“It sounds like some friends do not want special South American candy!” I stiffled a laugh as my sister’s — excuse me, I mean Ms. Baackes’s — shrill threat sent a hush over the crowd of six-year olds. Fresh off the plane from Costa Rica, I was visiting my sister’s classroom in New Orleans for the…

What a week! My time in New Orleans absolutely flew by — I still can’t believe I was there for a full ten days. I had just barely begun to recover from the Mardi Gras revelry when it was time to begin my California adventures. My girl Lindsay, who you might recognize as a partner-in-crime from…

Greetings from Mardi Gras! I arrived in New Orleans early this week and had just a few days to catch my breath before jumping headfirst in Mardi madness. I visited my sister’s classroom to make a presentation about celebrations around the world to her students, but otherwise barely left her house! Good thing I have plenty…