Go Discovery!

Hello world...
I continue my Central Florida travels...
Today- LIVE from Kennedy Space Center....Right now- we're about four hours from launch....
And I'm sitting about 100 feet from the big giant countdown clock- and right across the water from the space shuttle on the launchpad....
It's pretty cool- but HOT!
More to come- of course- complete coverage on News 13.com

Obama

I'm in Kissimmee right now- the mecca of excitement in the Orlando area....
But it's more about who I'm with- that where I am....
It's Barack time baby!
I am not supporting a particular candidate- and when I decide who I will vote for- even then I won't share it.
But I've got to say- there's something about being out in the crowd- the excitement- the energy...people really want "change" and think Obama is the guy to bring it.
There are some strange people here too!
I kid you not- I saw a girl- wearing a pink "I'm a Goddess" t-shirt- pink- (and way too short) shorts and pink fuzzy slippers...she was pregnant- and smoking...
Gotta Love Kissimmee...

It's Barack time.....gotta go- but more to come!

Exciting TV News

The 70's classic Electric Company is coming back to PBS!
Y'all can look forward to hearing kids across the land screaming EC's famous opening, "Hey you guys!"
Production on the new Electric Company started this week, Tuesday.
The show’s new format will encompass interactive online elements and community-based activities across the country.
Music for the show's being looked after by Broadway babes, Chris Jackson, Thomas Kail and Bill Sherman (all from musical In the Heights, which was just nominated for a bunch of Tony awards).

Spiderman lives!

From my sister- about my nephew:

Last night the kids got to bed a bit later than normal. Colin and I had picked up Mom from the airport, and she had given Colin a pen that had the pillsbury doughboy on it. Unbeknownst to me, he took that pen out of my purse and brought it to bed with him. Conor, he falls asleep FAST, but Colin usually plays in his room, with the nightlight on, for at least an hour. I went in to check on him, and I figured that he must be asleep because it was quiet. Boy was I wrong! I found a boy COVERED in ink! He had colored onhis face, arms, hands, neck, legs and feet! Then I took him outside to show his father, and I realized that he had colored on his chest and butt and even inside his ear and belly button!!! I was pretty mad, (seriously, how long is it going to take to scrub ink off of him and I'm already tired??), but then listen to his answer...Colin, what were you thinking?? "I just wanted a Spiderman suit." He had drawn the spiderman web all over his body. It's pretty funny, right?? Oh, and it took about 15 minutes of scrubbing, FYI.

Great Lakes Tour 2008

The Cooks continues the Great Lakes Tour 2008- hitting popular destinations including:
ChicagoDeerfieldGlenviewNorthbrookGurneeNow- we’re onto Michigan…Dexter, Dearborn, Plymouth and East Lansing- and I’m sure some others along the way.

We’ve been busy- and have eaten a lot!

Here’s some of the excitement…

Friday started early with the plane ride and landing in Chicago.
We went to pick up the rental car- they (Thrifty) decided that a 2-door Sebring convertible was perfect for us….thankfully, Scott had enough sense to update to a mini-van. Yes, it cost a little more- but it’s worth it in the long run if he doesn’t have to hear me complain all week.

Next- pick up Katie and head to …eat.Went to a great place called Stanley’s. Look it up next time you’re in Chicago- it’s awesome. Trivia: What restaurant did it used to be?? Answer- Jim McMahon’s- we went there once for Julie’s birthday.
Then- off to Lincoln Park Zoo- so much fun….We had a gorilla try to place with Brendan through the class- that scared him too much for it to be fun…we laughed though! He also wants a Polar Bear- Brendan and one of the bears bonded…Brendan did say the bear can sleep in his bed…so that at least works for us!

The highlight of the day for the grownups….

Then for dinner- Connie’s Pizza- simply the best around.

It’s right next to Chinatown in the city. Ironically enough, breaking news down the street made getting home a challenge.Some trucker crashed his truck into the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) Chinatown station- killing at least 2 people. My dad called from Florida during our dinner to tell us about it. We would have had no idea otherwise. Thankfully- we were safe stuffing ourselves silly.
Saturday- hung out with some family and went to Northbrook to let the kids run around the park. But man- I know it’s colder in the Midwest normally, but this is nuts!!! 45 degrees in April…almost May! Tonight there’s even a chance of snow!!! (Which Brendan is really excited about.)
Sunday- family day…then to one of our other favorite restaurants…Hackney’s.

Yes- the trip is all about food.
We’ve left the icy rain and are now in Michigan.
More to come!!

Noises Patrick's Afraid of...

*Thunder
*The dishwasher
*The ice machine
*The vaccum
*The dryer buzzer
*The garage door
*Barking Dogs

It makes life fun and exciting :)

On a dark, stormy night...

no one slept.
We have a problem at the Cook household.
Patrick is scared of thunder.
Freak out, come running and crying to mommy kind-of scared.
Sometimes this is cute- during afternoon thunderstorms.

However, it's NOT fun during the middle of the night.
Take last night for example- it started storming around 4pm.
We went to bed around 7pm- all in my bed. Brendan immediately passed out.
Patrick was awake for two hours.
Finally he fell asleep- after kicking me out of my own bed!

Scott came home- moved the boys into their own beds- and finally I got some good sleep...until about 1am when Patrick came running into our room screaming and crying. He was soooo scared- it took him over an hour to calm down...
Then he woke up again around 4am....same thing....
Brendan was up and ready for the day at 6am.

All the fun = no sleep for mom.

So this morning I asked Patrick- jokingly...what are we going to do with you?
Brendan answered- well, we're going to have to move- all it does here is rain and storm.

There you go...out of the mouth of a four-year-old.