Friends:

Today was Day 5 of my Stories on Board Residency. For the lower grades (K-2), I told the story of “The Littlte Red Hen Makes a Pizza” and sang my original song, “Pizza Party.” Then the students played the game I created based on the story of “The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza” called “The Little Red Hen’s Pizza Party.” The above picture is of me telling the story to a kindergarten class. Here is a picture of first graders playing the game.

The students really loved the Pizza Party game. It was a lot of fun. I even played the game with my second grade class, though I didn’t win…

In Grades 3-5, they worked on creating the board games based on the story assigned to their class. Today’s third graders were assigned the story, “The Three Little Pigs.” Here are some of the game boards they created. This one is called “Inspiring Pig.”

I loved seeing the collaboration and group cooperation! It was amazing to see these students share ideas, give each other suggestions, and implement their plans. This 3rd grade group’s game is called “The Pig Escape.”

My fourth graders worked with the story, “The Three Billy Goats Gruff.” The creativity of this group was amazing. There was “Trollopoly,” “The Triumph Over the Terribly Treacherous Troll,” and “Go for the Grass!”

In 5th grade, the students were assigned the story, “Henny Penny.” The students were amazingly into their project. They wanted to continue working on their boards even when it was time to end the class. They created some really cool games. Here is “Chickenopoly.”

This is a picture of the game titled, “Super Chicken.”

I can’t wait to see how my other students’ board games turn out. It’s going to be sooo cool!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Friends:

They say that “All work and no play makes Dianne a dull girl.” So Dianne took some time out to have a little fun. I went to a Hornets basketball game with Antonio, my husband. We had so much fun (yes, the Hornets won!) rocking out to music, cheering on the players, and participating in the crowd games. Here is a picture of one of the games they had during a break between quarters. Two fans had to run inside a plastic bubble and race around cones. It was so funny.

Here is a picture of the Hornets Mini Cooper parked in front of the New Orleans Arena.

Of course, when I arrived home after the game, I had some work to finish. Soleil, Eliana and my niece, Camrynn, helped me with some new board games I created for my “Stories on Board” residency. (Thank you, girls!) I created a new game called “The Little Red Hen’s Pizza Party” to accompany my story, “The Little Red Hen Makes Pizza.” Here is Eliana and Camrynn working hard coloring the game.

Players have to move from slice to slice, all the way around the pizza to win. It’s fun and also highlights basic math concepts of addition and subtraction.

After Eliana and Camrynn finished working on my games, they began working on a game Eliana invented call “Lily Pad Leapers.” The object of the game is to leap from lily pad to lily pad until you reach the finish and win a big juicy fly. I made small origami frogs to serve as the game pieces. The game is adorable. Eliana is soooo creative!

The highlight of my evening was opening a package from my publisher, Libraries Unlimited. We are promoting my new book, Handmade Tales at several conferences this year. They created a “Handmade Tales starter kit.” The “star” of the kit is a printed bandana to accompany my story, “Bandana Man.” Check out the bandana. OMG! It’s awesome!

Well, it’s late and I have a big day at school tomorrow. My third through fifth grade students are going to work on their board games. I can’t wait to see how they turn out.

Until tomorrow…

Warmly, Dianne

Friends:

Today, I did a professional development workshop for teachers at an elementary school in the metro New Orleans area. What made the day so special was that my youngest daughter, Eliana (7), accompanied me and was my little assistant throughout the workshop. She passed out supplies and even took all the pictures (except for the one of us). (Thank you, sweetheart! Mommy loves you!)

I began the workshop with a cut and tell of “Joseph Had an Overcoat.” It was fun seeing the teachers cut out all the shapes. Next, we moved to draw and tell stories. Here is a picture of my original draw and tell tale called “Catching the Pest.”

“Catching a Pest” uses the numbers 1-7 to illustrate the story and at the end, becomes a mouse. The teachers loved the story. Next, we did another draw and tell story titled “The Emperor’s Dragon,” based loosely on a Chinese folktale. It’s a fun story that kids love watching and drawing themselves.

Following that story, I told the story of “Bandana Man.” The teachers really responded to the story. It’s an adaptation of “The Gingerbread Man,” told with bandana folding. The story begins with an old woman…

Here’s my favorite old woman…

Here are the teachers with their bandana men. “Run, run, run as fast as you can. You can’t catch me, I’m Bandana Man.”

The workshop ended with the story of “The Stubborn Turnip,” a string story based on a Russian folktale. It was so much fun and the teachers loved every minute of it. Eliana helped me perform the story. She was definitely a show stopper! Here is a picture of us telling together.

It was a funtastic workshop full of energetic, enthusiastic teachers. I’ll get to see them again soon. Next Friday, I have  performances at their school for “Family Literacy Day.”

Eliana was such a big help that I treated her to a surprise lunch. Lunch was the show and the show was lunch! We went to a Hibachi Bar. It was a blast. The Hibachi chef really knew how to heat things up.

Eliana, thank you so much for all your help today. You were an absolute angel!

Happy Handmade Tales to You! Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Friends:

Today was Day 4 of my “Stories on Board Residency.” I had so much fun today. My first class was first grade. They had a blast. Here is a picture of some first grade boys playing “Gingerbread Jam.” It was wonderful to witness the teamwork and camaraderie between the students.

First grade set the tone for the rest of the day. Being in that class just put me in a good mood. Their teacher is an absolute delight. She was so enthusiastic and it was contagious. (Thank you, Ms. Lemoine!)

She had the children use the “Engage-O-Meter” to gauge how much they liked the activity. A happy face signified that they loved the activity, a straight face signified that the activity was so-so, and a sad face signified that they did not enjoy the activity at all. The Engage-O-Meter was hung on a clothes line. The children were given clothes pins to clip to the face that represented how they felt about the activity. Here is a picture of students hanging their clothes pins on the Engage-O-Meter.

While most of the children hung their clothes pins on the happy face, one student had the courage to place his on the straight face, indicating that the activity was “okay.”

It absolutely thrilled me that Ms. Lemoine loved the Gingerbread Jam game so much she asked if she could have a copy of it. Of course, I agreed. I spent about 40 minutes making a copy of the game (reducing it on the copy machine, cutting pieces and taping them together, resizing and copying again, and finally putting the 8.5 X11″ sheet through the poster machine). So now, Ms. Lemoine’s first grade class has their very own copy of The Gingerbread Jam. Here is a picture me and the teacher who made me so happy. What a doll!

In my third grade class, I had a blast. The teacher there, Mr. Boone, is an energetic and silly teacher who really loves his students. When I asked the students to describe some of Mr. Boone’s “characteristics” (part of the lesson), they responded with “nice” and “fun.” He’s just the kind of teacher I would have loved having in third grade! I gave Mr. Boone my camera and he took some of the best pictures, including this self-portrait.

Here is a picture of me teaching the story mapping lesson to Mr. Boone’s third grade class.

After lunch, when I arrived in fourth grade, I told “The Ant and the Grasshopper” and started my lesson plan. Suddenly, the loud speaker pipes in, “Fourth grade teachers, please send your students to the No Tardy Party.” Students who did not receive any tardies that quarter were treated to a party. Consequently, about 3/4 of my class got up and left! I was left with 9 students. In spite of that, I had an awesome class. I proceeded with the lesson and the students really enjoyed the work. They are excited about inventing their own board games. Here is a picture of them working on their story maps.

Here is a close-up of a fourth grader working on her story map.

My last class was Pre-K. Wow - they are so adorable. They listened so intently to my story, singing all the choruses and really participating in “The Gingerbread Man.” After the story, we began playing the game. I was surprised at how quickly they grasped the math concepts in “The Gingerbread Jam.” They played as well as many of my kindergarten and first grade classes. Here is a picture of me giving a “high five” to one of my Pre-K students. (Thank you, Ms. Renee!)

Here is a picture of me with the Pre-K teacher, Ms. Muller. Isn’t she a cutie?!

After my last class, my day was not over! There was a big surprise in store for me. Betty Brodtmann, the librarian at the school where I did the Louisiana Story Fest residency in February, stopped by with a treat for me! She and one of the Pre-K teachers, Carla Short, gifted me two pies — sweet potato pie and pecan pie! I was so touched that I cried… The card that came with the gift said on the front “You are as sweet as pie.” Inside it read:

“Dianne, it was a pleasure having you visit our school. You are a sweetheart! Take care and God Bless. Sincerely, Betty & Carla”

Thank you so much, Betty and Carla! It’s a great feeling to know that you leave an imprint on someone’s heart like that. Here is a picture of Betty and me holding my pies. Mmmmmm!

Here is a picture of Carla with another teacher, Jennifer, from my residency in February. Carla is on the right.

I am soooo blessed to live this life! I am doing what I love, making new friends, and making a difference in the lives of thousands of children and adults each year. Thank you so much for being a part of my life!

Warmly, Dianne

Friends:

It was another wonderful day at school. My kindergarten through second grade classes really enjoyed playing “Gingerbread Jam.” There was a lot of teamwork, with students really cooperating and working together to play the game. The first grade teacher commented at lunch, “Thank you. We really appreciated the work you did in class today. The students really enjoyed it.” I just love it when learning is fun.

I have really enjoyed telling the story “Gingerbread Man.” It’s a classic but I’ve jazzed it up with fun rhythm and rhyme and the students are constantly singing the chorus around the school. Classes I visit for the first time are already singing the refrain to me before I even begin the story! Here is a picture of me telling the story to kindergarteners.

In the second grade class I visited, the teacher, Ms. Vizzini, gave me a brilliant idea (it was so obvious that I hit myself in the head for not thinking of it first)! Sometimes you just need a fresh point of view… Anyway, she suggested that I use little Dixie cups to roll the dice. The students shake the cup and turn it upside down, capturing the die. That way, dice aren’t rolling all over the table and onto the floor. Terrific idea. Thanks, Ms. Vizzini!

My third through fifth grade classes were delightful. Third grade was assigned “Sody Sallyraytus,” fourth grade was assigned “The Tortoise and the Hare,” and fifth grade was assigned “The Gingerbread Man.” They story mapped their tales and will be creating board games based on those stories next week. Here is a third grade student working on her story map.

Here is a picture of a 5th grade student looking over his “Stories on Board” worksheet.

What was really cool was that my 5th graders requested that I sing the chorus of “The Gingerbread Man” again before I left the class. Again, another fabulous day. I just love what I do!

Until next time… Happy Tales to You!

Warmly, Dianne

Friends:

Even if it is April’s Fools Day, how can your day start off wrong when you receive a note like this first thing in the morning?

“Dear Mommy, you are the best in the whole wide world! You are my angel! I love you so much! Have a great day! Love, Eliana”

So sweet! What a great way to begin my day…

It was a good day at school. This year’s crop of students have been delightful - well-behaved, participatory and very bright. The kindergarten through second graders love the refrain of my “Gingerbread Man” story:

“Run, baby, run as fast as you can
You can’t catch me ’cause I’m the… (clap, clap) Gingerbread Man!”

They also enjoy playing the game I created based on the story: “The Gingerbread Jam.” The game teaches or reinforces so many skills such as:

• Cooperation and collaboration
• Team building
• Good sportsmanship
• Basic math: number identification
• Basic math: addition and subtraction
• Familiarity with a popular folktale
• Story structure
• Sequencing
• Critical thinking

In one of my first grade classes, I had a group of students who took it upon themselves to play the game until everyone won. It was astounding to witness that kind of attitude and to observe their teamwork skills. In the same class, the first grade teacher (Hi Sherry!) told me that another group of students, who had trouble all year working together, worked together so well during the Gingerbread Jam game. I love hearing those types of stories! It makes me feel like my work really has value and makes a difference!

My third through fifth graders worked on story mapping. Again, they analyzed the stories beautifully and contributed some wonderful vocabulary words such as “mischievous,” “devious,” and “persistent.”

Today was a somewhat somber day for many of the teachers and students. On Christmas Day last year, one of the third grade teachers, who had been at the school for many years, passed away suddenly. Today was her birthday so they had a memorial service for her and planted a tree in her honor to celebrate her life. She was one of my favorite teachers, always enthusiastic about my classroom visits. Because many of the teachers attended the memorial, parent volunteers watched many of the classrooms. During the memorial service, I was teaching fifth grade.

One of the students’ grandmothers was in the class with me. She asked to stay because she had heard I was a “fantastic storyteller.” The class chose “Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby” as their story, which I performed for them. We mapped the story and had a great debate about who was really the protagonist of the story - Brer Rabbit or Brer Fox? After I finished, the grandmother approached me and asked if she could attend my next class with the students because she was enthralled and fascinated with my work. What a great feeling!

Another fabulous day! I look forward to tomorrow… Until then, Happy Tales to You!

Warmly, Dianne

Friends:

Today was my first day presenting my “Stories on Board: Creating Board Games From Favorite Tales” residency at a New Orleans area school. This is my 8th year at this school; they have a very special place in my heart. In fact, my first book, Story Fest, is dedicated to this school.

I began the day laminating my “Gingerbread Jam” game boards, and making copies of stories and worksheets for the upper grades.

It was a great day. The students in all my classes were fantastic. In grades K-2, I told the story of “The Gingerbread Man,” which has a super catchy rhythmic chorus that is sung throughout the story. Although the students knew the story already, they really “jammed” to my version of “The Gingerbread Man.” Following the story, I instructed the students on how to play my game, “The Gingerbread Jam.” Using dice and fuzzy pom pom balls as game pieces, the students were divided into groups of five or six to play the game. The game tackles the basic math skills of addition and subtraction. The students loved the game. Here is a picture of first grade students playing “The Gingerbread Jam.”

With the upper grades (3-5), I told them a story (each class is assigned its own story) and then we story-mapped the tale using a “Stories on Board Story Map” that I developed specifically for this lesson. The students learned new vocabulary: protagonist, antagonist, supporting characters, adversary, motivation, peril, triumph, and aid. One of the third grade teachers (Hi Betty! And thank you!!) liked my Story Map so much that she took a copy for herself and asked if she could use it with future classes! She told me that my lesson was great; it was just what they were tackling in language arts. That makes me so happy! Here is a picture of me story mapping with today’s third grade class.

Though I worried that the story mapping might be too complex and perhaps a bit “boring” for the students, I was pleasantly surprised at how attentive and interested they were in the lesson. The students’ contributions to the discussions were incredibly astute and impressive. And we haven’t reached the “fun” part yet - creating the board games - that’s next week…  In a fourth grade class, I told my version of “The Three Billy Goats Gruff.” One of my fifth grade students said he and his group were going to create the game “Goat-opoly.” So clever!

Here are some of my third grade students working on their story maps.

I am really looking forward to the rest of my classes this week. I am also looking forward to seeing the students’ games next week. It’s so much fun working with these students. Since I have been doing an teaching artist residency at this school for so long, many of these students have “grown up” with me. They recognize me every year and wave, hug, and high five me in the halls. What a great feeling!

Until next time, heres’ to fun and games!
Warmly, Dianne

Friends:

I spent most of the day preparing for my residency at a New Orleans area school (I have been a teaching artist at this school for 8 years!). I am doing a two-week artist residency at an elementary school (PK-5) presenting “Stories on Board: Creating Board Games from Favorite Tales.” For grades PK-2, I will be telling stories and then the students will play board games I created based on my stories. For grades 3-5, students will be creating board games from folk and fairy tales that they will deconstruct, from which they will create a story map. Using the elements of the story, in groups, they will design and craft board games based on the stories they choose. The upper grades’ activities will culminate in a grade-wide “Game Day,” where they will exchange games with other classes and play each others’ games.

Because I am teaching such a wide age range, I had to come up with a way to make the board games work even for children who have not yet mastered reading fluency (PK-1). I decided to go with a nearly wordless board game that I invented called “The Gingerbread Jam,” based on my retelling of “The Gingerbread Man.” Here is a picture of my 7 year old daughter (in all light pink) and her cousins helping color the boards.

The students will be divided into groups of 5-6. They will be instructed on how to play the game. “The Gingerbread Jam” tackles basic math concepts of adding and subtracting. Numbers do not go higher than “4.” This is done so that even my preschool students will be able to play the game with minimal supervision. Game pieces are fuzzy pom pom balls and the game uses either dice or spinners.

Here is a picture of Eliana (7 years old) and her cousins, (Camrynn [8)] Ashlynn [7], and Jasmynn [6]) playing the game. They had so much fun that they played it over and over.

The game is simple in concept but addresses many content standards in language arts and math. Besides, it also makes learning a blast!

I will be blogging about my residency every day so please come along and join the fun!

Warmly, Dianne

Friends:

On Sunday, March 16, 2008, an article was written about a “Read-Along” sponsored by the Philippine Inquirer, the Philippines’ largest newspaper, at which I was a guest storyteller. The article, which ran on the front page and about a third of an interior page featured a lot about me. Very cool. Though some of the facts are a bit incorrect, the article is still great. (I did not sing “If You’re Happy and You Know It” - same tune but my adaptation called “If You Like to Hear Stories…) Here is the article:

Philippine Inquirer
Sunday, March 16, 2008 Vol. 23 No. 100

Read-Along Goes to Miriam for Campus Tour
By Kenneth M. del Rosario

KEEPING ITS PROMISE OF bringing reading closer to children, the INQUIRER partnered with the Miriam College Child Study Center (CSC) for its first ever Read-Along session in a private school.

Last Tuesday, more than 50 students in nursery and kindergarten had stories read to them by no less than the school president, Patricia Licuanan, and one of the students, 5-year-old, Angelo Aquino.

The children, aged 4 to 6 years old, also got a special treat when award-winning author and storyteller Dianne de Las Casas, who came all the way from New Orleans, took storytelling to another level when she told stories without reading from a book.

The INQUIRER started its Read-Along sessions in its Makati City office in May 2007. Since then, sessions were held in its office, in malls and hospitals, among others.

This book-reading in front of so many children was a real challenge for me,” said Licuanan, who read “Paradise of the Animals” by Virgilio S. Almario. But like a pro, she read the story, complete with props she had made the night before. The book is about a parrot which destroyed the peaceful lives of animals when it started telling lies that made everyone fight each other.

The children, attentive and energetic throughout the activity, interacted with Licuanan by imitating the sounds of the animals in the story which included lions, dogs, horses, elephants, tigers and carabaos.

He didn’t like the story
When Licuanan wrapped up her session, she asked the toddlers if they like the story she read or not. While many gave her a thumbs up, one student expressed his disappointment.

“No,” the child shouted. “I don’t like the story because the animals fought with each other,” to which the president and the teachers responded with laughter.

Licuanan said that she was glad the children freely expressed themselves as this is exactly what they are being taught in school.

Then it was Aquino’s turn to read. Dressed in full dinosaur suit, he stole the limelight when he read Carlo Diggory Shield’s “Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp.” After his performance, his classmates were up on their feet, clapping with fervor.

Clap if you’re happy
“If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands [clap, clap]…” De Las Casas burst into song when it was her turn to tell a story. The children were more than happy to comply.

“When I tell my stories, I try to incorporate songs, dances, and a little choreography,” said De Las Casas, a professional storyteller for 13 years. “That’s how you keep children’s attention. Tell your stories actively.”

She started the session with “Mr. Wiggle and Mr. Waggle,” using her thumbs to act out the two characters. The students joined in by imitating her gestures.

Half-Filipina, De Las Casas left for the United States when she was 3 and settled there with her family. She gave in to the children’s request and followed up with two more tales.

Handmade Tales
De Las Casas is in the country to hold a series of workshops on handmade tales, which is sponsored by Scholastic Publishing. Scholastic, which distributed reading materials to the children after the session, has been sponsoring De Las Casas since 2002. She holds storytelling workshops all over the country.

Her awards include iParenting Media Award, Children’s Music Web Award, Storytelling World Honors, and NAPPA Honors for her children’s books and storytelling CDs.

De Las Casas has two children, Soleil, 17, and Eliana, 7. She said that she would use her own kids, nephews and nieces to try out new stories she has written. “If they like my story, then maybe other children will too.”

Having conducted storytelling sessions in Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, and all over the US, she gets her inspiration from talking to children’s teachers. “Sometimes, they ask me to write materials to help them teach their students about unity, love or sharing.” she said.

Back-to-back sessions
On Monday, radio host Ariel Ureta and award-winning actress Cherry Pie Picache graced the back-to-back INQUIRER read-along sessions also held in Miriam College CSC.

Ureta has a child studying in CSC and so does Picache.

For the morning session, Picache read “It’s mine” by Leo Lionni in front of more than 50 nursery students.

Ureta brought to life “Si Beang Makulit,” a story he wrote especially for the afternoon session of the INQUIRER read-along. It is about making children believe that angels exist even if they can’t be seen.

First children’s story
Ureta said this was his first real attempt at writing a children’s story, although he has been thinking about it for some time.

He said he expected to read the story in front of out-of-school children so he wrote it in Filipino. When he noticed that the CSC children, aged 4 to 6 years old, would understand the story better if it were in English, he translated the story into English right there and then.

De Las Casas thanked the INQUIRER for spearheading the Read-Along sessions. “It’s all about literacy and teaching children how to use language to their advantage. Teach them to read and you teach them to decode anything - from math to science. Name it.”

“After all,” she said, “If children can’t read, what else can they do?”

Friends:

After arriving back in Manila from Boracay, I had to part ways with my Aunts. I love you Auntie Espie and Auntie Jovie! See you next time!

I had a few hours to kill before my next flight (home), so I headed to Mall of Asia. It wasn’t that far from the airport and my client, Meinard Cruz, stored my luggage in his car.

Meinard suggested that I get an all-over body massage to help me relax before my long 36 hour journey home. I hadn’t yet seen my friend, Manolo Silayan, leader of the Alitaptap Storytellers group. He had been traveling all over the Philippines doing storytelling workshops so he agreed to meet me at the mall for a bite to eat. While waiting for Manolo to meet me, I did have my massage. Oh so wonderful! Manolo has the cutest little boy - Janro - who is 7 years old. Unfortunately, with all the excitement, I forgot to take pictures!! Mahal kita, Janro! Thank you both for coming to see me. I wish we had more time together!

Then it was time to go. Meinard and my cousin, Katrin, took me to the airport for a final farewell. From Manila, I flew to Guam (3.5 hours). From Guam, I flew to Tokyo (3.5 hours). In Tokyo, I had a 6 hour layover! Fortunately, the Narita (Tokyo) airport has a lot of amenities. I found an origami museum!

Talk about spectacular! I was in awe of the intricate detail of the origami and soooo inspired. I have a book idea! Here is a gorgeous garden around a Japanese house. There was so much more - parades, dinosaurs, dolls, boats, animals, fish… The artistry is breathtaking. Of course, I had to bring some home so I bought a beautiful origami doll.

Next stop, food. I love Japanese food so I ordered some gyoza, fried pork dumplings. In the restaurant, I met some gentlemen from the Czech Republic. They were part of a large music and dance troupe that toured in Japan - 27 shows in 40 days. I wish I could remember the name of their group.

At the restaurant, I met the most beautiful girls - the servers - two Japanese and one Filipina! The Filipina, named Aya, has lived in Japan for ten years and speaks fluent Japanese as well as Tagalog and English. They were so sweet and took me to my next stop - The Day Room!

What is a Day Room? It is the most awesome concept and EVERY airport should have one! At the Tokyo airport, you can rent a day room, a small room with a bed and a bathroom. I had a 6 hour layover in Tokyo so this was a perfect solution for me. I rented the room for US$19 for three hours. For two hours, I slept - I even put on my pajamas! I had a wakeup call and then took a hot shower before my next long flight to Newark, New Jersey. The day room is equipped with a single bed, slippers, towels, toiletries, a hair dryer, night light - basically, it’s a mini hotel room. When you turn off the light, it’s pitch dark so I was really able to get some quality Zs. Tokyo was the best layover I ever had. I recommend the day room to anyone who has a long layover and an international flight. Oh, and if you just want to take a hot shower, you can do that too for just US$5!

My next flight was to Newark, New Jersey (12 hrs). Fortunately, the flight was not full and I had 3 seats to myself! I got to stretch out and sleep. In addition, we were traveling on a newer airbus and the built-in TV on the back of the seat in front of me had some awesome features - over 300 pre-programmed movies to choose from, TV shows, and a customizable iPod-like music player where you could choose the songs you wanted and place them in your personal “jukebox.” It sure made the time pass a lot more quickly. Across the aisle, I sat next to a cool guy from Seaside Heights, New Jersey, who works 5 months out of the year and tours beaches for 7 months out of the year. Pretty awesome, right? He had also just visited Boracay. Small world. Hi Brett!

As we were getting ready to land, Brett told me that I would be able to get a pretty nice view of New York City, so I got my camera ready. Here is NYC welcoming us into the U.S. I even saw Lady Liberty but she was so far away, I couldn’t get a good picture of her.

After a 4 hour layover in Newark, it was a 3.5 hour trip to New Orleans. By the time, I arrived home, I was exhausted. I had traveled for over 48 hours total! My husband and two daughters greeted me with a card and flowers. The traveling took a toll on my body and I sounded like a frog when I spoke. The best part of getting home was my little girl running to me and screaming, “Mommy!” then jumping into my arms. As soon as my arms wrapped around her, the tears just flowed. I missed my family so much!

It’s good to be home. There’s definitely no place like home!

Warmly, Dianne