Saturday, April 13, 2013

Like... Totally Awesome!

Kind of a random post here today.... But I had to share it with you all!  If you are like me, you not only love great teaching ideas....but you love getting to know more of the "WHO" behind the blogger!  So here is a little social-life snapshot!   Last night one of  my best friends hosted an...
 
80's Murder Mystery Party!!!

This is a picture my daughter took of my husband Troy (playing Mork from Ork character) and me (Teen Pop Star, Debbie Gibson).  It's amazing how BIG I could still make my hair!  Look at those curled under bangs... and the fur coat with massive shoulder pads! RADICAL!
 
It was sooooo much fun!   I was cast in the role of make believe 80's pop teen star, Debbie "Gribson."  (Sound familiar? Debbie Gibson)  Other guests included slightly altered versions of Paula Abduel, Jessica Rabbit, PeeWee Herman, Madonna, Ozzy Ozborn, Toni Basil, Scott Howard (Teen Wolf)... and many more.  It was a BLAST!  It was a night of clue collecting, mayhem, dance-offs, trivia challenges, and more.   If you have never hosted or attended one of these parties....it's a MUST DO! 


Pic of me and "Cindy Lauper"...notice "The Karate Kid" in the background!  


The party kits can be purchased online for about $30 (you pick the theme!).   The digital downloadable kits provide the agenda, cast lists, clue kits, etc! (There are several sites who offer these party kits, but we happened to use one found on www.mymysteryparty.com)
 
 My own children got SO excited about watching "mom" and "dad" dress up in costume and then re-tell how fun it was that guess what I'm doing tonight??
 
Yep!  Hosting a children's "Millionaire's Mansion Mystery Party" for my kids, their cousins, and some of their best friends! (See www.dramaticfanatic.com) It's spur of the moment....but isn't that what life is about!  Squeezin' out the fun!
 
 
The night was... LIKE...  TOTALLY RAD! 

Monday, April 1, 2013

Spring Break.... AND my "Celebrity Sighting!"

 
Happy Spring Everyone!
I just thought I would take a few minutes to share what I've been up to for the last few days.  My family and I hopped in our Suburban and headed out for Washington D.C.!  Hunter and Alexa, my twins, are in 5th grade this year...and well... as they say "No one is smarter than a fifth grader!"   They have spent the entire school year learning just about everything about U.S. history, so we thought that it was a PERFECT time to take the family to D.C.  Here are a few highlights from our trip!
 
 





We (Me, Troy, Hunter & Alexa -- "the twins," and Colton) started our D.C. adventures by taking in a Washington Nationals game.   (Truth be told, we actually went to see the YANKEES play.  How fortunate were we that the Yankees just happened to be playing in Washington the first day of our visit?!)
 
 
 
 
It was my kiddos first time on a Metro Subway. Here is what the twins looked like on their first ride....
 
 
 
Next we went to the National Zoo in the morning to see the animals... specifically the anteater, my son's favorite animal EVER! (See picture below.)

 
 Then, to the National Archives to see
THE Declaration of Independence. 
YES!  THE original.   Soooo COOL!  Sorry folks. No photographs of THAT allowed! 

 
 
Then to the White House!
We tried to get tickets in February to the Egg Roll on the White House Lawn...but no luck! 

 
 
 
Here is a pic of Lexi feeding a park squirrel. 
She LOVES animals!
 
 
 Here is a random photo that my children insisted on taking of me...Holly...by a holly bush!

 
Made our rounds at the Smithsonian Museums!  Our highlights were the "Star Spangled Banner" (People...it is HUGE! You'd be shocked to see the size of the flag that flew over Fort McHenry when our anthem was written!)... Dorothy's original ruby slippers...and of course, Able the Space Monkey (from Night at the Museum 2 movie).
  
Poor little dude...I didn't imagine him locked into a seat like THIS for his entire journey!  (His journey only lasted about 30 minutes.... so I guess that makes me feel better??)
 
 
We visited Arlington Cemetery.  How do I even express this in words??  
 
God bless our soliders.
 
We visited The Tomb of the Unknown Solider and saw the changing of the guards.
 

 
 
Picture this... I was walking up to the top of the steps to get a better view of the tomb....
and LO AND BEHOLD...
 
CELEBRITY SIGHTING!!!
 


 
I kid you NOT!!!   At the top of the stairway stands Kim Adsit!!! 
Yes...THE "Kim" from The KinderGals Blog!
 
AHHHHH!
 
If you have never met Kim... YOU MUST!  She is a gem!  SOOO incredibly sweet and warm!  She took the time out of HER day to visit with me and my family.  (If you are like ME... my FAV bloggers are household names!  Today even my husband said, "I turned around and saw you talking to some lady...and then I said to myself, THAT'S KIM ADSIT!"  LOL) 
 
Friends... If you haven't been to one of Kim's workshops or conferences, it's a MUST!  Check out her site at www.Kindergals.blogspot.com!  (I say that like you don't already know her!?  I know you all do! She's THE best! Hee!)

Slide4
Click on the pic above to check out Kim's latest and greatest TPT unit!!!  It's a "MUST-HAVE!"

 
 
 
We visited the various memorials.
 
(We traveled with our best friends and their kids.  This is a picture of all the kiddos!)







 
 
This is me pointing at my cousin's name on the Vietnam Memorial Wall. What GRATITUDE I feel for his sacrifice.
 
 
 
Ended our few days in D.C. with a visit to the Capitol.
 
Tomorrow we are off for Philly to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall!  More pics to come! 
 
 
 
TIP:  If you are thinking of taking a trip to D.C. the Embassy Suites at Chevy Chase Pavilion is a GREAT place to stay!   VERY happy with our stay here....and the Metro is right in the basement! 
 
 
Blessing to you all! 
Hope you all are enjoying a restful break!