Exciting December

HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know it's only November, but I'm already anticipating the upcoming December. First of all, my birthday(you have to be excited about that), I'm turning double toothpicks!!! My party is going to the movies(watching Narnia the dawn treader or something like that) then either going to Big Bowl (my fave Chinese restaurant) or getting take out from there and coming home to hang out a little bit with my friends. It's exciting just typing this up. Second of all is Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just can't wait to tell you the third thing. Thirdly, I'm (along with my sis and mom) are going to Australia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My moms parents live there, and some other relatives from Greece are coming too. I'm celebrating Christmas and my B-Day there! We are staying for a whole entire 3 weeks :-O! It will be amazing if I can just last the 24 hour plane ride.

I (not surprisingly) have my Christmas wish list all planned out. Mainly it's some stylish clothes I can look good in, and some good books I can enjoy forever, BUT there is one big, big, big present I wish for every night that will be a surprise until (or if) I get it. If I don't I may or may not tell you.

I have something a little random though..........

Have you ever heard of the word melancholy?
I have, but I want to see who hasn't. Isn't it amazing what kids learn in school?! Just kidding.

Well, Happy Birthday anyone who's birthday is coming up VERY soon, Merry Christmas (or Happy Hanukkah), and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 2011!!!!!

Also, just curious am I using too many ( )? I've kind of noticed a lot of them...

See ya,
Irene A.

Trip to Toronto

The beautiful city of Toronto

Mom and Dad finally decided we could visit Toronto, Canada. The car ride there and back was 12 hours each way, but all that driving was worth it. My family and I had such a great time in Toronto. We visited my Uncle Andrew and other relatives. 

Christina and I sitting on a rock! How exciting!!! 

The hotel we stayed at was called the Westin Harbour Castle. Our room had an amazing view of Toronto Island. We could hear the ferry boats horns from the room, and it's 22 stories off the ground! Where we stayed, it was easy to walk to a cafe or retaurant for something to eat.

Waiting patiently for arrival

Uncle Andrew and I...

The next day we met up with Uncle Andrew and took a ferry boat to Toronto Island. When we got there Mom was stunned by the vegetation that grows there. The plants were amazing! The hostas were huge compared to what we have here! The climate was just right for the plants there.

Surprising isn't it?

<><><><><><><><><><>

We walked down to the beach and over looked one of the Great Lakes.

Posing of course, what do you think I'm doing?

Hand in hand isn't this romantic?

Me too! I'm doing the same thing as her!

 My sister and I waded in the water and cooled off a little. Surprisingly, it's very hot in Toronto. Which is wasn't what I was expecting since I think of Canada as having a very cold climate. After the beach we meandered down to a maze made up of bushes and ended up coming back to where we began. Christina and I gave up on it pretty quickly. 

Getting ready for combat.

After that we rented two paddle boats. Dad and Christina in one, Uncle Andrew and me in another. It's harder than you think. First, it was boiling in those things especially wearing a life jacket. The shade was our retreating spot to cool down. When we finished paddling our feet off we started heading back to the ferry.  

Dad and Christina preparing for the worst.

Uncle Andrew is having second thoughts.

Later that day we went to visit my uncle's parents and spent some time down there. For dinner we went to my aunts house and spent some time there. I had a great time there too. 

On Friday, the forecast was a 100% chance for visiting the CN tower and Toronto Science museum with some clouds. Uncle Andrew, family, and I went to the CN tower and went in an elevator that took us 1,815 ft (553.3 m) up. You could see the WHOLE city and got a complimentary hairdrying treatment on the obsevation deck. We also got to stand on a glass floor a look down to the ground...... a height of approximately 1200 ft - It was freaky! 

This is the CN tower that we are going to enter

Getting aired down 

This is super fun

I'm smiling but I'm not really happy

This is AWESOME!!!!

Later, we went to visit the Toronto science museum. First, we got tickets to see the Harry Potter exhibition. The props they used in it we're so realistic. After that Christina and I each got a bookmark and a magic wand. In the end mine got really annoying.

We went for dinner at a shi-shi restaurant called Glow. Mother and I had the Glow Salad and we both LOVED it. For dessert Uncle Andrew and I got little cheesecakes in the mini glasses. I got this divine chocolate one with walnuts sprinkled on. Delicious. Then we visited some more realitives. I had a great time.

On Saturday (our last day :-(( ) we were planning to visit Niagra Falls. We made a stop at a little town called Niagra on the Lake which had more amazing vegetation, with lot's of little knick-knacky stores which were awesome. I got a bead for my special birthday necklace. And got to spend some quality time with Dad. Mom was walking into every store she thought interesting and sometimes ended up walking out with one extra bag (hint hint). When Mom had shopped till she dropped we took a walk down to the Niagra River. There I put on my bead and thought this is a good place to put it on.

This is a cute little fountain, huh?

The amazing plants

Flowers, pretty.

When we got to the car, this was the moment. The moment arrived and we were on our way to NIAGRA FALLS!!!!! When we got there the water was running off the edge at a tremedous speed. Dad said he was surprised at the volume of water falling down. It was something to remember forever! 

The famous Horseshoe Falls.

I had a spectacular time in Toronto.

A special thanks to Mom, Dad, and Uncle Andrew as our private tour guide.

Hawaiian Party!

Today, I had a Hawaiian Party with 3 of my closest friends!!! We had smoothies, made shell pets, and played fun games together.

My mom made these amazing smoothies. She calls them watermelon/strawberry slushies. Everyone loved them. Brigitte slurped hers down quickly because she LOVES strawberries.

After our slushies we made shell pets. We used shells, googley eyes, and glue. I think Alyssa's shell family was SO cute. She calls them the Peek-a-Boo family.

This is Brigitte's creation. She made an old sea turtle called Mama Odie and a little shell called Floppy. . .

This is my family of shells. The one farthest to the left is Caroline. Then comes Mary, Sandy, Sarah and on the end Bubbles. . .

Here is the famous Peek-a-Boo family made by Alyssa. The largest one is Rachel, the medium one is Ann(e), then the itty bitty one is Boo-boo. . .

These two snails are Nora's. I only know one of their names. The one with two eyes is Shelly.

Later on we played games together. Our first game we played was called Island Hop. First you divide everyone into two teams. Then you lay out four towels (two for each team) then you stand on the farthest towel and on "Aloha!" You and your teamates take the other towel and lay it down infront of you. You repeat until one of the teams reaches the finish line. When we finished playing this game. Alyssa won every round we played. In the picture below it shows her VICTORY!!!!

I had a great time with my friends. In the end they were able to stay for dinner!

Spring Break

Sorry! I have been busy lately with ISATS in March, school going on's, and SPRING BREAK!!!

Today is the first day of Spring Break. It's cloudy and cold. What a great way to start spring break, huh? My sister Christina is getting her desk today. The family has been waiting for months! When I got mine it only took about 1-2 months. We ordered this desk in Janurary. I've been thinking up theories on why it's been taking sooooooo long...
Events have been coming and going. Birthdays, playdates, and brief things like that. Some exciting things happening over spring break are... fixing the basement to a kid friendly matter, probably playdates of some sort, and thats pretty much it. I know it's not the most exciting spring break, but I know the family will enjoy all the fun and maybe HOOPLA!!!

Christmas Day

The Christmas of 2009 was one of the best ones yet!!!



I got all the presents I wanted including a surprise .

In my stocking I found a 2010 planner notebook, a yo-yo, and a Jonas Brother CD. From my grandma I got a candy heart pillow saying "HUG ME" it's so cute. I received a number of presents from Santa too. I got a spa/chemistry kit, 3 DS games (World of Zoo, My Baby Girl, and Aquarium). I got 2 pairs of fuzzy house socks too.

From the family my sister gave me the Strawberry Cloud Leopard it's a webkinz.

My mom and dad gave me the surprise present... a laptop!!!! I was SO surprised when I noticed. I was saying to them,"I think this present was delivered to the wrong house..." I was amazed. When I got to my grandmas house (where we every Christmas for dinner) I thanked her for the heart pillow.

My uncle also visits from California. He gave me a journal made out of recycled paper, there was a second package, but when he paid for it he never got it. Boo hoo. My cousins gave me a game. I forget what it's called though... otherwise I had the best Christmas EVER!!!



My sister recieved great presents too. In her stocking she got a Taylor Swift CD, a 2010 planner, and a yo-yo. From me she got a Zumbuddy. She LOVED it. From grandma she also got a heart pillow but it says "I LOVE YOU", she also got easy bake decorating set, she got three DS games and a laptop too. She also said her thank yous to grandma too.