Happy Thanksgiving from Squanto's daughter

In honor of the first Thanksgiving I went to school this past week as Sacajawea for the Jedi Knights class. They just completed their Lewis & Clark Expedition. I memorized facts and managed to turn it into a 45 minute speech about her life. Not much is known about her life, but I was creative in my telling and created a fun and interactive life store. (She was 100 years after the first Thanksgiving btw.)

I then went up to the school a 2nd time as a Wampanoag Indian--daughter of Squanto--and read a Thanksgiving book to over 15 classrooms. It was a blast. I made the entire costume, so I wanted to wear it moer than once. I even hand sewed beads onto a leather belt and sewed even more beads onto my ribbon headdress. My Mama would be sooooo proud.....

Marengo Cave Visit

The reflection of this lake was breath taking!

The weather was in our favor when the Gym BF came to visit--thank goodness. We couldn't have asked for better weather to go visit Marengo Caves. There are caves throughout IN and KY, but this one had been given rave reviews from my entire dental staff. I checked prices and bought us the 2 - 4- 1 passes online. I'm so glad I did. We had a great time! Our guide, Savannah, was amazing. I think J-Bird had a man crush on her as he was glued to her the entire tour. Or maybe he was  glued to her because he just had to be first....whatever the case may be the boys were well behaved and truly enjoyed exploring the caves.

The last time they were in a cave was with Papa in Colorado and they were only 3 & 5. I believe they will remember this visit more than the last one.

We went on two different tours. One was 1/3 mile and the other was over a mile. We got to see stalagmites and stalactites. We got to try and stick a penny in the mud ceiling (no luck there.)

The glare reflected from the flash.
Horrible picture. 

KY Bourbon Trail Day Three

So, in order to do the Bourbon trail in the most expedient way and to make sure we were conserving gas--we went to the Evan Williams Speakeasy Tour located on Main Street in down town Louisville. One of the most spectacular views in Louisville is by walking across the Big Four Bridge. I've done this with most of the visitors who come to the knobs. (If we didn't walk on it, we drove by it and I pointed out the Louisville Belle--a steamboat Prince Charming worked on.) I planned for us to park on the IN side of the bridge, walk across the bridge and downtown to the tour at Evan Williams. It was over a five mile walk....oh gah...On our way to the bridge we encountered a Color 5k. The people in charge of the road told me to 'just go around the runners.' FAMOUS LAST WORDS. I am talking to Gym BF about how stupid and annoying it is that they don't close down the road. As I'm pulling in to the parking space at the bridge I notice (and hear) sirens behind my car. I WAS BEING PULLED OVER. WHAT?!?!? Yep, I was told I was driving haphazardly and was a danger to the runners who were wearing headphones. The way I was swearing in and out of the runners was reckless. He gave me a warning and I went on about my way. I had to vent for the ENTIRE walk across the bridge, but after we started drinking Bourbon I was better....

After awhile the tours get a bit redundant...FUN FACT....so for the Evan Williams Tour the GymBF and I decided to step up our financial investment and go on the Speakeasy tour. You have to know the pass word to enter the pub and once in the room you are transported back into the years of prohibition. It was a great tour. Our guide was dressed in attire from the 1930s as well a the decor of the bar. We got to try a 23, 12 and 9 year old Bourbon. We also got to try a Rye Whiskey not even available to the general public until January! That was super fun. Since we went on this tour we were allowed to buy Bourbons in the gift shop that not everyone else can buy. That was really cool!

I really LOVE Evan Williams Egg Nog, so Gym BF treated me to an early Christmas present. Five down, four more to go....

Kentucky Bourbon Trail Day Two

On Friday we dropped the boys off, went for a walk, cleaned up and hit the road for day #2 of drinking. You just can't beat the Bourbon trail. The state of KY has limited the samples--only 2 ounces, so not enough do to any kind of damage. Good thing since I dislike  Bourbon.

Day two was down to Bardstown, KY--home of Bourbon. We went to THREE! We hit up Jim Bean, Maker's Mark and Heaven Hill. We also went to Mammy's Kitchen in Bardstown and I was extremely disappointed. According to TripAdvisor it was a great restaurant. I don't know if it was due to the lunch crowd on a Friday or what, but it was super slow and put us in a rush to get to the last distillery! The pie--however--was a coconut cream pie that was pretty darn good...as the GymBF told me about a 1,000 times that day.

The first stop was Jim Beam. It has a great and interactive tour. You get to add the grain to the masher, fill a White Oak barrel and bottle your own Bourbon. There is tasting throughout--of the grain mash, of the White Dog or 'Ghost' Bourbon as well as Bourbon straight out of the barrel with the charred oak floating around in it.

GymBF was asked to help fill up a brand new barrel of Bourbon. I caught a lot of funny pics, but thought I would spare him the embarrassment! HA! If you are his friends and want blackmail pics, email me! :)

GymBF thumb printed his own bottle of KnobCreek. Kinda exciting!

Jim Beam is a great tour. I have now gone on it twice. I am a Jim Beam expert. HA! It is fun to hear the different tour guides. The one thing I heard on EVERY tour--and remember, I went on NINE is...

FUN Fact! (And they all start with that...fun fact...) There are more barrels of aging Bourbon in the State of KY than there are people!

























After Jim we went to Maker's Mark and Heaven Hill. Heaven Hill only had one tour left for the day, so we were forced to drink $249.99 Elijah Craig, $189.99 something or other and McKenna and Larceny. Heaven Hill also makes Early Times *my fav* Old Fitzgerald and Evan Williams. They distill a LOT of Bourbon.

It was fun to taste 20PLUS year Bourbon. Tasted the same to me, but what do I know???

KY Bourbon Trail Day One

The gym BF came to town---I think it was to see me and the boys, but his ulterior motive was to drink the best Bourbon in the United States....and that is found in the state of KY. He was here for six days and we spent four of those days visiting the nine disterillies on the KY Bourbon Trail. We started in Louisville at Bulleit. It was a great tour and not too far from my house. We got to see the only historic Cooperage left from the old days! I had been on three of the tours when my Dad came to town, so after a few more days of this I knew I was going to be a walking, talking knowledge head of Bourbon! (And I am!) 

We 

After our tour of Bulleit it was time to take the GYM BF to the most notorious place in Louisville--Churchhill Downs. Thankfully they run fall races from Nov. 1-29, so we were in for a treat! We took Obe Wan's advice and placed on money horse to place. There are three types of bets: Place, Show, Win. Horse Gambling is more difficult than it looks. I lost $21 and made 9. Whatever. We enjoyed the races and we had the place to ourselves.

GymBF and the boys

Halloween has come and gone...

So, I've been MIA. It is okay because the holidays are here and I have been super busy! Making costumes, entertaining guests and raising brilliant little boys! (I'll get to that in a future post....)

I realized I didn't even post pics of the Jedi Knights for Halloween. I find I am not scrapbooking as much as I used to and only took three pictures of the boys on Halloween. Kinda sad. I don't know if I just don't like it, don't want to do scrapbook without my girls or what!?! I hope to catch up again because I don't want to have tons of pictures on my phone and none printed for my boys. I hear that is more the trend than not, but how sad. :(

EVERYONE loved the Foxy costume from Five Nights at Freddys! He was a smashing hit. AND I mean that literally as he couldn't see diddle squat out of the mask. We did turn on the glowing lights in his mask and it creeped little kids out. I would say if Obe Wan couldn't walk in his costume, it was a successful Halloween! He picks the darnest things to be!

Witch, Foxy & Pirate

We trick or treated at some friend's house in Louisville. Around 7 we left and came back to our HOA Halloween party for another round of candy! It was odd not going to Nana's work and getting a horde of candy. We are learning as we go as to what we do when we are away from family. New traditions are being made....

J-Bird = Pirate
Obe Wan = Foxy the Pirate
Squared = NBA Player (Neighbor kid)

Book Review: My Wild Family by Laurent Moreau

The cover and the title made me anticipate a story about animals, but much to my delightful surprise I found My Wild Family by Laurent Moreau to be a book about what makes each and every one of us special. The narrator describes each member of her family and puts a picture of the animal she feels best represents their personality within the confines of daily life. She tells us her brother is strong; we find her brother on a school playground with his peers except he is a glorious gray elephant!

I have to admit it took me a minute to grasp the person being described was an animal. I had to flip back to the beginning and find the animal being described and then I had an "Ah-HA" moment. Clever. The vivid colors and the scenes kept me grinning like a fool as I kept reading this book. How great to think of my family as animals---oh how my brain was already thinking of how to use this in the classroom....

In the classroom: (My favorite part)

Run to your nearest Dollar Store and buy a pack of cheap paper plates! Now, read My Wild Family to your classroom; make them identify the author and illustrator of the text (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6.) " With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear" (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7.) This ensures your students become familiar with the animal being a representation of a member of the narrator's family.

Enlist the help of your librarian and allow your students to go to the library to select a book about an animal they believe they are; thus, answering the last question the text asks, "What makes you special?" 

On Sale Date: November 3, 2015

ISBN: 9781452144238

Publishing Party for the Jedi Knights

  The opportunities at FKE for my boys  have been wonderful. We had Parent Teacher Conferences this week and I'm pleased to announce they are both passing 3rd & 4th grade. Thank GoodNESS!

Last week they had "Publishing Parties!" Each boy had to write their own story, illustrate it and publish it. It was pretty exciting! Obe Wan wrote about a golden retriever and an adventure in the woods entitled, Strange Dog.

J-Bird wrote a story about golden retrievers as well. I truly think my boys need a puppy. The old lady just isn't up to the snuff little boys need around the house. Sigh. I'm not sure I'm ready for that one!

J-Bird entitled his book, Dogs On the Run. He actually selected a spiral bound cardstock paper book to transfer his story on to. It was very professional looking.

Both boys are loving Floyd Knobs Elementary and so do I. God has a plan---sometimes it isn't what we think or what we plan, but it usually works out in our best interests.

Book Review: Need by Joelle Charbonneau

There are books that stay with you days, months and sometimes the rest of your life. I am a vivacious reader and find that most times I remember the gist of a book, but not always the minute details found within the numerous pages. With this being said, I must say that NEED written by Joelle Charbonneau has seeped into the very soul of my being. I will no longer consider the Internet a friendly environment for anyone I even remotely care about. It is a scary void of unknowns and can creep into the most innocent of lives.

A social media site has entered into the lives of Wisconsin's Nottawa High School students. It is a place where members invite members and NEEDs are obtained. It is a simple website. It merely asks you what do you NEED? It defines needs versus wants. It has clearly stated rules and regulations---this is the fine print with a large box you check with your mouse before even reading the details because you just want to move on to the next screen. We've all done it. Who reads the terms? Who actually scrolls through all the legal jargon? No one--especially when you can get a new Iphone, a laptop, or even a kidney. This is what Kaylee Dunham needs for her brother to live--a new kidney.

This is Kaylee's story, but is told from the perspective of multiple NHS students as they explain their requirement and the justification behind what they are doing  in order to get what they NEED.  The uncomplicated NEED website spirals out of control as the membership starts to decline, the NEEDs rise and the demands are met. The website is clear in stating it is the decision of the person to accept the fulfillment request--nothing is given for free. When Kaylee turns to the authorities for guidance the site is conveniently down making her look the part of the fool.

As innocent as this website looks, the death toll starts to rise. Innocent lives are lost due to the denial of the self proclaimed innocents. Over one winter break the lives of the NHS students are shattered because of social media. The question Kaylee must discover is who is behind NEED and what must she do in order to take it down before it destroys more lives.

Full review can be seen at Booksandwhatnot.com

ISBN: 9780544416697

For Sale: Nov. 3, 2015

Dressing up is not just for kids!

So, for a Mom whose children go to an elementary school that DOES NOT allow any sort of Halloween activity I dressed up three times in ONE week. I must say also that Amazon Prime does lie during its busy season and the 2 day shipment is only valid when you don't HAVE to have something on time! HA! I ordered a Pilgrim costume as I was dressing up as Abigail Williams, Puritan Girl accused of witchcraft during the 1692 Salem Witch Trials, and NEEDED a costume by last Thursday when I was going to FKE to read MY story. HA. It showed up at 10 a.m. the day I was already up at the school reading! HA! What a mess. SOOOOO, I ran all over the big city of Louisville desperate to find a costume and the best thing they could get me...a nun costume. Whatever am I gonna do with that? Yep, stay up until 2 in the morning sewing a costume. Did I mention I was supposed to make 48 cupcakes that evening....not be sewing a costume. I did find a bonnet, but the store wanted $9.99 for it. HA! I'm not paying that price---I can make that. FAMOUS LAST WORDS.

Not at all attractive and makes me
look like the size of a boat house, but it worked! 

Thanks to a mattress cover found at the Goodwill for $2.49 and this blog--The Waag Blaag--I was able to create a costume for Ms. Abigail Williams. I had to make a mad dash to Wal-Mart at 8 p.m. when I realized I didn't have any ribbing and I didn't have interfacing. AHHHH. I also had to make the collar twice because I made the head opening WAY too large. Nothing is simple. By 11 p.m. I was cursing the fact that I didn't buy the TEN DOLLAR bonnet. OMG. What the heck was I thinking?


I read "The Legend of Spookely the Pumpkin" to all the K, 1 and 2 graders. I reenacted Abigial's story for the EXCEL classrooms. What a fun day!

I'm pretty sure the staff thinks I'm insane or the best volunteer ever.




Earlier in the week I went to Borden elementary and read "Two Little Witches" to several classes there.

On Friday, I went back to FKE and was the mascot for the morning because they were having career day! I even had Firefighter Klein escort me around to protect me from all those little hands! I had fun dancing and being obnoxious! Thank goodness my boys are good kids and enjoy their crazy mother! HA!

Hillcrest Neighborhood, Louisville, KY HALLOWEEN HAUNTS!

On my way to an appointment this week I drove through this amazing neighborhood. I knew I had to fit in a run, so I figured after my appointment I would retrace my steps and jog through this neighborhood. They had selfie opportunities throughout the neighborhood, but I refrained as I was a sweaty mess. Here is what I saw on my C25k RUN---which I might add was one of the best miles I have run EVER--I ran a 9.15 min. mile. Unheard of. I'm so glad I was entertained on my run! I need to run somewhere like this more often....

Colts Game Pics!

Merry Christmas to our family! 

We bought eight tickets--four for our neighbors and four for us! We bought four tickets four rows up on the 40 yard line and 4 tickets up in the horseshoe section (located above Prince Charmings head.) Obe Wan and I volunteered to stay up in the horseshoe section and little J-Bird and PC stayed down below. PC and J-Bird couldn't quit grinning like idiots. It was SUCH a fun day to see both boys grinning like fools. Although the Colts lost to the Saints it will be memories will all have and hopefully can cherish. 

We drove up EARLY Sunday morning to Indianapolis---home of the Colts! Jen & I were in one car so we could talk/gossip the whole way and the boys all rode in the van. They have two boys; one is 17 and the other is 12. We truly enjoy their family and the three youngest hang out all the time together. We went to Palomino's Resturant for a Colts Brunch. It was yummy! They showed us around town: Pacers Stadium, Hard Rock Cafe, Veterans Memorial and a lot of homeless people. It was enjoyable. Very similar feel to downtown KS City. 

  And then we went to dah, dah, daaaaa--Lucas Oil Stadium. It was awesome!

We were early so we got to watch #4 Adam Vinatieri warm up his kicking leg. We got to see the General Manager schmooze with some people ALL BECAUSE WE WERE RIGHT DOWN IN FRONT!!!!
 Obe Wan and I did just fine from up above. We were directly over the entire field, so I thought we had better seats. We got to watch #12 Andrew Luck throw balls into the middle of NO where. It was awesome! What you don't get to see on the television was (I believe) the most exceptional for the boys to see---the entrance, the pregame events and the sounds in the stadium!

Thanks to our neighbors for orchestrating this event---I don't think we would have ever bit the bullet and bought such amazing seats.