THINKING OF SISTER

We are thinking of you Sister, and your family.

Hope to see you soon.

We love you very much!

A Visit to the Magic Kingdom

Today I went to Disneyland with mommy's former student Jonathan. 

He is 9.

We rode on a lot of rides today! 

We love Fast Passes and our favorite ride was Big Thunder Railroad.

I am a much better driver this summer than I was last summer.

Here we are in front of the Matterhorn Bobsled Mountain ride. 

We rode that too!

I love the Lion King!

What is strange with this picture? This little girl sat next to me on the Monrail back to Downtown Disney. She talked a lot and grabbed my hand to hold. Her name was Shannon and she just turned 4. This was weird, but mommy thought it was cute and took a picture. She said I need to be polite.  I still think it's a little strange!

SUMMER QUOTES 2008...

"Slow to speak. Quick to listen. Slow to anger." 

- E.McManus

We finally made it to church last Sunday and this was the quote that struck me. The topic was problem solving, conflict, and saying sorry. The story of my life with Daniel! We both have the same temperament so it's been a constant power struggle. I am going to try to live by these words and see where it leads. Wish me luck!

Summer quotes by Daniel:

"This is really good!" 

- Discovering the joys of a Slurpee from 7-11.

Watching Camp Rock: 

Mommy: "Joe Jonas is really cute." 

Daniel: "So am I."

Daniel: "How old is he?"

Mommy: "20, no 18?"

Daniel: "Wow!  I thought he was older!"

After buying Daniel a Lunchable, because there was a chance an Anakin Skywalker collector card was underneath the nacho chips, 

I made the comment: "You are an expensive boy."

Daniel responded with: "Did you have to buy me?"

SISTER IS HERE!

Sister (Julia) is here!  She is spending some time in Los Angeles before she heads off to college at Colby in Maine. Mommy picked her up on Friday and I think they went to a movie, but they didn't tell me because mommy knew I would be mad. Rumor has it they went to see The Dark Knight on opening day. Mommy doesn't like movies like that, but maybe sister does.

After Expo Camp, (we went to Universal Studios and yes, I rode the Simpson Ride), we went out to dinner at Marie Calendars. Sister said she does not eat at any restaurants that are not rated an A and they cannot be in a strip mall. Mommy thinks this is ridiculous, but will obey her "rules" because she loves Sister.

They gave me a huge chocolate chip cookie for dessert! Sister and Mommy were very happy they gave me a huge chocolate chip cookie for dessert.
Every time Sister comes, she teaches me something new. Today, she taught me how to make WOW~ with my fingers and mouth. Can you read the WOW? She is a very talented girl!

Somebody needs to take that camera away from Mommy. She can be annoying!

JB in 3D!

Daniel on the Jonas Brothers Concert at the Pond filmed in 3-D for a soon to be movie.  "It was fun. I liked the part when they sung, sing."

We had to wait for a long time outside and it was hot. I told mommy I was ready to go home and that I missed the dogs. (She did not let me leave and said something about me paying her for the tickets if we did.  I don't have any money.) I decided to stay.

Here I am taking a sip of Sprite before the show. 

I am really glad I stayed. It was awesome and mommy enjoyed watching me sing and dance. She is glad I have some rhythm.  We got to see a girl from Camp Rock, Alex from the Wizards of Waverly Place, and the Jonas Brothers' parents.  Mom was excited because she saw the guy from Reading Rainbow, LeVar Burton. She loves Reading Rainbow!

Demi Lavato came out to sing songs from Camp Rock and there was fire too!

WASHINGTON DC DAY #3

I started off the morning doing more brainstorming at PBS. There are some amazing shows for kids coming this fall including the best science show I have ever seen! It's going to be great and the content is totally focused on science and the processes... there are songs too! I also found an amazing website for beginning readers that I am going to send out to parents this fall. It's good to be out of your comfort zone. Technology is definitely outside my box, but I am excited about the challenge! 

After lunch, my friend, Dr. Gail, picked me up and we went walking around the "mall" again. We actually went to both the "mall" and a real shopping mall too! It was a good day and good company!  Enjoy the pictures...   PS: Loribeth, we didn't make it to the National Archives because they were closed. But that is where the Declaration of Independence is kept (did you see National Treasure?)

This was the Korean War Memorial. I loved this quote... makes you realize how lucky we are to live in a free country.  I know I take that for granted sometimes.
This is a platoon of men from the memorial. Beautiful.
 World War 1 Memorial
National Natural History Museum... reminds me of our own NHM... except 

we don't have the Hope Diamond. It's  beautiful, it's blue, it's old, it's a diamond.
The view walking towards the Lincoln Memorial. The reflection pool is in front of it.  Note: I wore flip flops today!
Here I am standing in front the Lincoln Memorial steps where Dr. King made his "I have a dream," speech.  That's the Washington Monument behind me in the background.

Honest Abe: Gail said that his hands are making the signs for the letters A and L (Abraham Lincoln... urban legend, weird!!!)
Here I am with Dr. Gail, who drove in from Fairfax County to play tourist with me!
A video from the Lincoln Memorial...

It's a little hard to reflect by the reflecting pool when there are workers drilling with big machines!

Here's the Washington Monument. I didn't want to walk up the stairs and the windows looked pretty small, although Gail assured me if we went up, they would be bigger, but we just enjoyed it from a far.
Someday Daniel will be in this picture, but after the NYC experience, I think we need to practice walking before we go touring again!
I loved this tree!  It was quite stunning in real life.
This is one of the newer memorials... The World War II Memorial. Really beautiful.
Standing in front of my home state.  

WASHINGTON DC DAY #2

I started my day having breakfast with education policy makers and the former Secretary of Education, Richard Riley. How cool is that to hug a former Secretary of Education? Pretty darn cool! Then I took a cab over to PBS headquarters and hung out with cool teachers that knew way more about technology then I do! I love learning!  Here are some highlights of the day...

The great thing about having dinner in DC is that you get to walk the "mall" on the way back to your hotel.  The bad thing... wearing heels is not a good idea! Ouch!  (In front of the capital building)
This is one of the most amazing buildings around. Not just because it's beautiful and old, but it's the Supreme Court House. Where decisions are made... and law is interpreted!

Washington Monument at sunset from the Capital Building.

Another king size bed!!!
And flat screen TV too!
Here I am at the Shakespeare Library!
They have a lot of stuff about Shakespeare here, obviously...
Indian dinner tonight. I put a little bit of everything on my plate and regretted only two things... the funky lemon mixture and lamb! (but it was too late, I had to eat the piece I had in my mouth... my mouth doesn't like lamb!)  No room service tonight!

WASHINGTON DC 2008!

Nothing is better than a king size bed after spending 5 hours on a plane!
Hotel room in the Fairmont Hotel in Washington DC.
Ordering room service because everything is closed around downtown DC at 11:00pm at night, but I am still on westcoast dinner time. So it's soup, salad, asparagus, and a large bill for tonight, but it's all good!  Tomorrow all my meals are free and catered so how can I lose?
Here is the purse, that held the small (travel) wallet, that I left in the cab from the airport, that the nice doorman Adem ran after to get back for me... it would not have been a good thing if the light would have changed green at the corner and the Taxi disappeared into night! Ugh! How lucky was that. I gave Adem a 10 spot. Not much for saving my trip, but there was a lot of gratitude that came with it!  Now back to my soup and salad!

FIREWORKS AND CRAZY DOGS!

The 4th of July in Alhambra always makes me nervous. Fireworks are allowed in the city as long as they are not airborne. Funny, I can see fireworks shooting in the sky from the living room window right now... and Lucy and Katy are not big fans of loud noises and big bangs!

Indiana Jones plays with sparklers!

Indiana Jones likes fire way too much!

Is It Normal?

Just wondering if it is normal to play basketball buck naked? 

Just wondering...