Blackie's Grand Adventure
Email on Blackie's stay in Wyoming
Blackie has had a great time in Wyoming! It has been very cold here. It was snowing the day Blackie arrived (6-4-98)! Blackie wanted to pick out a few Wyoming souviners, so we went to the mall and found a cowboy hat, a bear pin and 2 key chains!
The next day he went to a sheep ranch. Blackie even got to ride a lamb! It's called Mutton Bustn' in these parts! He has also been to McD's several times lately! Amanda has finally got all 12 Teenies! Blackie thought it was pretty exciting to go to McD's 3 times in 1 day, just so we could keep up with what was out when!
Blackie also got to go to Amanda's dance Recital! He enjoyed seeing all the children performing their dances. Blackie is ready to go to his next host family now. He has had a lot of fun in Wyoming, and we have had a lot of fun with him!
Rose and Amanda Jones
Casper Wyoming
And now from Columbus, Ohio and the Woodard family
Dear Linda,
Hello to all!! Blackie arrived in Columbus, Ohio safe and sound withhis traveling friend. Blackie met Morgan(5) and Austin(7) first, then he got to meet their animals: 2 dogs, 2 guinea pigs, 1 cat, 1 turtle and a fish and hermit crabs that are being babysat for the summer. He enjoyed getting to know them. Tyler (8) came home from a school camping trip just in time to meet Blackie! Blackie really enjoyed going to Chuck E Cheese's, he even got to go up on stage with the singers!!
He asked a lot of questions about the state of Ohio and Columbus it's self. We told him all about this Buckeye state as he layed on our couch just listening. You will get to read the details in the journal!
Blackie wanted to go shopping so we took him to a store named Bear Hugs. He thought that was a great name, so we bought him a t-shirt to wear with the stores name on it! He loved it and we thought it looked great on him.
We truly enjoyed the 2 day visit with Blackie. Thank you for the opportunity.
Keep up the wonderful job you are doing--we need more people in the world like you!!
We wish all of you much love and happiness,
The Woodard Family
And now from: Rayne, LA, Frog Capitol of the World
From: Anthony & Becky
Hi Linda,
I finally got the package all wrapped up and will be going Monday to thePost Office to mail off. Will email with confirmation.
As for Blackie's trip here:
Blackie arrived at the Ardoin home in rural Acadia Parish safe and sound. Everyone was excited. And he wasn't even afraid. Once entering Rachael's room, he found all of his friends from Ty.
While at the Ardoin's, Princess & Erin arrived! Blackie enjoyed playing GI Joe with Caleb, too. Blackie enjoyed a Sunday Crawfish boil with some new friends. He ate at Pancho's, the Mexican restaurant and had a few Happy Meals, as the TBB's had just came out! Blackie also went camping to the KOA in Scott for Caleb's Birthday. Mr. Anthony took Blackie with him to work and he went down in the Cargill Salt Mine. It is about 1300 feet below the surface of the ground. Blackie said it made him sleepy; kind of like his cave during hibernation!
Blackie's host school was Mire Elementary. He stayed with Ms. Trahan's kindergarten class. He arrived during CAT testing, and was excited that he passed all his exit exams to first grade. He also attended the first ever Mire Elementary Jr. High School Play and went to the Spring BandConcert. Rachael is in 5th grade band and played a tonette. He enjoyed recess with the kids and had lunch at school with everyone. He visited with the office staff and made sure to steer clear of Behavior Clinic!
Blackie went to the International de Louisianne Festival. This is a gathering of all French descendant cultures, where they display their talents, such as music, food, dress and history. This was a very special year, as planning for the 1999 celebration of Acadian's will be all of next year! Blackie even learned a little Cajun French! He also went to a french street dance, called Downtown Alive, in Lafayette.
Blackie's host town was Rayne, LA, Frog Capitol of the World. He now firmly believes that this is where Legs and Smoochy are from! The town is full of murals and 95% of them have something with frogs in them. Even when you exit off of I-10, frogs are painted on the cement pilings. There are even frogs painted on tree stumps and fire hydrants!
Blackie was sad to leave, but also happy! He had so much fun here, that he was hoping the next stop would be just as exciting.
As I said, I will ship everything out Monday. I hope the kids enjoy it.As for the TBB's, we are doing great. We live near a small town where things aren't so crazy, so the last 3 haven't even come out yet! We are working on 3 sets; one to keep and 2 to use as trades. We are hoping to get an Ally. Being from Louisiana, home of the Alligator, Rachael really wants this one!
Linda, thanks for letting us participate in this wonderful project. If you are ever in my area, please look me up! I can show you around.
Sincerely,
Becky Ardoin