Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Jess visits WGBH

FreakTM continues hosting Jess in MA. In this episode our girl, Jess, visits WGBH, a public broadcasting station. A favorite PBS show in my youth had been Sesame Street. Check out their podcast here. Yes, Sesame street is now podcasting! I must be old, though, because I have no idea who Murray is. Grover was always my fav. Sadly, my kids never got into Sesame Street, preferring Barney or, more recently, Fetch!. Check out the PBS website for fantastic tools for parents, games for kids, links for teachers, or to lend your support.

Enjoy the show!


Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Salem

Jess begins her adventure in Massachusetts by taking a trip to Salem. FreakTM did an excellent job getting some great pics! Enjoy a slideshow of her adventure.


Massachusetts

Jess made it safely to Massachusetts. Whew! I can breathe a small sigh of relief that she arrived at her first destination. I love American History and Massachusetts is high on my list of places to visit. Some facts about Massachusetts:


Commonwealth: Massachusetts, along with Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, are commonwealths. This was important when states originally defined governance to be in opposition to the British Empire. Nowadays, the distinction between a state and commonwealth is considered less meaningful and more like a salute to our past history of rebellion against British rule.


Famous People: *Presidents John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Calvin Coolidge, John Kennedy, and George HW Bush*Patriots Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Paul Revere, and Samuel Adams, . * Susan B. Anthony, who played a pivotal role in women's suffrage. *John Chapman, known as Johnny Appleseed.*Poets William Cullen Bryant, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Robert Lowell, John Greenleaf Whittier, E.E. Cummings and Emily Dickinson* Authors Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allan Poe, Dr. Seuss, and Henry David Thoreau*Eli Whitney, inventor* Artist James Whistler


Famous areas: Massachusetts is one of the oldest states in the US. So much early American culture is kept alive here, from the Pilgrims to the American Revolution. The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 by the Pilgrims along with the Wampanoag. Plymouth Rock, the traditional landing site of the Mayflower is a popular historical area. Salem is infamous for it's Witch Trials. Boston Harbor was the stage for the famous Tea Party. The first shots in the American Revolution were fired at Lexington. Harvard University and MIT are prestigous universities. Cape Cod, and offshore islands, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket are popular tourist areas.


State Flag:



State Nickname: Bay State


Capital: Boston


State Bird: Chickadee






State Flower: Mayflower




Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Jess is on her way!



While my sister visted we were able to take a trip to AG Atlanta with our girls. We had all been saving since January so we had cash burning a hole in our pockets. I had debated on which doll to get but when I saw that they were celebrating Felicity's Birthday, I knew she was the one! We picked out our dolls and a few new outfits. What did we forget? Our camera! I was able to take a few with my phone but the quality could have been better.

Jess does a little last minute shopping before her trip and shows off her story.




Soon it was time to go home and get started on packing for summer vacation. Let's see...shoes, clothing, PJs. Check, check, check. Small journal. Check.






Hmmm...the fit is a little tight but it'll work. At least the foam is cushy.
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See everyone soon!!!

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