Flat Stanley enjoys Chirstmas in Chicago!!!!

Hi kids! Sorry I have been out of touch. I got all wrapped up with the presidential election excitement...next thing I knew it was Thanksgiving....and now it's almost time for the winter holidays! I've been having a great time in Chicago. What a beautiful place in the winter time. But, boy, is it COLD. Brrrrrr. I need to buy myself a nice, warm coat!


Recently I took a train downtown to the Daley Center to see the lighting of the Christmas tree. WHOA....that tree is really BIG! Can you see how tiny I look next to the tree? Mayor Daley was there that day to do the tree lighting ceremony. I couldn't get a picture with him because it was too crowded to get near him. But I did make some nice friends while I was there. I was taking a picture by the tree when someone called out my name "Flat Stanley! Can we take a picture with you?" Wow...I was recognized in downtown Chicago! How cool is that? The family who called my name had a little baby and asked me if I could take a picture with him. Right as the picture was about to be snapped the baby got distracted by a loud noise and looked away...oh well. Isn't he cute in that blue hood with the little ears?

Then I walked around Daley Plaza a bit more and spotted a group of kids on a field trip. I asked them if we could take a picture together by the giant Christmas tree. One little girl in the group got super-excited and yelled out, "Flat Stanley...Flat Stanley!! Let me be in a photo with you!!". I guess he recognized me too!! You can see the girl holding me in the picture. I'm in the bottom right-hand side of the photo. Those kids sure were nice.

Tonight it snowed so much! Isn't it beautiful? I am going to go out and play in the snow. I hope you kids have a great winter break! Keep warm and have lots of fun!

Flat Stanley

Flat Stanley jokes in New Jersey!!!

Dear Steven,

I hope you are doing well.

I was lucky enough to convince Flat Stanley to go with me on a business trip. Flat Stanley and I were able to go to New Jersey. He spent some time at the airport and was able to rest on the plane.

Once Flat Stanley arrived in New Jersey, he then went with me to a meeting. While we were at the meeting, Flat Stanley helped make some big business decisions. I am so lucky he went with me and gave us all some very good advice. I did realize Flat Stanley was so smart.

While we took a break during the meeting, he had some fun by playing tag with a few new friends. He also told funny jokes and made his new friends smile. I think he had fun while in New Jersey.

Thank you so very much for coloring and sending Flat Stanley,

Jose Lopez

Flat Stanley finds good things to eat at Western Market!

Hello!


We had a Flat Stanley drawn by Alyssa. She told us that Stanley likes to go swimming and to the market. Since it is cold where we live in Michigan right now - BRRRRRRRRR!!! - we took Flat Stanley to a place called Western Market in Ferndale, Michigan. Ferndale is a wonderful little town just north of a big city called Detroit.


Stanley loved going to Western Market! We bought some delicious things for Thanksgiving - apples for an apple pie, sweet potatoes for a casserole, and some nice bread and butter to eat, too. We had a great time and wish you could have been there with us!


All the Best,
Lisa Rajt and Mark Campbell
Oak Park, MI

Flat Stanley getting some luck from Lincoln!!!

Dear First Graders at Bateman School,

Thanks for sending Flat Stanley to me. Flat Stanley enjoyed site seeing at Lincoln's Tomb in Springfield, Illinois. It is tradition to rub Lincoln's nose for good luck. So Flat Stanley is trying for some good luck. Flat Stanley is going out for his morning jog. He started out on our sidewalk. Flat Stanley is relaxing and reading a good book on our couch.
Have a great holiday!

John Fletcher

Flat Stanely hangs out with dogs in New York!

For Maria in 112.

More adventures in Detroit!!!!

Stanley did get to the Detroit River, but it took me a long time to send in thepictures.My friend Pam, who teaches with me, went with Stanley and me to the little parkbetween the General Motors building and the river. Here they are with the riverbehind them. On the other side of the river is Windsor, Canada. This is oneof the few places where Canada is south of the United States. In the next picture, Stanley and I are looking at the river with the GeneralMotors Building behind us.Then we went inside and Stanley got to ride on a bright yellow Saturnconvertible. He wanted to drive, but they wouldn't let him.

Flat Stanley to SOUTH AFRICA!!!!

Dear Rebecca,

Thank you so much for letting me be a part of the Flat Stanley project. The first thing I did with Flat Stanley (FS) was vote. FS told me how important he thought it was to get out the vote so on election day we waited two hours in line at Inman Middle School in Atlanta, GA. Pictures are not allowed in the voting area, but a nice poll worker allow us to take the one attached. Even though FS thought vote was quite an adventure, he had no idea what was coming next. On November 18th, FS boarded a plane with me and my husband (Bill) to South Africa. Luckily, being flat, he didn't have to worry about passport control! First, we visited Cape Town where FS took a motorcycle ride around the penninsula to the Cape of Good Hope. Then we went to a cheetah reserve where FS got to meet the cats up close and personal. Next it was off to Robben Island where FS saw the prison that Nelson Mandela was held in for being a political activist during the Aparthied era. FS came with us on safari as well, but it was too difficult to try to take pictures of him there. If your interested in hearing about our entire adventure, you can visit our blog at bagwill.blogspot.com. Thanks again for the opportunity to take part in the Flat Stanley learning experience. Best,Nancy