The Great Outdoors

Tomorrow I'm off to Northern Minnesota to canoe for 5 days in the Boundary Waters. It's one of my favorite trips. There's no bathing, no cell phone service, possibly bears and bird like mosquitoes! What could be better?

I'll be off the grid for a few days enjoying the beauty of several of Minnesota's lakes. Wish me safe bus driving, good weather, and few bug bites. See you all when I get back.

Wizards V Machester United

Manchester United is one of the best teams in the world and they came to KC! Well, let's be honest, they didn't play their best players. It was a great time. We started out tailgating and then headed into the new Arrowhead. There we watched the Wizards win! Yes, that's right. We won! The final score was 2-1. It was a great fun!

After the game we headed back into the parking lot for another beer and hot dog while we waited for the traffic to clear out. It was Legendary! Thanks Nan for planning a great day!

New Classroom!

As much as I hate to admit it summer is slowly coming to an end. That means I have to get back to the classroom. And this year that means a little more work than last year because I have a new room. Here it is!

Obviously not ready for students, but I'll get it there. It's a great room, but I have to move everything around to make it feel like home.

I think I'm getting close to start putting posters on the walls. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

IKEA Treasure

One of my IKEA finds is actually a towel rack, but IKEA showed it in one of their kitchens with mugs hanging from it. I loved it! So I bought two.

Here they are hanging under my kitchen cabinets. I love mugs and this is the perfect way to store and admire my mugs.

Thanks Dad for coming over to hang them! Love you!

Book Review of The Last Child

This book was a page turner! The Last Child starts out with a family falling apart because Johnny's twin sister has gone missing a year ago. It is suspenseful because you are constantly trying to figure out what happened to Alyssa. Then there is Johnny. What a strong thirteen year old desperate to find his sister. The Last Child is a good quick read. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Entering the 21st Century

That's right folks. I entered the world of the iphone. After a long standing history of resisting technology I have accepted the iphone into my life. Now just to be clear, I didn't get the new iphone, because that would just be crazy. Last week my mom, our friend John and I did a whole swap at the At&T store I ended up with my mom's old iphone. It's pretty fun. My favorite feature it the post it app. If you love post it's you'd love this app. A great way to keep track of you to do list.

Technolgy, welcome to my life. (Now if only I could get my beloved ringtone back...'Let's go to the mall....today!)

Starved Rock

After our visit to Chicago we headed an hour outside of the city to Starved Rock a beautiful state park just of I80. It is reported to have about thirteen canyons and waterfalls but we only visited two. The one above has the best water and I climbed just behind the waterfall for a photo.

This one had a little less water but was beautiful regardless.

It's a beautiful park and well visited and FREE! So if you happen to be driving along I80 schedule a little time nature.

I'm on a Boat!

Most of you know by now that I love a good boat tour. I convinced my parents to drive into the city while visiting the Chicago area for a boat tour. This was a very informational boat tour. While floating up and down the river of Chicago our guide told us all sorts of information about the buildings that I couldn't even begin to repeat. Here I am on the top of the boat while we wait to go through the lock of the Chicago river.

Did you know they reversed the flow of the river and boats have to go through a lock to get into Lake Michigan?

Did you know that after the great Chicago fire they pushed all the debris into Lake Michigan actually expanding the size of the city?

This was my favorite building. It was designed by a woman, and all those little ripples are balconies.

IKEA

My mom and I originally decided to go on our road trip to look for a bookshelf at IKEA, but as you all know I already found a gem of a bookshelf at Good Ju Ju. This didn't stop up from doing IKEA up right. We found quite a few fun treasures. And they had us just where they wanted was because we stopped for lunch in the little cafe.

Many people suggested we had to try the meatballs. So try them we did. And they were pretty good. If you have an opportunity I believe IKEA is worth all the hype.

Lincoln Museum

On our road trip up to the Chicago area my mom and I stopped at the Abraham Lincoln Museum. It was designed with the help of Disney and the final product is very entertaining. If you're driving through Springfield be sure to stop and check it out.

Pears!

Last year Lisa and I took a watercolor class and learned about poured watercolors where you mask off different parts of the painting and pour the primary colors over the entire paper. Lisa and I both made pears for our final project. Much like Monet's waterlilies my three pears are split up. One at my mom's house, one with Victoria in Virginia and finally the last set of pears has a home in my kitchen. I'm happy their all out there. If you want to see more of my poured watercolors you can visit the Olathe Public School Education Center where two are on display.

Summer Painting

24x30 inches

Thanks Victoria for the inspiration!

I love buying furniture!

As most of you know the art of antiquing was instilled in my from a very young age. But now I don't roll my eyes when it's time to stop at an antique mall. In fact, I encourage my friends to go with me. Carrie, baby Olivia, and I went to Good Ju Ju on Friday. Since we didn't have to work we went early and it was a good thing because we both found great finds! I've been keeping my eyes open for a new bookshelf because I have all these books that used to be in my classroom that I won't be taking to high school. And I found this...

After calling my mom from the West Bottoms, and waiting in line for forever, I bought this beautiful bookshelf. Carrie (and Mark's truck!) helped to get it home I move the old college book shelf into the yellow bedroom and starting moving all my books around.

I love the detail! I've been really looking around and they don't make them this cute anymore. (At least not in my price range!) So head down to Good Ju Ju the first weekend of August to see what you can find!

Carrie,

When you get your treasures like you want them take pictures and we'll really convince people how cool Good Ju Ju!

The Nelson Revealed Part 4

The feature exhibit at the Nelson right now is a collection of photographs (vintage prints) by Edward Steichen. This collection is from the time that Steichen took photographs for Vogue. There are many famous people in these photographs a few of whose name I recognized. Unfortunately I wasn't allowed to take photos of the exhibit so you'll just have to go see it for yourself. (This was the one photo I took before getting reprimanded...you'd think they'd post that info) Only at the Nelson until July 25th!

"Take good photographs and the art will take care of itself"

Edward Steichen

The Nelson Revealed Part 3

She's here!!

2,300 Year Old Nobel Woman Meretites

(Well she's not actually here. Her mummy is actually missing but we have the inner case, outer case, and a protective apron)

Go check her out! She's pretty cool!

Steven is One!

Happy Birthday Steven!

Kathryn and I have been best friends since high school so I love her little baby Steven like a nephew. Here Kathryn and Steven visit the zoo.

And here Steven shows off his first hair cut!

I love books so Steven is getting some big boy books for his first birthday. No more baby board books for this little guy.

Hope you have a wonderful birthday Steven!

If you want to hear more about Steven's adventures look here.