Camping in the cold!

Camping is one of our favorite things to do. We enjoy camping with our friends and each other. We make camp fires, roast marshmallows, play charades, go fishing, go hiking and on walks, we play with glow sticks, and get really dirty. We love to sleep in the tent or in the trailer. Lots of our friends have trailers that we can stay in. When we were leaving, we stood at the edge of the mountain looking down. A long way down it was. But it sure was a beautiful sight. Really neat.

We also enjoy our regular attire like flip flops. It was cold and it rained, but wasn't too bad. Sweatshirts and shorts did the job. The fire helped as well.

Our friends Brandon and Maddy were there too. They are fun to play with and do things with.
Getting dirty is our favorite part. We played cowboy and indian, and put black soot on our faces. Luckily there is nothing like baby wipes, and a trailer shower to get clean.

We are learning all about fires, and how to build a good one that will last even through rain storms. We were getting our sticks ready for marshmallow roasting.

During our fishing trip, we caught tons of cawdads. We boiled them and cooked them, until they looked like miniature lobsters and then we ate them. Well, the kids tried them, I had nothing to do with them.

We had a great time 4 wheeling through the mud too. The trailblazer was covered in mud by the time we headed home. It is fun to get dirty.

We like to go to this area because it is a no fee area, and there are so many places to ride the quads. There were many people there this weekend. Camp sites were almost completely full, and so many people having a great time.

School Days!

Guess who is in the costume as the mascot? Yep, you got it. No, I don't get paid more. Part of being the drama teacher, you get to act out many parts. The kids at the school, get to see the mascot once a month, and we do the Cha Cha Slide as an entire school. It is so much fun for the kids, so I don't mind a little sweat in that outfit.

Here are the girls on their first day of school. They were really excited to attend grandma Kathy's school. They love to go up to her office after school sometimes to retrieve the treats she leaves on her desk. They are all excelling in their classes. Ronnie is getting tutoring help in math. To help him get ready for his AIMS testing. He is reading at a 4th grade level. He enjoys helping his teacher after school, and helping other students in his class. He really enjoys his PE class and loves his PE teacher. He also loves lunch time. Shelby is such a little leader in her class. All the kids love her and she and Lacy fight over who is more popular. Can the teen years be starting early. Can't they both be popular with their own peers? Shelby is a reading wiz. She almost always gets 100% on her spelling tests. Lacy was student of the month for September. She is her teachers little helper and angel. She enjoys going to school especially if I let her do her own hair. She's getting so big. They are all getting so big.

Oka,y so here goes. A good picture of Ronnie is hard to get. He doesn't like to smile for the pictures. However, he must have been bribed on this day or something. He's a good looking kiddo.
Lacy, my little poser. She was on the playground, and asked Ms. Kim, to take her photo. She would rather take pictures than play with her friends at recess.

Here's Shelby and Ronnie all decked out for their karate class. They are so cute in their GI's. They don't seem to love to go to karate but we never give up on something we try. I just hope they don't try their karate on each other.

Here are grandma's baby cows. However some of them are not babies anymore. The kids love to feed them by hand, and enjoy watching them fight over the hay we bring. I love to just sit in the field and wait for them to all come to me. Watching out for cow pies at the same time.

Legacy Shools Biography

This was something I had to put together as a biography for parents to see at our curriculum night at the school. So you all know, I recently moved back to Arizona, and am teaching the fine arts program for the Legacy Charter School of Arizona and the East Valley High School Charter School. I am really enjoying the challenge. I am taking Online courses as well, and have been really busy. Ronnie Is curently living with his dad in Silver City still. He really enjoys the time he gets to spend with his dad, and loves his new teacher at Jose Barrios Elementary. He is in the 3rd grade, and is reading at a 5th grade level. He is so smart. He will be coming to visit this weekend, and I am really excited. I have missed his little charming spirit as he has been with his dad since June of this year. The girls and I moved in to an apartment and we are sure trying to settle in. The girls will be taking karate starting next week, and I will be taking self defense classes. We sure are busy. We haven't been swimming too much lately as we are at the school most of the day. I am also teaching piano lessons after school. It is so hot here, I miss the weather of the mountains of Silver City. We have spent a lot of time, up north, visiting my mom and step dad, as well as friends. I went camping and fishing, and we have been quad riding a lot. Last weekend, we were so muddy it was great fun. This next weekend, we will be going camping again. The kids love it. A time to get dirty and not get into trouble. So they love it. Well, here is my bio, and give me a call, I miss everyone and look forward to getting together for any events. My email is Stars0080@gmail.com drop me a line anytime.

Ms. Kara Sanders Legacy Elementary, East Valley Middle & High School

Hello, my name is Ms. Kara Sanders. I have hundreds of children I love daily, and 3 of my own that I love dearly. I attended Mesa Community College, Arizona State University, and Brigham Young University. I studied in the areas of Child and Family Development, Family Counseling, Early Elementary Education, and Dance. I taught pre- school for 3 years, and I worked as a paralegal for three large law firms here in Mesa, Arizona. I worked for Legacy Elementary when the school began, and then moved to New Mexico, where I worked with the Silver City School District as a permanent Substitute. I worked with Child and Family Resources of New Mexico as a family advocate. I also managed, instructed and coached a dance studio in Silver City, NM before moving back to Arizona. I started a Competition dance team, called Silver City Stars Too.

As a teenager, and before attending college, I belonged to a national dance and drill team. We performed for large events, such as; The Phoenix Suns, LA Clippers, ASU Sun Devils, and the Osmonds. I competed in Gymnastics and Dance for 30 years. I have taken and taught classes such as; Hip Hop, Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Lyrical, and Jazz. I teach music lessons as well. I have been playing the piano for 28 years, and have been teaching piano for 10 years. I firmly believe that all children should have the opportunity to open their minds to the arts we have available in our society. Each child should be able to find and use their talents to build self-esteem and character. It helps them to perform better in school and socially in our society. The arts we have available help us to better communicate with others, and helps to build self-esteem, and a positive attitude. I will do what ever is necessary to help build these attributes so that our society will have a better future as we grow older. I have an open door policy and a listening ear. Please feel free to talk to me and lets build a better community together.

Family Gigs and Food!

Easter has come and gone. Wow. Also too many family events to attend. Today, we had a family get together after the Sunday last session of Conference. Crowded and hot, but fun. We sang songs at the piano and ate, and played the violin and Guitar, and just sat around and visited. That's what families are for.

So, not too much as far as details go for this month. My life is in limbo and so, I just hang out and do nothing. The kids had a Friday Fun Day at the park, for their school. Shelby beat all the boys in a race, and Ronnie enjoyed getting wet. Lacy and I went to the Phx Zoo. Not sure why I ever go there. The animals are never out, or the exhibit is closed, or the animals are sleeping, or hiding out somewhere. I hate the Zoo. But went anyway. It was Aunt Kelly and I and Morgan, and Harley. It wasn't too hot, it was just right. Buy the way, did I tell you about my nephew Morgan? He is building he and I a rocket ship to fly to the moon. He wants to tie me to the outside, so that I can float in space and have fun. The rocket ship will be purple. He is really excited about it. He said it would be done in about 1 week and 2 days. He is such a cutie.

I have really enjoyed being back in Arizona, spending time with all my nieces and nephews whom I love so much. Ronnie loves to play with Brendan, his cousin, and Shelby loves to go to Aunt Michelle's. Lacy just wants to be with mom. ME! Some time, there will be quiet time for me. Maybe I'll get a plane ticket to Wyoming, and just go camping in the wilderness by myslef, of course, it is too cold right now, and probably a bear would eat me. But Wyoming sounds nice, maybe pretty green this summer too.

I'm worried about a few people in my life. My step dad, John, his cancer is back. Rae Lea, she just found out she has cancer. My mom is always sick. My cousin is pregnant. My brothers, well, they are themselves, I always worry about them. Single life sucks, because most men suck. They aren't real. maybe someday, I'll meet one who is a real person. Ron is a good guy, and I hope he is doing well. The kids love him. If we will both do what is right, the Lord will help us through all this mess, and the kids will be just fine. Putting the Lord first makes a big difference in life, and he is driving right now. It feels nice, to be his passenger and not trying to drive all the time.

That sums up what April will be. Then, only one more month till school is out, and well, hopefully, no more limbo to life. We'll see. Thanks for reading.

The Reality of My Real Life..

Okay, so here it is the real scoop. I'm now trying to live back in Arizona. I'm staying with my dad. Of course my three kids are here too.
You know, when you are blogging about your personal life, you really don't want people to see all the realness to your personal life, so you put how wonderful everything really is. It's not always so wonderful. Im not always the best mom, Ron well, and the kids, they have their days too.

So, from now on, I won't be mud slinging anything, just know, Most of you, who are personal friends, know my reality and my world. Thanks for being by my side and helping when and where you could.

There are others of you who refuse to admit when things are wrong. I was one of those. No More.... Reality is here and now. So for those of you, who refuse to see reality and help those in need of help, Im sorry but maybe you need to get help too.

The kids are doing great. They are going to school, and Lil Ronnie is reading at a 4th grade level even though he is in 2nd grade. He has been playing basketball daily with his grandpa. He loves it. Although he's a shorty, like me, he may be great someday.

Shelby loves her teacher and her friends. She remembers most of them from before we had to go to Silver City. She has everyone wanting to share her time, and she has a great personality.

Lacy is doing great too. She really wants to go to school, but wont be 5 until July. So next year, The real freedom sets in. LOL She is quite the character with a mind of her own.

Life won't be any easier as I embark on single life. However I have many people who are out there for me. I have family and friends, who have been around my life long enough to get to know the real me. They are there for me. Thank you....

Some day, when my heart heals, and I decide Men aren't so bad, I might find Prince Charming. That would really mean, he would have to be someone ready to step up to the plate and take charge of life. I'm done being in charge. Its' like the song by Carrie Underwood, JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL, Im ready to move on to better things. Or like her other song, WASTED.

This isn't anything new. This life. Im just finally realizing what needs to be done. I refuse to be an enabler. People need to be responsible for their actions and decisions and quit blaming others. Like I said, Step up and take charge. And OMGoodness, be honest about it too. Don't fool yourself into thinking otherwise.

Anyways, If you read any of my other blogs, you'll only be reading the whipped cream. Im not the kind to sling mud. like I said. So, those of you who know, thanks for being by my side. Those of you don't know, don't ask me. Im not telling.

And if you tell me you'll be there for me and then you aren't, well, I guess that would be okay, but don't expect me to be excited about it. I don't want to play games with my life anymore. There will be time for play and time for fun, and time for serious things too.

I can't believe it is already March. This year is going by so fast. Country Thunder is coming up, and then summer and then it will be fall again, and well, This is a big year. Lots of changes. And that's okay.

Like sponge bob says, "I'm ready, I'm ready...." By the way, you can look on "my space" to see me too. You'd be suprised who you will find or meet there. But be careful. There are tricky people out there. Have a great day. Maybe a great March, if I don't get back on here in a while.... Did I mention how hot Az is?