Montclair Elementary

DRUMROLL PLEASE....I FINALLY got a job!  This has been a crazy week in the ways of job hunting.  Last Friday I actually got offered a job but declined it because the commute was just going to be way too long.  It was easily going to be at least a two hour commute everyday and with one car right now that just didn't seem like such a good idea.  A lot of thought went into this as we were worried to decline (just in case another job didn't present itself) but we just didn't feel good about it.  

Tuesday of this week I got a call for an interview with a school district I hadn't interviewed with before.  It was a brand new school with a lot of really neat programs.  Wednesday I went in for the interview with the three directors of the school and felt like it went really well.  They told me I would know their decision by Thursday.  

THEN Wednesday night before I went to bed I checked my e-mail.  I don't usually do this (since I am home all day and check my e-mail throughout the day) but for some reason that night I did.  And in my inbox I had an e-mail from a school I had interviewed with over a month ago.  I had absolutely LOVED the school and the people all seemed wonderful and friendly (something I haven't experienced much of here - unfortunately) and the job was actually something I was interested in and wanted.  But then the school ended up having to hire another teacher and so they didn't have enough funding to hire me on as well.  I told them to keep me in mind if something else changed.  

So the principal e-mailed me and asked me if I was still available because they had a position that had opened up.  I was floored.  Here I was waiting to here back from another job (that looked really promising) when I get this opportunity as well.  I quickly devised an e-mail telling her that I was very interested but was on a bit of a time crunch, because if I was offered the job at the other school I didn't want to tell them an "I don't know."  Also, the job that was listed when I went on the district website was a different job then I had originally interviewed for for a lot less pay and less hours.  I asked for the specifics and asked if she could get back to me as soon as possible.  

The next morning I woke up and at 6:30 AM she wrote me back saying she was going to talk to some people and see what they could work out.  Five minutes later I received another e-mail saying that they could offer the other job to me, at three dollars more an hour than originally states, and during the full school schedule.  I was thrilled.  

So I am now the newest employee of Montclair Elementary School.  It is an older school in the heart of Denver but it seems like it is in an okay neighborhood with good people in charge.  My official title is the Reading and Writing Specialist.  Basically (my understanding of it is) that I will be working with grades 3-5 devising lesson plans for small groups in different reading levels to help them achieve to the best of their abilities.  I am really excited for this because it allows me to still be coming up with my own curriculum and work with students and hopefully help them achieve their fullest potential.  I am just excited to get into the swing of things again.  

I feel so incredibly blessed with this opportunity.  I am so grateful that Mark and I listened to the Spirit throughout all of this and waited for this opportunity to present itself.  I really feel like I will be able to learn a lot from this experience and the environment.  Can't wait to start!

Eight Months

On Wednesday we celebrated our eight month anniversary.  Maybe "celebrated" is too strong of a word, but we acknowledged the day and were able to spend some time with one another.  I went and got Captain America while Mark was still at school and surprised him when he got home.  We got in our comfy clothes and watched the movie and had dinner.  Nothing too exciting but time is sure flying.  I can't believe that Halloween is practically here and the rest of the holidays are right around the corner.  So excited to be able to enjoy all of these first as a married couple now.  Month #8...CHECK!

I actually really don't like this picture, but oh well, we had to celebrate the moment, right?!

The Stanley Hotel

Each month we want to make a tradition to do something new in our area.  I went online (as I don't really have any other network or knowing what is going on around here) and found out that apparently Colorado is REALLY into their ghost stories.  As a teenager I went to the Haunted Houses, Corn Mazes and things like that.  But here they truly believe in A LOT of different places being haunted.  It seems like every day this month on the radio we hear of another place on the radio or clips of recordings they have received from some paranormal activity.  It has been interesting.  

Anyway, we have been looking at this little town for a while because to be honest, it kind of reminded us of home.  It is called Estes Park, and it is just about the only little town right next to Rocky Mountain National Park.  It's only about an hour and a half away from where we live so we thought we would head up there.  We are actually planning on going there Thanksgiving weekend since we are not planning on having any company or anything come to visit.  But, the reason we went this month was because there is a hotel up there that is quite famous we learned.  It is called The Stanley Hotel - and it also happens to be one of the most haunted places in Colorado.  

Now before anyone thinks we are totally crazy - we are NOT paranormal activity seekers or anything like that.  We won't really go too much into what we believe in or not - but I don't really think spirits linger here to scare and torment people, or at least I like to believe that that is the way it is.  

Anyway, the main reason this placed appealed to us is because it is in a beautiful area and the history of the hotel is pretty cool actually.  So I went online and made reservations for one of their ghost and history tours a couple of weeks ago.  They have MANY different options for tours, anything from the little kiddos to die hard, middle of the night with your solar cameras and such.  We picked the kiddie tour.  The age limit was five and up on the first one we went on - so we were feeling pretty safe.  

We absolutely LOVED our tour guide.  And it was neat because we were able to go in rooms and things that we would never have been able to otherwise.  Just as a bit of history, in summary.  In 1903, F.O. Stanley (who was the co-inventor with his brother to the Stanley Steam automobile) came to Estes Park in the hopes that it would help with his tuberculosis.  Stanley's health improved tremendously, and in 1909 he opened the Stanley Hotel for his wife and their guests from back east that would come during the summer.  

This is the front of the hotel

I can't remember the proper title this room had, but it was pretty much the ladies room in the hotel.  I think I would have been just fine sitting here listening to this piano all day and looking out at this view down below!

This is the view from the "ladies room."  I loved the look of this room.

This was the dining room - beautiful!

 Other than its beauty, the Stanley Hotel is known for it's "haunted" nature.  Stephen King was inspired to write "The Shining" after he and his wife stayed in this hotel the night before it closed for winter.  We were the only people in our group that hadn't seen or read The Shining before but we were okay with that :) 

The Room #217 was the room that Stephen King and his wife stayed in when he was inspired to write the story.  We weren't able to go inside because the room is booked six months in advance.  I guess people ENJOY being scarred - personally, I enjoy my sleep :)

At the end of the tour was when they told more about the ghost stories of the hotel.  We went up to the fourth floor of the hotel which is where the maids and children used to stay - children met to met unseen and unheard it seemed.  Anyway, our tour guide says that they get calls almost nightly from people staying on the third floor asking them to tell the kids upstairs to stop running around - and of course there are no children running around...OOOOO.  

Anyway, the most haunted room in the hotel is actually Room #401.  This apparently was the maid's break room of sorts back in the day.  Now it is a regular room.  However, it is rumored that this Irish man (who ran the town's - well, I don't know the proper name for this either, but we will call it - place to make a friend with a woman).  I was lucky enough to be called to be the demo girl during the tour for this segment.  We were standing outside the door and he had me come to the front and stand there and he showed the rest of the group what most females experience when they go into the closet within this room.  Usually a hand going down their back or arm, up their thigh, twirling their hair - you get the picture.  It was rather creepy.  Then SURPRISE...apparently we were the lucky tour that was able to go in because it had just been cleaned and the guests that night hadn't checked in yet, so we were able to go in.  

Our tour guide then took us into the room.  By outward appearances I would never think that there was anything unique or odd about this room.  The tour guide asked if I wanted to go in the room - I flatly replied no.  There was NO WAY I was going in that room.  Three other woman volunteered, and although none of them came out screaming they all agreed it was pretty creepy.  Personally, I think you are going to feel what you want to feel.  So if someone tells you things are going to happen and it is going to be creepy...it's probably going to be creepy.  

Anyway, Mark and I both went away from this tour thinking it was really interesting to hear the history and see the hotel, and that it was just the right amount of "spookiness" for our Halloween season.  However, it actually ended up to be a better deal if we did two tours instead of just the one.  So we had signed up for the "Concert Hall" Tour.  The age limit for this one was ten and up, so we thought we would still be okay with this one.  

We had a different tour guide for this one and we weren't quite as fond of - Scary Mary as she called herself.  She took us over to another building, the Concert Hall.  We immediately took notice that Scary Mary's tour guide personality was far different than our first one.  Our first tour guide took a more realistic (we thought anyway) approach to the sometimes peculiar and "spooky" things that would happen.  Scary Mary was a die hard, go out pretty much every night and look for ghosts type of gal.  

She took us to the Concert Hall on the main floor and told us some stories there and then took us down to the basement...and then things got a little weird...too weird for our liking actually.  And Scary Mary proceeded to tell us this little tale.  Apparently the basement of the Concert Hall was left unfinished until 1995.  And in 1977 (I think) a young woman named Lucy, who apparently looks quite like me (Scary Mary told me - yea, VERY comforting) who was 23, five foot three, who lives in Estes Park with her parents had had a disagreement with her parents over a boyfriend she had been seeing and so she left home.  Lucy having no place to go broke into the Concert Hall and lived in the unfinished basement by the furnace to stay warm.  Since the basement was unfinished no one went down there to check in that frequently.  But in January a security guard found her and told her she would have to leave.  Apparently they found her frozen to death in the city park.  

But apparently Lucy still lives in the Concert Hall - and we were off to go visit her.  Ummm...I did NOT like where this was going.  Everyone else in the group seemed to be really thrilled at this idea.  I, on the other hand, honestly just wanted to leave.  So we went into this room where the furnace is, because that is where Lucy wants to be - nice and warm (words we heard over and over from Scary Mary).  Let me tell you, this whole experience on this tour was just bizarre.  I felt like I was the crazy person for not believing and clinging to every word that Scary Mary was saying.  

So, we went into this room and after talking to us for a minute, Scary Mary wanted us to shut off the light.  Mark and I were in the back corner - about as FAR away from the furnace door as we could possibly get.  There were occasional times when Lucy was out with us (yes, CREEPY) when Scary Mary said it was okay for people to take pictures or play recordings on their phones.  People kept saying they were seeing "orbs" and blue sparks.  It was a little too much for me.  I didn't see anything, and you know what, I am okay with that :)  This is all Mark and I got when he took a picture on his phone. 

I don't see any orbs or blue sparks...

Back to the right is where the furnace is, everyone else wanted front row seats for her appearance, we were fine with our back row

Towards the end, apparently Lucy was standing by us - goody - and Mary asked everyone to stretch out their arms and we could feel her come in between us.  This was the video Mark took on his phone.  Listening to the dialogue is fairly entertaining, just showing how much people were just soaking it all in...

 Mark was standing behind me and I pretty much made him have a death grip around me the whole time.  If you listen closely you can hear me say "I don't want to."  Mark was trying to get me to hold out my hands with the rest of the group - I don't think so!  Anyway, kind of funny what people were saying. 

We then ended the tour by going out into the main room in the basement where Scary Mary told us about her "spirit children" that follow her.  We got to play ring-a-round the rosy with them.  It was crazy and makes me laugh when I think back on it.  But anyway, I don't think I would ever promote going on that tour - but the first one was a lot of fun and the whole day was filled with things we will probably never do again (which I am okay with) but I guess it was interesting.  Unfortunately, I am pretty sure I can never stay in The Stanley Hotel now because of what I have heard, but oh well, hopefully it was worth it :)  

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Mark's First Haircut

The title probably really should be "Mark's First Haircut - Given by Elise."  Haha.  I have NEVER cut hair before.  There was a time freshman year of college when my roommate Liz wanted us girls to cut her hair and I bowed out pretty much right after we started.  And I am sure I was WAY more scared then Mark was in all of this, but I actually think it turned out good.  I am not going to start advertising my hair cutting skills anytime soon (probably never actually) but at least we weren't running to the Great Clips down the street or anything :)

BEFORE

He is trying SO hard not to laugh

This may be my favorite picture...haha, it makes me laugh every time I look at it!

AFTER!

The Moldenhauer Crew

Mark and I were so lucky to have his sister, Teresa, and her family come for a visit the last week.  We weren't too great at taking pictures the whole time but we did get a few.  

Everyone came Thursday night and we went out to a yummy dinner at the Olive Garden.  Friday, us girls relaxed during the morning and then went swimming at our pool in our apartment complex.  Daniel had to go to some Ace training and Mark had school.  Friday night after dinner we went to the Denver Aquarium.  Mark and I had been here once before on our honeymoon and thought it was pretty cool.  

We LOVE the seahorses!

The girls trying to give kisses to the fish

This shark looks hungry :)

 

 On Saturday we went to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.  It was a TON of fun!  We had never been before and Mark and I have already decided that we have to go back.  There was SO much to see and do there.  I wish I had gotten more pictures there but I guess we were too busy just soaking it all in :)

They had a neat mummy exhibit - thought of Melina - maybe one day we can make our own trip to Egypt :)

Their main exhibit was the T. Rex Encounter.  They wouldn't let us take pictures but it was pretty awesome.  We also watched an IMAX movie about dinosaurs - loved it!  But they did take our picture at the end.  

It was a PERFECT day - we had a gorgeous view of downtown from the museum.

On Sunday we just took it easy.  We went to church and then decorated sugar cookies and walked around our apartment complex.  It was a good day. 

Monday turned out to be a very rainy, cold day.  We ended up going to Denver's Children Museum.  It was pretty awesome and I hope the girls had fun.  

They had a fun grocery store for the girls to shop in and check out.  ADORABLE!

I cannot believe this is the only picture I took all day!  Oh well - it was fun.  

We were so grateful to spend some time with family.  We love you all!

The Big 2-3!

I am starting to think that every birthday from here on out is just going to sound like I am getting old!  I know I am not - but 23 is starting to sound very adult like :).

Yesterday was a great day though!  Mark actually had a final in one of his classes.  [To add to the already intense manner of the classes - they condense some of the classes to be done in half a semester - WORK WORK WORK!]  So he didn't have to go in until his test at 1:00 so he slept in a little since he was up late studying and I just did the regular things around the house.

Once he was done with his test - which I am sure he aced because the boy is a genius, I tell you! - we came home and dropped off his school stuff and left for our afternoon of fun.  Mark had another final AND quiz today so I didn't want to do anything too crazy so he could get home and study.  But we ended up going to a little town about thirty miles east of here to their farm.  I thought it was a just a pumpkin patch but they had this HUGE corn maze, inflatables, hay rides and all of that fun stuff.  

Since everything was included in the price we decided we would at least do the corn maze.  It was supposed to be a "kiddy" corn maze so we thought we would just go through "really quick."  An hour and a half later we came out!  It was trickier then you might think - but we had fun and it wasn't busy at all.  Yet another big difference between Utah - Monday night here does NOT = family night.  It almost felt like we had the whole place to ourselves!

We had a booklet we were supposed to complete as we went through.  The rub-ons were our favorite! 

 Serious concentration going on here - tongue out!

 This is the picture of the map of the maze!  It was tricky!  Wish we could have carried this around in our pocket the whole way!

I love coming out this way - even though I miss the mountains I love being out in big, open spaces.  It makes me miss our good ole' country livin' days :)

 

These were some of the "spooky" houses and things they had around the edge.  

After the maze, we took the hayride over to the pumpkin patch part of the farm.  Pretty much all of the pumpkins were perfect!  

After we were done, we drove back into town and had dinner at Chili's - so yummy!  We then stopped by and got frosties on our way home and watched an episode of Seinfeld while we ate our frosties and then opened up some cards and presents.  

It was a WONDERFUL day!  Had so much fun just spending time with my hubby!

Stand in Holy Places

I am so grateful for General Conference.  It is truly one of my favorite times of the year.  I look forward to it almost like it is a holiday.  Conference last week was also so great to listen to after an emotionally exhausting week.  I decided that I wanted to write down some of my favorite lines from the Prophet's remarks. 

I recently had been thinking about what I could do to get more out of my scripture study.  So I went onto the Church's website and found a bunch of study aids! PERFECT!  I have also been missing my Institute classes.  I wish we lived closer so I could still participate in those.  So I bought The Book of Mormon Student Manual for Institute classes and have been reading that along with my study of the scriptures.  I have LOVED it!  I love being able to read commentary given by prophets and apostles in relation to the scriptures.  Also, it has been such a positive experience being able to sit and ponder over different questions that they pose in the manual.  I am reading in 1 Nephi and a couple days ago read about why Nephi wrote the plates.  He did is unknowing the reasons why but believing that it would be a help and a strength to those that did read it.  Our Prophets today are teaching and speaking for the Lord.  I have made it a goal to really try and immerse myself in their words - as they are for our good and what our Heavenly Father wants us to know now.

I know that we have living Prophets and Apostles who guide and teach us and will never lead us astray.  I know that The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and that if we but read it and pray to know of it's truthfulness, we will receive an answer.  I know our Father in Heaven loves each and every one of us - that we are His children.  I know He wants to hear from us, He wants us to be close to Him.  And I am grateful for these words of comfort given from our Prophet, Thomas S. Monson.  I hope it gives you even a little boost, like it did for me.  :)

"Our Father in Heaven is the same yesterday, today and forever.  The prophet Mormon tells us that God is "unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity."  In this world where nearly everything seems to be changing, His constancy is something on which we can rely, an anchor to which we can hold fast and be safe, lest we be swept away into uncharted waters."

"We must be vigilant in a world which has moved so far from that which is spiritual.  It is essential that we reject anything that does not conform to our standards, refusing in the process to surrender that which we desire most: eternal life in the kingdom of God.  The storms will still beat at our doors from time to time, for they are an inescapable part of our existence in mortality.  We, however, will be far better equipped to deal with them, to learn from them, and to overcome them if we have the gospel at our core and the love of the Savior in our hearts.  The prophet Isaiah declared, "The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever."

"My beloved brothers and sisters, communication with our Father in Heaven - including our prayers to Him and His inspiration to us - is necessary in order for us to weather the storms and trials of life.  The Lord invites us, "Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me."  As we do so, we will feel His Spirit in our lives, providing us the desire and the courage to stand strong and firm in righteousness - to "stand...in hold places, and be not moved."