Thanksgiving Forecast/New Exhibit at Children's Museum

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
It was such a nice day in Houston! Yes...we had a very, very brief line of showers pass through in the morning. But then it was sunshine and a nice breeze!!!

It will not be a good travel day for the northeast, southern California or the southern Sierra Nevada on Tuesday. There are all kinds of winter weather type warnings and advisories from the Appalachians of West Virginia up into northern New England. There are also winter weather warnings in the southern Sierra Nevada. And there are flood warnings for the coastal sections of southern California. It will be cold on Tuesday for the northern plains and northeast with highs in the 30s. The northwest will be in the 40s and 50s. The southern states will be mild.

Houston's weather on Tuesday will be perfect for outdoor activities like the zoo. Lows will be in the 40s warming quickly to highs in the 70s. Don't forget the sunscreen. Wednesday will also be pleasant in Houston, although more humid. Look for mild temperatures on Thanksgiving Day with a few showers. Best chance for rain is Friday. But there could be rain on and off through the weekend before a decent cool down early in the coming week.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
The word is musuem or museo, pronounced moo-SAY-oh. The kids are off from school...so why not head to the museo.

Even when your kids are away from school, they can still be educated and entertained at the same time. Try our award winning DVD, Volume 1 of Let's Learn Spanish with Frank and Paco. If you order from our web site, www.frankandpaco.com, we guarantee shipping with 24 hours. You can also order from www.venturaes.com, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. Special note: I've got a really great deal going on teachers pay teachers: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/.

AND MORE
Sarah has no school this week although I know some schools won't get out until Wednesday. The Children's Museum of Houston is usually not open on Mondays. But during special weeks, they make an exception. So we headed there today. Just yesterday, they opened a new outdoor exhibit called Water Works. Sarah and her friend loved it and didn't want to leave. There is a lot of water projecting type equipment. Sarah's friend did not get wet, but Sarah sure did. So, have a change of clothes with you just in case. There are several new exhibits, including upstairs. They also had several chicken eggs which looked like they might hatch soon. That is my favorite thing to see there. And, I heard that Santa will be there on Friday. Also, in case you didn't know, there are many days of the week they are now open until 6 pm. I love that too!!!

Whatever you are doing this week, be safe and have fun!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Monday Forecast/Great Act at Renaissance/Thanksgiving Help

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
A warmup for much of the country as the weekend ends. But a new storm system with surface cold front will bring thunderstorms to east Texas and Louisiana on Monday. Meanwhile, there will be snow around the Great Lakes. Highs from the northern plains through the Great Lakes and the northeast will be in the 20s, 30s and 40s. It will be mild across the southeast and into the southwest.

Houston, look for thunderstorms during the first half of the day. Highs will be in the 70s, but it will start to cool down in the afternoon.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
The word is entertainment of entretenimiento, pronounced ehn-tray-tay-knee-me-EHN-tow. It is so much fun to see good entretenimiento.

Some people learn languages for the pure fun of it. But now, many parents are working hard to help their kids learn languages...you see they know about the benefits of early language learning. Some of these include increased growth of tissue in the part of the brain associated with language (especially for children under age 8), improved scores on standardized math and science tests, improved memory and even higher IQ. So, why not let them learn another language and be entertained at the same time. Get our award winning DVD, Volume 1 of Let's Learn Spanish with Frank and Paco from www.frankandpaco.com, www.venturaes.com, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. Special note: I've got a really great deal going on teachers pay teachers: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/.

AND MORE
My friend, Leslie Williams Dennis is at it again. She has a wonderful article about a food pantry in Stafford that will be giving out hundreds of Thanksgiving meals this Tuesday. Here is the link:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/fortbend/news/6119364.html

Also, big pats on the back to St. Laurence parish in Sugar Land. They gave out $100,000 worth of Thanksgiving meals over the weekend.

We went to the Renaissance Festival Saturday. I hadn't been in about 15 years, and it was Sarah's 1st time, as well as my sister's. It has changed some in 15 years. There are more fantasy type characters walking around. We loved the juggling act by Mike and Louis. To learn more, go to theotherbrothers.net. Check out this clip from their site. They combine humor with really good juggling! We were on the edge of out seats. They also horse around a lot. Go to the end of the video for the best stuff.
http://www.theotherbrothers.net/promovideopage.html

Don't forget to answer our poll.
Have a great week!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Correction! Thanksgiving Day Forecast!

I don't know why...but I put the wrong temperatures for Houston's Thanksgiving Day forecast...it will be lows in the 50s and highs in the 70s. There will also be some rain.

Happy Weekend!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Weekend Forecast/New Poll/Store Closings

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
It is a chilly Saturday for much of the nation...highs in the 20s and 30s for the northern states and much of the northeast and Appalachians. There will be snow showers in some Great Lakes locations and a cold rain in the Pacific Northwest.

For Houston, a cool but pleasant day with some clouds later. Look for showers on Sunday. Today's highs will be close to 60. High on Sunday will be in the 70s. Look for some rain on Monday as well. Thanksgiving Day lows will be in the 40s with highs in the 60s and some showers.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Today's word is grateful or agradecido, pronounced ah-grah-day-SEE-doh. For all of our blessings, we should be agradecido.

If you grew up in a home where more than one language was spoken, you should be grateful. You have reaped the benefits of improved cognition and cognitive performance as well as developed the correct pronunciation. But never fear monoligual households...you can expose your children to another language through our award winning DVD, Volume 1 of Let's Learn Spanish with Frank and Paco from www.frankandpaco.com, www.venturaes.com, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/.

AND MORE
The results of our secretary of state poll are that 18% were for McCain, 72% for Hillary Clinton and 9% for Bill Richardson. In case you didn't hear, Obama did pick Hillary Clinton for this position. So, I guess many of you were on the same wavelength.

Our new poll has to do with holiday spending. How will your spending this year compare to last year's. Happy shopping and polling!

There are a lot of rumors about which stores are closing--you should know this before you buy gifts and gift cards: Here is the correct report from Snopes--the link provided by my friend Tom Ryan--thanks Tom! The article has a list of incorrect information that has been circulating. Go to the bottom to see what is correct.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/storeclosings.asp

Have a great weekend everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Weekend Forecast/Big Chill/Where the Teachers Shop/trees

HURRICANES AND MORE
BRRRRRRR!!!! A big chill is diving southward. Highs on Friday for much of the country will be in the 20s and 30s with windy conditions. There will be even be some highs only in the teens across the western Great Lakes. Look for snow to be a problem for the Great Lakes, Appalachians (as far south as Tennessee). There will also be snow in the higher elevations of the northern Rockies and the Cascades.

Houston will be chilly, blustery on Friday with lows in the 40s and highs in the 50s. Wind will make it feel 10 degrees cooler. Saturday will be warmer in the afternoon with light wind. Sunday, look for showers and mild temperatures. Thanksgiving Day still looks mild with a shower possible.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
The word is trees or los arboles, pronounced lowsssssss are-bowl-ES. Hurricane Ike damaged los arboles.

Los arboles is one of the terms we teach in our award winning DVD, Volume 1 of Let's Learn Spanish with Frank and Paco from www.frankandpaco.com, www.venturaes.com, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. Remember, there are many benefits to early language learning including improved hypothesizing in science. You just need to cultivate your little Einstein.

AND MORE
When I contacted Scholastic about our DVD series, they told me about a neat web site called Teachers Pay Teachers. Historically, customers downloaded lesson plans etc. Just this week, they have started offering hard goods and our DVDs are available there. Be sure to tell all your teacher friends about the site. They might want to sell some of the fruits of their labors.
Here is the link: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/.

Gordy and I ate at the elementary school today with Sarah. We volunteer and help during lunch hours. But this time we ate with Sarah. They were having a special day for Thanksgiving. Well, I have to tell you it was very good and filling. I was actually "stuffed". And for $1.80 (that includes the drink), you just can't beat it. The kids lunches are $1.35 per day. You can hardly make a lunch for that amount. Remember it includes the drink. It's too bad everyone doesn't charge that little.

My brother in the Rio Grande Valley has a tree farm selling live oaks and Texas mountain laurels. I heard that the mayor of Houston wants to replace 1 million trees. So, I started calling some of the City of Houston registered vendors. There was definitely an interest in what my brother has.

Don't forget the poll closes in a day. So, vote now!

Happy Friday!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Thursday Forecast/ Blast of Chilly Air/First Colony Library Status

HURRICANES AND MORE
This new wave of cold air is taking folks breathe away,especially over the Northern Plains and Great Lakes. Highs will only be in the 20s for most of the northern states and the really cold air will be pushing as far south as Tennessee and Oklahoma. In fact, a new cold front will arrive in Houston Thursday evening, bringing a chilly, breezy day for Friday. But, lighter winds and less milder temperatures will return by Saturday midday.

For Houston, Thursday will start in the 50s and highs will be in the 70s.

Thursday, there will be snow over the northern plains, northern Rockies and Great Lakes states. Next best chance for rain in Houston will be Monday. Thursday (Thanksgiving) looks mild with a sprinkle possible.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Today's word is library or biblioteca, pronounced bee-blee-oh-TAY-cah. I love taking my daughter to the biblioteca.

The library is a wonderful place to look for Spanish books, CDs and even DVDs. But if you want something you can keep around--that the children can enjoy and review over and over--get them something entertaining and educational--our award winning DVD, Volume 1 of Let's Learn Spanish with Frank and Paco from www.frankandpaco.com, www.venturaes.com, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. Just think of it as an investment. Research shows that people who are fluent in more than one language end up earning more money.

AND MORE
We did head to the library today (after homework was finished of course). Sarah even got to bring along one her friends. I was reminiscing about a couple books I loved as a child. You see, we had our own little library in house with all kinds of wonderful books. We read them until they were tattered and just plain falling apart. Right Mom? Well, one book was about a girl who lost a red mitten and let everyone know that it was missing. People started coming from all over, each giving her family one red mitten. Before she knew it, she had mittens everywhere and not even a bit of drawer space to stuff them in. So, soon she publicized that people who were missing a mitten could come find it hanging on their clothesline.

The other book is about a little girl who has to get rid of some kittens. She goes door to door with her wagon filled with kittens and starts giving them away. Unfortunately for her mother, everyone gives her some kind of pet in return. She ends up coming home with a plethora of different pets including one loud obnoxious parrot. You can imagine her mother's reaction. Well, anyway, if anyone knows the names of those books or better yet, where I could get copies, please let me know.

Speaking of libraries, the First Colony Ft. Bend library is still closed but here is a new development as posted on the Fort Bend Library web site.
Significant repairs still must be made before First Colony Branch Library can re-open. Arrangements have been made to allow return of books and other materials at the First Colony Branch, on Monday - Friday, from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. No transactions other than returns may take place: fines cannot be paid, items cannot be immediately checked in, and no items can be checked out.
Wow...maybe I could have kept that one book longer. Tee hee! Anyway, a worker at the Sugar Land library, where we went today, told me that he was usually an employee at the First Colony location. He said that some of the employees were working at First Colony, but others had been sent to work at other Fort Bend library locations.

Well, here's hoping everything is fixed and returned to normal soon.

Don't forget to vote in my secretary of state of poll. It is open for 2 more days.

Have a wonderful Thursday everyone.
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Wednesday Forecast/Non DVD Gift Idea/Being Sleepy

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Old man winter has settled in over the Great Lakes states. Highs from the northern plains to the northern Appalachians will be in the 20s and 30s. There are some ice warnings and snow advisories and winter storm warnings in the Great Lakes states and the Appalachians of West Virginia. Elsewhere around the country, more delightful weather.

Houston will enjoy another pretty day on Wednesday with lows in the 40s and highs near 70. Look for some clouds and maybe a shower later in the week and over the weekend. Best chance for rain isn't until the coming week.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
I'm sleepy tonight...so let's do I'm sleepy or tengo sueño, pronounce TAYN-go swenyo. Tengo sueño...I'm going to bed.

But first, finish off your holiday shopping for all those favorite little cousins, nieces and nephew. Research shows that early language learning allows for developing correct pronunciation for later in life. In fact, children are just geared to get that pronunciation down right from the get-go. So, get them something entertaining and educational--our award winning DVD, Volume 1 of Let's Learn Spanish with Frank and Paco from www.frankandpaco.com, www.venturaes.com, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/.

AND MORE
Looking for a creative, long lasting, calorie free gift...give them a photo calendar. This is something we have been doing on both sides of my family for several years now. I take pictures of family all year long and then go to shutterfly.com. Right now, they have 20% off and free shipping. It is fun and easy to set up montages or single shots for each month of the year. You can put captions. Most importantly, you can set up a database of important dates/anniversaries and then use it again every year. These dates will be printed on the calendar. I love looking at the calendar photos all year long. It keeps my family close even though some of them are so far away.

You know you're getting old(er) when you fall asleep while reading a book with your daughter. Yes...she was still going strong as I dozed off. Ahhhh....youth. (Or could it just be that I am avoiding that mountain of laundry?) I didn't admit that!

Have a great Wednesday everyone.
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman