, went to the Bean, and saw the whole city below our feet from the Hancock building. It all ended all too soon and then I was off to DC!!

DC!!

This part of the trip I was hanging with my friend Kasey. I experienced the last few days at school where Kasey is teaching. It was fun to wave the kids off on the last day of school. After packing up Kasey's classroom for summer it was off to DC for doing all the typical touristy things. We ran all over seeing the Lincoln Memorial, The White House and many museums.
After all the running around we decided to spend the rest of the days at local exhibits such as the Maymont mansion and walking around old town Fredericksburg. Getting custard at Carl's, going to the dog park, and getting pizza in old town were highlights as well.

West coast all the way to the east coast. I would have to say this summer was full of adventures and new dreams blossoming. Here's to a great summer!!! 

A Year Of Many Firsts

This year has been a year of many firsts and with that a lot of growing up. I graduated college and moved to Las Vegas, where I got my first teaching job. I'm teaching kindergarten and loving every moment!

Moving here was scary, but I can say I've overcame a lot of fears since I've moved here. On my birthday, I went skydiving with my dad and overcame many fears I had. If I can jump out of a plane, I know I can conquer many more of life's challenges.

Over the summer, I purchased my first car and named her Carla. She is treating me well.

If you know me, you know I hate driving, but this year I overcame that fear and now enjoy driving. This year Carla took me on my first long road trip, by myself, to Utah to see Michael and Jenny.

I also had the chance to see Montana for the first time when visiting my

mom, Kevin, Bailey and Nora.

This year has been full of challenges and adventures and I know I wouldn't have made it through without all of you! So here is to my first Christmas card THANKING you all!

I love you all! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

XOXO, Lara

Ms. Dill loves apples!

This last week was my first week back from track break. It always seems like I'm on a track break. I love it! But I also love being in the classroom with my students. It always brings me joy. Last Wednesday was Back To School Night. It was nice to see my students come in and show off their classroom to their parents. One of my students came in and the first thing she said was, "Mom! Ms. Dill loves apples!" It was so cute. I just smiled and said, "Yes. Yes I do!"

This last week, we did a theme of apples. From my room covered in apples and then doing a theme on apples, if my kids didn't know I love apples they now do. At the end of the week, when I was putting up their school work on the bulletin boards, I thought I had to blog about this because I was proud how well my kiddos did this week.

On Friday we labeled the parts of an apple. I just gave my students a blank piece of paper for them to draw an apple and label it. I was proud how they turned out. I can say some of my kindergarteners make good artists.

After knowing all the parts we cut into four different types of apples to taste them. The kids had fun tasting all four apples. The best reaction was to the Granny Smith apple. One students shouted out "Ms. Dill, this is sour!" Their faces were priceless to watch. Then we graphed all the data with what their favorite apple were. Red Delicious was the winner!

With  a theme on apples you need books to read to the students. Here are a few I read this week:

Apples A to Z, by Margaret McNamara

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World, by Marjorie Freeman

The Biggest Apple Ever, by Steven Kroll

Ten Apples Up on Top, by Theo. LeSeig

Johnny Appleseed, by Jodie Shepherd

Lastly, for a craft we got to stamp with apples. The kids loved this! I just cut apples in half, put red and green paint on a paper, and then let the kids stamp away. 

Themes truly makes teaching more fun. Every week flows into the next week and we are constantly making connections from pervious weeks. Next week is on Fall. Alright, well if you're a teacher take my ideas and do an apple theme! If not hope you enjoyed the post.

#DillsDoDisney2015

August 8-9, 2015

Our Christmas present was finally here! We were going to Disneyland! The night before I literally was a kid on Christmas Eve and couldn't sleep.
That morning we had to wake up Nora which was probably the only time I saw her upset. That girl loves her sleep... she is totally Kevin's child. Her being upset was shortly lived and turned into joy as the bus from the parking lot arrived. She kept saying "bus, bus, bus!" And she had no clue that wasn't even the funnest ride, but that we were headed to Disneyland!

We started the day in California Adventures. We went on rides and of course ate and ate. About mid day we all decided to separate for about an hour before meeting up for dinner. I stayed with my mom and we decide to do the mini tour of the sourdough company. We mostly did it for the free sample of bread, but that tiny piece of bread didn't satisfy us so we got a bread bowl to split. Oh were we in heaven! I could live off bread!
We meet up with everyone and went on the new Carsland ride. Way fun! And after that we went to dinner.

We had some time after dinner so we went back to Carsland and the shops and that's where we got Nora her "1st visit" pin. This was Nora's first visit at Disneyland/California Adventures and when she got her "1st visit" pin she was so proud of it! She held onto that pin like it was her pride and joy. She was one happy girl! 

After looking at the shops we went to the California Adventures light show which was AMAZING! 

Bailey, me and Jenny before the California Adventure light show. I have some pretty AMAZING sisters! 

Then we headed over to Disneyland to watch the parade on Main Street. It was magical how it all worked out. Just as we were walking up Michael and I got benches in the perfect spot to watch the parade. The parade was FANTASTIC! Nora was so tired, but that didn't stop her from waving to all the characters as they went by. She was just adorable. 

The next day Jenny, Michael and I went to the park opening. Parking opening is always so magical where they pick a family to open the park. I always tear up it's so magical. The first thing we did was race to space mountain, my favorite ride! We were one of the first to get on the ride... Only way to ride that ride. After that the line gets too long. Then we did a few more rides before the rest of the family came. One ride was the teacups. We did them twice, which I thought they would get me sick, but looking back they were the favorite ride from the day. We ended up going four times that day! 

Shortly after the teacups we went back up to the front and met my mom, Bailey, Kevin and Nora. We took some family pictures because yes we had matching shirts and yes Jenny and Michael made them and yes they were adorable!! Then we took the train to it's a small world and toontown. 

In toontown Nora met Mickey for the first time and it was so cute. The first thing she did was showed Mickey her Olaf shirt. So adorable! 

Disneyland isn't complete without all the food. We had churros, corn on the cob, bread bowls, corn dogs, marshmallows on a stick and my favorite frozen lemonade! Listing all that food just makes me hungry!

After all the eating and shopping the teacups was a must again to recreate the first Disney trip. We even got the teal teacup, but you can't see it in the picture. And I believe we got the facial expressions down to a tee! 

Disneyland was truly so special because I got the see Disney through Nora's eyes. It was so fun seeing her light up at everything... Pure happiness!  

"Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy" -Walt Disney 

#DillsDoDisney2015

Sometimes You Must Put The Brakes On

I have been non stop with work and everything that I needed some time away from Las Vegas. This weekend I went to Big Bear to meet up with my dad, aunt, cousin and grandma.

My favorite part of the weekend was the alpine slide. As we were about the get on the ride a lady next to me said, "oh you got the crappy, slow racer. Don't use the brakes when you go down." 

Going down the slide I just kept thinking how I don't want to use the brakes or I will go slow. Well I got to a corner and felt like I was going so fast I might wipe out or crash so I quickly put on the brakes. 

This is like life...We want to go fast and keep up with everyone else. But if we go too fast and never put on the brakes we will end up crashing. This weekend was my slowing down on my roller coaster of life. I have been so crazy with work, church and trying to have a social life that I needed some time to just slow down and relax. 

Big Bear was exactly what I needed. I only have 2 more weeks till my small summer break. I can do this! 

Dance Parties In The Kitchen

July 14, 2015

This next post is to Miss Nora. You can't read, but one day I hope you can look back at this and remember that you can get through anything and know that there is an inter kid within us all.

Today you will be turning 2! Wow! Where has the time gone? The very first moment I meet you I fall in love and this was a love I have never felt before.

Last week, before your 2nd birthday, I came to visit. Goodness, you have grown! You are full of energy and I have loved seeing you develop that wonderful personally you have. My favorite part of seeing you last week, was dancing in the kitchen. Your sweet smile and giggle kept me dancing with you. We could have danced for hours. We jumped and twirled and did it all over again.

In this world you will have ups and downs. You will have days that don't go your way and days that you think, "how can life get any better?" Being with you over the pass few days have been some of the best days for me. You have reminded me how simple and great life can be. You bring so much joy to me. Your sweet and innocent spirit has taught me of being a kid again and just having fun with life.

Keep that quality in life of just having fun. You don't need a reason to have a dance party in the kitchen. Just do it because you can! Know you are loved dearly by me. Keep giggling and smiling that beautiful smile.

Staycation!

July 1st-6th, 2015

Overlook of my staycation in July:

Wednesday, July 1:
After a few days of being in Montana, I came home and meet my aunt (Elizabeth) and cousins (Ryan and Morgan) at the airport in Las Vegas. I went home and grabbed a few clean outfits and then we headed to the hotel. We had a chill night with looking at the lights of the strip and tried to ride some of the casino rides, but couldn't because of the weather.

Thursday, July 2:
Today was Wet N Wild waterpark day! We rented a cabana and lay out all day... my kind of vacation. My aunt Margie met up with us mid day at the waterpark. After a long day we had to pick up my uncle from the airport. He was suppose to come in on Friday, but got an early flight. Driving up to the airport I thought I had spotted him, which is totally embarrassing because we weren't really there to pick him up. Little did I know it was my mom we were picking up! She had surprised me!! And I screamed when I realized she was the one we were picking up. It literally was the best surprise ever!

Gosh, don't mind my no makeup and nappy hair. We came straight from the waterpark to pick her up. After picking her up we decided to walk to the Strip and we checked out Coca-Cola world and New York New York. 

Friday, July 3:

Friday was an early morning where we went and did some off roading in Red Rock Canyon. We bused out to Red Rock and got into a pink Jeep and had a fun tour. Living in a city of mostly lights, it was fun to see the nature side of Las Vegas. 

Later that night we went to the Statosphere and went on the rides. The views were amazing of the Strip up top. On the way home we decided to drive the Strip to see more lights and crazies that come out at night.

Saturday, July 4:

Happy Independence Day! In the morning we went on a rafting trip down the Colorado river. It started at the Hoover Dam. Every time I see the Dam I fall in love with it more and more. It's a great part of history! 

During the rafting we found a small waterfall and so my mom and I had to take a picture of our matching shirts with the perfect backdrop.

Later that night we headed to the Strip again to ride The High Roller. We got on at the perfect time with the sun setting and the fireworks starting to come out for the Fourth celebration.

Sunday, July 5:

Today my mom left as well as my uncle and cousin (Morgan). I think our running around and non stop doing things caught up to us and we were all tired. The rest of us went to the south end of the Strip and toured the casinos. We went to the Mandalay Bay and checked out the shark reef and then took the tram to the Luxor   After sitting there for a bit we decide to got to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the women soccer championship game. We waited for a bit but then we were seated and watched the rest of the game. Of course USA won! 

Monday, July 6:

Last day before Elizabeth and Ryan left. We went to Fremont Street where we had delicious nachos for lunch and then went ziplining. 

We couldn't end the trip without a happy hour at the hotel. The staycation was way too fun and ended way too early! I was so happy my family could come out. I truly have the coolest family ever!!