Around The World

Sunny Days
I woke from my nap and was greeted by Abby's family in Florida.  I was so excited to return to the Sunshine State!  They live right near the Gulf Of Mexico, so the first thing we did was to hit the beach.  I just love to collect flat shells of all sizes and colors.

Then, Abby and I relaxed by the pool for a bit.

She challenged me to a race, but I wisely declined. 

    This place felt like paradise.  How could I ever leave?

I knew in my heart that I needed to return to school to finish second grade.  I really wanted to learn my multiplication facts!  I also wanted to learn about plants and butterflies.   But how would I get back there?  I knew that I was out of Priority envelopes and had spent all of my money.

All of a sudden, a swirl of something black and orange caught my eye. I could see a flurry of hundreds of wings approaching me from the south, flying ever so smoothly in the wind. These creatures were so beautiful and delicate that I was amazed by their grace.  How do they do it?, I wondered.  I've always admired the flatness of their wings, but a closer look showed me that the wings are actually covered with scales. 

Then, a gust of wind lifted me slightly into the air.  I hovered in the sky, elevated by the upward current of the air created by the butterflies.  They were headed north on their spring migration.  Could I travel with them?

Butterflies Are Free

I knew what I had to do.  Here was my opportunity to see more of our glorious country as I returned home to my family.  Here we go!, I shouted to the wind as I lifted my arms skyward. The air current created by hundreds of insects gently lifted me higher toward the sky. What a way to travel!  The glistening sun smiled down on us as we headed soaring for home. 

Home Sweet Home   

After many days of glorious travel in the sky, I awoke one morning in a large wooden sandbox.  The sun was shining in my face.   I could hear some loud munching and saw a caterpillar chewing on some milkweed leaves.  Where am I?,  I wondered sleepily. It looked like I was outside my classroom, but I didn't remember this sandbox being here when I left on my adventures.  So I did a little crawling around so I could read all of the signs in the box.  I saw mallow, hollyhock, and zinnia written on white stakes.  Huh?  Then finally, it started to make sense!   These are many of my butterfly friends' favorite foods.  This must be a resting spot for the butterflies that visit our school. A butterfly garden! What a cool idea!

I looked up and could see several of my second grade classmates waving at me from the window.  I quickly hopped over the edge of the box, and headed for the stairs.  I couldn't wait to see everyone.  It sure was great to be back home!

Well, now it's time for me to be with my family in the best small town in the USA.   I plan to play some baseball and eat some ice cream.  Then maybe, just maybe, I'll do a little traveling.   Have a wonderful summer, everyone!

Your friend in travel and adventure,

Stanley Lambchop 

Touring Two More Continents!

Here I Go Again
Well, it was wonderful to have some time to spend with my family, even with my brother Arthur.  My mother Mrs. Lambchop cooked me so many delicious meals while I was at home that I was afraid that I'd lose my flat 2D shape!   But here I am again, so excited to be heading across the Atlantic Ocean to visit with Sofia's family.   Can't wait to get my passport stamped!

My first stop was Italy, the boot shaped country in the southern section of the European continent.

I was excited to try some homemade linguine, which is just like spaghetti, only flatter!

Here is a map of Europe, with Italy in orange.  http://www.luventicus.org/  Doesn't it look like a boot?

Next, we traveled to Slovenia, another European country. 

I even had the chance to go golfing, which is one of my favorite sports.  Sofia's family members were such wonderful hosts!  I fit nicely into their golf bag when I needed a rest.

This is where the beautiful country of Slovenia is located.  http://www.worldatlas.com/

Finally, our tour wrapped up with a visit to the central European city of Budapest, Hungary.  Of course you know that when I learned I was in Hungary, I was once again hungry!   I had heard of Hungarian goulash, which is a spicy beef stew made famous centuries ago by local shepherds who cooked it over their campfires, but had never tried it.  Yum! It was delicious!   

After our meal, we hopped on this tour bus and viewed the city.  One of the famous sites in Hungary is the Danube River.  What a sight it was!

Here I am posing in front of the river.  Did you know that the Danube is Europe's second longest river? The Volga is its longest.  The Danube originates in Germany and flows east for 1776 miles until emptying into the Black Sea.  (http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/)  I was glad that I had a chance to see it. Some of you pianists may recognize the title as a famous waltz written by Strauss over 100 years ago.   With your parents' permission, click here to listen to it.  I'm guessing that it will sound familiar to you.

Blue Danube Waltz from YouTube

Soon it was time to say goodbye to my hosts, and head for a new adventure in South America with Chris' family.  Due to the long trans-Atlantic flight ahead of me, I knew that I would be catching up on a lot of sleep!

Changes in Latitude, Changes In Attitude

Not only did I cross Europe and much of the Americas while I napped, I awoke to see another ocean, the Pacific, glistening below me.  As the airplane circled high above the South American coastline, I listened to the stewardess tell us about the Country of Ecuador, my new destination.  Here is a picture of this country:

(http://www.worldatlas.com/)

I had never been this close to the Equator, and was looking forward to some hot weather.  As soon as I landed, I was met by Chris' cousin, Billy, who greeted me like a long lost friend. 

Next, Billy took me to his school, The American School in Guayaquil, where he told his friends all about me and my adventures.  Can you see me in the second row? Chris' mom once was a student here, too.

After school, Billy took me to the famous Column of the Heroes monument that was built almost 200 years ago to celebrate the independence of the province of Guayaquil from the Spanish empire.

Last but not least, Billy and I visited a park to see some locally famous animals, the Galapagos tortoises.  Check them out in the picture below.  I love those flat but curved shells! Since we both knew that they are vegetarians, it was ok for us to get this close to them for the photo.  I think we woke them up!

Did you know that the volcanic Galapagos Islands of Ecuador are a famous habitat for rare native animal species? They are now a part of a national park that was created to protect endangered wildlife, especially the tortoise.   If it's ok with your parents, click on the link below to read more about the tortoise.

National Geographic- The Galapagos Tortoise

Well, that was an experience of a lifetime!  I thanked Billy for being such a great host, and he dropped me off at the nearest airport for my journey home.  This time, it's the other America, North America, that is my destination.  Check back soon to hear about more adventures!

Your globe-trotting friend,

Stanley Lambchop

Back in the U.S.A.

California Here I Come!

Well, I tried to stretch my legs as I traveled back to the good old U.S.A.  In the cramped space of my envelope, I  missed the comfort of my twin bed at home.  Since I've become flat and am basically 2D, I take up a lot less room.   I've even been able to slide out of the sheets and replace the pillow without even remaking my bed every day. My mother, Mrs. Lambchop, hasn't noticed, and I'm hoping that Arthur doesn't tell on me.  But for now, I'll have to get used to traveling and sleeping in my 11x15 Priority envelope.  So at night, instead of counting sheep, I tried to picture a 11 x 15 array and calculate how many square inches this flying bed of mine has. My strategy was to take 10 groups of  15, which equals 150, and then to add 1 group of 15 to it, which is zzzzzzzzzzzzz.  With visions of arrays dancing in my head, I fell asleep before I had the answer.  Did you figure it out?

I guess that my envelope wasn't completely sealed, and I woke up in the cargo hold of a United Airlines jet.  I hit the floor with a thud and checked out my surroundings. I crept toward a small window and looked out.   Hmmm, are those puffy cumulus clouds that I see?  They remind me of cauliflower, which is not on my list of favorite foods.  I am not sure if it is its shape or its taste.  But if these are cauliflower clouds, I mean cumulus clouds, it means that I'll have good weather for my visit.  Hooray! When the clouds parted, I saw land and the glistening Pacific Ocean.  Eureka!  That means I've found it!  Eureka is also the motto for this beautiful state of California.  Here I come!

I was so excited to visit California, our third largest state, and the one with the most people. I was headed to visit Sarah's family in Sonoma, and knew that they'd show me a great time.

Did you know that the land in California used to belong to Mexico? One day in 1846, some people living in the area wanted to start an independent country. I got up close to this sign to read more about the history of this area.  I just love to learn about our country.

Many parts of California have warmer weather than we have at home.  As a result, cacti are found growing outdoors all year round.  Here I am checking some out. Ouch!  I got a little too close.

I really like the California flag with the bear.  This was the first flag for the Republic of California, which was the first settlement.  Did you know that another name for bear is bruin?  That's another reason why I like this flag.  Can you see me at the bottom right? 

I Just Want to Fly

Well, it was soon time to say goodbye to Sarah's family.  We shared a quick dinner of flatbread sandwiches and Orange Crush, and  headed for the car.  "Adios, amigos!", I called to them as they dropped me off at the post office.  At least this time, I wouldn't be traveling too far.  I was headed to visit Max's grandmother in Reno, Nevada, which was just across the border.  I couldn't wait to see her and her pet, too!

nevada_nv_statemap

We flew over one of my favorite places to ski, Lake Tahoe, in CA on our way to Reno, Nevada.  Did you know that Nevada is named for the beatiful Sierra Nevada mountains which are found here?  I knew that I wouldn't have a chance to try out the slopes on this trip, but I knew that I had a plan to ski and snowboard with Declan and Cooper very soon.  In the meantime, I just wanted to learn more about Nevada.

Did you know that Nevada is our most mountainous state and is also our seventh largest? (www50states.com)  It is also our largest source of silver and gold.  There are so many interesting facts to learn about this place!  Most of the state is desert, but many of the mountain ranges have a snow cover all year long. 


I had a wonderful visit with Max's family, and took some naps with Misty.  I loved all the attention that they gave me.  We visited government offices in the state capitol of Carson City together, and I got to see a statue of a Big Horn Sheep (glad it was just a statue) and some elk antlers.  They were so kind to me that I started to miss my own family at home. Then then I remembered that one of the last times I saw Arthur, he turned me into a kite and left me stuck hanging in a tree.  So, I guess I'm in no huge rush to get back.  But sadly, all good things must come to an end.  So, I bid them goodbye, and headed for the post office.


The Yellow Rose of Texas

My next trip brought me to visit Lizzy's cousin Sophie in Tyler, Texas.  Tyler is famous for its many varieties of roses.  I love the way the fragrance of the flowers, but remembering my close encounter with some Califoria cacti, I kept a sharp lookout for thorns, and viewed the roses from a safe distance.

Sophie was so thoughtful to make me a cowboy hat and matching boots.  I even wanted to wear both of them to bed with my pajamas.  Thanks, Sophie!  Since I became flat, it's been so hard to find clothes that fit.  I feel so fashionably Texan.

Sophie and I say "Howdy!"

I Can See For Miles and Miles

Here is a map of Texas. Did you know that it is our second largest state? When we drove around, it seemed like I could see down those dusty roads forever.  I just loved the flatness of this place!   Thanks so much for the visit!

Utah, This Is The Pace

But I knew that soon it was time to go. On my next visit, I headed to see Cooper and his family in Utah. What a majestic place!   Cooper, Hudson, and their cousins took me skiing, and to a higher elevation on a chair lift than I'd ever imagined.  If a mile is 5,280 feet, and we climbed to 9,415 feet, do you think I was feeling on top of the world? It sure felt like it! Even though I usually prefer the flat terrain of cross country skiing, there is nothing quite like imagining that you are high enough to touch the clouds. 

Did you know that on average, the peaks in Utah are the USA's tallest?  Cooper really knew how to pick a vacation spot!  Utah is our 44st state and our 11th largest. The name Utah comes from the Native American "Ute" tribe, and means people of the mountains.   (http://www.utah.gov/)

I was sad to say goodbye, but knew that I still had some amazing adventures ahead of me.  I wearily climbed into my envelope and headed east.  I was asleep before I even finished the first chapter of my new book, Flat Stanley and the Capital Commotion.  Have you read it yet?

Coming Home

I woke up as my buddy Declan opened my envelope.  I couldn't wait to go boarding with him.  He had told me all about his new snowboard and all of the stunts that he could do on it.  I knew that we would have an amazing day.  The weather was warm for this time of year, but the manmade snow was perfect.  Since it was windy on the chairlift, Declan had to tightly hold on to me.  I quickly remembered what happened to me in the wild winds on that Australian beach.  I had no time to be a stunt kite that day.   

Here I am taking a break and catching some rays on Declan's snowboard. 

After the excitement of the day was winding down, I headed home at dusk to surprise my parents, the Lambchops.  I noticed that my house was brightly lit, and I wondered who all of the cars in the driveway belonged to.  Are my parents having a party without me?, I sadly wondered.   I slowly opened the door, and heard the shouts of   "Surprise!" It was all for me!  My cousins the Porkchops were there, and so were a few of my friends from school.  How did they know that I would be here?  I thought I had kept my travel plans pretty quiet.  Then I remembered that my new iPhone has a GPS and my dad probably knew all along that I was nearby.  So much for surprising them.  They surprised me!  But it was great to be home.  My mom had a buffet table set up with some of my favorite foods: mashed potatoes,  thinly sliced roast beef, sliced carrots, and even a decorated sheet cake!  For some reason, I really don't like layer cake, but a flat sheet cake is so sweet!

Dream a Little Dream 


 I ate until I was afraid that I would no longer fit into my traveling envelope.  Would I still be able to slide in and out of bed without having to make the bed up in the morning? That was my next concern.  As fast as I could, I sprinted to the room that I share with Arthur and slid under the sheet like a pro baseball player slides into home.  I was safe!  I quickly fell asleep and forgot my worries in a field of dreams.


Home Plate

Well, it was so great to be back at home that I decided to take a few days off from my travels.  I knew that I was headed soon to visit Europe with Sofia's family, and then to Ecuador with Chris' family.  Later, I'd also be heading back to see more of California and Florida.  But a few days at home with unlimited pancakes and sausage wouldn't hurt me, would it?

Supersize Me

Stay tuned to read more of my 2D (or 3D) adventures. Keep those cards and letters coming!

Your friend in travel and adventure,

Stanley Lambchop

A Whole New World

Hello 2H Friends!

School's Out- July/August 2011
When I last wrote in the spring of 2011, I was looking forward to playing baseball in my favorite town in  the flat state of Massachusetts.  I sure had a wonderful summer.   With the help of some friends, I also did a bit of traveling to Alaska, our largest and the 49th state.  Check out the scenery!  The icebergs were impressive, and the air sure was chilly!  I was looking for penguins, but didn't see any. Since then, I've learned about them in school, and I know now that they can't be found this far north. 

I also traveled on a ferry from Connecticut in New England across the Long Island Sound to New York to watch a baseball tournament with Mrs. H's son.  Boy was that a hot weekend!  The temperature went into the triple digits, and was over 100 degress!  Being laminated made me extra sweaty, but I survived.  I found some flat straws and was able to drink a lot of icy water.  No ice cubes for me, though. I prefer ice shavings and ice chips, because they are flatter.  As you will see, since I've become flat,  for some reason, I like everything around me to be flat, too.   2D is the choice for me!

This is me on the ferry.  

Did you know that when you go to the beach or on a ferry around New England or nearby states, that you are in the Atlantic Ocean, the world's second largest?

(http://www.railmaps.com/)

I'll be travelling over the world's largest ocean (Hint: It starts with a P) later this year.  But no matter what the ocean is, I love to travel with my surfboard or boogie board and ride on the crest of the waves.  Cowabunga!

(http://www.ingridmarie.eu/)

School Days-September 2011
A month later, I started school again, and here I am.  I love second grade so much that I don't want to move up to third! I've already learned a lot this year, too.  I really enjoy learning about the world, and know that second graders spend time reading about the continents and our wonderful country.   

I'm A Traveling Man
Now that winter has arrived, I get to hop into a suitcase and really see the world.  I am hoping to share my many adventures with you in this blog.  The first one to take me into the sky was Connor, and we flew to visit his grandma in Florida.




Not only do I enjoy the sand and weather of the Sunshine state, I also love its fantastic flatness!  Did you know that Florida is one of our flattest states?   Here I am relaxing at Siesta Key Beach. 
Connor also took me to a sand sculpting contest, which was really amazing.  I would loved to have stayed there for several weeks, but I knew that I'd be back again soon to visit Abby's and Mariah's grandparents.  Thanks for the fun times, Connor!  See you back at school.

Down To The River

The next place I traveled to involved a long flight and some really flat food!  I got to use chopsticks and eat rice and noodles.  (To be honest, I do much better using flatware like a fork, but I love to try new things.)  My wonderful hosts were Grace's grandparents, who took me on a tour.  Here I am near the Yangtze River.

Did you know that the Yangtze River is China's and Asia's longest river? I was so happy to have a chance to see it.   

Wow! Thanks for the hospitality! China sure is a beautiful country.  I couldn't stay long, because I was off to visit Jocelyn's relatives in the Asian country of Bahrain. 

Here I am with a view of the skyline in back of me.

Did you know that Bahrain is an archipelago, or group of islands, located in the Persian Gulf?  What excited me most about this adventure was that I was going to see and possibly ride a camel!  My host let the camel check me out first.  He eyed me suspiciously, but since I'm still here to tell my story, you know that he left me alone.   

Did you notice that my host is wearing a Stanley Cup t-shirt? At first, I was so flattered thinking that he was wearing it just for me.  Then I realized that he was supporting one of my favorite teams.  Go Bruins!  Hockey is a sport that I really love.  Can you guess why?   (Hint: It has to do with the faces on the puck, which I learned in school is a cylinder.)

         

Free Falling

Well, my camel ride was over as soon as it started, as I quickly slid to the ground and landed flat on my back.  Ouch! I guess the hump just wasn't flat enough for me, and I sure didn't have a saddle.  But it was fun for a few seconds.  I know that if my brother Arthur were there to see that, he'd be laughing at me. So, remembering something I'd heard recently in an assembly, I'd take that negative, put a positive spin on it, and call my move the Cool Camel Slide.  Oh yeah!  Bet Arthur's never done that before!

Since you have read several of my books, you know that one of my mother's favorite expressions is "Hay is for horses."  But did you know that hay is also for camels?  Camels eat hay, dried desert grasses, and even native fruits like figs and dates.  I was happy to read that they are not interested in eating flat eight year old boys.  Otherwise, I would have been on the menu.  Gulp!

Let's Get It Started!

Well, it is time for me to slide into my envelope and head off for some more exciting adventures.  I've packed a flask of milk and some Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookies for the flight. (Thanks, Abby, Lizzy, and Jocelyn!) I've got many trips planned, and can't wait to learn more about our world.  I even have some adventures that I've already taken, but just haven't had time to write about yet.  

I am looking forward to spending time with a few of you during school vacation week.  Can someone please take me skiing, skating, or snowboarding?  Last year, I went to New Hampshire on a ski trip, was flattened by a runaway ski, and then fell into a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken!  I did the chicken dance after I climbed out on a ladder of drumsticks.  It was a lot of fun. 

Please check with your parents, and if it's ok with them, click on the link below to listen to a cool song and watch a video about me on You Tube.  Did you know that I've met all of these famous people?  Can't wait to meet a few more! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k4fy7GsSSE&noredirect=1

Keep those cards and letters coming!

Your friend,

Stanley Lambchop