Traveling Chet

Australia!

2009-08-26T20:07:00.002-04:00

Last year the TDRs (Mrs. Timmons, Mrs. Daniels and Mrs. Ruark's first grade class) sent me all the way to Australia! Since then I have been hanging out with Ms. Fiona Banjer's class down under. Recently I went with Mrs. Banjer to Sydney where she was presenting at a conference. What an adventure! I miss Chets Creek but this trip is a chance of lifetime! Take a look at some of my pictures!

Mexico

2009-06-11T09:35:00.003-04:00

April 7
Yawn. Good morning, this is Chelsey at 4:30 am! I cannot believe P. woke me up this early but I am excited because we are flying to Mexico today. Yeah!

We flew from Jacksonville to Houston, Texas and then to Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco Mexico! We drove from the airport to Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco to Punta Mita, Nayarit where we stayed at Aunt L. and Uncle J.'s house. We were welcomed by the family with strawberry smoothies and went straight to the pool. After dinner we watched the movie Bedtime Stories but I still wasn't tired.

April 8
This morning we slept in (anything past 4:30 is great)! After breakfast we took a trip into Punta Mita to go on a boat excursion. The boats took us on a trip to, what we will call, the "Bird Islands". These islands, which were mainly rock, were full of caves and paths to explore once you swam over to the land. I understand the water in the Pacific Ocean is very cool! That is what P. told me because I chose not to swim. It was a great adventure.

When we returned from the boat, we took a rest while we waited for dinner. We had no idea there was a Piñata Party planned until after dinner was served. The piñata was filled with assorted Mexican and American candies. After the piñata was destroyed we had chocolate cake and played hide and seek. We had so much fun.

April 9
Today we spent the day at the beach a short ride from the house. We had lunch and hung out! The highlight of the beach trip was the discovery of the hermit crabs in all sizes. That was amazing!

April 10
We ventured out to Sayulita, a beach town just a short distance from Punta Mita. The streets and beach were packed because of Easter weekend. In Mexico, people camp on the beach and everywhere else as far as I could tell in celebration of the holiday. We shopped in the market and watched while some of the locals worked on crafts. It was very interesting.

April 11
Today was a short day in Mexico. P. and I went to the pool after breakfast and visited her cousins. I had time to reflect and rest on the plane trip back from Puerto Vallarta, through Houston and finally back to Jacksonville. What a lovely trip.

Washington ,D.C.

2009-04-20T17:02:00.004-04:00

Over Spring Break I was lucky to go with Z. to Washington, D.C. We spent 13 hours in the car. We drove through many states. The first thing we did when we got there was to go the National Air and Space Museum. We saw lots of airplanes and fighter jets. Then we left and went to the White House and Washington Monument. The next day we went to the Museum of American History. We didn't like that one as much. Then we went to the Natural History Museum. We saw dinosaur bones and fossils. It was so big we are going back another day. On Monday we went to George Washington's house. We saw his grave. Then we went to Arlington National Cementary and saw the eternal flame. That night we saw Abraham Lincoln's Memorial. We got to stand where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his speech "I Have a Dream". Tuesday we to Thomas Jefferson's house. Wednesday we went to the archives. We saw the real Declaration of Independence. Then we finished the other museums from earlier in the week. Thursday we went to Thomas Jefferson's Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Library of Congress, and finally the wax museum. How awesome! It was our last day of the trip. Finally it was time to drive back to Florida! I had a great time with Z.

North Carolina

2009-03-23T22:03:00.008-04:00

I got to go to North Carolina with C. When she heard she was going she was excited. We packed up a lot of stuff. When we were ready, we went.

We drove a lot. We all saw at least one deer on the way. Her dad got them a new movie and things for our DS.

When we got there, we got lost, but we found the office. We brought their dogs too. We chewed gum a lot. When you get up really high your ears pop. We lived at the very top of the mountain.

When you got in, you were at the top of the stairs and then you go down the stairs really quick because our bedroom is down stairs. We went in there was 2 bunk beds and a couch and a tv and a radio. Our tv didn’t work so we used C.’s Mom’s and Dad’s tv.

There were three bedrooms and 6 beds. C., her mom, sister, Sadie and Curtis and me slept in one bed and her dad had a big bed by himself. C. woke up and woke her mom up too so we watched some television, got dressed. We waited until it was the afternoon and it started to snow.

It was cool. It was my first time seeing snow. We stayed inside for a while and then we went out for dinner. Our dinner was…spaghetti and pizza. We ate so much of the spaghetti that we didn’t eat the pizza. Then we went to the store and we got toys and one candy each and then we went back to the place and we slept.

Then we woke back up and we ate breakfast. We watched some tv and then we went…tubing. C. went the first time with her Dad and then by herself. The last time she went on her sister’s lap. Then we went back to the place, watched some tv and soon it was night.

We packed up and left. We returned the key and they were happy, we were the first ones to return a key. Then we got McDonald’s and left for good.

Chet Goes to Aspen, Colorado!

2009-03-22T14:50:00.003-04:00

The first week of March I got to go on vacation with C and his family to Aspen, Colorado! We had a fabulous time! First we had to pack all of our gear, we had A LOT of stuff because we were going to be in the snow. We got to go on two different planes on the way out there...it took a long time to get there. When we got there I was a little confused because they said it would take three hours from Atlanta to Aspen but we left at 6:00pm and when we got there it was 7:00pm? C and his family explained that Aspen is in a different time zone and when it is 9:00pm in Jacksonville it is only 7:00pm in Aspen...you learn something new everyday! When we first got there we had to get some groceries and then check in to our condo. We were so tired from our long day of travels that we ate some dinner and went right to sleep. When we woke up we took the bus down to the ski lodge and got our gear. C decided that he wanted to learn how to snowboard, so he got all geared up and then we went to the "Treehouse" where they teach you how to ski or snowboard. I spent the day with C and his snowboard instructor Ms. Isabelle. C'c parents and his Uncle Philip hit the ski slopes while we hung out at the "Treehouse" learning how to snowboard. C is a natural, he got it right away and was on the slopes in no time. By the third day we were riding up the "skittles"(ski lift) and snowboarding all the way down! C decided we would go to the Sweet Shoppe and get some ice cream...like we weren't cold enough already! It was yummy! While we were at the Sweet Shoppe we met a clown who made us balloons and painted C's face. While we were in Aspen we also got to go sledding. It was actually snowing pretty hard when we were sledding, I was FREEZING!! Another thing that was really fun that I did for the first time was ice skate. We had a greta time in Aspen, but I was ready to come home to warm, sunny Jacksonville!

Budapest, Hungary

2009-03-18T07:33:00.002-04:00

I left on a GREAT adventure to Budapest, Hungary with K. Mimi Jean and Great Grandfather. Mimi 1st flew to Chicago, Il. to pick up Great Grandpa. They boarded Lufthansa Airways to Munich, Germany then boarded a connecting flight to Budapest, Hungary. I met many family member while she traveled. I visited Town Square in Zalaergeszeg, Hungary. I visited Austria, Germany. I also Went to West Inn Cafe and picked out pastries with Mimi. I had a great time!

Dublin, Ireland

2009-02-01T21:40:00.006-05:00

I spent Christmas all the way across the Atlantic Ocean in Ireland! A nice "lad" (boy) named Alan and his friend Kirk said they would show me the sights and sounds of the Ireland's capital city, Dublin. I was so excited to see what life is like in another country!

One thing that surprised me was the size of the buses in Ireland. Just look at how big this double-decker bus is compared to Alan and myself! But as big as the bus was, it was nothing compared to what we saw next.

Alan and Kirk took me to see the Dublin Spire – and it was amazing! It's 390 feet tall, and it was hard to see the top of it. It's on O'Connell Street, which is one of the widest streets in Europe. As we walked along the street, we saw another double-decker bus, but this one was an "open-top bus".

We also saw the O'Connell Street Christmas Tree, which was all bright and lit up, and some Christmas lights, which sadly weren't. We stopped into a shop, where Kirk introduced me to an Irish leprechaun! I bought a nice Irish pin, too!

Then we walked over to Grafton Street, where we were greeted by this statue. It's of a girl called Molly Malone, an old Irish legend who has a song written about her. Alan and Kirk offered to sing it for me, but I've heard them sing before – I knew to say no! (Their singing hurts my ears.)

At the end of Grafton Street, we came to the archway into St Stephen's Green, a huge park, with ponds full of ducks and swans. We took pictures of them, and fed them bits of bread. But soon the pigeons got jealous!

It was time to go home, so we hopped on the train back to Alan's house.

On the way, we stopped off at Alan and Kirk's college, the National University of Ireland in Maynooth. In between the train station and the college, we saw this really old church, which I thought was really pretty.

Once we got to the college, Kirk took me up to the science laboratories, where I got to have lots of fun with him and his friends.

With Kirk's help, I used a syringe to put water into test tubes, and used a big microscope to look at really small cells! I had to be really careful, and listen to Alan and Kirk's instructions though, because the equipment was very dangerous, as the signs said.

As we finished up in the college, I put my arm around Alan's neck, and he carried me all the way home. What an exhausting day! Thanks Alan and Kirk, for letting me visit you in Ireland, and taking me to see all these fine sites!

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Atlanta, GA & Gatlinburg, TN

2009-01-26T16:43:00.011-05:00

This is Chelsey. I was able to go with F. to Gatlinburg and Atlanta over holiday break. The first day at Atlanta we saw F.'s cousin. She was very nice. I saw her whole family that night. We went out to a restaurant that was called Slice. It was very fancy . When we got back we went to sleep. The next day for breakfast I ate hot chocolate and cereal. It was yummy.

I went in the woods with F. and G. and her cousins. We saw old cars and bottles and news paper and old houses. It was chilly. After that I met a new friend. His name was Bailey and he was smart too. He let me chew on his bone. Then we had a little nap. Then I played Guitar Hero with F. and everyone. I was rocking. I went to bed. In the morning I had breakfast before we went to Gatlinburg.

We got to our hotel and unpacked. Then we went to play in the snow.

It was cool looking. Then we went back and went to sleep. F. snored. Then we got up and went to explore. First we looked at candy shop. Then we saw a scarey girl. Then we went on top of the mountain and ate. We came back down and ice skated. Then we went back to our hotel. The next day was F.'s sisters birthday so we celebrated by letting her explore and then we went home. F. took me back to school. It was so cool. The end.

Dallas & Houston, Texas

2009-01-19T18:00:00.009-05:00

My trip to Texas with B. was so much fun! We left Jacksonville early in the morning and drove for 13 hours. When we finally arrived in Houston, it was very dark. I was so tired of sitting in the car all day.

We spent our first night in Houston at the Mainstay Suites Hotel. It was a very nice hotel. The hotel staff were very nice and made sure we had everything we needed……

After spending one night, it was time for us to continue our trip to Dallas. It was a shorter ride than our ride from Jacksonville. We were so excited when we got to Dallas. It looked so different from home.

Before we headed back to Houston, we decided to stop by and try Boba Tea. I didn’t want to try the tea but I did try the vanilla ice cream. It was so yummy…….

By the time we got back to Houston, it was almost dinner time. We headed straight back to the Mainstay Suites Hotel. It was so cool! We got the same room we stayed in on our first night in Houston.

The next day we went to eat at a Vietnamese restaurant before heading to the Houston Space Center. The food was so yummy! I had to sit in my own chair while B. ate his lunch.

The NASA Space Center was so cool. It had so many cool things to play with and see. I even watched a video about Space. I learned so much! The Space rockets at NASA were so cool. We went really close to a real space rocket.

After a fun day at the NASA Space Center, we had a wedding to attend. We had so much fun that night. It was a very nice wedding. After dancing all night, it was time to head back home to Jacksonville. We slept all the way home. We had a lot of fun but it sure was nice to be home again.

North Olmsted, Ohio

2009-01-07T18:41:00.025-05:00

Well after my 2 and 1/2 hour flight I arrived at Miss Evanko's home in North Olmsted, Ohio. It was only 19 degrees out! As you can see in the picture, this is what Ohio looks like. The high was 25 today and the low was 19! What is this? I thought it was a joke at first but Miss E told me, "You better bundle up and brace yourself!" I put her boots on.

One of the first people I met was her two dogs: Heidi and Chyna. She kept talking about how excited she was to see them on the plane. They greeted me as soon as I got in her house. I was a little nervous. However, I found out quite a lot about Heidi. Apparently her favorite hobby is eating snow and sleeping on Mr. Evanko's bed.

Here is me inside her Christmas tree. I have never seen a tree this big before! The one in the classroom is as tall as me. Someone help me down please! Chyna? Heidi? Anyone?
I started up a nice conversation with a snowman who was just hanging around. He was wearing sunglasses, flip flops, and an inner tube. Apparently he was once from Florida but Miss E took him from Florida and gave him to her mom last Christmas.

Now I was ready to go see all this snow Miss E has been going on and on about. She helped me get ready and we headed into the snow. These ski masks are really hard to see out of.

Look at this snow mountain I was playing on. I think I should have had pants on. Brrrrrrr!

Look at that nice shoveling done by Miss E. She said it is not her favorite part about the snow. Too bad the shovel was too heavy for me or I would have totally helped out!

After all that coldness we went back inside to warm up. Hot chocolate is the cure for coldness. I met another nice friend. He kept complaining about this mean green man who makes him pull a huge sleigh. I swear I have seen him somewhere before! He told me he gets that comment pretty often.

After we were home for the day Miss E's mom put her straight to work on making Christmas cookies. YUM YUM! I was really excited to help out. I couldn't really wear a hair net so Miss E had me watching. Then, she told me to be very careful by the oven because my fur might catch on fire easily. I took her advice and just ate them when she was finished. She is such a good baker!

After those cookies I was looking for a little excitement. I met another friend bear. He told me that sometimes he gets really crazy and goes for late night wagon rides. We were sneaky not to wake Miss E up and headed outside. WOHOO!

I thought it was strange there was a plant growing from Miss E's doorway. She explained that it is called a mistletoe. Before I could ask what that means Chyna gave me a huge sniffer kiss! People caught under it have to smooch each other. I had to explain to her we were 'just friends'.

One thing Miss E does with her family is driving around to see Christmas lights. This house was amazing! I bet people can see it from outer space. I would have gotten out of the car but it was only 7 degrees out.

As Christmas came near, I had to help Miss E wrap gifts. The tape was so sticky and I had some problems cutting because I don't really have fingers. Paws make it pretty hard. Here I am after it was all finished. I love gifts!

My last stop was at Lake Erie. This is one of the Great Lakes, not to be fooled with an ocean. I found out there aren't any sharks, dolphins, whales, jellyfish, waves, or tides in this lake. Miss E said there is a lot of seaweed and huge silver fish. It sounds much safer than the ocean.Look I found an iceberg! Oh man was that water freezing. I definitely won't be swimming in there anytime soon.

Wow. What a chilly yet great vacation. Miss E and I were so tired. She had me sleep on her bed with her because she didn't trust Chyna and Heidi. I am so glad I got to come visit her state but I can't wait to get back to the warm weather in Florida!

Gatlinburg, TN

2009-01-05T22:49:00.009-05:00

WOW...I just got back from a great trip to the Smokey Mountains. Last week I went with Mrs. H. and her family up to Gatlinburg. We had a great time. The first day we arrived after a 9 hour car ride. We were tired when we got to our cabin.

The next morning we got up and there was frost and ice everywhere. It was SO COLD. We even took pictures of the ice crystals on the car window.

That day we went to Pigeon Forge and in the National Park. I loved going down to the river and walking around.

By the end of the day we were cold and tired. The next morning they got up and went skiing at Ober Gatlinburg. They made me stay behind so I wouldn't get lost on the mountain. On Thursday we jumped in the car and got to go play putt putt golf in Pigeon Forge. That was a blast.
We spend the afternoon downtown Gatlinburg doing all the tourist stuff. The next day it was time to get in the car and come back home - 10 hours to get back. Here are some photos from the trip.

Washington, D.C.

2008-12-15T12:47:00.006-05:00

Chet goes to Washington D.C.

I had a fantastic time recently with Mrs. W and her family in the Nation's capital! It was a great place to be following the exciting presidential election. There was so much to see! We took a nice plane ride from Jacksonville (I really enjoy flying now!) I sat with Mrs. W's son on the ride so I could see a lot out of the window, especially when we landed at Ronald Reagan National Airport. It was nighttime when we landed and so we went right to our hotel and relaxed.

The next day I met Mrs. W's great niece who is 3 and the rest of her family from Pittsburg, PA She is cute, happy and full of energy that I loved hanging out with her. She liked me too! The first place we all went was the National Zoo. We took the Washington Metro to our nation's capital. The Metro is a fast train under ground. We had to go down a very long escalator to get to the train. We waited for our train to come and it went super fast from one stop to the next.

There were beautiful fall leaves everywhere and lots of interesting animals. My favorite animal to see was the panda bears (one of my bear cousins). they were a gift from china to our country and are named Ling Ling, Ming Ming, and Ping Ping. There are only 2 zoos in the country that you can see panda bears so it was fascinating to watch these incredible animals. Mrs. W bought me a great backpack there to travel in.

The next day we took the Washington metro to our nation's capital. It was awesome and they were already setting up for the inauguration (the signing in of the new President) in January.

Then we took a cool bus with two levels around the whole city. We sat on the top of the bus and saw so much of this incredible place. There were lots of buildings where people work hard to do all of the nation's business and many great museums that are part of our proud collection of the Smithsonian museums. I really liked the monuments best on our tour. They are so big! These is one tall one built to honor our first President, George Washington. Then there is the Lincoln Monument in honor of the great president, Abe Lincoln. There is also one for President Thomas Jefferson. In addition, there are memorials for the brave soldiers who found in Word War II, The Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. It all was so incredible and overwhelming.

The day went by fast but the final thing we did was ride on the fun carousel that they have near the capital. It was a great way to end the day!

The final day we explored some of the fabulous museums a little closer. We saw the Natural History Museum and the American Indian Museum. They were so interesting. They even had authentic Native American food to try in the American Indian Museum. I thought a lot about my Kindergarten friends when I was there and how much they would enjoy this museum as they prepare for our annual Pow Wow celebration at Chets.

It was a great trip but I got tired from all the talking! I definitely want to visit again. There was so much to see. I felt proud to be an American! I am not sure if bears are allowed to be president but i think anything is possible in this great country of ours!!

Hollywood, CA

2008-12-05T11:53:00.001-05:00

Xinzheng City, China

2008-12-03T12:26:00.006-05:00

Chet In China

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Jacksonville, FL - Chet's Family Thanksgiving

2008-12-02T13:08:00.003-05:00

Hiya kiddies! Chet Bear again. I'm back from the holiday weekend. I wanted to have that garage sale but A. called and asked me to ditch the sale for the time being and spend some time with her family. I've never really enjoyed cleaning (just ask mother bear), so I put on my favorite green shirt and hit the road with the P family. As you will see, A. introduced me to a new friend on our trip. He was a little taller than me. In fact, he was taller than me, A., and her brother if we stacked ourselves up like a Totem Poll!

On Thanksgiving Day, I watched the Macy's parade, before
absolutely stuffing myself on a yummy dinner. One of my favorite floats was one of a big turkey that people were sitting on. For dinner I ate turkey, green beans, turkey, milk, turkey, pumpkin pie, turkey, and of course some honey (Come on! Give me a break! I'm still a bear!).

A.'s uncle had a big truck from his glass company and A. thought it would be a good idea for me to drive it around. I drove the BIG truck very well -- they thought about offering me a job but I don't think that would be a good idea because I could barely reach the pedals! The day after Thanksgiving, I joined A.'s family for their traditional drive trough the
Christmas light display at Saluda Shoals park and loved it. There were lights in the shape of Santa and Christmas trees, even sporting goods, but my absolute favorite was Santa's canon that was shooting presents and candy. Don't panic! It was just presents and candies made of lights. (Note: No bears were hurt in the shooting of the light cannon.) The next morning, A.'s mom and dad were surprised to find the family's Elf on the Shelf sitting on my lap!

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, we braved the mall, and
I loved that too. We had hot chocolate at Williams-Sonoma and rode
the carousel and kiddie rides. We wanted to get my picture with
Santa, but Santa was on break, so we got my picture in Santa's chair
instead. First, I had to brush all the crumbs off the chair...that old bowl full of jelly, St. Nick, must have eaten a lot of cookies that morning because there was nearly a whole package of crumbs! :)

Finally, A.'s parents agreed that I could come along with the family and see the Nutcracker. A. and I had to brush our hair (it took me a long time to get all the twigs out) and promise to use our best manners, since we were going to a fancy theater to see the show. I really liked when the Nutcracker came alive. It was pretty great!

We all loved it. After it was over, A. & I got to have our
picture taken with a Dew Drop Fairy named Ashley. We tried to find another Dew Drop Fairy named Chet but there wasn't one! I was a little disappointed but what can you do?!?!

Orlando, FL

2008-11-27T11:30:00.002-05:00

Hi Everyone! I wanted to tell you about all the fun I had with H. this weekend! First she took me home to see her house. Then we played dress up and she put these cute white PJ’s on me and I tried on some fairy wings. Then she read me a story before bed.

Then I got to sleep in her bed with all her stuffed animals. Can you see me way in the back, in the left hand corner? Her stuffed animals were so nice to me and kept me company all night so I wasn’t scared at all!

The day we went to the Magic Kingdom I was so excited! Here we are sitting in front of the castle and with a toy soldier.

We got to ride on so many rides! My favorite rides were The Haunted Mansion, Thunder Mountain, and riding on the Merry Go Round.

Before we went home, H. got the coolest Pirate Princess Minnie hat. She let me wear it too!

I am so glad that I got to experience Disney with H. She took great care of me and we had the best time! Can’t wait until my next adventure with one of you.

Love, Chet

Statesboro, GA

2008-11-24T13:54:00.001-05:00

Come view the video of P and me in Statesboro, Ga! Yee Haw!

Lehi, UT

2008-11-16T21:38:00.003-05:00

Pigeon Forge, TN

2008-11-12T20:17:00.006-05:00

Hey guys, it's me Chet! Miss Hoffmann finally uploaded the pictures from
our trip to Tennessee and I can't wait to show them to you! It's been a few
days since we got back, but I still remember it vividly. Miss Hoffmann and
her sisters really wanted to get to Tennessee to see the leaves change.
They used to live in Virginia and miss the seasons changing! We all piled
into the car really early Friday morning and, after stopping at Starbucks
(Miss Hoffmann says it's not a road trip without Starbucks!),
we hit the highways! Miss Hoffmann's lovely singing lulled me into
a deep, hibernation-like sleep, and before I knew it, we were at our cabin in Tennessee! It was so rustic and cute...a lot nicer than any cave I've ever lived in! You should have seen Miss Hoffmann and her sisters running around like little schoolgirls...needless to say, they were excited to have finally arrived at their weekend destination. We got there kind of late, so we spent the first night settling in and relaxing. Her sisters played Foosball, while I looked on and let me tell you, they are very competitive! Don't be fooled by their
innocent smiles! There were moments
when Miss Hoffmann and I had to
intervene before a sisterly feud broke out!
Eventually Miss Hoffmann couldn't take
it anymore, she was getting a headache
from all the shrieking, so we went to bed!

We woke up just as the sun was rising. I know why they call them the "Smoky" Mountains now...there was this beautiful layer of smoky-like fog covering the mountains in the distance. Our first day was about to begin!

Miss Hoffmann's sister really wanted to pet a pig (I'm not sure why, when she had a perfectly adorable bear with her!) so we went on the hunt for a farm. It took us a long time, but we finally stumbled upon Deer Farm just outside
of Pigeon Forge. There were lots of
animals there! That's me in front of
a camel. A camel...at a deer farm! It
was very hungry so Miss Hoffmann
fed it lots of grain. It's nose had little
whiskers and it tickled her hands! She
fed a lot of other animals too. Miss
Hoffmann REALLY loves animals, so she was running around buying all sorts of goodies for the them. She fed a reindeer, zebra, donkey, zonkey (half donkey, half zebra), and goats. I was a little upset...I mean I'm with her all the time and does she run around buying me all sorts of goodies? Nope! But then I started thinking about how those animals don't have a classroom full of kids who love them and take them on fun trips all over the country, and I wasn't so upset anymore. There's Miss Hoffmann holding a baby goat. It was such a snuggle bug! She just scooped it up and it just curled up in her arms. Personally, I prefer baby bears, but that
baby goat was kind of cute. Of course
Miss Hoffmann and her sisters couldn't leave without finding a pig!
Miss Hoffmann was expecting it to be soft and smooth, but boy was
it prickly! At least her sister was satisfied so we could hit the road
and head off to another adventure!

The girls and I headed off to an ATV center where they decided to go
ATVing for the first time! Their mom was not very excited when she
heard about their idea, but she came around. When we arrived at the
center, the people there got Miss Hoffmann a helmet and goggles that
she had to wear on the trip. At first Miss Hoffmann felt really confident,
but as the ride got closer she got really
nervous and was squeezing me so tight
I almost choked! The people that worked
at the ATV place weren't too confident in
Miss Hoffmann's riding abilities either! She
had to drive through a test course before
the ride could start, but have no fear...she
aced it! After that she was a lean, mean,
driving machine! They went up huge hills
and over gigantic rocks all the way to the top of this mountain where
they stopped to take quick pictures, before jumping back on the ATVs
and cruising back down!

We were so tuckered out after that long day that we headed back to
the cabin for some rest. Miss Hoffmann was so happy because she
was able to fall asleep watching Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on TV. For some reason we all woke up before the sun rose the next morning.
We just moseyed about the cabin in the morning before heading off to Smoky Mountain National Park. With three girls, it can take some time to get ready...lucky for me my good pal Winnie the Pooh was on TV. I kicked back on the sofa and tried to tune out the girlie chatter in the background.

The Great Smoky Mountains were
full of beautiful sights! We drove through
winding roads, surrounded by beautiful
trees with leaves of green, red, and shades
of yellow. We kept jumping out of the
car to explore areas of the park. One of
Miss Hoffmann's sisters really wanted to
play in a pile of leaves so we climbed out
in a big field and she buried me in leaves.
Then she picked up a heaping handful of leaves and dirt and threw it right at Miss Hoffmann. Miss Hoffmann was not very happy and got a little grumpy when she couldn't get the dirt out of her shirt. Fortunately, I was there! After a few jokes and a hug, Miss Hoffmann was happy and ready for more fun! As we got deeper into the mountains it got colder and colder! At one point the temperature was in the 30's! We stopped by a beautiful stream and just had to climb out and take a picture. This is one Miss Hoffmann
took which I love because you can
see the colorful trees behind me! I
did not want to leave, but the girls
were freezing. Maybe it's my thick,
fur coat, but I think they were being
a little melodramatic! Before heading back to the cabin for our last
night in Tennessee we drove through the Roaring Fork Trail. Right
as we started, we saw a black bear! We were so excited! Miss Hoffmann
and her sister jumped out of the car to take a picture, but they forgot
to hold the door and it slammed shut, scaring the bear away. I was
especially disappointed because I was hoping to have a quick chat
with him about life in the mountains of Tennessee. We got back in
the car and drove on. This part of the mountain was still very green and lush. There was this one stream that flowed for miles along the road and we just had to get out and take pictures of it. I like this one because it comes pretty close to capturing how breathtakingly beautiful it was. If a bear is going to live in the wild, this would not be a bad place to settle down! It was so neat to see some of the old homes that still stand within the mountains. This is a picture of a home that used to belong to a family with nine children! At first only the part on the left was there, but as time went by, the family was able to add on the second room. Eleven people in one room! No bathroom! It was so crazy! Even in our family cave as cubs, there weren't that many of us! I am very grateful for the
creature comforts I enjoy back at home.

Well, the next morning we got up early
and headed home to Jacksonville! Miss
Hoffmann had a wonderful time, but we were both anxious to get back
and see everyone from our class! Now that we're back and settled in,
I'm awaiting my next trip. I already have a few scheduled! Let Miss
Hoffmann and Miss P know if you would like to take me on a new adventure!

Your friend,
Chet

Orlando, FL

2008-11-09T23:16:00.008-05:00

Last week Chelsea went with M. to Orlando. She had lots of fun.

She went on the Merry Go Round.

She saw cars.

We took a picture next to a car.

Chelsea took a picture on a picnic table.

She took a picture with me on the picnic table.
Me and Chelsea had lots of fun.

Orlando, FL

2008-11-07T17:50:00.009-05:00

I went with A. to Animal Kingdom! First we went in the car to Orlando. We saw lots of animals. Check out my pictures. We had a GREAT time!

Orlando, FL - Sea World

2008-11-03T22:21:00.005-05:00

I went on a roller coaster with E. I was a little afraid, but not too scared. I had a great time with him.
I went to the Shamu show. I took a picture with E. in front of Shamu. I was watching the show under E's arms.
I went in a manatee exhibit. I took a picture with E. in front of a big manatee.

I went in a shark tunnel with E. E's Mommy took a picture with E and me. I protected him from the sharks.
I went to the stingrays with E. I petted them a lot.

Thank you for taking me on your trip E.! I enjoyed your company.

Detroit, MI

2008-11-03T22:03:00.002-05:00

What a time I had with C. K. and his family on our trip to Michigan! I was a little nervous, but C. was my travel buddy and made me feel at home. He always made sure I had my seat belt on! We visited many incredible landmarks while we were there, The Detroit Zoo, Lake St. Clair, Joe Louis Arena, Tiger Stadium, and many more!

On our way to these amazing travel destinations, we got to take a picture from our car of the The Uniroyal Giant Tire. This tire is 8 stories tall. The Uniroyal® Giant Tire was originally created as a Ferris wheel attraction at the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair. The wheel held 96 fairgoers and was powered by a 100-horsepower motor. More than two million people rode the Giant Tire Ferris wheel during the fair, including Jacqueline Kennedy and her children, John Jr. and Caroline. We had to hurry if we wanted to take a picture, because you are not allowed to stop your car!

We traveled by car to one of the Great Lakes, Lake St. Clair. Out the window, I could spy the change of season, the leaves I saw were yellow, red, and bright orange! It was amazing to see Lake St. Clair. It is a lake that lies between Ontario, Canada, and Michigan in the United States. Even though it is a bit on the small side, it is still considered a Great Lake.

What a view! Next, we traveled about town visiting the The Spirit of Detroit (a city monument), The Joe Louis Arena (Home of the Detroit Redwings), and the tallest building in Michigan, The GM Renaissance Center.

Last on my list to share from my trip was my favorite stop, the Detroit Zoo!The Detroit Zoo is home to the world's largest polar bear exhibit - Arctic Ring of Life. Visitors can view the polar bears and seals from a 70 foot long underwater tunnel. I love my friends at the Detroit Zoo.
I had a wonderful time in Detroit, Michigan and felt right at home with C. 's family. I can't wait until my next adventure!

Las Vegas, NV

2008-10-29T12:27:00.013-04:00

I went to Las Vegas with J. and his family. We got to ride on FOUR airplanes! We went to Las Vegas to see J.'s Aunt Megan get married. We stayed at a hotel in Las Vegas called Paris pictured on the right. I also got to visit the Hoover Dam. On top is a picture I took of the family at the Hoover Dam which is really close to Las Vegas. I learned lots about the Hoover Dam.

The Hoover Dam is a concrete gravity dam.

It was built for flood control and for hydroelectric power generation.
It took four years to build the dam and it was built for $1,000,000 UNDER budget.

Boulder City, Nevada was built for the men and their families that helped to build the dam. It is located about 20 miles from Las Vegas, near the dam.

Ninety-six men were killed building the Hoover Dam and their names are on a wall to remember them.

The Hoover Dam was named for the 31st President Herbert Hoover.

J. and I had a GREAT time, but we were so tired from having some much FUN!

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

2008-10-27T22:39:00.010-04:00

What an adventure! I, Chelsea, traveled with R. and her Nana on an airplane to a tropical paradise. The trip started off with a lot of excitement, because one of the engines on the airplane would not start! I got a little nervous, but quickly was at ease as R. held me close assuring everything would be just fine.

We were on our way to visit R.’s Aunt and Uncle who live in South Florida to celebrate R.’s birthday. When we arrived we were a bit tired because the flight got in quite late, so we went to bed. The next morning I woke up and found myself in a beautiful home near the beach with breathtaking views of downtown Ft. Lauderdale. It’s was so exciting to explore a new home, with three levels! The patios on the third level were my personal favorite. R. liked the lower level gardens with fountains.

We went to the Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science which was a blast. There are so many educational activities, actually over 200 interactive exhibits, including sharks, alligators and a simulated rocket adventure.

We also took a trip to the Ft. Lauderdale Beach. The white sands of South Florida are about as close to the Caribbean as you can get. The water was warm, although I never fully got in. I did not want to mess up my hair! I enjoyed soaking up the sun’s rays with R.

A trip to a beautiful garden center and nursery was also a lot of fun. There were so many different tropical plants with various bright colors to choose from. They also had all sorts of fountains and garden furniture. Auntie, R. and I sat in a hammock and it flipped over on us. It was so funny. We laughed and laughed. We even got a picture of it!

What is a trip without shopping? We strolled down the Ft. Lauderdale Riverwalk, where you can take a water taxi up and down the river with all sorts of shops, restaurants, arts and entertainment to enjoy. It is always fun to get a little souvenir of your trip. R. got a beautiful necklace.

The most exciting part was celebrating R.’s birthday. She got all sorts of nice gifts and Uncle bought her a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Similar to the ones we’d seen at the garden center. It was a wonderful time traveling with R. and I so enjoyed getting to spend time with her and her lovely family.

Until my next adventure,
Chelsea

Charleston, SC

2008-10-27T17:22:00.011-04:00

On October 18th the three of us were able to visit the USS Yorktown with the Cub Scouts troup. Since there three kids in one family going on the trip, all three of us were able to go with them on the ship.

We arrived at Patriots Point in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina about 6:05 pm.

We were able to board about 6:45 when all the scouts from the pack had arrived. (We found one other Chet had arrived for the weekend.) Once we boarded we went straight to the flight deck to receive instructions. The girls were assigned to sleep in the Officers Quarters (one rickety, thin stepped staircase) and the boys were assigned the Crews Quarters(one thin stepped, rickety staircase indoors and a second similar staircase outside - in the Dark Night). We were all lead up to our assigned sleeping areas by group.

The humans choose bunks, settled in and then left us behind for naps about 7:45 while they went to search for supper. They came back about 9:15, we needed to wait for the fire drill alarm. The alarm went off about 9:45. We met downstairs and we were counted (a few times) to make sure we were all there.

Afterward some folks went around looking at the Aircraft Carrier, others (like us) headed up to our bunks to get some shut-eye. The USS Yorktown sounded Taps at 10:55 and then it was lights out. Marcie was really tired, but I felt a little odd. It was hard to realize the type of lives these sailors lived as they slept in such close quarters, with very little space for any of their belongings. So far from home and in dangerous situations and just the waiting, I have a lot more respect for their situation and sacrifice now.

We got up at 7:00 when Reville played. (Mom had got up a lot earlier and snuck a shower/ it was a strange experience. Mom said she had seen worse showers.) Then we met the boys and bears downstairs on the Hanger Deck to wait for roll call. I was surprised to see it was raining outside, the ship seems so open tot the weather, but then you walk to a truly open place and find the design of the ship is not what it seems. Then the entire group went downstairs to the Mess Hall, our group ate in the officers Mess, we had French Toast, Sausage and grits for breakfast. After breakfast we looked at the displays on the Aircraft Carrier for awhile.

We watched a film called The Fighting Lady which was filmed entirely on the USS Yorktown Aircraft Carrier during the 1940's. It showed a lot of detail of how the ship ran, and how the men took care of the day to day stuff like cooking and laundry. The USS Yorktown had also retrieved the Apollo 8 Spacecraft when it returned to Earth after orbiting the moon. There was a very large model of the capsule on display with buttons on it to replay sounds that we remember from that event in history.

There is a large memorial, which lists all the sailors who gave their lives serving their country. Neither M. or M. were very interested, I think it is hard for them to understand.

Afterward, we went up to a radio room. We were able to see how the Short Wave Radio Operators do their jobs. It was fun. We spoke to a man living in Italy, he was not happy because we had accidentally interrupted a conversation he was having with someone else. Then we got someone in South Carolina nearby to talk to us, we were able to ask her questions and she was certainly asking us questions.

Then we went outside and looked at a real submarine. It was so small inside. I couldn't believe how fast everyone was running through the ship. I didn't get a chance to see a lot of interesting things.

Then we went back up to bunks for a nap while the family went to a scheduled Oceanography class, it was really a great class, but then they went outside and family didn't have enough heavy clothes on to finish the class because the weather had become rather blistery and cold.

They went out of the Ship for some heavier clothes, souvenirs and lunch (at Jersey Mike's.) They came back after lunch and were touring the Destroyer Lafferty when M. fell down a stairway and hurt herself. A volunteer saved the day and caught her arm before she could hit her head!

After that the day really slowed down, they found a hotel, packed up and stayed there Saturday night to keep from straining M.'s leg anymore on the stairways.

At the hotel we took an elevator, ordered Pizza and watched Alice in Wonderland on TV. It was nice and warm.

Sunday morning we drove around Charleston/Mount Pleasant area. There was a Plantation called Boone Farm that we were supposed to go to on Saturday also, but couldn't because we ran out of time.

We had a great time!

Hilton Head, SC

2008-10-27T16:02:00.004-04:00

I visited Hilton Head, SC with A's family. We left on Saturday around lunch and headed to Hilton Head. I just hung out with A on the 3 hour trip. When we were there, I experienced many new and exciting adventures. I went biking almost every day because where we stayed has bike paths throughout the entire plantation. I also spent many hours lounging on the beach. I didn't swim with my friends, but I did enjoy hanging out and getting a sun tan.

One sunny afternoon I got to experience kayaking. I went on a short trip since they didn't have a life jacket that fit me properly. Another exciting part of our trip is A's Aunt MaeMae's bird, Lucas. He kept landing on all of our heads and shoulders. We loved feeding him sunflower seeds. Lucas loves many fruits, but sunflower seeds are his favorite. I had so much fun on my trip to South Carolina!

London, England - part 2

2008-10-22T13:17:00.009-04:00

Well, did not meet a princess. Oh well, I did get to see London. I took the London train (the tube) into Waterloo where the big gigantic ferris wheel is. It is called the Eye of London and was built to commemorate the millennium celebration in London. We also saw Big Ben, London Bridge, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and Buckingham Palace all from the top of a double decker bus.

I went to work with my friend, on Sunday before we went to downtown London. He was good at work, and there are a couple of pictures of him on the conveyor belts. I think he liked it!

London, England

2008-10-22T13:07:00.006-04:00

I am in London! I got to fly in first class on the whole trip since the flight was so long...my friends' company let us ride in style. I got to hang out in the Delta Crowne Room, had dinner on the plane, and had a really exciting cab ride to the hotel on Tuesday. There are lots of crazy round and round turns on the roads down here. I think my tummy got a little bit sick from the way the cab driver drove:) We think driving in a car over here is like riding the teacup ride at Universal!

While I'm here I plan to visit a castle while I am in London. There is one not too far from our hotel which is near the Thames River. Maybe I will find a princess to marry while we are visiting the castle? Do you think I am old enough to get married?

Our hotel room is really small but nice and cute. The perfect size for the two of us. My friends have been working a lot this week, so I have been back in the hotel room watching TV. I can't wait to see what I see!

Gatlinburg, TN

2008-10-22T06:37:00.009-04:00

I just got back from a trip with Mrs. Jocelyn and her husband Bryan and I had a blast! We headed out to Gatlinburg, TN to see Jocelyn's son Jonathan get married to Jammie, his bride-to-be. We were all really excited about seeing them!

Our first stop was Charlotte, NC. Mrs. Jocelyn, Bryan and I flew there, had some lunch, and then it was time to hop back onto the plane and go to Knoxville, TN. All of that flying can wear a bear out, so we drove the rest of the way to Gatlinburg. It was such a pretty drive there. A lot of the leaves were changing to their Fall colors. Once we arrived there, I finally got to meet Jonathan and Jammie. They were very nice people, and we all had lots of fun traveling around the town, seeing the scenic views of the Smoky Mountains. We stopped by Ripley's Aquarium and it was fantastic! We saw coral reef, barracudas, sharks, sting rays, seahorses, piranhas, giant Japanese spider crabs, jellyfish, and so many more. Being a bear, seeing all those fish was making me hungry, but there was no time to eat because we had to get ready for the wedding at the Wedding Chapel in the Glades. I was a little nervous as I'd never been to a wedding before, but it was no sweat. The wedding was so sweet and beautiful, and the cameras loved me! I may be a bear, but I'm also a bit of a ham for the cameras.

After the wedding, it was time to relax some more and enjoy more of the attractions in Gatlinburg. The next day, we all went to the Wax Museum and the Star Cars. We saw cool wax figures of a lot of famous celebrities, and the cool cars they drove in. After that, we took the sky lift, and it was breathtaking looking over the mountains. I was 518 feet above the city. Yowza! Once we were back on stable ground and I'd gotten my "bear"ings, we went to the Alewine Pottery Gallery where we got to watch them make pottery. They also had a 2-man band playing bluegrass music. They were very friendly and their music really gave a mountain flavor to the day.

The next day we had to leave to come home. I was tired from all the fun that I'd had, so I slept through most of the trip. It was a great time in the Smoky Mountains, but I'm glad to be back to Chets Creek to share my stories with all of you guys!

Biddeford, ME

2008-10-19T18:23:00.008-04:00

Hi, everyone! I traveled to Biddeford, Maine today to learn how to make a newspaper.

A big fire happened at a local Dairy Queen overnight, so I got this new firefighter's uniform from the newspaper!

I was taught how to put together the pages of the newspaper using QuarkXpress, a computer program which allows editors to make newspaper pages on the computer.

I also took a few telephone calls, and checked pages for spelling mistakes.

Finally, I was allowed to say, "Start the presses!" when it was time to print the newspaper. The press is a very big machine and it was very loud! And look at that huge roll of paper I am sitting on!

I had a lot of fun in Maine. Time for the next adventure!

Portland, ME

2008-10-19T17:47:00.002-04:00

Hey Everyone! This is Chet, reporting from Portland, Maine. I arrived here last week, to the offices of Stenhouse Publishers. I was greeted by some nice people who publish books for teachers, but unfortunately they put me to work immediately.
Check out the photos of me working hard and attending important meetings.

During the weekend I did get to travel around Portland and make some new friends. I visited Kettle Cove beach, where I saw some fishing boats on the water, along with lobster traps. I also went to Portland Head Light - look at that view behind me! The lighthouse is 80-feet tall and George Washington ordered it to be built in 1791.

After all the sightseeing, we had some lunch and I made friends with this huge lobster! He was friendly – even put his claw around me. I also met some other bears in Maine.
Later this week I am going to visit a newspaper near Portland and see their big printing presses. Should be pretty exciting!

St. Augustine, FL

2008-10-19T09:20:00.000-04:00

Tonight I went to St Augustine. I watched the Providence Stallions play the Florida Deaf and Blind School Dragons football game. The game was very fun. We sat in the bleachers and my favorite part was the skittles. On the ride home we watch the movie Speed Racer

Philadelphia, PA and New Jersey

2008-10-15T22:53:00.004-04:00

I was so excited to go on an airplane again. “A’s” family picked her up early from school on Friday and we headed straight to the airport. When we got to the airport, I had to go through the security gate. “A” put me in one of the bins and I got to ride through the X-ray machine. I was not scared, it was kind of fun! Then, we hung out in the waiting area for our plane to come. It was a big purple and orange plane. I got to sit with “A”, her dad and her brother. When it was time to take off, “A” held on to me tight and off we went!

There were many clouds that we had to fly through and the airplane ride was a little bumpy. Luckily, we made it to Philadelphia a little bit early and “A’s” gramma was waiting for us at the end of the concourse. She’s very nice and took us to “A’s” Aunt Melinda’s house. We ate pizza and played with “A’s” cousins and brother.

On Saturday, we all got up early, ate bagels for breakfast and then got in the car to drive to New Jersey. We saw a lot of pretty trees. The leaves were orange, bright red and yellow. It was a great day to drive.

I met “A’s” great gramma at her 90th birthday party. I met a lot of “A’s” relatives and friends. I shared some pasta with “A” and then got to sing Happy Birthday to “A’s” great gramma and then we got chocolate cake and ice cream. It was yummy! The family let me get into the picture of everybody to mark this special occasion.

On Sunday, “A’s” gramma made us some blueberry pancakes for breakfast and then we went to a helicopter air show. I got to sit in the car and watch because “A” was afraid that I might get blown away from the wind the helicopters made. I saw many helicopters and skydivers. It was really neat.

Later, we went back to the Philadelphia airport. “A’s” dad bought me a Philadelphia tee shirt! Our plane was a few minutes late and we had to sit in the airport for a bit longer than we were supposed to do. We did get to watch our airplane pull up to the gate – that was cool! It was fun to fly at night and see the moon and the lights from the towns and cities. It was a fun weekend. I hope that I can go back to see some of the city of Philadelphia next time!

Austin, TX

2008-10-13T21:39:00.000-04:00

Hi, Chets Creek Kiddos! It's me again, Chet the Bear, World Traveler Extraordinaire, and can you guess where I went this weekend? I boarded this plane right behind me in Jacksonville, Florida and traveled about 1,000 miles from my home at The Creek to the Lone Star State!

Do you know that the Lone Star State is a giant of a state, and the state's motto is friendship? This state leads our nation as the biggest oil producer, produces more beef than any other state, and is the largest cotton producer, too! The Lone Star State also has the largest of all state capital buildings, and I was there to see it! In this picture, you can see me driving right toward the Capitol Building! Have you guessed yet, which state it is that we call the Lone Star State?

That's right, TEXAS! And, not only did I go to Texas, but I went to the state's capital, Austin!

I had a blast! I went to the University of Texas, nicknamed UT, the night their football team, The Texas LongHorns, beat the number one ranked Oklahoma Sooners. And, guess what, their whole tower was lit up orange to celebrate their victory! How cool!

Do you know what else is special about Texas? They have a greater variety of reptiles than any other state! Luckily, I didn't encounter any reptiles, but I sure did see a lot of Longhorns. In fact, I even tried to ride one during my visit to a ranch! Do you see me holding on for dear life? On the ranch, I also saw a road runner and these long horns who were getting ready to eat! I stayed away from them, because I didn't want them to think I was dinner! Yipes.

The 140 acre C-View ranch I visited is 40 miles outside of Austin and you'd never guess who lives next door. Does this Live Strong bracelet give you a clue?

If you guessed Lance Armstrong, 7 time winner of the Tour de France, then you are right! Of course, you know I, Chet, couldn't pass up getting a glance at Lance Armstrong's ranch. I snapped a picture across the rugged terrain of Texas full of rock and dust, and small Oak and Cyprus trees to capture a long distance shot of Lance's ranch. Can you see it in the picture? It sits off to the right on top of the hill. You can see it off in the distance.

Long, long ago, all this land used to be under water. You heard me right, it was part of the ocean floor! But, as the water receded, people began inhabiting the land. They built rock walls around their land many of which you can still see today. I even found a fossilized sea shell on the ground and brought it back to Chets Creek with me! Here is a picture of me holding my fossilized seashell! I can't wait to bring it to school to show you. I bet you can tell from my enthusiasm that the ranch visit was my favorite. So, I thought you might like to see more. Take a look at the slideshow and when you see me at school, let me know if you have ever visited Texas, the Lone Star State.

Stowe, VT

2008-10-13T19:13:00.000-04:00

I had such a great time in Vermont with N. and his family. When we arrived in Vermont, we couldn't believe how beautiful the fall foliage looked. The leaves were so many colors. We saw orange, yellow,and red leaves and we had fun trying to identify the different types. I really liked the cool crisp weather with my thick coat. We wasted no time starting our adventures. We went to Stowe, Vermont where I met a bear friend right away! We had fun throwing the leaves and rolling down hills. Ialso liked walking on the covered bridges with N. We saw the biggest pumpkin I have ever seen! I really liked hiking in the mountains, canoeing down the Laomille River where I saw beaver dams, and fly fishing where we caught fish and even spotted different animal tracks. After all the activities we did, N.'s parents let us have lots of treats. We went to an Apple Cider Mill where we had delicious cider and applecider donuts! One of my favorite stops was the Ben and Jerry's ice cream factory-yummy! Can you believe that just in time for the beginning of the holiday season, we even saw elk. I had a wonderful trip but I am glad to be back at school with all my friends and I am looking forward to my next adventure!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Jacksonville, FL

2008-10-13T10:25:00.003-04:00

Today I went home with D. and on Saturday we went to his football game. He was playing against kids like 5 foot tall! They were so big I sat with D's little brother. His team lost 14 to 6, but I saw D. get dragged because he grabbed the belt and not the flag. D let go of the belt.

We went to the mall. D and his mom took me to Build a Bear and they got me a pair of PJs and slippers and boots, there was an FSU costume but it was too expensive and it came with a helmet. I liked it the most.

Jacksonville, FL

2008-10-09T21:03:00.009-04:00

Wow! What a great surprise!!! I got to go home with E this weekend! I went to E's house and met her dog, Jessie. At first I was scared because Jessie was so big! But then I realized she was a very friendly dog.

On Friday night, E's friend came over and we all jumped together on the trampoline. They both bounced me pretty high and I got a little dizzy. We then went inside and did a craft, ate pizza, and watched one of my favorite shows, Hannah Montana!

On Saturday morning I went with E to her soccer game. I cheered sooo loud when E scored a goal! I was happy to see some friends from school who were on her team!
After the game we ate hotdogs for lunch and picked up E's friend from her brother's soccer game. We played outside for a long time but it got too hot.

We decided to go to the pool. I didn't get into the pool because the water was too cold for a bear like me but E and D did and they had lots of fun.
That night D got to spend the night with me and E! On Sunday we got up early to go to church. I was so excited to see Mrs. Morgan there and Mrs. Morgan's mom, Miss Kitty. I got to give Miss Kitty a big hug!
When we left church we had lunch and then took a trip to Build-a-Bear where I was born. E and her mom bought me a new outfit and a backpack so that I would have a place to put my books and pens. We met E's friend A there and after we left Build-a-Bear we went and had a cinnamon pretzel in the mall.
I had a great weekend with the O Family and cannot wait to visit with them again!

I have been a very busy bear so keep watch to see where I go next!

BubbleShare: Share photos - Craft Kits

Boston, MA - again!

2008-09-24T21:15:00.003-04:00

It is I your furry pal Chet and I have returned from a second fantastic trip to Boston, Massachusetts! I traveled with Ms. Hopfe's parents (Ms. Hopfe helps us in the dining room every day). They took me to so many great places. I was a little homesick, but I had a wonderful time!

While I was on my trip to Massachusetts, I visited the historic Plymouth waterfront. A place where some of the first settlers in America came! I saw lots of great boats, even one that looked similar to the Mayflower herself. I had a great time at the harbor and even saw Plymouth Rock, the landing place of the Pilgrims in 1620!

Nearby, I was able to see Plimoth Plantation and the Mayflower II. I journeyed to the Old House at Adams National Historic Park. Then I did some more sightseeing at a church where two of our Presidents attended, President John Adams and his son, President John Adams. My little furry legs were tired from all this walking, it was time to hitch a ride with the Ms. Hopfe's parents to continue our tour!

I decided to take a drive to Fenway Park, I liked my view on top of the car! What a time! I got to see a Hockey Game and meet a first grade Hockey Player. She wanted to give me a hug, so we posed for a great picture.

After all that sightseeing, posing, and driving, I had a great snack with Ms. Hopfe's parents at a local pizzeria. The cook there wanted to give me a hug too, I guess I am just too cute! So we posed in front of our tasty lunch!

On the way back to Ms. Hopfe's family home, we dropped by Harvard Medical School. My dad keeps telling me I should be a doctor. You never know, so I got my picture taken there just in case I want to come back! And just before I hit the hay, I posed for a few more photos with all my favorite team hats and flags, the Boston Red Sox, Patriots, and the Celtics of course!

The next day, I flew all the way back to Jacksonville, Florida where I am awaiting my next trip! I love to travel, but my little furry feet are glad to be at rest for now here at my home, Chets Creek!
ps. Check out my pictures!

Boston, MA

2008-09-24T20:31:00.009-04:00

This past weekend, I had a chance to travel with Mrs. Ellis to Boston. We left on Saturday. Boy, I'm not sure about the take off and landing's in a plane. It makes me close my eyes. It was a little scary. But I was a big bear and I did just fine. Once we landed we took a taxi to our hotel. Our hotel was the Omni Parker House. It is one of the most famous hotels in Boston. They are famous for creating the Boston Creme Pie. Yummy!
When you walk outside of the hotel, across the street is the place where the first public school was located. Ben Franklin, Samuel Adams and John Adams were all students who attended the school. The school is no longer there, now there is a church in that spot.
I also saw Paul Revere's house. This is a picture of me and Mrs. Ellis outside his home.

I tried looking in the Boston Harbor to see if any tea was left from the Boston Tea Party. But I didn't see any.

Another great building I saw was the Meeting House where they read the Declaration of Independance for the first time in Boston. It was from the balcony in the picture.

I loved all of the great food. I had lobster, crab cakes, Boston Creme Pie, and clam chowder. I hope I can go back again soon. Two days in Boston is not enough time. Maybe next time I can go with another friend.

Swaziland, Africa

2008-09-22T09:17:00.006-04:00

Guess where I am? Swaziland, Africa! Check out this hello from my new African friend.

Entry #1 Today is Friday, September 4th and I am in Swaziland, Africa with Miss Young. I think this should be a very fun trip with lots of new things to see! But right now, I’m all tuckered out! We just arrived at a small motel in Johannesburg, South Africa after traveling for 26 hours!!! Miss Young and I took 3 planes to get here. First we flew to Washington DC, then to New York and finally to South Africa.

Our traveling isn’t over yet, because tomorrow we are going to drive about five hours in a khombi (comb-bee) to get to the country of Swaziland. This vehicle is like a mini-van and a regular van mixed. Fifteen people can squish inside! The crazy thing is that we see them filled with a lot more people than that! I guess safety belts are not required, but it seems very dangerous! Many people here don’t have their own cars so they share a ride with other people in a khombi. Each khombi is like a taxi and people pay money to get a ride in one.
The plane ride from New York to South Africa was extremely long and VERY boring! Some things you could do on the plane were read (Miss Young likes that!), journal (Miss Young loves that too!), play cards, talk to a friend, watch a little movie on a screen in front, or you could sleep! Sleeping is what most people seem to do on such a long flight!
Talking about sleeping…Miss Young and I are going to have some pizza for dinner and then it is off to bed, for real this time!
Talk to you later when I have more news!

Love, Chet

Entry #2 Today was a great day! First it started off with a great view of the African mountains behind the little cottage that I’m staying in with Miss Young. Can you see all the rocks and trees? How about the little house on the side of the mountain? Our khombi driver told us that if we had binoculars and carefully looked at the mountain we would see lots and lots of monkeys running around and having a grand old time! How funny! I was excited to hear that every morning and afternoon a gang of monkeys also come to eat from some nearby avocado trees. Hopefully, Miss Young will be able to get some pictures of them! How cool would that be?
This morning I went to church with Miss Young and her friends. The church was a lot like an American service, but they sang songs in their language which is called Siswati. It was hard to keep up, but fun to try and sing along!

Afterwards was the best, because I got to meet many Swaziland children!!!! Did you know that many of them hadn’t seen a bear like me before? Miss Young had to sneak me out of her backpack just a little and show them that I wasn’t going to BITE!! (Can you imagine? Me? Bite? Hahahaa) They really thought my sunglasses were hilarious! Do you think they make me look funny or just terribly cute?

After church, we went to visit a special place with many many more children. This place is called a carepoint; and it is a place where children from the neighborhood can come and get a healthy meal everyday and have a safe place to play. They also have a school there, but the school doesn’t start until next week!

Guess what! It was supposed to start this Monday, but the King of Swaziland cancelled it until the next week! Did you know that Swaziland is one of last countries in the world to have a real king who makes ALL the rules for the country? In America we have president and all the grown-ups get to vote for who will be this great leader! Also, grown-ups vote for other people to help make the rules and laws that we have to follow. So, it is a lot different in Swaziland. Know what else? Do you know why he cancelled school? Well, it wasn’t for a tropical storm or a hurricane like that old Fay! He actually cancelled it because… it was his birthday!!! Can you believe it? He even declared his actually birthday a holiday and NO one had to go to work either!! I wish my birthday was a holiday, don’t you?
Once again, I stole all the attention!! Everybody just loved me like crazy! Miss Young had to hold onto me tight so no one would take me, because they loved me so much! Can you believe that none of them seemed to have ever seen a teddy bear before, either? I don’t think they have many toys or dolls, but they do know how to make their own!! Like playing a game of ‘jacks’ with a little ball and some rocks! The children also like to just climb a tree or play a clapping game with some friends! They really have fun together!

We all went on a very interesting walk into the village by the carepoint where all the children live! If you look at my pictures, you can see that their homes are very different than ours. Can you see that they have flat roofs and wooden walls? Did you see that they have one big bed to share? Did you see their little kitchen? Did you see that they hang their clothes out to dry, because no one has a washing machine or dryer? Did you see that they have to get their water from the middle of the village from a little pipe? Water doesn’t come into their house and neither does electricity. So, they use candles and cook on a fire, like they are camping; and they have no televisions or computers! What else do you notice that is different?

Miss Young will be going back to this same place to help the children. Many of them don’t have mommies or daddies, are sick, or maybe they are just very hungry because they don’t have a lot of money to buy food! I’m learning a good lesson with Miss Young and I hope you do too: I think I should be very thankful for my Chets Creek family, for my beautiful school, my nice teachers, for all the grown up who love me, and all the healthy food I get to eat! You know what else? Maybe you and I can do something to help someone around us too!! Would you like to help someone too? Maybe we can find someone to be extra nice to!!! Let’s try!
Thanks for checking in on my adventure!

Love, Chet

PS: Did you watch the video of my new friend Musa (Moo-saw) saying hello to you? He is in a lot of my pictures. Can you find him?

Entry #3: The game park day is finally here! Game doesn’t mean the games we play. Instead this game means animals. So it is an animal park we are visiting. It is sort of like a zoo, except these animals run wild and live like normal just in a very huge fenced in space. It is so big, they probably don’t even know there is a fence! J The park we are going to is called Mhalne (Heh-lawn-knee).
The first thing we saw was a friendly ostrich. Well, sort of friendly, we didn’t want to get too close! An ostrich looks really interesting close up. They only have feathers on part of their body, not all over like a chicken. Under their wings you can even see where the feathers each stick in. Kinda weird, if you ask me!

Once we all got into the jeep, we were ready to go. There are no seat belts and the road is VERY bumpy…it was fun, but also kinda scary at times. One time, we thought the jeep might flip! Good thing Miss Young had a good hold of me!

We quietly drove through the park keeping our eyes wide open. We saw lots of kudu and impala, which seem like deer. Finally we found a family of four elephants. They were all digging around in the dirt. Something very interesting was in that dirt, I guess…probably some kind of food.
We also saw a whole family of lions! We got so close to them! Good thing we had the jeep to protect us! We saw 3 baby cubs nursing, two lionesses and a male lion with a big fluffy mane!
Know what? That is all we saw! We hoped to see a lot more, but they were all hiding from us!
The good news is that later we got to drive ourselves through another game park! We found a bunch of other animals there! We even saw hippos!!! They even growled at us! We saw a crocodile, two families of zebras, warthogs, and wildebeest! Miss Young’s camera died, but we promise you they were neat! Maybe we can get some pictures later from one of our teammates!

Well, now my adventure is over here in Swaziland, Africa! Now we have to take that super long flight all the way back to North America! I hope you liked hearing all about my trip, especially my pictures. Do you think you will want to visit one day? I hope so, because there is so much more to see. Did you know that Egypt is in Africa too?

Love, Chet

New York City, NY

2008-09-21T14:35:00.008-04:00

Hi it’s me Chet, and I’m so excited about traveling to so many places this year. Now I’m going to tell you about my trip with A & L to New York. The airport was really cool. We went through security and I got to go through a machine just like an x-ray machine. Once we got through security, we had some extra time so we some got lifesaver gummies for the trip, and they were delicious. Our plane was late leaving, but A & L said that was normal for a flight to New York.

We finally got on the plane and put on our seatbelts and listened to the safety information. Take off was fun because it made my tummy feel funny. We flew through the clouds and I watched Jacksonville fade away through the window. I think I may have taken a nap on the plane because the next thing I knew, we were there. But I do remember having snacks on the plane, listening to A & L’s iPods and reading too!

While we were in New York, A & L did a lot of family stuff and I got to hang out some in the hotel. But, we did get to go into the city. We took the train downtown and then had a real adventure in a New York City cab! Wow – those guys are crazy drivers!!! The next thing I knew we were on a cool boat and this other guy was telling us all about downtown New York City and L was holding me while they took pictures of me in front of the Statue of Liberty! After they took pictures of me smiling my best, I got to see finally what I was waiting for. I got to see the Statue of Liberty! Wow – it is huge, and it was so cool. I was right in front of it. If my arm was super stretchy, I would have reached out and laid my little paw on it. It was just amazing!

On the way back to the hotel, we walked past Times Square and Broadway to get back to Grand Central Station. There are so many people in New York City and so many things to see. I hope I get to go back one day, so I can see more. My favorite part of the trip was definitely the Statue of Liberty because it reminds us of our freedom!

St, Augustine, FL

2008-09-18T21:42:00.002-04:00

Hi! I am Chet Morgan and I am so excited about traveling. I love Mrs. Morgan's class! I am so happy to share with everyone the wonderful day trip I took to St. Augustine to see Mrs. Morgan's new baby niece, Ava Grace. She is so sweet. I met two other relatives while I was at Mrs. Morgan's sister's house. They were really big and really wanted to play together. I got scared because they I have never met such big animals before. The two dogs are Sher Peis. The white one is named Liza and the tan one is named Jaxson. They were so fun to get to know. Soon I will be able to meet Mrs. Morgan's dog, Olivia, and tell all about my travels with her. Mrs. Morgan was so happy to have a day that she could spend with Ava Grace. She is such a sweet baby. I really enjoyed holding her while she was sleeping. If you look closely at the pictures you can see that Liza liked me so much that she decided to take me for a ride. It was so much fun. I really enjoyed my day visiting Ava Grace with Mrs. Morgan. I can't wait to see her again.

Tampa, FL

2008-09-10T13:42:00.011-04:00

I got to go to Tampa with a set of sisters this past weekend, the younger one A., the older one E.!

Here is what I did with the little one:
I came back with my new friend A. in kindergarten from an adventure. We went to the football game in Tampa. I was cheering for the Saints. Next, we went to the hotel. In the morning, we saw A.'s Nana and Papa. They live in Lakeland, FL. After that we went to a hotel in Orlando, FL. A. and I went to the pool. It had a pirate ship and it had a slide. A's daddy and sister wet down the slide. I'm glad to be back to see all my friends at Chets Creek.

Here is what I did with the big one:
I am glad to be back with all of you. I had a great trip! I just got back with E. from going to Ocala, Tampa, Bartow, Lakeland and Orlando. We stopped to eat at Steak and Shake in Ocala. We had to eat fast because we were in a hurry to get to E.'s grandpa's football game. After we finished eating, we went to the Saints football game in Tampa. It was an exciting game. After that, we stayed at a hotel in Bartow. We got to the hotel at midnight. I tried calling for a pizza, but E. made me hang up on them and go to bed. I was really hungry for breakfast the next morning! It was a yummy buffet at the hotel, but E. didn't let me eat that much because she didn't want me to get a belly ache. The next day, we went ot see some friends in Lakeland. I met E's Nana and Papa, and her great grandpa. They were fun to meet. After we saw everyone, we went to a fun hotel in Orlando. It had a cool pirate ship and a water slide that went through it. I begged E. to let me go down the water slide with her, but only one person could ride at a time. I wasn't tall enough to ride by myself! Maybe I'll be tall enough next time! It was a fun and exhausting trip with E. I slept the whole way home, and through the night. I had to get up early the next morning to go to school with E. I was not happy about that! What a great adventure!

Disney World - Orlando, FL

2008-09-09T15:14:00.008-04:00

Dear Friends,
I had an awesome time in Disney World! The first day was a good and tiring day. We went to school as normal, but at like 11:30 I was signed out early. Then, we drove all the way down to Disney. We watched movies and played games on the way. When we finally got to Disney World, we went swimming! But only for an hour! We went back to the hotel room and all got showers. Then, we went to catch the monorail to go to Chef Mickey’s. We were able to ride in front! For dinner I ate pork, soup, salad, and fruit. After dinner, we took pictures with Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Minnie, and Pluto!

The next day we went to Hollywood Studios. We ate breakfast first. We got fast passes for Toy Story Mania. We went to Playhouse Disney, ate brunch, and went to Toy Story Mania. We saw the parade, went on Little Mermaid, Indiana Jones, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids playground.

When I went to the Magic Kingdom with one of my friends I rode Buzz Lightyear, Small World (my favorite), Peter Pan, Snow White’s Scary Adventure, Dumbo, Jungle Cruise, Aladin’s Magic Carpets, and the Tiki room. We ate dinner at Minnie Mouse’s restaurant! We stayed until 10:00 p.m. I was so tired.

This has been a great adventure! But I can’t wait to be back in the classroom.

New York City, NY

2008-09-04T11:06:00.017-04:00

Hi kids! It's me...Chet the traveling adventure bear. I just got back from New York City, where I spent a lovely Labor Day weekend. Boy, did I have a great time! It was much different from my home in Jacksonville. Before I begin, I want to thank Miss Hoffmann and Miss Patterson for letting me write to you.Probably the best thing about my trip was what happened when I first arrived in Manhattan. I was walking around Chinatown, trying to find some food to eat for lunch, when I saw some baby clothes that were just my size. I got a great deal on a little Chet-sized suit. It says, "I love New York" all over it. I slipped it on and continued on my way, looking much more civilized.

The first day I walked around Central Park for a while and watched all the people playing there. People were playing football, frisbee, baseball, soccer, and many other games. Then I took a nap on a bench, near two young people playing mandolins. A little girl and her dad were dancing around to the music. It was hilarious!

After my nap, I was feeling very refreshed, so I walked to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to look at some sculptures. There was a new exhibit that focused on the clothes that superheroes wear. I got to see the real suit that Christian Bale wore in "Dark Knight." I spent a lot of time on the roof, where they have a rooftop garden. There are huge statues that look like inflated balloons. My favorite one looked like a giant dog! It was fun looking out at the view of the city skyline.

All that walking really took it out of me, so I was happy to go out for a big dinner that night. I went to Palapa in the East Village. It serves Mexican food. Delicious! I ate so much homemade guacamole that Miss P and her friends had to carry me home. I couldn't even walk. I also ate beans, rice, and some very spicy chicken. Salsa verde is a little too much for this bear to handle!

The next day I woke up early. Miss P wanted to sleep in, but I squeezed her nose until she woke up. She wasn't very happy with me, but I really wanted to get out and experience the city. We ate breakfast at a small Italian cafe. I ordered banana pancakes and was not disappointed. Yum! Yum! After breakfast, I rode the train all the way through Queens, which is on a whole other island. Miss P had a surprise for me...I was going to the U.S. Open to see Nadal play. During tennis matches, you have to be very quiet during the points. This was hard for me because I like to yell and shout cheers of encouragement. Later in the day, I also got to watch Serena Williams play. It was very exciting. We were quite high up in the stadium but I could still see all the action down below. I have watched tennis on television since I was a cub, so this was a big moment for me. Wow! I still can't believe it; it was so much fun seeing all my favorite players in person! As if that wasn't great enough, I got to have ice cream for dessert after dinner because Miss P was so impressed at how well behaved and quiet I was during the tennis matches. We went to a place called "16 handles" where you get to make your own sundaes. You choose what kinds of different ice cream flavors you want to mix together, and then you get to choose what toppings you would like to have. I was so overwhelmed and excited that perhaps I didn't make the best combination. I chose chocolate, white chocolate, and cheesecake ice cream, and I got to control the handles and put as much in the bowl as I wanted. So far, so good. But there were so many toppings that I accidentally mixed strawberries and Butterfingers together. These toppings were good on their own, but not so good together. Still, it was a lot of fun, and I would love to go back.

On Sunday, I went shopping for some shoes to match my bear suit, in Soho. Most of the stores weren't open yet, so I just walked around and then checked out the neighborhoods around NYU (New York University). There are many interesting shops and cafes. I went into a record store on Bleeker street and met a friendly cat, who lived in the store, when I was browsing for new music to listen to. Next, I rode the train to Times Square to look at the billboards and lights. Yow! What a bustling place! The lights were almost too much for me, so we rode the subway home to take a long nap before dinner.

We had special reservations at a place called Ninja. It is a Japanese restaurant where ninjas bring you your food. They also jump out and scare you when you are walking to the bathroom. I did not like this at all! The restaurant is below ground and it is decorated like an ancient Japanese village. We ate in a small room that looked like a jail cell. Miss P's friend ordered a first course called the "clam bombshell." When the ninja brought it to the table, he said it wasn't ready yet. It had a rope sticking out of it, which he lit on fire. There was a huge flame and the clam eventually opened. There were all sorts of pieces of seafood inside! We ate and ate and ate some more...four whole courses. When it was time to pay the bill, I hid in the bathroom...bears don't make much money, you know! I will make it up to Miss P by sharpening some pencils now that we are back at Chets Creek.
Monday was our last day in the city. I begged Miss P to take me to NBC studios, so I could see where the "Today Show" is filmed. I didn't see any of the hosts, but I did see cameras set up for a segment in the plaza outside. There were many people gathered around holding signs, just like you see on television. I was going to wait for the segment to be filmed, but I wanted to keep going so I could get to MOMA (The Museum of Modern Art) before it got crowded. There were many interesting paintings, sculptures, and models to look at. I didn't stay long though; I was pretty tired from walking around. Miss P thought it would be a good idea to recharge ourselves by eating some giant pieces of New York style cheesecake in Central Park, so we had a little picnic. We sat near a pond and listened to a man play the saxophone while we ate. It was very relaxing. Then we watched people riding in horse drawn carriages. Eventually we made it back to where we were staying, to pack our bags and take a nap before dinner. What a day. Miss P let me try some of her artichoke ravioli at dinner. It was much more delicious than the twigs and berries I am accustomed to. Man, what a trip! I just can't believe all the fun things we did in such a short amount of time. I can't wait to go on another trip soon! Who will be next to take me on an adventure? Will it be you? Where will we go? I just can't wait to start another journey.

Peachtree, GA

2008-09-03T21:34:00.010-04:00

(As told to N. by Chet) Before our trip began, N., his sister and I posed for our first picture. (And yes, I did wear my seat belt once we pulled out of the garage.) We got to watch movies and play games. This was a very fun car ride!

Saturday morning, N. and his family took me to the Peachtree City Kids fest. I even got to ride on a brown and white pony with N. He held on to me very tightly so I did not fall off. He took me down a really cool slide and we got to have pizza for lunch. Pizza is one of my favorite meals! Then we went home and took a nap.

On Sunday, we went to the Georgia Aquarium. N's Uncle Chris works there, so we got to see some stuff not everyone gets to see. I even got to see a scuba diver cleaning the tunnel in the Ocean Voyager Tunnel. There was a big window where we saw the four whale sharks and the manta ray. The window was 23 feet high and 61 feet long. There were guitar fish, sharks, and other fish. The tank holds 6 million gallons of water. There were 12,000 fish in this tank! It was really cool to see!

N. also let me crawl with him in a tube to get our picture taken with a penguin. We were so close, I could almost touch him. We also got to see a rivers exhibit. There were a lot of signs about the Amazon River. I even got to see real piranhas. They had really sharp teeth!

Before we left, Uncle Chris took us to the top of the Ocean Voyager. We got to watch them feed the whale sharks. Then, N. took me to the gift shop and let me pick out a cool new pin for my backpack. I think I am going to start a collection on my backpack of different souvenirs of places I have been. What an exciting trip!

I can't wait to see where I will go on vacation next!

My Blog is Born!

2008-08-21T17:58:00.004-04:00

Hi! My name is Chet. I'm the official bear of Chets Creek Elementary. I love hanging out in classrooms at my school, but this year I've decided to venture out and see the world. I have a cousin named Jose' that has traveled to China, Egypt and will be going to Latin America in September. As a matter of fact, most of my bear relatives travel all the time. I'm looking forward to the trips I will be taking and I hope you will follow my travels here!