Sunday, March 30, 2014

Wally


Greetings from Connecticut!

 
Wally is having a lot of fun here in Connecticut and is learning a lot! Friday he went to genetics class and got to look at really neat chromosomes (that's what makes up the human body and makes you who you are) under a microscope! Wally also arrived on the same day his owner's cousin found out she was accepted here- it must have been a lucky sign! Tomorrow Wally is going to try Peruvian food and help edit the school newspaper. Please let Alec know I say hello and am having a blast on my trip! Hope the skiing up there is better than the rainy weather down here.
Love,
Wally
 

Friday, March 28, 2014

Billy is at the Continental Divide

Hi! This is Billy saying Hello! from the Continental Divide, up in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado!
This is a picture of me after a day of skiing with Caroline's Auntie Jess at Arapahoe Basin. I am looking East towards MA and all the snow on the East side of the Continental Divide will melt and end up in rivers that eventually drain into the Atlantic Ocean.
Winter was here early in the ski season when there was much less snow but the same amount of fun!
Hi to Will and Caroline and the rest of Ms Mehlin's class!
Auntie Jess says thanks so much letting her be a part of this really cool project. She wishes she could be as small as me and come along for the rest of the trip...
Cheers,
Billy

 
 
 

Percy is in California

Hi Nicholas!

Percy has been visiting us in Oakland, CA for about a week now. We've done lots of fun things, but I'll let Percy write all about it in his journal. He's really been enjoying hanging out with our two cats, Gustavo & Sabine. Percy plays fetch with Gustavo, just like he does with Rudy at home. The only difference is that it's with stuffed mice instead of tennis balls. Cats are weird.

I think Percy is getting restless though. He's been enjoying the unusually dry and warm weather of California, but keeps talking about how much fun he had in the snow in Chicago... maybe we can send him some place with more snow? Some place further north... maybe where can see some beautiful northern lights? or visit with members of his family? Hmm... where could that be?

Best, Megan & André



Thursday, March 27, 2014

Coffee Bear Part 2

 
 

After gymnastics we had to stop to see Richie at his work in Derry, NH. The Durango needed a quick check under the hood. Coffee threw open the car door and jumped up to give Rich a hand. They made a pretty good team. The Durango runs perfectly now.
(picture #7 Coffee Bear and Richie working the wrench)

Ellie and Coffee had a "car picnic" on our way to the Library in Derry, NH. Ellie loves to pick out books on kitties. Coffee had his own agenda it seems. All we heard were a lot of "ohhhhs and ahhhhhs". Silly bear!
(Picture #8 Coffee Bear and Ellie at the Derry Public Library

(Picture #9 Coffee Bear reading about ahhhh... Panda BEARS)

(Picture #10 Coffee Bear and Ellie reading and snacking)

The Derry Post Office was our final stop of the afternoon. Ellie and Coffee helped package up some boxes and
send them in the mail.
(Picture #11 Coffee Bear taking control of the sharpie)

(Picture #12 Coffee Bear and Ellie waiting for postage)

(Picture #13 Coffee Bear and Ellie dropping the boxes)

ahhhhh.... we are home now and it's time to start making dinner. Did you know Coffee is an aspiring chef? He did great except he had to throw on some shades while chopping the onion. LoL
(Picture #14 Coffee Bear "sous-cheffing" it up)
 
Miss Lauren your Coffee Bear is a busy little guy. I think we may be wearing him out a little! :)
We love you! xoxoxo
Rich, Andrea, Jamison & Ellie

Coffee

Hi Lauren!


Well, Coffee had a BUSY day today and it's only 4:3opm! We started our day by taking Ellie to preschool not too far from us in Windham, NH. She hugged him goodbye and he sent her off with a kiss. Coffee and Andrea met a friend for breakfast at Cracker Barrel in Londonderry, NH. He loved this restaurant. While waiting for our seats, he played checkers and totally won!

From Rite Aid it was off to pick Ellie up from Pre School. He sat with Ellie while she showed him how she can write her name and his. He was very impressed. They took a picture with Ellie's teachers Miss Kim and Miss Cathy.



 
 Coffee Bear "WINNING!"

 
When you go to Cracker Barrel they have these wooden games at every table. I have to tattle, he stuck a peg or two up his nose. He's such a clown! He loved it so much he wanted to bring it back for our Lauren & Abbey to play. Also, we can not leave without buying some candy sticks. Root-BEAR (haa haa he thought that was funny!) & Strawberry for Lauren & Abbey to enjoy!

(Coffee Bear with his loot. )

 
After Breakfast it was off to Rite Aid for a few "essentials" (per a note left in my bag by Coffee). Really Lauren? you taught him to write? LoL. He specifically asked for HONEY Teddy BEAR cookies, a BEAR shaped HONEY bottle and mentos candy. Sense a pattern eh? OH YES... and the "headband" that's really a bracelet? He saw it and as an ode to his good friend Yogi- BEAR he is wearing it for the day. LoL... He really is a funny little guy!

(Coffee Bear and his necessities

 
(Ellie showing Coffee her writing skills)

(Coffee Bear with Ellie and her teachers)

Gymnastics time! Ellie loves gymnastics. Coffee had a gold medal performance on the balance beam.
Too bad you missed it!

(Coffee Bear and Ellie posing)

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Toal the Bear

Hello, everyone!

We are sending this note to let you know that Toal the Bear has safely traveled around the country and has enjoyed his stay in Portland, Maine (Well, most of it anyway. The income tax seminar he attended was pretty boring, but the rest of the time has been quite enjoyable. Probably because Toal is a bear, he ended up hibernating for part of the time in Maine. Unfortunately for him, the hibernation period did not include the day he had to go to the income tax seminar.)

While in Portland, Toal has made a couple of new friends, including a bear named "Nameless" that one of his hosts sewed almost 30 years ago and a cat named "Leyla" who is fond of ruffles. Neither of them has had many opportunities to travel, so Toal has had great fun telling them about all of the places he has seen. Toal, Nameless, and Leyla are all glad that they have been loved enough to become real. If they hadn't become real, then they could never have shared such delicious tea and great conversation. Here is a picture of the three of them together.

Toal the Bear is now headed back to Massachusetts. He is looking forward to going home, and to reuniting with Toal the Human. He says to thank everyone who has hosted him for a wonderful journey.
 


 

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Coffee

Hey there Miss Lauren!
Coffee has arrived safe and sound to us in Derry, New Hampshire. The girls were so excited to open up his box and see him waiting for them!
(picture #1 Jamison & Ellie are happy to have Coffee visit)
 

And we are off! as you can see we still have lots of snow here in Derry, NH
(picture #2 Coffee taking a selfie on the dashboard! LoL)

First stop... STARBUCKS! Coffee had to come along for his very first trip to Starbucks in Methuen, MA for some iced green tea, not coffee! LoL However, we did get some "after coffee mints" for him and he was so happy! :)
(picture #3 Starbucks and mints for Coffee).

After Starbucks we went shopping at the Methuen Loop in MA) and was able to pick up a few fun things including a treat Miss Lauren loves. :) Coffee was a wild bear in the carriage.
 

So much shopping can make a bear hungry well... like a bear! So off for some Japanese at New Tokyo in Salem, NH. Our hostess was so sweet to take a picture with Coffee. He loved his sushi and vegetable noodles! YUM!
(picture #4 with our hostess at restaurant)

Last stop a sweet dessert at our favorite cupcake shop Sophisticakes here in Windham, NH. Coffee ate two cupcakes! Geesh! After he stuffed his face with the cakes home-bound we were for his first sleepover with us. Oh wait! Showers first! :)
We cant wait to post some more Coffee fun! We love you Lauren!
xoxo Andrea, Rich, Jamison & Ellie

Jimmy

Jimmy visited Jake's Aunt and Uncle in Napa, California in March. Napa grows grapes for some of the best wines in the world. He took a walk through the vineyards across the street. It was warm and the grape vines were just beginning to sprout. There were mustard plants with yellow flowers between the vines. Jimmy told us he is looking forward to returning to Proctor School next week.

Sue & David Stevens


Thursday, March 20, 2014

Ronald is visiting Chicago


My name is David Ritter and I've had the pleasure of hosting Ronald the bear on behalf of Anthony.

We live in the suburbs outside Chicago in the city of Tinley Park. Unfortunately, Mother Nature has kept us locked up for the last few weeks ( -5 degrees in March! ) but I was able to take Ronald with me to work in downtown Chicago ( see picture attached ).

He's pictured in front of the beautiful skyline of north Michigan Ave., known as the Magnificent Mile. The John Hancock building is the tall building just over Ronald's shoulder. I was a little worried about bringing a bear to a major metropolitan area, but I was surprised by how well he behaved. He said the city on the lake reminded him of Boston, and he felt right at home.

Soaking in the city as dusk fell, we talked about plenty of things. Art and architecture. Food. Politics and sports ( Bruins / Blackhawks, Big Pappy's performance in the playoff run compared to Sammy Sosa's historic run ). Not surprisingly, we agreed on most things. Except for pizza toppings ( sardines! ) and the effect Wes Welker's departure on Tom Brady's psyche.

I'm placing Ronald into his travelling home soon. He's on his way to visit Dayton, Ohio. Pretty soon, he'll make his way back to Ms. Mehlins' fourth grade class at Proctor School.
We'll miss Ronald's company.

All the best to you and the students in Topsfield.
And, please pass along a hearty "hello" to Anthony and the his family.

Sincerely,

dr

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Coconut

Kaylee's bear Coconut visited Jacksonville, Florida Navel Base and Virginia.






Monday, March 17, 2014

Caramel


Today I got to see the calves outside Plains, Montana. They seem so much bigger than the lambs. Our weather is really nice, almost 55 degrees. The calves were running around and bucking in the sunshine. 
 

Cows and calves looking north of Plains, Montana

Aunt Jean with Caramel, Baxter Black, and Buck. These are the horses used to work the cows.

Ear tagging the day-old calf. Ear tags are used to identify the mama cow and baby.

Caramel and calf #90 getting to know each other

Aunt Jean and Uncle Terry

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Caramel Out West


Caramel feeding the Lambs

Caramel Looking North (Hot Springs Montana)

Caramel Riding Pops (the Colt)

Monday, March 10, 2014

Poseidon is in Tennessee



Hi Proctor 4th Grade Kids, and Caroline

Poseidon the bear came to visit us in Knoxville Tennessee. We enjoyed his visit, as you'll see from these photos.

Susan Potter and Brent Mallinckrodt