Living it up Yooper Style!

Stanley arrived as I was about to start dinner on March 18, and he is the best kitchen helper! Right away he started to saute veggies for me! I wish he could have hung around longer to help me cook some more.

Stanley showing off his excellent cooking skills! I didn't know he was so great at it!

 While we were cooking my wonderful husband Eric came home. Stanley was anxious to meet him, so anxious in fact,

that he jumped right in his pocket! It was a pretty great place from him to hang out.

Stanley, Eric and I sat down to dinner. Stanley was thrilled to even have his own plate of Pierogies. He seemed to really like them, he even asked for seconds.

Stanley enjoying pierogies with carrots, onions and peppers.

The next day, Saturday, Stanley came to work with me. It was a busy day at the bakery, he ventured around quite a bit, he met my boss (sadly, no pictures of that), helped with the dishes (he dried, he thought it would be better to stay away from the sink and all the water), helped me flip crepes, and most importantly, helped me with a wedding cake! I bet you didn't know it, but he's got wonderful decorating skills. He gave me some input on this cake, since the bride never actually told me what she wanted, just an idea of what she was thinking.

Stanley with the wedding cake. He couldn't help trying a little, too.

On Sunday, Stanley and I slept in a bit while Eric made breakfast. we all had a big ol' pancake breakfast and lazed around the house. Eric took the time to teach Stanley a few chords on the guitar. Stanley is slowly starting out, but he's definitely got an ear for music. He danced along with everything we happened to have playing, from The Beatles to Muse to Avenged Sevenfold.

Stanley playing Eric's guitar, it was a little big for him. ;)

After they played for awhile it was about time for me to take a nap. Stanley was a little surprised at how much I sleep, but he definitely understood, I think Holli told him all about how tired you can get while pregnant. He's a good nap buddy and he keeps nice and quiet, even if he wakes up before you.

Monday Stanley finally got to meet my cat Butters. They, unfortunately, didn't get along so well. Well, Butters wasn't a fan, Stanley was perfectly nice (as always!) and did what he could, but Butters was a bit scared of him. Poor guy felt a little guilty, but I told him that it was okay, Butters is just skittish around strangers.

Buddies they are not, Butters is practically shooting laser beams at him. This was as close as she would let him get before she ran away.

Monday night we also had Pasties. (He ate a lot while he was here...). I thought that if there's one thing you can't miss, food wise that is, in Marquette, is a traditional Cornish Pasty. Steak, potatoes, rutabaga, and onion all in a flaky crust. Stanley thought his pasty was great, he didn't even think I was weird for putting ketchup on it!

Pasty time!

The next couple days were pretty insane! I was in the mall fashion show and Tuesday was rehearsal (no pictures allowed) and Wednesday was the show. Sadly, there are no pictures of this. Eric had my camera and Stanley was with him, but he totally forgot to take any. This still makes me a sad panda. Stanley had fun though, even though he was just peeking out of my bag. I was exhausted and went to bed pretty soon after the fashion show, so Stanley had a bit of a quiet day.

Thursday was Stanley's last day here. He wanted to see some of the sights around Marquette, and since it's still snowy and I can't get to one of my favorite hiking spots, I took him to Presque Isle, where Eric and I got married. From here on out Presque Isle will just be known as "The Island."

While we were on The Island I showed Stanley the breakwall, which is a wonderful walk out to a light house in the summer, but a treacherous walk in the winter, we we stayed close to shore.

Tons of snow on the breakwall, lake Superior was rather choppy that day, Stanley enjoyed watching the waves with me. I told him all about our wedding day and the pictures we have on this wall.

Next I showed him the view of the Superior Dome. When the Superior Dome opened in 1990 it was the largest wooden dome in the world. It's quite the structure, and Stanley thought it was pretty neat, even if it does look like a UFO in the distance.

The Dome in the background across the bay. Stanley seemed to love being around Lake Superior!

Finally he saw the Ore Docks. He was pretty fascinated, and wished there was a boat around so he could see them in action. Sadly, the shipping season hadn't started yet, it started the day after he left.

Sadly it's a dark shot, but we were looking at a very Sunny day!

When we got home it was time to pack him up and send him on his way! He had a great stay and is welcome back any time!

Stanley Runs Amuck Through Texas! Holli Hooten - Week 7

Stanley arrived just as we were getting home from the grocery store.  He was so sweet, and just made himself right at home helping us unload groceries!  I wish all my house guests were so helpful!  After we unloaded groceries we let the girls (my dogs) inside and went to lay down for my afternoon nap. 

 This is where Stanley met his BFF, Akeelah.  They immediately fell in love.  He just could not believe that we would have a pony for him to ride!  He rode around on Akeelah's back all over the house.  Then, when I couldn't take any more fun before I fell asleep, Stanley and Akeelah cuddled up in the bed too and joined me for nap time.

 The res of our day was uneventful, and we all just hung around until everyone went to bed.  I woke up at midnight, because midnight is when I must feed and I found Stanley awake too.  He decided perhaps a midnight snack is just what he needed to help him sleep.  Little did I know, Stanley is a really big fan of pimento cheese.  He cleared me out!  I'm not sure how he keeps his figure if he eats like this everywhere!

Monday was my doctor's appointment, where Stanley came and got to hear Zakk's heartbeat.  Unfortunately the staff at my doctor's office wouldn't let us take any pictures...  Meanies.

Tuesday was another slow day.  We did some laundry.  Stanley had some trouble hanging out towels with his prosthetic arm.  Apparently the lack of feeling means he can't tell when he is pinning himself with the towels.  He was a good sport about it though, and we got all the clothes hung out in no time at all.

 Thursday I was 28 weeks, which means it was belly picture day.  Stanley got really excited, so we looked at how much I have grown over the last 28 weeks and he asked if he could get some pictures with my big belly. We had a lot of fun.  Here are just a few of the ones we ended up with.

 Not only did Stanley get to see Abilene, TX this week, but he also got to join us for a trip to Liberty Hill, TX!  This is when we first arrived.  My mom has goats, and he did not know what on earth to make of them.  My mom told him that goats like to eat everything, so when I asked him about a picture with them, he opted to stay on the porch and just get a picture of the field.

 While we were in Liberty Hill, Stanley got to join us for a birthday party at Build A Bear with my nephew and my baby shower.  We had so much fun at both, but because Holli is a failure and let the camera batteries die, we got pictures of neither.  :(  Ayden and Stanley really enjoyed making a Build A Bear though, and Ayden even let Stanley give his bear's heart a kiss before we put it in.

Once we got the camera charged, we took Stanley on a tour of my parents' property.  He was pretty amazed by everything, but there was one thing in particular he could not stay away from.  Stanley LOVED my Dad's Deuce and a half.  He and Ayden climbed all over the truck and when Stanley asked my Dad if he could drive it, my Dad broke his heart and said no...  Then said that Stanley could be his truck ornament and stuck Stanley on the front.  Stanley thought he was the king of Texas.

When it was time to leave Liberty Hill and go back to Abilene we stopped to get drinks and Stanley found one he just HAD to have.  He got the RealTree Camo Outdoor Energy Drink.  He thought SURELY after drinking this he could be an honorary redneck. I was so proud.

Once we got back home, it was time to pack Stanley up and send him on his way.  Akeelah will really miss him.

Flat Stanley's Adventure in Lodi ~ Christine Snell - Week 6 - Lodi, NJ

Flat Stanley was very excited when he showed up at my house during my February vacation from school/work.  He came right out and was introduced to Madison.  Madison took the time out of her day to explain to him what teething was and gave him an up close view of a baby’s mouth as a tooth was coming in.   After he got a little practice at being a teething toy, he quickly got a bath as he was not thrilled to be covered in drool. 



"I'm going get you"


Yummy





After bath time, they both thought it would be a good idea for everyone to go to bed for the day.  Flat Stanley was nice enough to hang out with his friend Tigger and read Maddie a story.

The next few days we hung out at the house, watching tv, playing on the computer.  Flat Stanley likes Cityville almost as much as I do.



During this time he decided to take a few naps with the cats.  Flat Stanley can be very lazy, and decided it was nap time whenever I had to go and complete some chores.  He did help me check the washer and make sure I got out all the clothes to put into the dryer!

"Nope, you got it all!"

Cole, Flat Stanley and Sinatra

On Friday, Flat Stanley, Madison and I all went to the mall.  He was feeling very generous and bought three autobiographical books about himself for my classroom library.  He thought that since everything was on sale at Borders, due to them closing, he couldn’t pick just one book.  While at the mall, he unfortunately had a freak accident and sadly lost an arm.  Luckily my husband works in prosthetics and orthotics and was able to make him a prosthetic arm.  Flat Stanley chose such a colorful fake arm so that in case he lost it again, it would be easier to find. 

Flat Stanley with 2 of the 3 books he bought (pre-accident)

On Monday, Flat Stanley decided he had enough of his lazy vacation and he really wanted to come to work with me.  He was very eager to start his day as a 2^nd grade teacher.  He never realized just how much energy a person needs to teach a room full of 8-year old children.  By lunchtime, he was ready for a nap so he went in my purse for a quick snooze.  Flat Stanley took some time to hang out with Tattling Turtle, his new friend.  He found that he could see everything that went on while he was in the back of the room.  He also spent some time running my Smartboard and he introduced all the new vocabulary words that went with our reading story. 

Checking out the books in my classroom library

Reading the Posters on the front board

Running my multi-media center

Hanging out with his friend, Tattling Turtle

Before he left, Flat Stanley insisted we get a picture together.  My family and I had a great time hanging out with Flat Stanley. Madison was very sad to see him go, she had to hug him before he left, but I am sure that he will continue to have fun on his travels. 

Flat Stanley and

Madison didn't want to let him leave!