Summer Smiles!

I love helping my sister with the kids! We go outside with a blanket at about 5:30 or 6 each night and just sit out there enjoying the late afternoon breeze and watching the boy play. Others in the neighborhood often come out to their yards about the same time. I love this neighborhood! Lauren loves spending the evening outside, talking to the breeze, and watching the clouds float by and the leaves sway in the wind. It's not too hard to get a smile out of her in these quiet, gentle moments.

A. Rogers May 2011

Unfeigned love

"Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained."

~C.S. Lewis

 A.Rogers May 2011

Ribbit, Ribbit

Bubs loves froggies, so of course I had to teach him how to BE a froggy today when I was helping with the kids. He caught on very quickly!

A. Rogers May 2011

Someday we'll find it

Why are there so many songs about rainbows

And what's on the other side?

Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,

And rainbows have nothing to hide.

So we've been told and some choose to believe it

I know they're wrong, wait and see.

Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,

The lovers, the dreamers and me.

Who said that every wish would be heard and answered

when wished on the morning star?

Somebody thought of that

and someone believed it,

and look what it's done so far.

What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing?

And what do we think we might see?

Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,

the lovers, the dreamers and me.

All of us under its spell,

we know that it's probably magic....

Have you been half asleep

and have you heard voices?

I've heard them calling my name.

Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?

The voice might be one and the same.

I've heard it too many times to ignore it.

It's something that I'm supposed to be.

Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,

the lovers, the dreamers and me.

A.Rogers May 2011

Wonderful "wegen"!

He loves his fancy new ride!

A. Rogers May 2011

Petit Picasso

Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.

My mother said to me, "If you are a soldier, you will become a GENERAL. If you are a monk, you will become the POPE." Instead, I was a painter, and became PICASSO.

It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.

A.Rogers May 2011

Happy, happy Summer!!!

Another year has come and gone,

Like a downhill train without its brakes.

So now we are writing a fancy song,

About our year, the good times and the aches.

Wearing shiny, new uniforms, in August we trudged

On to Dixie Sun eager to learn a lot of stuff

And every day, that ‘form we wore – and though begrudged

To tuck in our shirts, we did with a huff.

Miss Rogers, our teacher, worked us to the bone.

She laughed when we cried, “Are you serious?!?! AND IN CURSIVE, TOO!”

She chuckled when we would whine and groan.

But, we knew she loved us when she said, “Here, let me give you a little 
c l u e….

And, “Yes, you can. Yes, EVEN YOU!!!”

Treasures was a BLAST!

And did you know that I just used onomatopoeia.

Well, I did. And if you asked

“What is that?” I would smile and say it’s used in poetree-a.

Another totally awesome writing tool is “PER-SON-I-FI-CATION.”

A really long word, for a trick we dig, especially in “Nacho and Lolita,”

Our favorite story, where Nacho is in love and uses SONG-I-FI-CATION

To make Lolita fall in love with him and come to his casita.

Science was the best- we all had so much fun!

Bill Nye rocks and made us laugh about so many strange things,

Gravity, Ecosystems, the Moon and the Sun,

Our hearts, brains, skeletons, and Saturn’s rings.

We got our creative juices flowing with writing and art,

Using different styles and genres made us kinda scared

“What if mine is ugly?” “It’ll be great, just get a start!”

We all are creative, smart, and brave- BECAUSE WE DARED!!!

So, now it’s time we wave good bye,

To José, Mr. P, Miss Rogers, and all our pals at Dixie Sun

True, it’s sort of sad, and some might cry,

But come August, we will be back for another year of fun!

                                                                                      -written by Miss R

I couldn't decide which of these pictures of "mis monos" I liked better. . . so I am posting both!

A. Rogers May 2011

A. Rogers May 2011

Blurred vision

A. Rogers May 2011

Original 

A. Rogers May 2011

Antiqued

A. Rogers May 2011

Soft glow 

While taking a stroll down Main Street recently, I took some pictures of my favorite statue in town. It reminds me so much of my childhood when my big sister and my dad would swing my little sis and me by the arms. . . spinning around and watching the world in blurred vision until it seemed like I could spin right out of their grasp and fly right off into the clouds.

So I am just wondering which version do you like best?

D-reaming of the past

A. Rogers May 2011

Old time candy shoppe

A. Rogers May 2011

Sometimes I wish I could have been a kid 50 years ago when life was more simple. 

The hardest part of being a kid was deciding if you wanted to buy ten pieces of penny candy or use the whole dime on a chocolate bar.

Main Street, USA

 

Nothing says America like an ice cold Coke and Cracker Jacks at a baseball game. I love the idea that a local store had to take an old Coca Cola cooler and turn it into a planter for rose bushes. <3

A. Rogers May 2011

Blossoming

A. Rogers May 2011

My zucchini has started to blossom and I am getting so excited. Anyone have any good recipes, let me know. Of course, I always love a good piece of zucchini bread.

Nearly June or Nearly March?

The weather today was so crazy! Cold...not way too cold, but much colder than normal, and way rainy! What happened to spring? Here we are close to June and still, at times, it feels like winter. That old groundhog definitely called it wrong this year. But, I do love the rain..., and check out the colors it brought to the sky tonight!

A. Rogers May 2011

Dixie Sun's got Talent!

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, I used everything you gave me."  

~ Erma Bombeck

"Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What's a sundial in the shade?" 

~Benjamin Franklin

So today was the first rounds of our school spring talent show. We had our class talent show and I had four groups of kids that had prepared something. They were all so awesome! The acts were

1. Humorous skit where Bigfoot kidnaps a girl in the supermarket.

2. Humorous skit involving helium balloon voices.

3. A jump rope demo to music.

4. A dance act entitled "MATRIX" to Taio Cruz's "Dynamite!"

The kids voted and the votes were close, which was awesome! I am glad I didn't have to vote or break ties because it would have been real hard. The two winners were "MATRIX" and the jump ropers.

Here are a few pics of the "Matrix" group, which was the most popular, and the easy winner. They were funny. They didn't tell me beforehand what they were doing, so they started by doing back flips and front flips, and landing back first on the floor. I finally gave them some pillows and pulled the pad off the reading bench. I told them to bring some pillows on Friday.

 A. Rogers May 2011

Posterized 

 A. Rogers May 2011

Solarized

 A. Rogers May 2011

Solarized

They started out in this strange "dead man" sleep position. LOL.

A. Rogers May 2011

Posterized

peas please

A. Rogers May 2011

Yellow rose of Dixie

A. Rogers May 2011

Original

A. Rogers May 2011

Soft Glow

tomatito

A. Rogers May 2011

I have one little tomato that has been growing for about a week. I love to watch it every day as it gets a little bigger and bigger. I may have to eat tomatoes this summer, after all.

The Old Gym

I don't accept this "Red Storm" thing. Once a "Rebel," always a "Rebel"!!!

I love this picture and giving it an antique finish, creates the "old gym" feel. It makes me think of "Hoosiers." I love the feel and the smell of an old gym! I remember when I played basketball in middle school and we would play at the old Moorpark High School gym (built in 1919). This brings back those wonderful memories.

A. Rogers May 2011

Desert glory

Today we went on a field trip to Snow Canyon State Park in Ivins. I took over 300 pictures! You know me...well, I thought I would share one of my absolute favorites. I just love the brilliant yellow of the flowers against the rust color of the sand. Spectacular!

A. Rogers May 2011

Dixie Sun is so HOT!

A. Rogers May 2011

In school, I have been talking to the kids about Vincent VanGogh, Claude Monet, and other artists of that time period. We started a pointillism project on Wednesday. I decided to do one of my own to keep up in the classroom. I am so proud to be able to be a part of the school that I am at. We have an amazing program and I love the dual immersion and the music in addition to everything else that we are doing. I believe we offer the best education in Southern Utah, maybe even in the state. Our students continue to make wonderful progress despite their circumstances and the labels placed on them by the community. We are HOT!

Painted Pony

A. Rogers May 2011

 I love to drive down Riverside Drive and see the trees, the river, and the animals. I fell in love with this sweet baby the minute I saw him! Isn't he beautiful?

Pretty close to perfect

green grass. new jeans. old flip flops.

A. Rogers May 2011

Ahoy, mateys!

I think I was a pirate in another life. Nothing is so magical to me as the idea of sailing the seas with a parrot on my shoulder and an eye patch torturing poor, innocent ship captains with all manner of evil actions, such a keel hauling and whipping with my cat o nine tails. Aye!
Ok, so maybe it is just a dream, but I do love anything to do with pirates, and when we got a PI Pizza a few years ago, I had to try it out right away. I was surprised too. For a family fun center, this is no Chuck E. Cheese's! The atmosphere is amazing! I feel like I am at Disneyland, and what's more, the food is great!!!!
The real magic in anything is the ability to sweep you out of reality and into imagination and Pirate Island does just that!

A. Rogers May 2011

B&B

A. Rogers May 2011

Touching the other side

I love the feeling I get when I am downtown in the historic area of St. George. I have always felt a feeling that I can not explain when I am in that area. It is the most wonderful feeling, almost like I can somehow connect with the spirits of those pioneering souls who built this beautiful town in the desert. After finding out that one of my father's ancestors not only came to settle St. George, but literally built much of the town with his own two hands (David Rogers helped build the temple, the Opera House, many homes, and the Tabernacle in 1871), I now believe I can understand what that feeling is. It is the spirit of Elijah testifying to me that those men and women built this town for me and I am here because of them.

A. Rogers May 2011

Ironman

A.Rogers May 2011

Tomorrow is the annual Ironman competition here in town! It is such an inspirational event. Many citizens of town get involved with volunteering at water stations, and such, just to have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the athletes and to cheer them on. It starts with a 2.4 mile swim at Sand Hollow Reservoir, then a 112 mile bike ride, topped off with a full Marathon! I can't believe these people can survive this! But the way the community gets involved is just as inspirational! As I was driving home today along the Marathon route, I saw these signs someone had posted all along the hill. Some were encouraging sayings like this, and others were encouraging messages to specific individuals. What a great idea!

"wrapping" things up

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.

~Washington Irving

A mother is one to whom you hurry when you are troubled.

~Emily Dickinson

Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love.

~Mildred B. Vermont

A. Rogers May 2011

We "wrapped up" our Mother's Day
activities today with a writing activity and by wrapping our presents! They are so pretty, aren't they? The kids are so excited to give their moms their cards and presents. They have been asking me all week when they get to take them home. . . now to get ready for my mom!

Getting ready for Mother's Day...Preparamos para dia de las madres

A. Rogers May 2011

Yesterday, I was thinking, "What can we do today?" It was 8:30 am and, I hate to admit it, I had nothing ready for the day. Don't worry. I am really good at winging situations like this and we have plenty of things we have started working on recently that we could do, but with it being testing week, I wanted to think of some low key things to do that didn't require much stress. I was looking through my craft drawer and found a package of foamies the perfect size for picture frames, some puzzle pieces, and some aquarium rocks. That was it! I got my camera, we took pictures in front of the tree, I printed them out, and we were off! I think they turned out really cute. I also found a poem on the internet that translated really beautifully into Spanish, (although without the rhyme) and I cut, pasted, and laminated them last night. Today, I hot glued a piece of rope to the back and put the poem over it and wa la! We have a Mother's Day present!

A. Rogers May 2011

For cards, I found a really cute idea on the internet. I didn't do the same project but I took the sign language "I love you" hand idea and went from there. We cut our hands out of foamies and then I hot glued the two middle fingers down and from there, they could write "I love you" in English, Spanish, or both and then use foamie shapes and decorate a card as they wished. Tomorrow, I think we will do one more Mother's Day activity and then we will be ready.

A solemn moment

A. Rogers May 2011

This morning I was impressed with the boys who were putting up the flags. As I watched them, I could see the respect they were demonstrating for the flags of their state and their nation. It touched my heart especially with the events of the past few days.

God Bless Our Soldiers!

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that"

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

A. Rogers Sept. 2010

This picture was taken at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. It is an annual tribute to the fallen of the attacks on Sept 11, 2001.

It was announced late last night that Osama Bin Laden and some of his men were killed in Pakistan a few days ago. Although I do not glory in the death of anyone, I am glad that he is gone. The lives of so many lost patriots over the last nearly ten years are now avenged. Hopefully we can soon find more of his men and bring an end to this war. I want to express my gratitude to the soldiers who fight for our protection and the basic human rights of people around the world.

My favorite place

A. Rogers May 2011