Piece of Me

Another day.  Another Chloe story.

Chloe and I were just finishing up our Walmart shopping trip.  Walking to the registers we were just having a nice conversation.

She pauses and out of no where she says, "Mom, I love Bon Jovi."

A female Walmart employee is walking beside us and cracks up laughing.  She looks at Chloe and says, "I love Bon Jovi too."

She then asks Chloe, "Do you love Journey too?"  Chloe quickly says, "NO!"

The lady is shocked and says, "What?  Journey is the best."

It was then that I saw it.  The ornery face.  Before I could stop her, she gives the lady a dirty look as says, "Do you want a piece of me?"

Open Up Those Books

It's time again.  School is starting.  For all of us!!

Chad and I begin our classes today.  Chad is continuing with his two class plan.  It's definitely a struggle to fit in time for two classes with his work schedule, but he's dedicated to trying to get done as soon as possible.  I've decided to tackle five classes this semester.  I'm not sure I was in my right mind when I signed up for that many, but we'll see how it goes.

Cody and Samantha start on Wednesday.  Cody will be in the 4th grade this year.  Samantha will be in the 3rd grade.  They seem fairly excited about their year ahead and the new teachers they have.  It's just going to be a struggle to get back into a routine of early bed times and early mornings.

Miss Chloe is also starting school this year too.  She is going to be going to Preschool every day in the afternoons.  She has mixed emotions about this.  She really wants to meet new friends and go to school like her brother and sister, but being separated from Mom is going to be a little sad for her.  I'm expecting a few rough days/weeks, but I hope that once she realizes how much fun they have she'll do great!!

Here's to hoping that our new school year is filled with kind teachers, new friends, fun memories and lots of knowledge!!

Unexpected and Wonderful

During one of our days in Hannibal, Missouri we decided to go see the Lighthouse just a short distance from our motel.  When we arrived at the top of the hill and spotted the Lighthouse, we also noticed that there were two women up on the platform too.  They were taking pictures and enjoying the views of the Mississippi River too.  

We offered a friendly hello and they quickly replied with a hello and we struck up a great conversation about where we were all from and how long we had been visiting Hannibal.  The conversation was so wonderful and pleasant, we were still talking a half hour later.  

One of the women was Noriko and she is from Japan.  She is doing a type of student/teacher exchange program.  Noriko is a teacher at an after school program in Japan and was very interested in learning and seeing more about Mark Twain.  

She talked with the kids about how American and Japan schooling is similar and different.  She had a Mark Twain book that had both English and Japanese words in it.  

Noriko also made each of the kids something in origami with Japanese paper.  Chloe got a crane.  Samantha got a bird.  Cody got a ninja star.

Samantha's bird.

Chloe's crane.

Cody's Ninja Star.

Before we left, she also performed a Japanese street show with sticks.   

Fishing pole.

Fish.

St. Louis Arch.

Two flags.  US and Japan.

Fishing net.

Cody wanted to try.

He made the fishing pole.

And a fish.

A fish for Samantha.

And, a fish for Chloe.

It was amazing and such a learning experience.  We exchanged addresses and definitely plan on keeping in touch. 

A Visit to America's Hometown

On our way home from Chad's family in Iowa, we decided to stop in Hannibal, Missouri.  Hannibal is the the hometown of Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain.  Hannibal sits right on the Mississippi River and has so much to see and experience.

The small town feeling is so welcoming.   The view of the river is amazing.  And, the amount of history here makes kids of all ages feel like there is a time long ago that would have been so amazing to experience.  I've never been one to enjoy history, but when you are able to see and experience the sights and monuments, it makes it so real.  So captivating.

The first evening we got there we went for a walk down to the River.

Mark Twain was a Steamboat Pilot

The Mississippi River

We had supper here the first night.

Belly's are full.

Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain's father's law office.

The town was bursting at the seams with charm.

The Lighthouse.

We went on a trolley ride around town.

Mark Twain statue

Mark Twain Mississippi Riverboat

The view from Lover's Leap was breathtaking.  Hannibal is in the background.

A view from Lover's Leap.  Hannibal and the Mississippi River.

We also got to see "The Unsinkable" Molly Brown's birthplace and museum.

Her trunk and clothes would have been similar to this when she was on the Titanic.

She was on her way to Hannibal when the Titanic sank.

We really enjoyed our visit to Hannibal and plan to return sometime soon to visit the cave's and maybe take a riverboat ride.  There was so many things to do and see, with just not enough time. 

The relaxing and slow pace of the town was a perfect getaway from the bustle that will be starting with school and fall activities just around the corner.