Spring Break – Pellegrini Page

On The Road Again

After a couple weeks on the road, I’m back home and reflecting on a busy start to spring—work travel to Microsoft HQ, family time in Washington, and a snowy Spring Break in Colorado. Jessica has exciting news about her teaching role, and our summer calendar is already packed with trips, visitors, and more adventures to come!

After two straight weeks of travel, I’m finally back home and settling into my regular routine—and honestly, it feels pretty great. The first leg of my travels took me up to the Microsoft campus in Redmond, Washington, for an annual Microsoft Research event called Project Green. It brings together researchers from all over the world to share ideas, collaborate, and learn from each other. Since I had just joined my new team a few weeks earlier, it was the perfect opportunity to meet everyone in person and get a better sense of the work going on across the org.

Being back on the Microsoft campus after several years away definitely stirred up some nostalgia. As I walked between meetings, I found myself remembering the various buildings I used to work in and the people I met along the way. This was actually my first full five-day, in-office work week in five years—no surprise I was completely wiped out by the end of each day! I’ve gotten pretty comfortable working from home, so running around all week for meetings and events was a real shift.

Since I don’t make it up to Western Washington very often, I tried to pack in as much time with friends and family as I could. My cousin Kristy picked me up from the airport and graciously let me crash at her place the first night. The next morning, we met up with her parents—my Uncle Jim and Aunt Brenda—for a delicious brunch at a new Mexican spot. It was a great way to kick off the week, and even better, they called later that day to let me know they’re planning a trip down to Vegas in June! We checked our calendars, locked in some dates, and now they’re all set to visit us—and finally see our new house. We’re all really looking forward to it.

On Sunday night, I got to catch up with one of my oldest friends, Michael—my best man from our wedding—and his wife Kirsten. We hung out at their beautiful home in Burien with an amazing view of the Puget Sound, then headed out for dinner. Later in the week, I squeezed in a few more visits with friends and family, though I didn’t get to see everyone I had hoped to. The workdays were packed, but I made the most of the time I had. All in all, it was a great trip, and I’m really grateful for the experience. Jessica and the kids would’ve loved being there too—hopefully next time we can all go together. For now, I’m just happy I had the chance to reconnect with so many people and have such a productive week.

Spring Break in Colorado

Jessica and the kids picked me up from the Vegas airport on Friday night, and—true to form—the Seattle rain must’ve hitched a ride with me, because it was raining in Vegas too (which almost never happens). It felt amazing to sleep in my own bed again… even if it was short-lived. Saturday flew by with a full schedule: laundry, some work for Cappers, a quick house project, and coaching softball practice. Then, bright and early Sunday morning—like 4:30 a.m. early—we hit the road for our Spring Break trip to Colorado.

The drive to Grandma and Grandpa Martin’s house took about 11 hours, which is pretty typical. Traffic was light, weather was clear, and honestly, with adaptive cruise control and lane assist, Jessica’s Odyssey practically drives itself at this point.

Compared to last year, there wasn’t much snow on the ground at first, but as we climbed Ute Pass, it started to thicken up. Once we got settled in, we spent the week doing all kinds of fun stuff around the house: sledding, riding 4-wheelers and snowmobiles, baking cookies and pies, building fires, and playing lots of Yahtzee. The kids had never played before, but they picked it up fast—Elise and Enzo each rolled three Yahtzees in one game, scoring 440 and 441! I’ve been playing that game since I was their age and still haven’t come close to that.

I was working remotely during the week, so I couldn’t join every activity, but I made sure to get out with Jessica for a long walk each day to enjoy the mountain air. One afternoon, everyone drove down to Granby for some outdoor ice skating—I had to miss that one, but it sounded like a blast.

My favorite part of the trip was Friday night. We all went to see a local high school production of Mean Girls in Frisco. I’ve always had a soft spot for theater (I did a few plays growing up), and I was really impressed by the kids’ performances. They did an awesome job.

Saturday was super low-key—we mostly hung around the house while the kids built snowmen in the yard. I cooked dinner most nights during our stay, and that afternoon Jessica and I caught up on the latest Top Chef episode. Since the show’s set in Canada this season, the challenge was to make poutine. I’d never made it before, but I was inspired to give it a try—and it actually turned out pretty great. Definitely adding that one to the rotation.

We hit the road again early Sunday morning, around 6:00 a.m. Fresh snow meant we had to take it slow coming down the mountain, and traffic on I-70 was crawling at first. But once we got past Vail Pass, things opened up. The scenery through Utah was stunning as usual, and by late afternoon we were back home in Henderson—trading snowy roads for sunshine and 80 degrees!

We braced ourselves for a rough Monday, thinking the post-trip reset would be brutal, but surprisingly, everyone bounced back like pros. Enzo had rock climbing on Monday night, Ava and I were back at softball Tuesday, and Elise jumps into figure skating again later this week. Breaks always go by too fast, but we’re super grateful to Grandma and Grandpa for hosting us. It was a great trip, full of memories—and maybe a few new traditions.

Exciting Times for Jessica

Jessica finally got the official news she’s been waiting for—she’s going to be the head teacher in her classroom next school year! It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster getting to this point, and for a while we weren’t sure if everything was going to line up, but thankfully it all worked out. Even though she still has some time left in her master’s program at UNLV (she’ll graduate in December), that won’t stop her from stepping into her new role at the start of the school year.

I couldn’t be prouder of her. She’s been crushing it—still pulling straight A’s—and I’ve never seen her this motivated. It’s so clear she’s found her calling. The kids at her school are lucky to have her, and I know she’s going to bring so much heart and energy to the classroom.

In the short term, she’s gearing up for a little well-earned getaway. This Friday, she’s heading to Tucson for a girls’ weekend with a few friends from Washington. One of them has a timeshare down there, so they’re planning to spend a few days hiking, relaxing, and catching up. It’ll be her second time making the trip, and she’s really looking forward to it.

She’ll be back Monday evening—but with a quick turnaround, since she’ll be heading straight from the road to her in-person class at UNLV. While she’s gone, I’ll be holding down the fort with the kids. We’ve got our first softball game on Saturday morning, and on Sunday I’m planning to take them to a Japanese anime convention. I’m sure we’ll find a few more things to keep us busy too. Should be a fun weekend all around!

Plans for a Busy Summer

Our summer calendar is already starting to fill up, and I have a feeling it’s all going to fly by in the blink of an eye. As I mentioned in an earlier post, we’re kicking things off with a trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico—literally the day after school gets out. A few days after we return, Jim and Brenda will be coming down to visit us in Vegas, which we’re really looking forward to.

Then, the same day they fly back to Washington, Jessica will be loading up the car and taking the kids to meet Grandma and Grandpa Martin in Utah for a big RV adventure. They’ll be spending a week exploring National Parks like Arches and Bryce Canyon, followed by another week hanging out in Colorado with the Tom’s grandson, Cole. It’s going to be the longest the kids have ever been away from us, but they’re super excited about the trip. I’m a little bummed I won’t get to spend Father’s Day with them this year, but we’ll make up for it when they get back. While they’re off adventuring, Jessica and I are planning a little weekend getaway of our own—maybe Zion or the Grand Canyon, we haven’t decided yet.

Not long after the kids get back from their grandparent road trip, our good friends the Palmers will be arriving for their annual summer stay. And on Elise’s birthday (July 14), our longtime friend and former neighbor Avery is coming down for her yearly visit. The kids don’t know about that one yet, but they’re going to be so excited—especially Ava, who still considers Avery her best friend.

We haven’t nailed down the details yet, but we usually sneak in a late summer trip to San Diego or somewhere else in Southern California before school starts up again, so I’ll do my best to keep that tradition alive.

All in all, it’s shaping up to be a packed summer, but that’s how we like it. The goal is to keep the kids active and off their screens as much as possible. With Jessica taking summer classes, she won’t be able to do quite as much with them as usual, so we’re trying to make the most of the time we do have together.

That’s about it for now. Below are a few recent family photos. See you next month!

Ava and Elise Pellegrini, Winter 2025 — Our girls are growing up fast!

Enzo and Jessica Pellegrini at the Lego Family Night — Jessica and Enzo at the school’s Lego Family Night

Enzo and Michael Pellegrini making dumplings — Enzo and I making Chinese dumplings at home. He says he wants to be a chef when he grows up, so I’m doing my best to train him early.

Enzo and Michael Pellegrini with their homemade dumplings

Elise and Michael Pellegrini in Frisco, Colorado — Carrying Elise into the high school play so she wouldn’t get her shoes all muddy

Enzo Pellegrini in the Colorado Rockies, March 2025 — Building a snowman at Grandma and Grandpa’s house

Elise Pellegrini in the Colorado Rockies, March 2025

Ava Pellegrini in the Colorado Rockies, March 2025 — No one loves snow more than Ava

Spring Break, 2023

An update on our 2023 Spring Break, including upcoming activities, preparing for a new family pet, and a few other exciting bits.

Since today is the last day of Spring Break, I wanted to give a quick update on how we’re doing and what we’ve recently been up to. We had plans to visit the Grand Canyon for Spring Break this year but unfortunately, that didn’t work out for a couple of reasons. That’s okay though; we live in a fun place with all kinds of things to do, so we decided to stay near home this year.

I don’t want to dwell on this, but part of the reason we didn’t go anywhere for Spring Break was that I ended up getting Covid-19 and had to quarantine from Jessica and the kids for about a week. That was no fun but I’m thankful that it wasn’t worse and most importantly, that I didn’t give it to Jessica and the kids. It’s possible that I got it from Jessica because she was experiencing similar symptoms about a week before me, but she never took a test so we can’t be sure.

The most disappointing part about getting Covid was the timing. Our good friends Tiko and Tina were married on Monday and I wasn’t able to join Jessica and the kids at the wedding. I also wasn’t able to attend Tiko’s bachelor party a couple of days before the wedding. I was pretty sad about this but there was nothing I could do besides stay home and rest. Luckily I was able to watch the ceremony online from a webcast provided by the chapel, so at least I can picture it, but I really wanted to be there with my family and friends. I managed to avoid Covid for three years, then it finally caught up to me at an unfortunate time, but all things considered, I can’t complain too much. I’m feeling totally fine now, and again, the kids never got it, which I’m most thankful for.

Since I was home quarantining, the kids spent several days of their Spring Break at my Mom’s house. Once again, having her help with the kids has been huge for us. She takes them on so many fun outings that Ava is now planning on writing a book about her adventures with Nana. My Mom often takes them to pet stores to view and hold various animals, but this time she took them to a full-blown farm where they were able to feed and play with all kinds of animals. She also took them to one of our favorite indoor trampoline places for a day of jumping and exercise. Ava smacked her face on a wall and has a bit of a black eye, but she’s fine.

School starts back up tomorrow, then we have several activities beginning shortly after. Unfortunately, Ava’s softball season was canceled due to not enough kids signing up. I tried to get her into another league but it was too late. We were all bummed about this, but we found some other activities to jump into. The kids are all resuming swimming lessons on Friday, plus Jessica and Elise will soon be starting a boxing class. Elise has been interested in trying out boxing for a while now and we thought doing it with Mom would make it even better.

Here’s a video the kids made for their YouTube channel taste-testing a few drinks from Starbucks.

Jessica and the Pellegrini kids ready for the House wedding! — Ready for the wedding!

Elise and Ava Pellegrini at the Cosmopolitan Buffet — The wedding reception was held at the Cosmopolitan Buffet. This was their first buffet and let’s just say the kids were big fans.

Preparing for a new family pet

We’ve been taking care of Jessica and Ava’s class pet, a leopard gecko named Mochi, during Spring Break. This is Mochi’s second time staying with us and we really enjoy having a lizard at the house. I’ve been wanting a bearded dragon for well over a decade at this point and I’m now happy to say that we have decided to get one! Jessica was never into the idea of having a reptile but after caring for Mochi she has changed her tune a bit. It’s still going to be my pet and I’ll be responsible for most of its care, but I’m cool with that. I look forward to having it on my shoulder while I finish up my work days at home.

I’ve been doing a lot of research on caring for “Beardies” and today I bought a home for it. It’s a 120-gallon tank, which is 4’x2’x2’ and we’re going to put it in Enzo’s bedroom. He has a huge room and loves the idea of keeping the dragon in there. I look forward to providing more updates on this soon, but at the moment we’re just starting the process.

Ava Pellegrini holding Mochi, the leopard gecko — Ava holding her buddy Mochi

A football game with Uncle Bob

Earlier this month I had the opportunity to spend an afternoon with my Uncle Bob at the XFL football game between the Seattle Seadragons and the Las Vegas Vipers. Bob and I have had a lot of great times over the years but for a variety of reasons, we haven’t been able to spend that much time together since my family and I moved to Nevada. I reached out to him at the end of January for his birthday to see if we could set something up and he got back to me a couple of weeks later once he saw Seattle was going to be playing Vegas.

Bob is the biggest Seattle Seahawks fan I know and has gone to great lengths to prove it. His whole SUV is covered with Seahawks paraphernalia and is even painted Seahawks colors. Based on his love for Seattle he has adopted the Seadragons as his favorite XFL team, but he pulls for the Vipers as well. Once he saw Seattle was coming to Las Vegas, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for us to catch a game.

We had a great time, especially during the fourth quarter when Seattle made an incredible comeback to win the game in the final minute. Not to sound dramatic, but as we get older I try not to take experiences like these for granted. No one knows what the future has in store, but that day was just like old times. It was a day we’ll never forget and I look forward to doing more things like this in the near future. We’re already planning a Las Vegas Aviators baseball game for this Spring or Summer. Here’s a video I made for the Vegas Showbiz YouTube channel about our experience.

Michael Pellegrini and Bob LaFleur at the XFL game between the Seattle Seadragons and the Las Vegas Vipers — Ready for the game with Uncle Bob!

Starting a small business

Another piece of exciting news that I have to share is that my good friend Devin and I have decided to start a business together. Back in September, I started getting interested in sports gambling. Obviously, considering what my Dad did for a living, this was something that I had a lot of familiarity with from my childhood. I never got into gambling while living in Washington, but here in Nevada it’s hugely popular, and more states are legalizing it all the time.

What I realized very quickly was that I’m not interested in gambling large amounts (my average bet is only $10), but what I am really into is the handicapping process. I started researching sports handicapping methods and gambling systems, but what I soon found out was that handicapping a game is a time-consuming process. A lot of research is required to see how teams have been performing, then a lot of math is required to crunch all the numbers and see if an edge can be found. Based on all of my programming experience, it was immediately obvious to me that I could significantly speed up the whole process by building a website that would consume all the data for each team and run all the math formulas.

I started building the website back in November and have barely missed a day of working on it since then. Even when we were in Colorado for Christmas break I was working on it daily. I didn’t initially intend for it to be a business; I just wanted to speed up my own handicapping process, plus I love doing web development but don’t get a chance to do that type of work anymore during my day job.

It didn’t take long, however, before I started seeing the value of what I was creating. What started out as a single NBA handicapping system soon started growing into much more. I was buying books and reading articles to learn new gambling systems. Before I knew it I was adding NHL gambling systems, then getting ready for baseball season.

Devin and I are very similar in many ways, and one of those ways is that we both like small-stakes sports gambling. I was regularly sharing my progress on the site with him and soon enough we decided to sit down and talk about the idea of turning it into a business. He is the most successful entrepreneur I know and the timing was right because he was just getting ready for his next venture. He’s been a Chief Technical Officer (CTO) of two startups, so his goal as the next step of his career was to take on the CEO role for a startup. This made perfect sense to me because I’m not ready to take on that kind of role, and I really wanted to stay heavily engaged on the coding and technical side of things. Thus, we’re 50/50 partners, with Devin being the CEO and me as the CTO.

We made the official decision to start a company earlier this month and have been very busy getting things going. Obviously, I can’t leave my day job anytime soon, so I’m working day and night to make this happen, but it’s worth it for me. We haven’t finalized a name for the business yet, but we’re doing our research and should be settling on that very soon. Part of that selection process has to do with whether a name can be trademarked and incorporated, and if a website domain name is available. Devin is focusing on all that stuff while I stay busy making updates to the website. Our goal is to have a soft launch before the MLB All-Star break, then have things fully up and running by the start of the next NFL season.

There’s a ton of work to do, but we see the potential and think it will be very successful. Devin is so bright with business ideas and has already come up with some great strategies. I couldn’t be more happy or lucky to have him as a partner, but our friendship always comes first. We’ve been close for a long time and we don’t want to let any of that change. It’s going to be a fun road and I look forward to sharing more about it as things progress.

I also want to stress that Vegas Showbiz isn’t going anywhere! The girls are already asking when they can take it over, but that won’t be for several years. We’re still regularly posting videos and just today we reached 500 subscribers.

That’s about it for now. I’m looking forward to our next monthly post because I assume there will be a lot to share. We have two different families who we are friends with that will be coming for a visit in April, so that should be fun. Jessica’s birthday is coming up at the end of April and I’m taking her to see Chelsea Handler’s comedy show that night, then the next day she’s heading off to Sedona Arizona to spend a weekend with her girlfriends from Seattle. Hopefully, by the next post, I’ll have more information to share about the business, as well as our bearded dragon. Here’s a few recent photos.