Merry Christmas from Sally in Minnesota!

Merry Christmas from the whole Flat Stanley gang! Sally spent the holidays with our friends Tony, Ruthanne, and Cohen as they traveled to Minneapolis, Minnesota to visit family for the holidays.

Fun Facts about Minnesota:

(brought to you by G-Bug and Truth)

32nd State

State Nickname: The Gopher State

Capitol: St. Paul

State Bird: Common Loon

State Flower: Ladyslipper

State Sport: Ice Hockey

State Tree: Norway Pine

Sally and Cohen are ready to fly!

During their visit, Tony and Ruthanne did some volunteer work as well - Sally was happy to tag along and lend a hand!

Tony's notes:

"On Saturday we helped pack food for children in Nicaragua, with Feed My Starving Children in Chanhassen, MN.  Our team packed 101 boxes, which is enough to feed 60 children for a year! We had a great time!"

Merry Christmas, everyone - and thanks again Tony, Ruthanne, and Cohen for sharing with Sally the joy of giving this holiday season!

Mele Kalikimaka, Stanley!

Flat Stanley had a marvelous Christmas in Hawaii this year with our host Ms. Mary!

Fun Facts about Hawaii:
(brought to you by G-Bug and Truth)
50th State
State Nickname: The Aloha State
Capitol: Honolulu
State Bird: Nene (Hawaiian Goose)
State Flower: Yellow Hibiscus
State Butterfly: Kamehameha
State Fish: Trigger Fish

Stanley got to learn about Hawaii's Queen Lili'uokalani. Here are Ms. Mary's notes:

"Queen Lili'uokalani (1838-1917) was Hawai'i's first and only queen. She was also the last monarch of the Hawaiian Islands. With the overthrow of the Hawaiian Islands, Queen Lili'uokalani was imprisoned for eight months then released but forced to stay on O'ahu. The queen wanted her resources to provide help and support to Hawaiian  orphaned or destitute children. Today, my three children and I visited our worker at the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center where we talked about behavior modification for the children and how we can continue our deceased loved ones' legacies. The agency has also provided the children with new uniforms for school and school supplies this past fall. We are grateful for the guidance and support we have received and thankful that the queen thought about us even though she didn't know us personally."

Stanley also got to see some fun Christmas decorations - the palm trees and warm weather are so mind boggling for us shivering in Indiana!

"Every year at Honolulu Hale, Christmas decorations go up, Hawaiian style.  These pictures are just of the few decorations that were there."

Christmas carolers, wearing aloha attire 

One of the newer exhibitions of a woman wearing a mu'umu'u, ready to give a flower lei  

Big blocks arranged to say, "Mele Kalikimaka," which means Merry Christmas  

Mele Kalikimaka from Stanley! And thank you Ms. Mary for being such a wonderful host!

Stanley Visits Berea Berea Beloved, Kentucky!

Stanley was invited by a long time friend Ms. Renee' to visit her around Christmastime in my old college town, Berea KY! He had a wonderful time and made a lot of new friends. 

Stanley visits Renee's office - working hard

 Next stop: the animal shelter! There he makes some new K-9 friends

 Stanley also visited the cats -  high five, Stanley!

Back at Ms. Renee's house, Stanley enjoys the Todds' Christmas tree - 

he likes it under (and in) the lights!

Stanley loves his new friend Lilly at the Todds' house

 Lastly, Stanley enjoyed a visit to Renee's church, Berea Baptist. 

(It was my church in college!) 

Thanks Ms. Renee' for the wonderful pictures and memories! 

Merry Christmas!

Manly visits Germany! (And Czeck Republic!!)

Guten Tag from Germany! Manly is visiting my brother Ken, sister in law Nkauj, and my sweet little niece Harper near Ramstein, Germany. Manly's been having a wonderful time, and tasting some delicious German treats.

First, they brought Manly along to celebrate Ken's birthday and go to the Science Center in Primasens. They also introduced Manly to delicious german bologna sandwiches!

He also got to experience their local village's Christmas market - everything looked and smelled delicious!

What is German for, "OMNOMNOMNOMNOM"?

Just when Manly thought the fun was winding down, Ken and Nkauj decided to take him to Prague in the Czeck Republic for the weekend - WOW!!

But first, my oh-so-kissable niece, Harper! I almost can't take the cuteness.

Ok, here are the photos of Manly checking out Prague - warning: You might be overcome by jealousy. Not that I was. Erm... it can't be healthy to envy a paper person, right? Right. Back to business:

 Flat Manly in front of two guards - they stand perfectly at attention

 

Flat Manly at St. Vitus Cathedral - stunning!

 Prague's Astronomical Clock, which has been working for over 600 years! Click here to see an incredible video of the 600th anniversary of this amazing wonder!

Manly had a wonderful time walking the streets of Prague - everything looks so historic and beautiful, *sigh*

HUGE thanks to Ken, Nkauj, and sweet Harper for letting Manly join you in this beautiful city!

  Ken, Nkauj, and Harper - the cutest tourist you've ever laid eyes on.

Stanley visits Kansas and the National Guard!

We got word from Flat Stanley this week that he arrived in Kansas! His host Betsy Mullis took him on a unique adventure - meeting some members of the National Guard and working on some UH-60 blackhawk helicopters! (See link to learn more about these amazing machines.)

Fun Facts about Kansas:
(brought to you by G-Bug and Truth)
34th State
State Nickname: The Sunflower State
Capitol: Topeka
State Bird: Western Meadowlark
State Flower: Sunflower
State Reptile: Ornate Box Turtle
Interesting Fact: The geographic center of the U.S. is in Lebanon, Kansas!

Note from Ms. Betsy: "My husband is the production manager for the blackhawks in Topeka. He started out as a crew chief/mechanic on them. The engines on them are jet engines and then they turn the blades on top. Flat Stanley was helping them work on the jet engines when he was here."

Stanley thought it would be cool to take a ride on the hoist of the helicopter - wheee!

Unfortunately, the weather didn't permit Stanley to take a ride as Ms. Betsy had hoped, but he still had an amazing visit. I mean, who gets to work on an amazing aircraft like this??

Thanks again Ms. Betsy for taking Stanley on such a cool adventure!

Stanley visits Delaware!

Flat Stanley had a wonderful and historic visit with his hosts the Troutmans in the First State: Delaware!

Fun Facts about Delaware:
(brought to you by G-Bug and Truth)
1st State
State Nickname: The First State
Capitol: Dover
State Bird: Blue Hen Chicken
State Flower: Peach Blossom
State Tree: American Holly
State Insect: Ladybug
State Fish: Weakfish
State Marine Animal: Horseshoe Crab
State Beverage: Milk
Interesting Fact: The Great Cypress Swamp is the northernmost swamp of its kind!


Stanley visited historic Odessa, where there are several blocks of historic homes that were built in the 1700s. That was back when Delaware was still only a colony, and America didn't even exist as its own country yet!

Stanley also got to see the Atlantic Ocean! Looks chilly but still very lovely, 

and the hosts are super adorable.

Thanks Ms. Emily for showing Stanley around beautiful Delaware!

Stanley visits Alabama!

Flat Stanley visited our friends the Grissoms this week in Harvest, Alabama!

Fun Facts about Alabama:
(brought to you by G-Bug and Truth)
22th State
State Nickname: The Cotton State
Capitol: Montgomery
State Bird: Yellowhammer
State Flower: Camellia
State Insect: Monarch Butterfly
State Tree: Southern Longleaf Pine
State Fruit: Blackberry
Fun fact: George Washington Carver discovered over 300 new uses of the peanut here!



First, they took Stanley to old downtown Madison, Alabama first thing in the morning. Here they are pictured in front of the old train station which is now a lovely candy shop. Ms. Sheena told us that the Main Street Cafe used to be an old jail! You can even dine inside an old jail cell there.

Next, they took Stanley to the Space and Rocket Center! So cool! He even tried on an astronaut suit at the gift shop. Unfortunately, the suit was too big for him, but he did pick up a couple of small souvenirs for G-bug and Truth, so thoughtful of him and his guests!

G-bug's comment: "That's so funny!"

For their last stop, the Grissoms took Stanley to Huntsville Botanical Gardens! Winter is a quiet time of year there, but we were told that it's a fun place to play in the water in the warmer months.

Thank you Sierra, Steven, Shelby, Sadie, and Susanna for being such amazing hosts, and for helping Flat Stanley mail us the cool postcard and astronaut ice cream!

Merry Christmas!