Canadian Embassy

Yesterday was a big day. I didn’t realize I hadn’t mentioned this before, so I’ll have to explain it all now. As everyone knows, I’m here in Washington to present the money to Erin and her family. What I forgot to tell you is that it was arranged so I would present the money to Paws For People at the Canadian embassy! Terry and Diana were there from Paws for people and a representative from the Canadian embassy was there as well. The night before the presentation I was told I was going to have to say a few words. Of course I didn’t get much sleep that night. When we got to the embassy there was a guy with a TV camera! Nobody told me about that either! I got to meet SOLOMON, Erins future dog, and they are so good together! Everyone there thought I was bringing a cheque but I had it all in cash. I’ll tell you why later. First the guy from the Canadian embassy spoke, then Terry, then me, then Melissa (she got all choked up. Awww) and then we took pictures. Jade insisted on having one with just me and nobody else in it. When Erin opened the envelope and saw all the money her face was priceless! That’s why I brought cash. A cheque means nothing to a five-year-old. Cash on the other hand…you can see! I later found out that Erin wanted to keep the original envelope I gave her the money in. They had to go find a new one to give to Paws For People. Isn’t that cute? After all that, we went out side to Play for a while. Jade held my hand as we were walking. SO CUTE. We played tag for a while but Erin was getting too hot. I think Taylor was too. Jade asked me when I was coming back from New York. She thought I was coming back to Washington after that. I had to tell her that after New York I was going back to Canada. When it was time to go she asked if they could call us. SO CUTE. I got some big hugs From Taylor and Jade and Erin. And Melissa too. Erin and Jade couldn’t stop waving and saying goodbye from the van. Best Conjoined Twins Day EVER!

Happy Conjoined Twins Day

Happy Conjoined Twins Day! Today is the day we think about all the conjoined twins who have won their fight for life. And we remember all the twins who havnt. The day for Conjoined Twins Day is august 21st because an eight turned on its side is the sign for infinity. That symbolized the bond that has been forever made between the twins, and the infinite love their families have for them. Even if, when they say goodnight to their babies their looking up at them instead of standing over them. The day is the 21st because it means two souls in one body. I have to go now, but do me a favor and think about this for a bit.

Best Day Ever

Yesterday was the best day ever. At first I was apprehensive to say that, because the day with the Herrins was equally awesome, but my mom helped me clear it all up. My day with the Herrins was the best birthday ever. My day with the Buckles was the best day ever. See how that works? Jade and Erin and Taylor were a little shy at first but after a while they were fine. We watched their documentary that was on Discovery Health---which we didn’t get in Canada---and we played Wii. I got my but kicked by a seven-year-old and two five-year-olds. Erin is really good! We played perfection on the floor and we all screamed when it popped! Me and Jade played follow the leader. Some things are a little easier when you’re five. When you’re thirteen, they hurt. Erin told her mom it was the best day ever. Jade said I was her new best friend :). When it was time for us to go, Jade started to cry. It almost made me cry. Poor Jade. Best. Day. Ever. Ahhh. Here are some pictures.

Washington

Yesterday we said goodbye to Nashville and hello to Washington. We got in really late so we didn’t do anything last night. But todaaaay, we are going to meet the Buckles!!!!! I shall tell you about Later. SO EXCITED!

Opryland

Yesterday was an awesome day. We walked down to Opryland and the Opry Mills mall. On our way there, we had to pas through this big hotel called the Gaylord (giggle). It was huge! We stopped to get Ice cream and sat in this indoor garden thingy for a while. I got picture taken with some horses. At one point we went to this big fancy washroom in the middle of a ballroom. It was shocking. It looked bigger than my house. There was even a waiting area. Everything in that hotel was big and fancy. After we were done looking around, we continued on our way to the mall. Half way there we realized I forgot my Mothers camera in the big fancy washroom! We had to double back and hope it was there. Thankfully it was. We walked around the mall for a while and I got a cowboy hat and boots! They are so awesome! We ate lunch at the Rainforest café for the first time and I loved it. Mom thought it was to cold but she liked it too. After the Mall we went for a tour of the Grand Ole Opry. It was so cool. We got to go back stage and on stage and I learned some new things. Me and my mother got a cool picture with cowboy hats and guitars in front of the Grand Ole Opry stage. After the tour, we went back to the mall to see ‘The Time travelers Wife’. It was so sad. But it was a really good movie. As we were leaving the mall we realized I forgot my cowboy hat in the theater. UHG. Not my day. I ran back and luckily it was still there. As we were walking back, I slipped on a puddle and went down very hard on my hip. DUBBLE UHG. Really not my day! I was fine once we got back to the hotel but it still really hurt! Over there ---> is the total amount for Erin If you want to check it out. Here are pictures of yesterday. Enjoy!

Me with the horses

The grand Ole Opry house

Nashville And Colorado

Yesterday we woke up early an said goodbye to Colorado…and hello to Nashville! The plane ride stunk though. We weren’t sitting together and I was squashed in the middle of two strangers. Oh well. When we got to the hotel we did absolutely nothing for the whole night. It was a welcomed break.

Colorado was fun, we were only really there for one day and we went shopping. Now, usually I don’t encourage, enjoy, or approve of shopping but that day wasn’t so bad. I got some good back to school clothes.

Today we are going to Opryland. My mother is very excited about that. I am excited about getting an “authentic” cowboy hat. Its authentic cos we’re in Nashville! I’ll tell you how it went later. Bye!

The Train To Denver

I officially hate trains. It’s such a shame too because I was so looking forward to the train ride from Utah to Denver. What a waste of excitement. Here are the things I learned yesterday.

One: waking up at three in the morning stinks
Two: getting on a train at four in the morning stinks even more
Three: trains are virtually impossible to sleep on
Four: I am very grumpy when I don’t get enough sleep
Five: train food stinks
Six: if you leave a sub in a bag for eight hours it tastes nasty
Seven: I can finish a book in fifteen hours
Eight: if you sit it a chair and don’t stand up for fifteen hours you will feel it later
Nine: I really hate trains

But now I'm in Denver and all is well. Choo Chooooo!

Best Birthday Ever

Yesterday was the greatest birthday of my life. I woke up and could hardly contain myself. We were going to meet the Herrin’s at noon and we needed to go into town to get a bag. By the time we got back it was eleven and we were sort of scrambling to get ready. The whole time I was singing show tunes in my head and out loud, trying to pass the time. When the cab got here I actually started hyperventilating! By the time we got to the Herrin’s I was actually shaking with anticipation and excitement. Erin Herrin answered the door and gave me a big hug. Then we went to meet the kids, they were all in the kitchen and Kendra was sitting on the counter. (I was sooo surprised ;)) I thought that they were going to be shy, especially Maliyah because she’s so timid, but boy was I wrong. We went to surf and swim (which was a wave pool) and I got to hang out with Maliyah the whole time! We played and splashed and she was so brave in the waves. I was very impressed with her. At one point she asked me where I was from. When I told her Canada she said: “do you see a lot of moose’s there?” that was so cute! After the wave pool we went back to their house for a barbecue dinner. It was so awesome. After dinner I played with the kids for a while and then I was surprised with a cake and a present. Best. Birthday. Ever. They gave me a copy of When Hearts Conjoin signed by the entire family! It was so great. After cake and ice cream, I had a little something for the kids to open. It was just a bag of goodies; it had some markers and card games and things like that. Me and Kendra and Maliyah and Erin and my mom played go fish. It was so cute. The things that seven year olds say are just too funny! Me and Kendra lost, but everyone else won. I showed Erin my Utah beads and she really liked them. (My Utah beads are my special counting beads. I have put a bead on every day since I e-mailed Erin last year) I got to talk with Erin and Jake about conjoined twins and such and I learned a lot of new things. When it was finally time to go, I gave my Utah beads to Erin to keep. I had been contemplating for weeks on what I should do with them and after seeing how Erin liked them so much, I knew that they would be in good hands. It was kinda hard to give them up after having them with me all year, but I felt it was the right thing to do. Jake Herrin drove us back to the hotel with Kendra and Maliyah. I got some real nice hugs and managed to hold back the tears until they drove away. Best birthday ever.

Oh yeah, Im that cool.

Happy birthday to me, I live in a sea. I eat little fishie's, aaaaaaaand the big ones eat me!

I Like Water

Well, am I ever wet! You shall see why… today we walked down to the mall here in Salt Lake City and it was great. A little too sunny for my liking, but great all the same. We had a few things to buy today and they were not easy findings. There was no place to get an SD card in the mall, so we took a tramie thingie around the city. We were trying to find a Best Buy and we were told there was one along the route we were on. Unfortunately we were too stupid to realize that we kept getting off before the stop we should have. We just thought we kept missing it. After we finally found the Best Buy and got back to the mall, three hours had gone by. I tell ya, it takes special people to make a trip that should have taken twenty minutes and turn it into a three hour joyride. After that, we went to this splash pad thingy in the middle of the mall (it was an outdoor mall) and I jumped in with all my clothes on…even though I had a swimsuit with me. Then we had lunch and by the time we got back to the hotel I was very, very cold! And now we’ve come full circle. Here are some pictures of today. Enjoy!

me on the tram

me at the splash thingy

Tomorrow is a big day; we are going to meet the Herrins!...and its my fourteenth birthday. I can’t say I’m exited about turning fourteen, but I can say that I'm ecstatic about what we are doing to celebrate! I honestly can’t believe that this day has finally come. It seems like I have been waiting forever…well, when your thirteen, patience is not a strong point. Stay tuned for tomorrow!

Salt Lake City

Guess where I am! That’s right, we have just arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah and it is so cool! I AM SOOOO EXCITED! It seemed like this day would never come, but its finally here and its finally happening. I can hardly contain myself! It was not easy getting here. We were so late getting to the airport today. Nothing seemed to happen as it should have and the more we hurried the slower we went. We had to drop of the geckos, pack, my mother needed a haircut, find a fish sitter, pack some more, go to the bank, clean the big gecko’s tank, have a shower…each…all before noon! Half way to the airport we realized we forgot a few things…ONE OF THEM BEING THE FISH! My poor Pika! He didn’t cross our minds all morning and now he is sitting at home all alone. I hope he will forgive me. Scratch that---I hope that he lives long enough to forgive me. The only things we did today were go on planes but that’s ok. Check in everyday for the next few weeks cos I will be updating A LOT.…sniff…I miss my babies…sniff…

Goodnight Ryan…

Goodnight Rory…
Goodnight Riley…
Goodnight Hope…
Goodnight Sydnie…
Goodnight Saoirse…
Goodnight Sapherron…
Yes. There are seven of them. LIZARD POWER!