Driveway Chalk Art...In December

We had a beautiful December day this past Saturday!  Temps in the mid 50s, in December can only mean one thing....kids and moms can't wait for outside play time!!!!

Samantha and her friends spent their time decorating our driveway with chalk art.  It was a very welcomed sight!

Here's to wishing and hoping that our winter weather stays just like this!!

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. 

I'm a Stalker

Don't be shocked.  It's who I am.  I'm fine with it.  I've accepted this as one of "my things".  Some probably would call it crazy, but I call it "My Mission".  The story...

Cody went to a birthday party last Friday evening.  He had a great time.  At the end of the party, we were getting ready to leave and Cody and his friend were talking.  Quickly after their short talk, Cody comes over to me and asks if he can walk home with his friend after school on Tuesday.  After a short conversation between the other mom and myself, the arrangements were made.  

Cody has been talking about this since we finalized the plans.  I was excited for him too.  He hasn't had a close pal since we moved away from Waverly.  

So, the day arrives.  He is super excited this morning as we are going over the plans.  He will meet up with his friend after school and walk home with him.  

More specific instructions given by me:

 - Do not leave the school alone!

 - Walk straight to his friend's house!

 - If you cannot find your friend, go to the office and call me!

 - And, HAVE FUN!!

Well, 3 o'clock rolled around and we are leaving to go pick up Samantha from school.  I take a detour.  Just a small detour.  

I drive by Cody's school.  Watching, watching, watching.  I just want to see him with his friend and make sure they are headed in the planned direction.  No luck.  I don't see them. 

No problem.  I find a close side street.  I park.  I wait.  I have plenty of time before I have to pick up Samantha.  So, we'll just sit here until I see him walk by and then I'll go.  

No harm.  No foul.  

Did I mention that Chad is with me?  Yep.  He took Monday and Tuesday off.  So, he's with Chloe and I in the vehicle.  Laughing!  Laughing hard!!  He thinks I'm crazy.  (Please note that I have never denied such a claim)  I don't care that he's laughing. 

Pretty soon, I see him.  Yep.  All is as planned.  He is with his friend and his friend's dad.  Score!!

My crazy thoughts can be put to bed for today and I'll go about my afternoon more relaxed.  Cody will never know how crazy his mom really is, that is unless he hears his dad refer to that street near the school that I parked on as "Pshyco Avenue"...