Le Fabuleux Destin de Sophie Amélie

An Unexpected Homework Distraction

2012-01-24T23:49:00.025-05:00

It was a Tuesday afternoon, and I had finally gotten up the motivation to sit down at my desk, crack open a book, and start working on my Art History report. We had been asked to write a page about the artist of our choosing, and I'd picked Leonardo da Vinci, my very favorite artist. Problem was, I couldn't seem to get started! There were just too many other things that I wanted to be doing, too many distractions. The virtual cheerleading game on InnerStar University was beckoning to me, as if my computer was actually saying, "Oh, come on, Sophie, just one little game won't hurt!" I actually got as far as the Fun for Girls homepage when my conscience kicked in, pulling my attention from the delights of InnerStar U to the task at hand: this written assignment on da Vinci.

After I'd written a few sentences, I heard a knock on my door. Without turning around, I stopped writing and listened as the door squeaked open.

"Um, I'm sorry to disturb, but I'm looking for Sophie Moreau. Have you seen her?" The voice at the door was a little quiet, but unwavering and was in an accent I wasn't used to hearing. The strange thing was that I could've sworn I'd heard it before, but I couldn't place it.

I swiveled around, about to reprimand the obvious stranger from distracting me from my studies.

"Helloooo! Can't you see that I'm busy - " but one look at the girl standing in my doorway was enough to stifle the rest of my sentence. "Ce n'est pas possible," I muttered to myself, hardly daring to breathe, in case who I saw before me was only a figment of my imagination, or perhaps this was only a dream?

I wanted to get up and rush over to her, but for some reason, my body resisted. In an effort to stand up, I ended up sliding lower down the chair, and if

I hadn't caught myself just in time, I would have fallen flat on my butt!

The girl spoke, a little indignantly but not enough to raise her voice, "Eh bien, tu ne me reconnais pas? Je sais que nous n'avons pas vu l'un l'autre pour 5 années, mais sérieusement...? "

"Recognize you? Of course I RECOGNIZE you! I nearly fell off my chair because I recognized you! I mean, I just wasn't expecting you to visit. Quelle surprise!

Frankly, I wasn't sure you WOULD visit because of the way we left things between us when I left home...and, anyway, aren't you a student at the Paris Opera Ballet School? Surely they wouldn't just let you take time off, would they?" I asked, all the while still staring incredulously at the girl in front of me.

At first, I didn't think she heard me, but then I realized that she was crying softly. I could hear her shallow attempts at breathing through her sobs.

At last, she spoke,

"Sophie, ne sois pas idiot! J'adore le ballet, mais Sophie, tu es ma soeur jumelle, mon meilleure amie de la naissance. Je peux être une danseuse ici. J'adore mon école du ballet, mais j'ai besoin ma soeur. Tu m'as manqué terriblement!"

I was really touched by her choice of words, so touched that I was close to crying myself. The very fact that she'd chosen to come all this way just to drop in on me, after we hadn't seen each other in several years, was REALLY touching - let alone the fact that she'd apparently dropped out of ballet school because she missed me! Had she known I had been missing her like crazy over the past year in particular? Maybe we did have that telepathic connection we'd always thought we had?

After dropping her suitcase and purse on my bed, the girl carefully removed her sunglasses, wiping her tear-stained eyes with her sleeve. Still sniffling, she walked over towards me, where I had finally composed myself enough to stand up.

She continued, "J'ai pensé que tu as été fâché avec moi. Cela étant le cas, je n'ai pas écrit les lettres, et je n'ai pas téléphoné. J'ai pensé que tu as été dans une meilleure situation sans moi à limiter toi."

Oh, mon dieu! She HAD read my mind. But how could I tell her that things had changed? That my whole perspective on things between us was different now?

"Exactement. I was mad at you. I was so mad at you that I couldn't see straight, that I had to get away from you as soon as possible. And, even more than that, I was jealous. I was jealous of you because you got into ballet school, and I didn't. You seemed to be the apple of Maman's eye because of your accomplishment, while I was the loser who didn't get in. And, more than that. I just was tired of being a twin, being someone's clone. I didn't want someone to constantly compare me with you - someone so much better at EVERYTHING. I came to America, I took on a new identity ("Sophie Neveu"), and I tried to forget all about having a twin. But, it's different now. I've realized my rash decision was a stupid one, and I wish life gave us do-overs," I finished, wiping a tear from my cheek.

We hugged, and without pulling away, she continued (this time in English!), "But, Sophie, did you ever stop to think for a moment that I might feel the same way as you? That I might wish I didn't have a twin? But, the thing is, Sophie, we've got something that many people can only dream of having - we've got that specialness of being identical twins! Have you ever thought of using that to our advantage? And, sure, we each have our different strengths and weaknesses, but we can help each other, can't we? I can help you with your dancing, if you want, and you can tutor me - you're so smart in school!" she smiled.

Whispering into her ear, I apologize, "Je suis désolée, Juliette." At this point, it was impossible for me to try to hold back tears anymore, and I began to cry. Juliette hugged me tighter, soothing me until I calmed down (She was always good at that!). When we finally separated, we went over to sit down on one of the beds for a nice, long sisterly chat. We have a LOT to catch up on! We're going to call Maman and Papa later to tell them that all in well between us - they'll be glad to hear that!

So, everyone, that would be Juliette Adrienne Moreau, my twin sister. When I first came to America in late 2006, I wouldn't have admitted that I had a twin. In fact, I'd changed my last name to be sure no one would find out. But, since then, I've slowly come to realize how very wrong it was to deny her existence. I love her, I do. She'll always be my first best friend, the one I turn to before anyone else, even though I may have several other best friends scattered around the world. And, sure, we have a lot of issues to work out, no thanks to me denying her existence for about five years, but that's what therapy is for, right?

Is there someone in your life - a parent, a sibling, a twin, a friend - that you don't always get along with, but deep down, you know you would never be the same without her/him?

Thanks for reading this long entry!

Sophie

Winter Wonderland @ The Doll Wardrobe {Please Vote!}

2012-01-24T01:30:00.005-05:00

Hi, guys! My friends and I decided to enter the latest photo contest over at The Doll Wardrobe! This first activity's theme was "Winter Wonderland," and it snowed in Fair Hollow just in time to take a photo. We do not live in an area where we can rely on a real snowfall!

I put on the outfit I received for Christmas and slid down the school grounds' best hill with my snow dish. Kit joined me on her sled, and we held a race to see who got down to the bottom of the hill in the shortest amount of time. It was a close race, but I ended up winning - yahoo!

Jessica and Lindsey soon joined us outside, but not having sleds of their own, they stuck to throwing snowballs at each other.

We'd really appreciate your votes in the contest, and since you can vote for multiple entries, you don't even have to decide on just one to vote for! So, if you'd like to vote, have a look at the entries over at The Doll Wardrobe and send an email with your votes to nora.demington@gmail.com by January 31st. We are Photo Thirty-Three, by the way!

Thanks,

Sophie

Christmas Presents!

2011-12-28T17:46:00.007-05:00

Did everyone have a good Christmas? I sure did! This year, it was a quiet one for us. We didn't go anywhere at all, besides to the movie theatre for a Christmas Eve showing of It's a Wonderful Life and the midnight mass service.

I did, however, find some nice presents waiting for me on Christmas.

From Santa, I received a white headband and a candy cane:

Unbeknownst to me, Maman and Papa had sent over a package a few weeks ago. It was surprising to see a package from them, as they haven't sent me anything in quite awhile.

Inside, I found a red vest, a white long-sleeved tee, and black stretch leggings. I'm particularly excited about the vest because I've been wanting one for a few years. I managed to miss out on the one in Nicki's Ski outfit, and this one is almost just as good. I love the fact that it's red, since red looks so good with my dark hair and eyes.

In another package, I found a cute pair of tan Uggs from Juliette, my twin sister. I LOVE these! Laura has an identical pair in her size, and they are all she wears. I'm sure these will be all I wear, too.

What did you receive for Christmas and/or Hanukkah?

Sophie

The Fair Hollow Winter Festival 2011

2011-12-24T14:48:00.009-05:00

...or carnival, depending on whom you ask!

This holiday season has been rather mild weather wise, so the students of Fair Hollow School for Girls decided to hold a winter festival on the school quad.

We decided to make this celebration more about school spirit, rather than religion, which is why we've called it a winter festival rather than a Christmas festival. We wanted to accommodate those students who celebrate Hanukkah as well as those of us who celebrate Christmas.

The Fair Hollow Glee Club performed many a Christmas carol that night, with several Hanukkah songs thrown in to appease Becky. Most students praised the Glee Club for their pretty voices, but the club had its critics, too. "How that girl thinks she can sing, I will never know," Lindsey was overheard while muttering to herself, likely in reference to Becky.

I spent the evening on the synthetic ice rink, trying to remember what Nathalie had taught me about skating. The skaters at Rockefeller Center last year made skating look so easy! Alas, I still have trouble gliding.

Eventually, I got the hang of it well enough to skate around the little rink a couple of times, but I think I'm going to write Nathalie a nice long letter about returning to Fair Hollow in the future. I need a figure skating instructor!

When I got tired of trying to ice skate, I joined everyone else at The Copper Horse Pub & Eatery, which has just been opened by our very own Lindsey and Anya! As they are Jewish, the pub is currently adorned in Judaica, and they only serve kosher foods. However, the pub is already a hit! It's a great place to get together with friends and classmates. A hang out is something we Fair Hollow students have badly needed as it gets boring hanging out in our dorm rooms all of the time!

Before the evening ended, we all took our holiday portraits. Here is mine! I am wearing the snowflake sweater that I received for Hanukkah the year I celebrated it with the Valdez quintuplets:

Finally, we had a group picture taken, which is a rarity at our school. From the top left, you can see Nellie, Samantha, Chiara, and Jessica. From the middle left, you can see Kit, Molly, and Emily. From the bottom left, you can see Anya, Lindsey, Becky, and finally me, Sophie!

We also made a video of the winter festival, which you can view here:

What is your favorite holiday tradition? Does your school - if you attend one - have a winter festival?

If I don't get online tomorrow, I'd like to wish all of my friends and fellow bloggers a very Merry Christmas, or as we say in French, Joyeux Noël! Happy Hanukkah, if you celebrate it!

Sophie

What's Cooking?

2011-12-23T00:55:00.006-05:00

Hey, everyone!

School has kept me busy these past few weeks. Needless to say, I've really been enjoying holiday break this year. I've indulged in many a favorite Christmas movie, finished up my Christmas shopping, and helped decorate the house.

I started a new holiday tradition this year, in addition to all of that usual stuff. I actually set foot in the kitchen to help make tamales. Yes, I did say help! You don't suppose I could've operated all of that gigantically sized kitchenware on my own, do you?

While I don't normally enjoy cooking, I do like trying ethnic cuisine, hence my enthusiasm for aiding in the preparation of the tamales. If you don't already know, tamales are a Mexican dish comprised of masa [corn meal] dough wrapped around some kind of filling, which is usually some kind of meat. Basically, they are another variation of burritos, chimichangas, and enchiladas. What is interesting about tamales is that they are steamed in cornhusks!

I volunteered to stir the dough. I persevered, although it wasn't easy as the dough thickened. I wasn't allowed to help with the messy parts, so I just watched carefully as the meat sauce was ladled onto the masa dough.

Here are the tamales fresh out of the pot! In addition to the meat-filled tamales, we also made a few stuffed with chocolate chips. I had a hard time sitting for these photos because I was so anxious to eat them. The chocolate tamales were particularly good!

I made a slideshow of my cooking experience, which you can view here if you want:

Do you like cooking? If so, what is your favorite dish to cook and/or eat?

Sophie

My Room!

2011-11-18T14:01:00.005-05:00

Hi all,

This is a picture heavy post because I wanted to show you my new room! It is constantly getting shuffled around because a certain person around here gets bored with seeing the same things. So, if my room changes in the next few months, don't panic!

I really like how my room looks now, though, so it probably won't get changed for a while. I've carefully arranged some of my travel souvenirs around my room, so that I will always remember the fun I had traveling.

So, are you ready for the tour? Then, let's go!

This is my bookcase. We built this out of a wooden shoebox and an extra plank of wood (for the shelves) that we bought at the craft store. I painted it blue, one of my favorite colors. It also contrasts nicely with the lavender walls. On the shelves, I have some of my favorite books, dolls, and stuffed animals.

My desk is a roll-top desk from the 1930s. Isn't it beautiful?

I keep my laptop, iPhone, iPod, and camera on top of my desk, along with several travel souvenirs. My diary, celebrity scrapbook, and photo album rest on top of the desk, as do a gooseneck lamp and the Eeyore figurine Marsali gave me.

I have several movie and travel posters up around my room, but my favorite wall hanging is my ribbon board. I like to keep treasured postcards, awards, and school photos on display, and this is the perfect way to display them.

Down here I have my beloved travel trunk. I brought this thing all the way from Paris. It was a gift from my grandparents, and it's packed full of souvenirs and treasures from home. Most importantly, this is where I keep my passport!

My current bed is a simple wooden bed with a silky purple comforter. I have another comforter that I love even more, but it doesn't fit well on this bed. I've packed that one away for now, but I'm sure I'll use it again sometime. I keep my two UglyDolls, Ice Bat and Abima, on my bed. Yes, I have Ice Bat now! I fell in love with Ice Bat when I saw Inky's, but it took me a while to track one down. When I finally found him, I gave Moxy to Lindsey. I didn't really want more than two UglyDolls, and since Abima was my first ever, I knew I had to keep him.

Behind my bed, I have another bookshelf for larger books. On top of the bookshelf, you can see my beloved traveling gnome, my Belle doll, a totem pole from Ketchikan, Alaska, and a shell I picked up while in Florida:

I keep some of my favorite clothes in my room, although since all of us girls in the dorm like to share clothes, we keep most of them in a larger armoire. I like to have my French flag on display in my room at all times, so I have that hanging over my clothes rack.

Finally, here is an overall look at my room:

Thanks for letting me share it with you!

~Sophie

Home again, greeted with presents!

2011-11-04T16:16:00.007-04:00

So, I'm home! I arrived home completely exhausted on Halloween. I was so tired and dirty that I just refused to be seen, heading up to my dorm for a much-needed bath.

The following day, I had a thorough medical exam, followed by an emergency eye surgery (I'm good as new now!). I went into the hair salon and had my hair re-conditioned. The ends had gotten quite frizzy during my extensive travels. While I was there, I decided to put some curl into it. I knew the curls wouldn't stay for long, but I think my hair looks better with a little bit of volume to it.

When I was finally feeling up to it, I decided to take a walk around my neighborhood, getting the feel of it again. It felt so surreal to walk the streets I was once familiar with! It was a gorgeous day out, though, and I had fun looking for signs of autumn.

So, here is an up-close look at my hair. I've always wanted to put some curl into it, but I've never been brave enough to do it until now. How my hair looks curly reminds me of my favorite character Angélique in the film À la folie... pas du tout!

When I got back from my walk, I found a package waiting for me, from my best friends, Sora, Lorikeet, Violet, Lyre Chickadee, and Zipporah Valdez! They had been hinting about having birthday presents for me, but they didn't want to send them until I made it home.

When I opened the package, I pulled out a black tee with a jeweled Eiffel Tower on the front. How cute is that?

I also found the book Lassie: Adventures in Alaska (reminding me of my cruise!), a beautiful travel journal, a bottle of my favorite soda, several little Disney toys...

...and, best of all, this wooden Eiffel Tower! The quints obviously know how much I love to be reminded of Paris. I'm going to have so much fun painting this!

Also in the box was a message in a bottle. After carefully pulling the message out with a pair of tweezers, I read what it said:

True friends
are always
together
in spirit.

However nice receiving physical birthday presents is, the best present of all is definitely friendship! In this very modern world driven by individual success, friendship can be hard to come by, so I feel very grateful indeed to have best friends like Sora, Lorikeet, Lyre Chickadee, Violet, and Zipporah Valdez!

Thank you, girls, for the nice birthday gifts, but also for your friendship!

So, to my readers, what is the nicest gift you've ever gotten from a friend?

~Sophie

Day 7: Victoria, B.C.

2011-10-30T23:37:00.005-04:00

Victoria, B.C. was our last stop! When we got off the ship, we fell in love with this bush sculpture of a mama and baby killer whale. How cool is that?

We didn't get to explore Victoria too much (guess I'll have to come back!), but to culminate our British experience, we HAD to ride the infamous double decker bus. It was just like the Night Bus in Harry Potter - wild ride and all! We rode on the top level and hoped that our driver wouldn't crash into anything.

Our last towel animal of the cruise was this little monkey who we found hanging from a clothes hanger. Isn't he cute?

So, that was our cruise. I know, I know, it wasn't the most exciting one, thanks to the weather, but that couldn't be helped. I still had a LOT of fun spending time with new and old friends alike, and it was a treat for me just to go on the cruise itself. I've never experienced anything like that before.

Marsali's mama surprised us all - me, Marsali, Novya, and Taryn - with our very own souvenir cruise shirts. Here we all are in our new shirts, which read, "I sailed Holland America, Alaska 2011."

Well, I am currently on my way home as we speak. It has been about a week since I left Oregon, so I should be home really soon. I hope so! I SO need to stretch my legs!

Talk to you later,

Sophie

Day 5 and Day 6: Ketichikan and another day at sea!

2011-10-30T22:57:00.005-04:00

So, our fifth day on the cruise found us visiting Ketichikan, Alaska. Fun, right? Not really. It was so wet that we didn't bother to get any photos. If you'd like to see what Ketichikan looks like, see this album from 2008! It hasn't changed much since then, as I've been told.

We got off the ship to do a little shopping and to stretch our legs, but no sight-seeing was in our schedule.

We spent Day 6 at sea, staring at the seemingly endless water before us. We encountered stormy weather again, and some people were feeling sick. Luckily, we were feeling well enough to spend the day on the lido deck.

Here are some photos of what we saw on our last day at sea:

See more photos HERE.

~Sophie

Day 4: Tracy Arm Fjord

2011-10-23T15:26:00.003-04:00

Today, we encountered more rain - what a "surprise"! Needless to say, I was more than a little discouraged by now.

The girls and I spent a lot of the day looking out at the beautiful scenery that lay before us. In addition to the rain, we saw icebergs, waterfalls, and even dolphins and sea lions!

When we got bored, we took turns roller-blading around the halls, which amused us greatly. Marsali and I also spent a lot of time just chatting, catching up as girlfriends tend to do.

By the way, how do you like our outfits? Marsali's mama sure worked hard to outfit us well on this cruise!

At the end of the day, we were greeted with another towel animal - an elephant! Isn't he cute?

To see the full album - complete with lots of Alaskan scenery - click HERE.

~Sophie

Day 3: Juneau, Alaska!

2011-10-22T18:26:00.004-04:00

As my friend Taryn has already written, we woke up raring to go explore Juneau, Alaska. We were excited to begin that scavenger hunt we'd planned to do. So, we frantically dressed in some of the cute outfits Marsali's mama had made and headed off for breakfast on the lido deck.

As we were heading to breakfast, we noted that it was, in fact, raining. Again. This obviously put a damper on our sightseeing in Juneau, but we tried not to let the rain get our spirits down, too. Instead, we enjoyed our breakfast and then went off to the pool area. There was a dogsled on display, and we wanted to play on it:

We got some nice shots of the wet day from our place on the lido deck:

We went downstairs to another room where we could watch our ship as it eased into the Juneau port. There were five other ships in port with us, so between the rain and the crowds, we decided to give up the scavenger hunt idea. Marsali and I went off the ship with Marsali's mama to do some shopping, but that was the extent of our visit.

By the end of the day, I couldn't help feeling a little sad that our Juneau visit had been rained out. However, it's not like one can control the weather...

To see the full album, click HERE.

~Sophie

Day 2: Seasickness!

2011-10-21T17:36:00.004-04:00

That's right - our first full day out at sea was not exactly fun. As Taryn talked about on the Bolton Girls' blog, we encountered a bad storm. This meant that we had to take a different route than we would've had we had clear skies, but different route or not, we still experienced hurricane-force winds and 33 foot waves!

It was a nightmare! Lots of people were seasick, and Marsali and I were no exception. We woke up with queasy stomachs and told Taryn to go off to breakfast without us. There was no way I would've managed to keep breakfast down, even if it was delicious French toast!

Taryn did manage to get us out of bed. We were passing our first glacier, and Taryn didn't want either of us to miss it. I was ultimately glad that I had gotten out of bed to see it because it was the only one I really got to see. Seeing Hubbard Glacier was now out of the question, given our bad weather.

But isn't the glacier gorgeous?

The sky did clear up in time to view this gorgeous sunset. I'm not sure I've seen anything like it before!

Oh - and take a look at this! The pool had to be drained! Taryn told Marsali and I that pool water had been splashing all over the floor, so the cruise staff made the decision to drain the pool. There would be no swimming on this cruise, but hey, I can go swimming anywhere. I came on the cruise to see Alaska, not to swim!

By evening, Marsali and I were feeling better, so we went down to Maggie and Kimmy's room to prepare for the next day's activity. We were to be visiting Juneau, so we'd decided to play a Photo Scavenger Hunt game. Each of us would draw an item out of a hat to find while we were in Juneau. Like, if you drew "moose sweatshirt," you would have to go find a moose sweatshirt and have someone take a photo of you with it. So, that's what we were doing that evening - drawing items out of the hat to search for while in Juneau.

When we came back to our room, Marsali, Novya, and I found a lobster on our bed! That is, a lobster made out of a towel. It's always a tradition for the stewards to make towel animals for people onboard. They even offer classes where you can learn to make your own towel animals!

Marsali and I stayed up talking for a while, but we eventually went to sleep, hoping for clearer weather for our Juneau visit!

To see the full album, click HERE.

~Sophie

Day 1: Boarding the ship!

2011-10-20T15:34:00.009-04:00

Finally - Day 1 of the Alaskan cruise had arrived! After we'd gone through customs, Marsali, Taryn, Novya, and I found ourselves waiting impatiently in the docking area. Novya got her camera out and took a photo of Marsali, Taryn, and me waiting, as you can see on the left.

Then, Marsali and I looked through her mama's Alaska coupon book. Taryn rolled her eyes; she is not a shopping kind of girl! We proceeded to ignore her, drooling over all of the things we could buy (at discounted prices!).

Yeah - here we are on the ship! After we set down our luggage, we rushed to the window, looking at the other cruise ship in port. We decided to get a photo in front of it:

We soon found ourselves going through the obligatory safety routines - the lifeboat drill, checking to make sure the life vests fit, etc. You know, everything the Titanic didn't do! Marsali, Taryn, and Novya helped me into a life vest, but it wasn't a great fit...

Once I'd gotten that heavy thing off, we headed up to the Observation deck to explore our new surroundings. We found out that our ship was called the Westerdam, and Marsali was telling us that we were in for a treat. She's sailed on the Westerdam three times now, and it is by far her favorite!

Alas, the sky was darkening, and it soon began to rain. We headed inside to our room. But look what Marsali and I found on our bed! Marsali's mama had bought us matching bags to store our cruise souvenirs in. I smiled when I saw that they were adorned with Le Tour Eiffel and the Arc du Triomphe. Ah, to be reminded of home!

Taryn got a present, too - her very own Rebecca Rubin doll! So, we spent the rest of the evening playing with American Girl dolls. Marsali was nice enough to lend me one of hers, so I could join in.

Once the adults had everything unpacked, we got into our PJs and snuggled down into our sleeping bags. It wasn't very long until we were snoring away, dreaming of what our first full day at sea would be like...

See our full album here: Boarding the Westerdam!

~Sophie

Shopping in Seattle!

2011-10-19T21:53:00.005-04:00

Hi again!

Before we got on the cruise, Kimmy, Novya, Marsali, and I stopped for a last minute shopping spree at the American Girl store in Seattle, Washington. This was a real treat for me because I've always wanted to visit Seattle! Maybe someday I'll get to explore more of it, but for now, I'm pretty content.

Before heading into the store, we stopped to pose for some pictures. We could barely contain our excitement, so I don't know how we managed to stay still for this long!

Once inside, Marsali and I immediately headed towards the Kanani display. We thought about our friend Vienna, who looks just like Kanani! She wasn't able to make the trip, but she would've loved to have had her photo taken here.

We walked around the store together, helping each other decide what to buy. Once we'd both made purchases, we stepped outside for a breather. As we looked through those infamous red shopping bags, our minds wandered to the cruise and how much fun it would be to wear our new purchases onboard.

We went back into the store a little while later to have dessert at the bistro with Novya, Maggie, Elizabeth, and Kit. We got our own pink seats and were promptly served mugs of pink lemonade - yum! As we waited for our sugary treats to come, we chatted about the day and how much fun shopping in an AG store always is. I told the girls about my visits to the AG stores in Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Natick, and New York. I can't believe I've been to all of those stores now! That's five stores, counting Seattle.

After dessert, we wandered around the store a bit more and helped the big people do more shopping. I stopped for a visit with the lovely Rebecca Rubin. She has the nicest bedroom, doesn't she? I'm sure the Becky who goes to my school would love all of this...if only I had the room in my travel box!

See more photos here: American Girl Seattle!

I'm actually starting to pack my things up, so I can head back to school soon. I left school in April 2009 and haven't been back since, so I think it's definitely time to head back. It's been a great round of travels, and while I've loved meeting so many new friends, relaxing at home in my own bed is always nice, too! Well, okay, I'm not going home to Paris, but I can't have it all...

I'll post about the cruise soon! The weather was not on our side at all, but I still had a blast exploring the ship itself.

~Sophie

Packing for Alaska!

2011-09-10T18:24:00.004-04:00

With 6 days left, Marsali and I decided to get a head start on packing for our Alaskan cruise. Deciding what to bring was the easiest part. Certainly, we'd need outfits for every occasion imaginable and, oh, wouldn't lounge chairs be nice to bring, too?

By the time we'd finished deciding what to bring, the pile of stuff had really accumulated. "How will we ever pack all of this?" I worried. Marsali, ever the seasoned pro when it comes to cruises, reassured me that we'd find a way. So, we thought for a bit, and finally, I suggested that we needed to come up with a way to organize our belongings.

Marsali agreed and proposed the perfect solution - suitcases! She had suitcases galore, from smallest to largest. So, we set to work, arranging our clothes in the order that we'd be wearing them. We made sure we had everything, including shoes and hair accessories!

By the time we'd finished packing all of the clothes into the suitcases, we were pooped. Taking a little break, we had some soda. I also took the opportunity to thank Marsali, once again, for inviting me along on the cruise. It was such a nice gesture on her part; I know I will remember this trip forever!

After our break, we loaded the smaller suitcases into the big piece of luggage and ended up with a little room to spare ... which turned out to be a good thing. In our haste, we'd forgotten that Novya hadn't brought her things over to us yet. We both felt bad when we saw Novya trotting up, lugging her suitcases.

We laughed it off and turned to help Novya repack her things. With a little rearranging, we were soon able to pack her things with ease. Whew!

Album: Packing for 2011 Alaska Cruise!

~Sophie

The Bike Course

2011-09-03T15:20:00.007-04:00

After our horse ride, Taryn and Taryn G. decided to go on a challenging bike course. Marsali and I, faithful friends that we are, cheered on the two cyclists.

The two girls maneuvered around rocks, rode through a roundabout, and rode up a ramp before crossing the finish line as champions. Even Taryn G., while not as experienced a bike rider as Taryn, made it through without stopping, and we were so proud of her.

We shot our fists into the air while screaming, "Hip-hip-hooray!" It was a perfect ending to a day full of fun.

See the album HERE.

~Sophie

Horseback riding with the girls!

2011-08-25T21:10:00.015-04:00

Soon after I'd arrived, Marsali and a few of her friends decided to take me up into the mountains on a horseback ride. I've only gone horseback riding once before, so I was quite nervous! When Marsali told me that we weren't going to be using bridles, I was even more nervous. How would I EVER remember all of the leg movements?!

Marsali led me over to Gyspy, the horse I'd be riding. After checking the cinches, I mounted Gyspy and tried to relax. Marsali soothed me by telling me stories about the first time her Mama rode without a bridle.

Once Tinaia and Audrianna had mounted their horses, we were on our way, heading in the direction of the campsite that Taryn and Angel were setting up for us.

After a while, my nervousness subsided, and I began to talk and laugh with the other girls. Unfortunately, their laughter distracted me, and I found myself giving Gyspy the wrong leg movement! My horse was now on a trail a little lower down the mountain. I was mortified that I'd forgotten a leg movement so quickly and pressured myself to stay more focused. I HAD to get these leg movements down pat! If Marsali and Anya (my horse-loving friend back at school) could do it, so could I.

After a few hours of riding, the girls and I were getting pretty sore. We'd all made it safely to the campsite, and aside from my horse being spooked by Pooka (the girls' canine companion) and my hair being attacked by a ladybug, I'd had a lot of fun. I was glad I'd gotten past my initial nervousness over riding Gyspy. We'd actually become great friends over the course of our ride together. I made sure to give her some love after I'd dismounted.

Soon we were talking and laughing around the campsite. We didn't want to start a fire, so we sat around a pile of pine-cones instead.

Marsali and I chatted about the adventures we'd had in the past year as well as the adventures

awaiting us in Alaska. It was great to be spending time with her again!

You can look at the whole album of our horseback riding adventure by clicking HERE.

Have you ever been horseback riding?

~Sophie

Visiting Oregon again!

2011-08-23T16:35:00.004-04:00

After several long, tiring days in my travel box, I arrived in Oregon! Knowing I must be anxious to stretch my legs, Marsali helped me out of the box. "Sophie, I am sooo glad that you are here," she gushed, enveloping me in a hug.

We haven't seen each other since Spring 2010 when we celebrated Easter together. And, when Marsali invited me to make a return visit, I literally jumped at the chance. I've been missing home, but I figured that I could make one last stop.

Marsali soon introduced me to Taryn, her newest sister. The three of us will be going on an Alaskan cruise together! Taryn and I have never been on a cruise before, and we are so excited to get to go with Marsali, a seasoned pro when it comes to going on cruises!

You can see my arrival album, as well as more photos, by clicking HERE. Also, I wanted to give a shout-out about my hosts' doll clothing store. Marsali, Taryn, and the rest of their sisters sell some really cute things. Please do check out their website, The Crazy Doll Ladies Designs, if you haven't already. See my sidebar for the link to their store blog. :)

~Sophie

My Absence!

2011-06-24T17:57:00.003-04:00

Hi guys,

I just wanted to apologize for being so AWOL! I'm still hanging out in New York and enjoying some downtime. However, I've got something big planned for later this summer/fall. I really am looking forward to that. ;)

-Sophie

5th Avenue Fun!

2011-04-17T16:40:00.007-04:00

Hi everyone,

When classes let out on Friday, I decided to visit the Central Park Zoo. I wanted to see if I could spot Amaya, the zoo's red panda. And, sure enough, there she was all nestled up in a tree! I was thrilled to finally be able to see the animal Inky has talked so fondly about.

At the zoo entrance, I happened upon a magnolia tree - isn't it beautiful? I love how magnolia blossoms make everything around them smell nice and sweet, even in such a big, crowded (and sometimes smelly) city like New York.

Next, I stopped by FAO Schwarz for a bit. I'm sure everyone - even if you've never been to New York - has heard of this store. It's only the greatest toy store ever! It's home to the infamous larger-than-life piano keyboard that you might've seen Tom Hanks play in the movie, Big. The store was established in 1862!!

The guard at the store entrance was kind enough to pose for a picture with me. Isn't he silly? The puppets on his hands reminded me a lot of life back at Fair Hollow since Fair Hollow has quite the collection of puppets. I was also reminded of all of the puppet shows Maman and Papa took Juliette and me to when we were little.

I walked several blocks more until I reached Rockefeller Center. Stopping to watch the ice skaters for a bit, I thought of my best friend from school, Nathalie. Nathalie is passionate about skating and is always trying to get me on the ice. Of course, I'm just as uncoordinated in ice skates as I am in ballet shoes, but I do appreciate others who actually can skate.

Finally, I stopped at AGPNY to meet Kanani Akina, our Girl of the Year for 2011. It's not a trip to New York City unless it includes a stop at AGPNY, now is it?

I really liked this neat photo op they had set up for Kanani. It makes me long to visit Hawaii for real (but I'd still choose to go back home to Paris over a trip to Hawaii!).

Kanani and I spent several minutes talking about France and Hawaii. I think I managed to convince her that she must visit France for herself one day. I also asked if she'd like to enroll at a school called Fair Hollow School for Girls, but she politely declined. She already missed Hawaii terribly and was anxious to go back. I can't say that I blame her!

~Sophie

Je me sens comme une princesse...

2011-04-11T16:51:00.013-04:00

Salut mes amis,

Je me sens comme une princesse parce que j'ai visité un palais le dernier week-end.

I feel like a princess because I visit

ed a castle this past weekend - Belvedere Castle, that is! Belvedere Castle is located in Central Park. I've been wanting to see New York City's own castle since seeing several films in which it is featured in.

But, first, I wanted to stop by L'Ambassade de France Services Culturels; that is, the French embassy's cultural center.

Seeing the sign written in French, as well as le drapeau français, made me feel more homesick. Je me sens comme je veux rentrer en France! Anyone want to buy me a plane ticket?

Then, I started to head in the direction of Belvedere Castle. Passing the pretty cherry blossoms behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I lingered at Turtle Pond for a bit before proceeding on with my walk. Finally, I found Belvedere Castle! It's on top of the hill along the south shore of Turtle Pond.

It was, to say the least, a bit tricky to find, but it was well worth the effort. Isn't it a beautiful castle?

Belvedere Castle, meaning "lookout castle," is located on Vista Rock, overlooking Turtle Pond and the Great Lawn. It was designed in 1865 by Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould to be a tourist attraction and nothing else. However, from 1919 to the present, it has been used to determine wind speed and direction and to record rainfall amounts.

It was restored in 1983, becoming the residence of the Henry Luce Nature Observatory. You can find skeletons and papier mâché birds inside the observatory, among other things, and the top of the castle is a favorite location among bird-watchers.

From the top of the castle, you can also see the skyline of the Upper East Side, the Great Lawn, and Turtle Pond:

After taking in the view from Belvedere Castle (and the gorgeous spring sun!), I walked south along the pat through the Ramble, a woodsy part of the park. Huge boulders are everywhere, and I discovered that they are rather fun to climb on. (You can see me climbing on a boulder in the top right corner of this blog entry.)

Coming out of the Ramble onto Bethesda Terrace, I found the Bethesda Fountain. Bethesda Fountain was constructed from 1859 - 1864. The focal point of the fountain is an 8 foot bronze angel, designed by Emma Stebbins in 1868 (and unveiled in 1873). Ms. Stebbins was actually the first woman to receive a public commission for a major work of art in New York City, something I later learned after a bit of internet research.

Leaving Bethesda Terrace, I crossed the Mall, a promenade featuring a beautiful lawn of trees. Reaching Balto, I stopped for a bit. The Balto statue has been a favorite of the city children since its unveiling in December 1925. I wanted take a photo with him, despite having to wait in line to do so.

The statue was created by Frederick George Richard Roth, a Brooklyn-born sculptor who wanted to create a tribute to the famous husky. Balto is famous because he was one of the dogs who traveled 674 miles through a 1925 Nome, Alaska blizzard to deliver medicine.

On the way home, I decided to stop at the Empire State Building. I thought about going up to the top to await the love of my life, but then I realized that neither Justin Bartha nor Guillaume Canet know I'm alive. So, I proceeded to do the next best thing - I headed back home to watch An Affair To Remember and Sleepless in Seattle!

Ton amie,

Sophie

Beach Day.

2011-03-21T19:27:00.006-04:00

Salut!

On Saturday, after stopping for a Starbucks iced coffee in Howard Beach, I went for a stroll along the beach at Jacob Riis Park in Rockaway, Queens. Named for the NYC journalist/photographer who captured photos of poor and working class families, the beach features a lovely Art Deco bathhouse that has been around since 1932. As of 1972, the park and its bathhouse have been been owned by the National Park Service.

It is known as "The People's Beach," likely in homage to the idea that it was originally designed for the poor, working class immigrants.

I spent my time strolling the shore and thinking about the times my family has ventured down to the beach. I think one of the last times was when my parents took Juliette and me down to the Côte d'Azur to celebrate our tenth birthday. We met our dear friend Élodie down there, and well, there was some drama involved. But, alas, that's a story for another time!

Also, I finally decided to set up a Facebook fan page, just for the heck of it. You can 'Like' me HERE, if you want.

~Sophie

Afternoons in the City

2011-03-20T19:44:00.007-04:00

Hey, everyone!

While I've been living in New York City, I've been attending Le Lycée Français de New York (LFNY), the prestigious multilingual school in Manhattan that follows the French education system. I love it, but I think that's why I'm getting homesick! I'm so reminded of my Parisian middle school, Collège Antoine Coysevox.

The dress code at LFNY bums me out a bit. We girls must wear gray pants or a skirt, a white button-down shirt, a navy blue cardigan and dark colored shoes and coats, which means no Liberty Jane clothes can be worn to school. However, having a dress code means I can get ready faster in the morning. I know I usually have trouble deciding what to wear otherwise.

Otherwise, I really love LFNY, especially with its convenient location in Manhattan. Sometimes I'll visit the nearby Metropolitan Museum of Art (or, as New Yorkers call it, the Met!) after school. The Met stays open late on Fridays, so that's usually when I go.

Here I am in front of the Met. Isn't it grand? According to the website, it's one of the largest and finest art museums in the world. It houses over 2 million works of art and has been open since 1870! I'm sure my Edwardian friends Samantha Parkington and Nellie O'Malley visited the Met with Cornelia and Gard.

It was really neat to see ancient history artifacts right before my very eyes. I much prefer to study history by going to museums rather than by reading some dry textbook.

From Egyptian sculptures...

...to this gorgeous ballerina sculpture, the Met has something for everyone!

"La Petite Danseuse de 14 Ans" by Degas

After I wander around the museum for a bit, sometimes I'll take the subway to another part of the city. My favorite train to ride is #7. Since it's above ground, I can look out the train's windows at the pretty lights of Manhattan as I'm riding.

I always love getting off at Times Square because the lighted advertisements are so picturesque. I had to get a photo of myself surrounded by the enchantment that is Times Square.

Do you see the Mamma Mia sign on the left side of this photo? Since the main character in that musical is a girl named Sophie, I always think of it as "my musical." Therefore, I had to pose by the sign, now didn't I?

~Sophie

Le New York City Ballet!

2011-03-01T20:59:00.010-05:00

Salut, mes amies!

Dimanche, j'ai eu une occasion à voir une belle interprétation du ballet. Le New York City Ballet a eu sa dernière interprétation de la saison d'hiver, et j'ai acheté un billet à voir les danseurs. Juliette serait heureuse et fière de sa soeur jumelle!

I had the chance to see a beautiful ballet performance on Sunday. The New York City Ballet had its last performance of the winter season, and I bought a ticket to see the dancers. Juliette would be happy and proud of her twin sister!

I sat by la jolie fontaine at Lincoln Center while I waited for the theatre to open. I was to see a triple bill with Square Dance, Mirage, and The Four Seasons, and I couldn't wait! Ballet has been on my mind for these past couple of weeks in particular - maybe because Inky and Violet both dance or maybe because I'm still missing my sister? Either way, I was excited to see the show.

Here I am on le balcon that overlooks Lincoln Center Plaza. You can see the Metropolitan Opera House behind me:

When we were allowed inside, I strolled around the theatre promenade for a bit before heading into the theatre itself. Then, for the next hour or two, I sat mesmerized, watching the story unfold before my eyes as dancers twirled around en pointe. Having grown up in the theatre atmosphere, I felt very content. Et d'accord, I may have an urge to take ballet lessons again...

In other news, the girls of Fair Hollow are pretty ecstatic right now. Maybe I should redirect you here?

Ton amie,

Sophie

We've been nominated!

2011-02-15T21:32:00.006-05:00

Salut mes amis!

As I'm sure most of you are aware, the American Girl Playthings Message Board hosts an Academy Awards type event every year, and to my surprise, I was nominated this year! That's right - Le Fabuleux Destin de Sophie Amélie was nominated under the category of "Best Writing."

I just want to express my deepest gratitude to whomever nominated me! Or, rather, Merci Beaucoup! Grazie! Muchas Gracias! This means so much to me, even just being a nominee. I may not be the biggest star in the AG world, but I love knowing that there are people out there who really like reading my blog and following my travel adventures.

If you'd like to vote for me, that'd be nice. Of course, my fellow nominees are some of my greatest friends, so I understand how difficult voting might be.

Some of my classmates got nominated for awards, too. Miss Lindsey Anneliese Bergman is up for Best Actor after starring in her spring break album series last year. Want to read about her crazy antics?

Lindsey's Alternative Spring Break (Part 1)

The Glass Girl Speaks (Part 2)

Wrapping Up The Unexpected (Part 3)

Vote for Lindsey HERE, if you'd like.

And, finally, Becky Horowitz, Chiara Martini, and Traveling Ruthie acted out the fairy-tale "Snow White & Rose Red" last June. With a beautiful set and costumes, it's no surprise that it was nominated for 'Best Photo Story.'

Want to read it? Just click the link below:

Snow White & Rose Red [A Brothers Grimm Tale]

And you can always vote for it.

On behalf of all of us girls at Fair Hollow School for Girls, particularly Becky, Lindsey, and me, we'd like to thank all of you - all of you who read or follow this blog, read our Picasa albums, watch our Youtube videos, etc! We are very glad to know that we are loved and appreciated. :)

Sophie

Une promenade dans la neige!

2011-01-28T17:29:00.011-05:00

Salut!

Il y a une grande quantité de la neige à Nouvelle York maintenant. Les écoles et les autres endroits ont fermé.

There is a lot of snow in New York right now, and schools and other places have closed.

J'ai décidé à faire une promenade hivernale mercredi. Je me suis promenée autour du voisinage. Je me suis sentie bien quand j'ai respiré l'air frais.

I decided to take a wintry walk on Wednesday. I felt good when I breathed in the fresh air - especially after being cooped up inside for a while.

Avec ma chemise rouge, je me suis sentie comme un joli oiseau rouge! Maintenant si seulement j'ai eu les ailes...

With my red shirt, I felt like a pretty red bird! Now if only I had wings...

Ton amie,

Sophie

Valentine's Day Giveaway @ Doll Diaries!

2011-01-25T08:10:00.006-05:00

Salut, tout le monde! I hope everyone is doing well. I'm sorry that it's been such a long time since I've updated my blog. I've just been pretty busy hanging out with Inky in NYC. :)

Anyway, I don't usually post about giveaways and such, but, if you know me, you probably know that I am a sucker for cute skirts and boots!

Doll Diaries is hosting a Valentine's Day giveaway for the outfit pictured on the left. Isn't it cute? It's called the Glitter Heart Tee outfit and is sold by Daydream Doll Boutique.

To enter the contest, click HERE.

Bonne Chance!
(Deadline: midnight of February 4, 2011)

-Sophie

Le 23 novembre: Joyeux Anniversaire, Inky!

2010-11-24T13:31:00.006-05:00

Yesterday was Inky's 11th birthday. Joyeux Anniversaire, mon amie! Last year, she wished for a birthday party with an Ugly Doll theme. This year, that wish came true. The party room was decked out with everything Ugly Doll - an Ice Bat cake, a room garland, and party games.

Violet and I were the only girls in attendance which is okay because small parties are definitely the best. :)

We started out by playing the game that Piper suggested - Pin the Eye on the Ice Bat! As Violet and Inky blindfolded me and spun me around a few times, they challenged me to see if I could place the eye in the correct spot.

I didn't come close, but Inky and Violet assured me that it's all in the fun.

As for presents, Inky received an Ice Bat hat from Violet and a really sweet gift from her parents that you'll have to read about on her blog. Of course, I didn't feel right showing up empty-handed - without a present for Inky - but what could I do? The Valdez girls invited me to their birthday party, too, and I didn't have a present them either. It's not like I can tote birthday presents around all year, waiting for birthday parties to attend, but still, I kind of feel bad. :/

Anyway, forgiving that, I had a great time at Inky's birthday party, all dressed up in yet another of Inky's special Liberty Jane outfits. And doesn't Inky look really nice, too? The t-shirt dress looks stunning on her. I know she doesn't like to wear dresses all that much, and this one is a nice "dressy-but-not-too-dressy" option. :)

~Sophie

Visiting Manhattan with Inky!

2010-11-20T18:19:00.009-05:00

On Thursday, November 18th, Inky had to go into Manhattan for a Nutcracker rehearsal, and I decided to go with her. While she was rehearsing, I walked around Central Park a bit, taking in the sights and sounds of Manhattan - the crazy cab drivers, the adorable little dogs on leashes, the hustle and bustle of the approaching holiday season.

We planned on meeting on the steps of the Koch Theatre - where the NYC Ballet performs - and there we settled to talk about our day. Inky told me about her ballet rehearsal and how excited she is about being a polichinelle in the upcoming Nutcracker performance. Hearing her talk excitedly about ballet made me long for dear Maman and my twin sister Juliette.

Maman was an esteemed ballerina who performed many times at the Opéra de Paris (now the Palais Garnier) and even at the Lincoln Center here in New York. When she met Papa, Maman started teaching ballet at a private school in Paris. Of course, Juliette lives for ballet just as Maman does, and while I literally cannot dance a step, I've come to appreciate it myself. I guess I take after Papa!

So I was very thrilled to see the Lincoln Center and stand in the same place that Maman did in her youth. I had Inky take a few pictures of me, so perhaps I will send a few copies to Maman and Juliette in my next letter home? I'm sure they'd love that!

I was also thrilled when Inky lent me her fabulous Liberty Jane outfit for the day. Isn't it lovely? It reminds me so much of the wardrobe I left back in Paris. I forgot what it was like to dress so classy, so élégant et à la mode.

Inky and I ended the afternoon in Manhattan at the New York Philharmonic. We wandered around a bit, hoping to spot someone famous (or perhaps a time machine to go back in the past and see Maman?) before heading home on the subway.

Pourquoi est-ce que j'ai une envie subite à danser? Pourquoi est-ce que je manque la vie métropolitaine maintenant? Pourquoi est-ce que je manque mes parents et ma soeur maintenant?

Why do I have a sudden urge to dance? Why do I miss the metropolitan life right now? Why do I miss my parents and my sister now?

New York, je t'aime, mais j'ai déjà la mal du pays parce que tu me rappelles de Paris...où ma famille habite.

New York, I love you, but I am already homesick because you remind me of Paris...where my family lives.

...c'est bizarre parce que je n'ai pas la mal du pays normalement! It's weird because I'm not normally homesick!

~Sophie

Jamaica Bay!

2010-11-13T14:40:00.004-05:00

Last weekend, Inky took me to one of her favorite places in New York City - Jamaica Bay! It's hard to believe that the city could house such a pretty wildlife refuge with all of the cement and skyscrapers, but NYC is full of surprises after all. :) It's located within Brooklyn and Queens on the southwestern tip of Long Island.

The salt marshes surrounding the bay are home to migratory birds and other wildlife. Inky wasn't sure if we'd be able to see the birds, given that it's already autumn, but they hadn't migrated yet. It was neat to see them flocked on the bay.

And, finally, isn't this photo of me great? I love the background showcasing the pretty changing leaves of autumn.

~Sophie

Pumpkin Carving w/ Violet & Inky!

2010-11-10T21:24:00.004-05:00

On Halloween, I found myself wandering the streets of New York City, frantically looking for my next host's apartment. You see, I'd never been to NYC till now, and I was a little nervous. I really haven't walked city streets since leaving Paris anyway.

But I was even more nervous about making a good impression on who I was about to meet. Je sais! You're probably wondering how extroverted me could be nervous about meeting someone new. After all, I've met dozens of nice girls over the past year, and I've never been nervous about meeting anyone. Why start now?

As I rounded the corner, I felt fairly sure that I was approaching where I needed to be, and when I saw a familiar face, my earlier suspicions were confirmed. I smiled, glad that I had gotten to the right place and that I wasn't too late.

Hearing my approaching footsteps, the girl I'd recognized turned towards me. Smiling, she called out my name, "SOPHIE!" At once, my nervousness faded, and I responded by calling out her name, "VIOLET!" I ran over to my friend (as best I could with a heavy suitcase in hand!) and gave her a hug. It'd been over a year since we'd first met back in Utah, but we definitely hadn't forgotten one another.

Suddenly, we both got quiet and looked to the other girl standing with us. For a minute, we just looked at each other until Violet spoke up, "Inky, let me introduce you to Sophie Moreau! Sophie, this is my best friend, Marina. We always call her Inky!"

Of course, Inky and I have been blog friends for quite some time now, but we haven't had the chance to meet until now. We greeted each other warmly. "Hi, Sophie!" "Salut, Inky!"

Then Violet suggested that we go up to Inky's family's apartment to start carving the Halloween pumpkin. Heading to the festively decorated living room, we gathered the supplies that we'd need and started in on the process.

We chose the nice, softer pumpkin over the harder one, and pretty soon we had this:

A pretty neat jack o' lantern! Now all we had to do was insert a tea candle and turn out the lights to see our pretty jack o' lantern glow.

I must say, this was probably the best Halloween I've celebrated yet! My classmates usually skip the whole pumpkin carving thing, but I think it's pretty fun. :)

~Sophie

Autumn Fun/ Meeting Haley & Ruthie!

2010-11-05T23:46:00.007-04:00

While I was in CT, Haley arrived!

Since we've been blog friends for a while now, I was so glad that we were finally able to meet in person. :)

On October 2nd, we spent the day watching some go-kart racing together. We also checked out this pretty beach:

Haley and I also got to meet Ruthie. Ruthie lives on Water St., where I visited earlier this summer. I didn't get to meet Ruthie then because she was out traveling herself - she even visited my school back in Virginia!

Ruthie arrived in time to accompany us on an apple-picking expedition on October 10th. Three traveling girls on an adventure together! How often does that happen? See the apple-picking album HERE.

On October 16th, Molly J., Ruthie, Haley, and I all got dressed up in Halloween costumes to attend the 20th annual Keene Pumpkin Festival in Keene, NH. Haley chose to dress as a 1950s girl in a cute kitty skirt while I opted to dress as a magician. Here we are in our costumes, and behind us, you can see the tall scaffold of lit jack-o-lanterns:

To see more pictures from the Pumpkin Fest, click HERE.

Also, the photo-story from the Star Valley Block Party that I attended is up over at Cherished Playtime! Check it out, if you have the time. Jess also has a web-show episode covering the event.

If you're up-to-date, I suspect you know that I've since moved on to a new host. I'll post about that soon. ;)

~Sophie

Mystic Seaport!

2010-10-21T12:57:00.006-04:00

On Monday, September 27th, Marina and Liz took me to Mystic Seaport in Mystic, CT! It's a 19th century-inspired living history museum with ships and a village to explore.

Marina and I got to be pirates again!

Then Liz joined us for a pretty picture by a fountain. It's not a trip to Mystic Seaport without pictures by the water!

We also found a cannon to climb on - much like Traveling Ruthie did on her last visit to Star Valley. ;)

Here we are exploring the interior of a schooner called the Australia. Wouldn't it be fun to solve a mystery in a setting like this? Hmm, a nautical mystery...sounds intriguing!

Here I am on a carriage ride going around the seaport village. The horse's name was Xena! Boy am I reminded of a certain show about an infamous warrior princess...

Before we left, I got to sign the guestbook so that everyone knew that I, Traveling Sophie, had been to Mystic Seaport! Maybe future visitors will read that and come online to find my blog? Hey, since when did a little bit of shameless advertising hurt?!

Then Marina, Annie, and I headed to Mystic Aquarium to watch a sea lion show and see other cute marine animals...

...like these penguins!

To see the whole album, click HERE.

~Sophie

An addendum to my last post.

2010-09-25T12:10:00.008-04:00

Salut!

Oh, les pirates! Some of you were a bit surprised by the fact that I like pirates enough to participate on Talk Like A Pirate Day - or Journée Internationale du Parler Pirate, as us French know le 19 septembre.

Bien sûr, I can't really say I'm all that obsessed with pirates. To be honest, I'd probably forget all about the significance of le 19 septembre if it wasn't for AGPT's more than subtle reminder. C'est le film s'appelle "Les Pirates des Caraïbes" que j'aime beaucoup. Johnny Depp comme un pirate est sexy, non?

But, anyway, I got to thinking about les pirates français - French pirates - and that led me to countless Google searches on the matter. How would les pirates français talk anyway? Is there a version of Pirate Speak en français? Would they just speak English and use the general Pirate Speak so many of us love? I mean, I know we French have our own chatspeak what with the rise of cellphones and texting (For instance, J'm can often be a shortened form of J'aime), so there's got to be a French version of Pirate Speak. Right? I've yet to find the answer.

I did find something pretty neat, though. Sabine, tu adores la chanteuse s'appelle Édith Piaf, oui? Admittedly, I haven't listened to her all that much (I know, I'm a bad French girl), but she sang a song called "Le Chant Du Pirate."

Et les paroles (en français naturellement) sont ICI.

Happy Listening!

And, if you should find anything about French pirates and if there is a French version of Pirate Speak, let me know. :)

~Sophie

Avast, me mateys, here's a pirate tale for ya!

2010-09-19T19:03:00.004-04:00

Avast, me mateys! Bootlace Betsy here. Today is Talk Like a Pirate Day, and if you didn't know that, save yourself the embarrassment and walk the plank already!

Aye, lassies, I've a real booty for ya today - a swashbucklin' tale that's sure to have ya shouting, "Shiver me timbers!" It's a tale landlubbers and privateers alike will take delight in, so kick off those shoes you nicked from that last ship you raided, grab some nice, cold grog, and enjoy!

Just click thar and follow the links to read:

Th' Legend o' Albus Hickleby!

Now, if ya'll excuse me, I'm off to parley with a scallywag y'all might otherwise know as Cap'n Jack Sparrow!

~Bootlace Betsy

Exploring NH, VT, and MA with the Star Valley crew!

2010-09-11T15:22:00.010-04:00

Salut, mes amis!

Guesting on The Jessica McConnell Show wasn't the only fun thing I've gotten to do while visiting New Hampshire's own Star Valley.

My visit began with a trip to Weston, VT to see a musical called Marvelous Wonderettes at the Weston Playhouse. My new friends Molly (of Water St.), Sarah, and Peggy accompanied me, which was great fun since we all love theatre!

On August 16th, Gwen and Alison took me to visit the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA. Isn't the basketball-shaped building pretty cool looking?

We all thought this large basketball shoe was pretty neat, too:

Speaking of large basketball shoes, here I am as compared to one of Shaq's. Haha, either I am small or Shaq's feet are ginormous (or maybe it's a little bit of both)!

On August 29th, the town of Star Valley hosted their first annual block party. I was so excited that my visit had coincided nicely with the event that I convinced Sarah to dress in coordinating outfits with me. Here we are perusing crafts made by Molly M., Emily, Susan, and Linda at camp:

The block party consisted of a talent show, live entertainment by Peggy on her guitar, delicious baked goods, and - the best part - friends galore! Following the party, a dance was held because we were just having too much fun to quit. ;)

On August 30th, Sarah and Linda took me on another sightseeing trip. Our first stop: Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, MA! It was here that I got to missing Laura a bit because she's actually been to Deerfield - even if that was about eight or nine years ago now.

Barnard Tavern wasn't open, though, so no drinks for us, haha! So, we just walked around a bit, admiring the gorgeous historical buildings - even passing the Wilson Printing Office that was featured in the Pleasant Company AG Club handbook (Felicity's section).

I was particularly amazed by the many signs of autumn that I saw on my walk around Deerfield. The leaves were already beginning to turn orange, yellow, and red, and quite a few had already fallen to the ground. I guess I'm too used to the onset of autumn in late October/November, but I could easily get used to this, too. Oh please, Laura, can we move to New England? S'il vous plaît?

Feeling as bold as Felicity, Linda, Sarah, and I walked atop a fence a bit before walking through a real working farm and then looking at some old gravestones in the burial ground. Spooky, no?

Next stop: the Deerfield Yankee Candle Flagship store! It's sort of become a tradition for traveling guests to visit this store, and I didn't want to break tradition. ;)

We checked out some of the ornately dressed nutcrackers, met a bear searching for a frontier girl named Kirsten (haha), listened to some carolers, and took in a wonderful concert put on by the Rolling Bones. I even tried to befriend a knight, but unfortunately, he wasn't at all interested in me or what I had to say. Oh well!

On September 5th, I borrowed a pioneer dress and visited The Fort at No. 4 in Charlestown, NH, a living history museum teaching what it was like to live in an English colony in 1740.

Here is a bird's eye view of the Fort:

Sam and Liz accompanied me on this sightseeing trip.

We played with some Colonial toys - ring toss, a pretty doll that Sam is holding, Jacob's Ladder - and then checked out the rest of the Fort. Liz and I tried to do some weaving, but quickly gave up on that, LOL! We watched some re-enactors firing off a cannon, wishing that we had ear plugs all the while. We checked out an Algonquin wigwam and saw some birchbark canoes. We also went to the Colonial schoolroom where I wrote, "Sophie was here!" on a slate. :)

Just a pretty photo of me as a frontier girl! (Don't get any ideas, Laura, this is just a one-day thing! I'm too modern to become a permanent time-traveler!)

To see the entire album, click HERE.

Ton amie,

Sophie

The Jessica McConnell Show!

2010-08-22T16:43:00.003-04:00

Woo-hoo! I got be interviewed by the famous Jessica McConnell of Star Valley! Molly McIntire of Water St. co-hosted, and silly Peggy filmed a segment, too.

Watch it here:

(although, if you're like me and my classmates, you won't be able to watch just one episode!)

Hors d'oeuvres, Jess!

(Just kidding.)

~Sophie

Fun with the Sisterhood of the Water St. girls!

2010-08-08T20:31:00.013-04:00

Salut, mes amis! Wondering where I've been? These past few weeks I've been hanging out and just having a blast with the Sisterhood of the Water St. Girls in New Hampshire. I've also got to meet a few of the Star Valley girls, too, although I'll be officially visiting Star Valley soon enough.

Anyhow, I was quite tired when I arrived on July 23rd, so Jenn just let me sleep the day away. When I awoke, I was greeted by Elphie, and having already talked to her a bit online, I was ecstatic to finally meet her in person.

Soon enough, I met Mia, and we headed off on a road trip to the Natick AG Boutique & Bistro - quel amusement! Jenn and Missy were even kind enough to get me my own souvenir shirt. (Thank You!)

Mia and I (with Mischa and Emily of Star Valley) even had fun in the bathroom. Here we are meeting our "mirror friends" - kind of like Anne Shirley's dear window friend in Anne of Green Gables.
Bien sûr, looking at my mirror reflection made me miss my own dear twin, Juliette. I decided to go look for her in the store, but since she's still back in Paris and isn't looking to apply to school over here at this time, I knew any girls who looked like me in the store were just unrelated clones. But don't I wish that Juliette had been among them!

After leaving the mall, we stopped on the French King Bridge to admire the pretty view. Here I am with Water St.'s newest resident, Solana. Isn't she gorgeous?

On August 1st, Elphie and I decided to join Sarah and Annie of Star Valley on a visit to Ashuelot Park in Keene, NH. Here I am at the park's entrance:

We did a bit of hiking, posed with some pretty wildflowers, climbed a few trees, and found these really cool rocks to climb on. Park outings are the BEST because there are so many things you can do and so many things that stimulate the imagination. Like we found this grove of trees that looked almost magical in appearance! Elphie wanted to try some spells underneath them. Of course, I'd be all for that - except I'm not a witch. ;)

So, what's your favorite thing to do at the park on a summer day?

Ton amie,

Sophie

Une boîte mystérieuse à la maison de Kit-Kat!

2010-07-09T00:11:00.007-04:00

That is, "a mysterious box at Kit-Kat's house."

A few days after my bizarre fainting spell (the one I attributed to extreme fangirling!), Kit-Kat called me into their office. My (superior, if I do say so myself!) detective work in the past had helped me land a position in Kit-Kat's Impossible Mission Force, and they needed me to take over a case.

So, like any good detective, I got my facts straight first. Samantha and Nellie had received a rather odd package with no return address. Not knowing the identity of the sender nor the contents of the package, they were hesitant to open it.

Nellie led me over to Rebecca and Audriana, the two girls who'd initially found the package. Rebecca, too obsessed with a set of authentic school supplies from 1904 to really have much time to answer questions, could really only tell me that the box had been wrapped in such beautiful packaging that she felt obliged to keep it herself.

Audriana was a little more helpful. She confirmed that the box was addressed to Samantha and Nellie and that it seemed to have come from a foreign country. Knowing Samantha and Nellie were from Monaco, this sounded plausible.

At this point, Rebecca suddenly looked up from her school supplies and said that the package had come from Liechtenstein. Nellie, trying to think if she and Samantha had known anyone from Liechtenstein, had the girls' other princess friend, Marie, come over.

Marie guessed that the box was from the third member of the "Princess Triplets" - what the press called the three princesses of Monaco, Liechtenstein, and France who were close in age. The third member had lost contact with Samantha and Marie, but Marie guessed that maybe she was trying to get back in touch...

Later that evening, I performed a few forensic tests on the box to determine its safety. Believing that whatever was in the box was harmless, I let Samantha open it the next morning. Inside was her mother's childhood doll, Clara, a doll Samantha thought had been lost!

But I wondered why the third member of the Princess Triplets would have the doll that had belonged to Samantha's mother and was only just now sending it to Samantha herself. Then something crossed my mind: was this third member of the Princess Triplets actually related to Samantha? Had this girl come to the States to join Samantha at school?

My suspicions were confirmed when we found the Princess of Liechtenstein herself a few towns over, and yes, she did have a story to tell! Just what was it? Read the full album here!

Boy do I love it when I get to solve a mystery while I'm traveling! ;)

~Sophie

Hors du prix ou Impayable!

2010-06-25T19:43:00.011-04:00

Non, pas le film "Hors du Prix" avec Audrey Tautou.

Mais je besoin à regarder-le.

Mais sériousement, I've been in Ohio for a few weeks now - and I'm having a great time meeting all of the OWT girls! - but my initial reaction to meeting the infamous Kit-Kat was very impayable, very priceless. C'est un moment classique!

I went from watching Kit-Kat and Baby dancing around in their Lady Gaga-esque costumes (and was kind of reminded of that funny Glee episode!) to

...this! Je me suis évanoui! I fainted! I actually fainted at the sight of Kit-Kat and Baby-Ruthie! LOL! I didn't actually think of myself as the "fainting type," but I just felt strangely dizzy at that very moment, the chatter around me faded in volume, and I blacked out. C'est bizarre - cette sensation de vertige. It's weird - this dizzy sensation.

Maybe I was just so shocked at meeting the twins...? They were visiting FHSG right as I arrived, but that strange girl named Maura Cassidy told me to avoid meeting them. So, I did. They went on their way before I even met them.

But I stayed curious about those girls I avoided and willed myself to visit them. As for fainting upon meeting them, I don't know what came over me! Je ne comprends pas! Could I really be that much of a Kit-Kat fan-girl that I'd faint at the very sight of them?!

Ton amie,

Sophie

Adventures in Colorado!

2010-06-05T21:11:00.005-04:00

Hi all,

As I'm heading off to my next host, I thought I'd update you on some of the fun I've been having with Kiki, Luci, and the girls in Colorado. After all, I do have a WiFi connection in my travel box!

Luci and I visited her town's little Miner's Museum, and I saw this pretty little doll! Isn't she neat? I'm not much of a doll person myself, but I like seeing antique dolls and imagining what lives they might've led with their own little girls.

Luci, Kiki, Mia, Eva, and I had our own little coal mining adventure. Kiki and Luci were the "breaker boys" and had to separate the coal from the rocks, Mia (with her funny mustache!) was their boss, I was the mule driver (with Starburst and Sombrita as the mules!), and Eva (not pictured) was the wealthy mine owner. It was a fun adventure, although I cannot imagine that real coal mining would be nearly as fun (much too dangerous).

Mia, Eva, and I also had another little adventure in the treehouse - a pirate adventure! We tied on our bandannas and pretended to load up our ship (the treehouse) for a grand ocean adventure. Did we see Captain Jack Sparrow? Don't I wish! ;)

As the days grew warmer, Luci led me outside to sit on the fence and just watch life run its natural course. That might sound a little boring to you, but I wasn't bored in the slightest! The view from Luci's backyard is breathtakingly beautiful with the mountains on the horizon line and the big, blue sky looming ahead. I can see why Nicki-Vicki love Colorado so much!

Before I had to leave, Kiki wanted to take me on a hiking adventure. As a city girl at heart, hiking was such an unusual experience for me. I felt as if I was on another planet (albeit a really gorgeous planet)! Silly me even tried to touch the cacti, but Kiki pulled my hand away just in time.

I've have such a great time in Colorado that I do hate to leave! I shall really miss Mia, Eva, Kiki, Luci, and Holly! Thank you, girls, for letting me come and visit. :)

Ton amie,

Sophie

Au Revoir, Oregon et Bonjour, Colorado!

2010-05-05T23:44:00.006-04:00

La semaine dernière, j'ai dit "Au Revoir" à Oregon et mes nouveaux amies Marsali, Kelsyee, et Jayd. J'ai été triste, bien sûr, mais j'ai eu à partir pour une nouvelle déstination: Colorado!

Last week, I said "Goodbye" to Oregon and my new friends Marsali, Kelsyee, and Jayd. I was sad, of course, but I had to leave for a new destination: Colorado!

I spent my last day or two in Oregon outside and enjoying pretty blossoming trees like this one:

Then I packed myself up yet again and headed off to meet Mia, Eva, and Kiki from Kiki's Korner. I arrived just as the girls were heading off to meet author Jane Kurtz, but I met Kiki's sister, Luci, and kept her company. Isn't Luci adorable in her nightgown? She reminds me a bit of Inky actually. ;)

Ton amie,

Sophie

Luci, Sophie and the New Dolly

Celtic Music Night!

2010-04-09T14:42:00.004-04:00

Last night, Jayd lent me a Scottish dress for a Celtic music night in town. Don't we look smart in plaid?

After we'd eaten, we started dancing around to the likes of the celtic band playing. We laughed and twirled each other and had even more fun when we met up with Angel (who even taught me a bit of Irish step-dancing as well!).

See the album here!

~Sophie

Le Jour de Pâques...quelle surprise!

2010-04-07T20:03:00.005-04:00

Quelle surprise! Marsali and I celebrated Le Jour de Pâques [Easter Day] à la française. We had gotten to talking about Easter, and before I knew it, I was telling her about French Easter traditions.

We then decided that it might be fun to celebrate our own French-style Easter right here in America.

First, we trained one of the girls' horses to bring us les oeufs de Pâques [Easter eggs] so that we could take turns hiding and finding them around the house. Quel amusement!

We then posed for pictures in our pretty Easter dresses before settling down to a dinner of gigot d'agneau [lamb].

Finalement, we found the basket left for us by the bunny, and each of us got a few little things. Do you like my new purple polka-dotted high-tops?

Our Easter post on the Bolton girls' blog!

Pâques Traditions

Hope everyone had a fun Easter and/or Passover!

~Sophie

A Mystery to Solve (and meeting Marsali)

2010-04-02T19:33:00.006-04:00

Wow, I'm LOVING Oregon! I hadn't even been here a full day yet, and there was already a mystery to solve. If you don't know already, I love a good mystery. There's just something I love about discovering something that's gone wrong and problem-solving until I find the answer. It's even better when you have friends to help you! I don't really have that back at FHSG - unless I can persuade Nathalie to take part - but, here, Jayd and Kelsyee like spying and mysteries as much as I do!

So, anyway, here's the scoop. When we woke up from our deep slumber, we couldn't find Akarya and Mayzee, the girls' two little puppies. Emi checked the yard and confirmed that, yes, the puppies were missing - and that the gate was wide open at that!

Getting dressed quickly, Jayd, Jyzzyee, Emi, and I headed outside (Kelsyee had to stay in because of her cast) to look around the neighborhood, knock on neighbors' doors for information, etc. Not finding anything particularly good, we asked Kelsyee to make signs with pictures of the lost puppies.

As we were putting the signs up, we discovered more newly-put-up signs advertising lost dogs. This was puzzling for sure, especially since Jayd told me that dogs don't go missing often in this community. Then we met up with Kyle, the girls' cousin (How cute is he?!), and he confirmed that his dog went missing this morning, too.

Bewildered, we all went back to the house to discuss possibilities - our one big lead being the green explorer we'd seen passing our house. Could the owner of the green explorer be taking all of the dogs in the neighborhood?

When Kyle and Sarafina came over, we decided to go out looking again - on bikes this time. But we didn't have any luck! No green explorer. No puppies. Dismayed and a little bit discouraged, we headed home, hoping that we'd be more successful on another day.

Of course, the weather has not been on our side! Typical March and April weather, that's for sure. It's been raining so much lately that we haven't been able to go back outside and resume looking for the dogs. Hopefully that day will come soon - and hopefully we'll get those poor puppies back home where they belong.

Meanwhile, Marsali returned from the hospital (looking even more beautiful than ever!), and lately, I've been spending a lot of time with her. We've already become really good friends, and I suspect we'll be even closer by the time my visit ends. ;)

If you haven't yet seen the album of our mystery, you can see it here.

Hopefully I'll have good news about the puppies by the next time I update!

~Sophie

Sleepover fun!

2010-03-22T21:16:00.004-04:00

As soon as Kelsyee and I had finished typing up that latest blog entry, we decided to join Emi, Jayd, and Jyzzalyn for a little late night slumber party. The girls lent me some comfy PJs (which were far nicer than the ones Laura made me bring with me!), and we all settled down into sleeping bags, sipping root beer floats - YUM!

I talked more about my travels - going to Florida with Mrs. Jeanette, celebrating Hanukkah with the Valdez quintuplets, getting my ears pierced at AGPLA with Mrs. Sheila - and, when I got tired of talking, Jayd recounted her own traveling adventures.

Soon we were all fast asleep - all except for Jayd, that is. ;) Before going to sleep, she went on the internet and loaded up all of our pictures. What a sweet girl she is!

~Sophie

Finally in Oregon w/ the Bolton girls!

2010-03-21T01:53:00.008-04:00

Well, I left California earlier this week bound for Oregon! I'd been chatting with Kelsyee Bolton - and wanting to meet Marsali since FOREVER, hehe - so, of course, I had to ask if I could visit them. ;)

I arrived today after a few days in that stuffy box, which I quickly let myself out of - surprising Kelsyee and Jayd. They'd not expected me to show up until Monday!

Kelsyee and I immediately hit it off! :-) We started chatting about my travels and what fun we'd have with each other. We also wrote a blog entry together which you can view right here. Or, see the Picasa album of my arrival.

I'm loving this picture of us! :-)

I'm sure looking forward to our upcoming adventures together! :-)

~Sophie

"J'adore ta sourire"

2010-03-12T17:16:00.000-05:00

J'adore ta sourire, Audrey Tautou!

Cette chanson est parfaite, non? Je ne sais pas Charlie Winston, mais Audrey Tautou? Elle est merveilleuse!

I love your smile, Audrey Tautou!

This song is perfect, no? I don't know Charlie Winston, but Audrey Tautou? She is marvelous!

Ton amie,

Sophie Amélie :-)

Ride 'em, Cowgirl!

2010-03-04T22:17:00.001-05:00

Salut, mes amis,

Hi friends!

Au cours de la semaine dernière, j'ai fait de l'équitation avec mes nouvelles amies, Josefina, Gloria, et Addy!

C'était ma première fois, mais j'ai eu un bon cheval - et les bons professeurs!

This past week, I went horseback-riding with my new friends, Josefina, Gloria, and Addy!

It was my first time, but I had a good horse - and good teachers! That makes all the difference, doesn't it? Anyway, it was great fun, and now I'm thinking Anya is justified when she says that Fair Hollow needs a horse or two. ;) We FHSG students need riding lessons!

Et vous, aimez-vous les chevaux? Do you like horses? Do you have one of your own?

Ton amie,

Sophie

More AGPLA surprises!

2010-02-20T12:54:00.000-05:00

AKA "Part 2" of the previous post. ;)

Laura meant to post these pictures to my blog at the beginning of the week, but she's getting swamped with schoolwork. Not fun!

Anyway, look what I helped Sheila purchase! ;)

Several of the new items - the fiesta set, the newest Bitty Twin lemonade set, the safari dress, to name a few - scampered into her bag. It was so much fun going to AGPLA with the "goddess of AG shopping", hehe. It was also quite fun seeing new items for a change. I really love the new green/blue raincoat - c'est très chic!! I'll have to ask Laura to get it for me sometime.

Sheila asked me if I wanted the newest Purchase-with-Purchase, and of course, how could I turn down her sweet offer? Laura didn't really like this outfit at first, but it began to grow on her as she saw more pictures. Moi, je l'adore! The bubble skirt in dark pink is really cute, and the shirt looks very fashionable and trendy. Although I've packed it away with the rest of my belongings for now, I think the Le Tour Eiffel necklace Jillian gave me will look really nice with this outfit. Maybe add a cute beret, boots to replace the sandals, and a fitted jacket to complete the look? This outfit has so much mix'n'match potential!

After I'd finished thanking Sheila for my fabulous new outfit, I ventured into the music room and started practicing the clarinet. I was a little rusty because I hadn't touched one since the move from Paris, but I remembered how much fun it was. Maybe I'll have my parents ship mine over to school? I'm not even sure Laura knows I play an instrument!

Love, Sophie

My Saturday at AGPLA (and a surprise!)

2010-02-14T21:55:00.000-05:00

Bonsoir, mes amis!

Hier, je suis allée à AGPLA avec Sheila!!!! (Ouais, je suis très, très heureuse!)

Yesterday, I went to AGPLA with Sheila. She wanted to see the new items that came out on the 11th, and she had a surprise for me as well.

So I dressed up in Nellie's Spring Party dress, adorned my french braids in AGP exclusive hair ornaments, and went off to AGPLA to...

...get my EARS PIERCED!!! Remember how I said that I chickened out of getting them done at the Mall of America? Well, the Valdez girls looked so great in their earrings that I quickly changed my mind. Initially, Laura had been so nervous about letting me get my ears pierced as she was sure I'd regret getting them done in the long-run, but I managed to convince her otherwise. I'm SO glad she gave in because I love my new star earrings! :D

Of course, I managed to convince Sheila to buy several items for her girls, too. She "said" she was only going to walk out with two items, but hehe, she was tempted by much more. ;)

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day! :-)

Love, Sophie

(album reference: Sheila's AGPLA album)

Oh, California!

2010-02-06T01:31:00.000-05:00

Salut, tout le monde!

Sur le 3 février 2010 (mercredi ), je suis arrivée à la maison de ma nouvelle hôtesse dans Californie du Sud...

On February 3, 2010 (Wednesday), I arrived at my new hostess' house in Southern California - quite the temperature change from Minnesota, for sure!

My new host, Mrs. Sheila, gladly welcomed me inside and made me feel quite comfortable.

After I'd rested a bit, I tried on an outfit for her: the (Bitty Baby) Rosy Posy outfit - don't I look cute? I actually think it's better suited for us older girls rather than the little girls AG has designated it for. The sweater is so sweet (love the black and pink!), and don't even get me started on the beret! That thing is too adorable!

Then I changed into a pretty dress and joined a few other girls (a few of the many who live here!) in the living room for tea and cookies. Yum! Les biscuits et du thé sont délicieuses!

Comme une parfaite demoiselle (like a perfect young lady), I pleasantly conversed with my new acquaintances, telling them of my travels, my quintuplet friends, and life in France and Virginia.

I will keep you guys updated!

~Sophie

More fun with Zipporah, Lyre Chickadee, Lorikeet, Violet, and Sora Valdez!

2010-01-29T19:02:00.000-05:00

Salut tout le monde!

As I mentioned in my last post, the Valdez quints' birthday fell during my stay with them, and it just so happens that their special day is also New Year's Eve!

So, on December 31, 2009, Jillian and I sang "Joyeux Anniversaire" ("Happy Birthday") to the five - who each blew out their respective star-shaped candles on a very yummy pumpkin pie. Then I watched the girls open their presents: a Nancy Drew computer game for Zipporah, an AG Molly doll for Lorikeet, and chocolates for all. Sora, Violet, and Lyre Chickadee's presents involved visiting the Mall of America for ear piercing. ;)

Joyeux Anniversaire, Zipporah, Violet, Lyre Chickadee, Sora, and Lorikeet!

On January 3, 2010, the girls and I ventured out into the cold to go to the movie theatre. What did we see? Alvin and the Chipmunks: the SQUEAKquel! I haven't seen the first one, but the sequel was awfully funny.

The next day, we all went to the Mall of America so Violet, Lyre Chickadee, and Sora could get their ears pierced at the Boutique & Bistro. They tried to persuade me to get mine pierced as well, but I chickened out - something I actually kind of regret. My friends look so CUTE with their star earrings that I may have to get my ears pierced one day.

I did meet the new Girl of the Year, though. Her name is Elaine "Lanie" Holland, and she is really nice. She loves gardening and nature in general, and she and her family have a camper to travel around the country with! Now that's what I need! Certainly it'd be more comfortable than the box we traveling dolls are forced into.

After saying goodbye to Lanie, we six - and the grown-ups of course ;) - had Chinese for dinner and then headed off to the local library. While the quints were looking at books on Spain, *I* headed to the section filled with books on France, bien sûr. J'ai lu un livre d'une héroïne qui s'appelle Jeanne d'Arc (Joan of Arc).

On January 24th, I got up before the quints, having had an idea formulating in my mind. I was going to pull a prank on the Valdez quintuplets - a prank that would FORCE them into wearing NON-IDENTICAL clothing (you know, because I have such a difficult time telling them apart anyhow).

I quickly dressed and pushed the box containing all of the girls' matching clothes out-of-sight. When the five sleepyheads woke up and couldn't find their matching outfits, I told them of my plan. Some were skeptical, but Lorikeet, always up for a bit of fun, got the rest of her sisters on board.

Et voilà, the Valdez quintuplets in non-matching clothes! Now while I do love seeing them match, it is nice to see each girl wear something that shows off a bit of her own, individual personality every once in a while. I know that Juliette (ma jumelle - my twin) and I rarely dress alike. We do some, but we have slightly different tastes in fashion, at least we did when we last saw each other. ;)

Tristement, my visit with the Valdez quints is coming to an end - I'll be on my way to another hostess for the month of February. I'm excited to see her again - as I've met her once before - but, at the same time, I'm also really sad. It's so difficile to say "Au Revoir" to really good friends like Zipporah, Lorikeet, Sora, Lyre Chickadee, and Violet. I hope I'll be able to see them again someday...

~Sophie

Hanukkah and Christmas with the Quints!

2009-12-28T16:25:00.001-05:00

Hiya!

I think most of you have probably seen the album Jill, the quints, and I have made of my visit with them. However, I really wanted to post some of my favorite pictures in this blog because, hey, that's what it's here for! ;)

The quints and I had fun celebrating each night of Hanukkah. Sometimes even their kitty, Angel, joined us!

We all got matching red sweaters, headbands, and mittens - the PWP at the AGP stores! I do think red suits us!

Oh - and look what Jill gave me! A necklace with a darling Le Tour Eiffel charm on it! I've been wanting one of my own since first seeing my friend Christelle's!

And, since Jill and the quints still celebrate Christmas, we six pulled on our PJs and slept underneath le sapin Noël on Christmas Eve...

...now that's a pretty cool tradition!

Christmas Day came and the quints found their much-longed-for bathtub and other neat presents. We each got the holiday shoe set as well - and I got a pink butterfly tee from MoA that I know Isabel is going to steal (because she always "borrows" my clothes and thinks she goes unnoticed doing it - HA!).

Oh - and the girls back at FHSG have assembled their holiday portraits and vignettes album, if you haven't seen that yet. ;)

This has been a really, really fun December - and it's not even over yet! The quints' birthday is looming up quickly - and they'll get even more presents. ;) Anyhow, it'll be wonderful getting to celebrate their special day with them. Especially since Zipporah was able to come to MY birthday party two years ago - on August 9th.

Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année!!!!

-Sophie

Tagged by Cali :)

2009-12-26T19:35:00.001-05:00

Salut tout le monde,

My friend Cali over at Crazy For Cali tagged me to do this fun little meme, so here goes. :-)

List 7 songs you're into right now...

*La Même Histoire / We're All In The Dance

--> Feist

*1234

--> Feist

*A Weekend in the Country

--> Catherine Zeta-Jones & company (current B'way revival of A Little Night Music)

*Send in the Clowns

--> Catherine Zeta-Jones (current B'way revival of A Little Night Music)

*Not Fair

--> Lily Allen

*The Christmas Waltz

--> Kristin Chenoweth

*Christmas Eve

--> Céline Dion

What car do you want when you're older?

While I'd prefer to take the métro, I think a SmartCar would be absolutely wonderful - especially if I intend to move back to France. Maybe one like this?

Where do you want to live when you grow older?

Paris (bien sûr!) or maybe somewhere else in France? Perhaps I can move in with Sabine in Lille? Perhaps I'll just skip France and head to bella Toscana - beautiful Tuscany - or even London? If I decide to stay in the US, then maybe Seattle, San Francisco, New York? Who knows? Probablement France....

Where do you want to go to college?

Université Paris Sorbonne-Paris IV

Or perhaps Oxford, Harvard, or Yale...but honestly? I'm 13 and not ready to think about that yet. I'm not quite sure what I want to study yet, let alone where!

How many siblings do you have?

Une soeur qui s'appelle Juliette Adrienne...a sister who is named Juliette Adrienne and, actually, she's my twin, if you want to get specific. She's still in Paris, and I'm not sure she'll be joining me here or not. We are very different in personality though we are identical in appearance!

How many children do you want when you grow up?

Depends. Probably one or two, if I find the right guy to settle down with.

Boys or girls?

A girl would be the most desirable. ;)

City girl or country girl?

Je suis de Paris, France. I am from Paris, France! What do you think I am?

Flying or driving?

I'm so used to flying that it's kind of second nature to me now. Driving I don't know how to do...yet. I guess I prefer flying because I can't drive over the Atlantic Ocean to get back home. ;)

Biking or swimming?

Um, neither? I like going to the beach, but only to work on my tan. ;) Biking I will do to get around the city, though. It's more a source of transportation than a leisurely activity. ;)

Sports?

Well, Fair Hollow School for Girls is all about the arts. Sports? Not so much. Football's okay, though, and by that I mean SOCCER! I'm pretty decent at field hockey as well, although I suck at it on ice.

Books or movies?

Tous les deux! (both!)

School or chores?

School - I live for school! Even if I complain from time to time about endless homework, I still love to learn. Chores are boring. I'll confess to not keeping my dorm the neatest because I don't exactly like to straighten up! I'm not a slob, but I'm not a neat freak either.

Inside or outside?

Again, both. Wherever there is a mystery to be solved or adventure to be had.

Wednesday or Sunday?

Sunday = no class! (A girl does need a break every once in a while, even if I do love to learn!)

Friends or Family?

Both, I guess. I do see friends more, though, being that I'm at boarding school - and am pretty popular at that. And I don't exactly miss Juliette. Okay, maybe a little. I miss my parents, though! I guess that counts for something.

Fried or Scrambled Eggs?

I see both in the school cafeteria and do admit to liking both.

Pancakes or cereal?

I tend to eat hot cereal (oatmeal, grits) each morning before school. Pancakes not so much, although I like them. I actually like waffles better, and at home - in Paris - I'm more used to croissants. ;)

Big meal or something small?

Small, please. I tend to eat several tiny meals in one day.

Movie or TV show?

Movie! (AUDREY TAUTOU!!!!!!!!!)

Favorite thing to do outside?

Go exploring. Search for clues and/or a mystery to be solved. Play in the snow (if applicable). But most of all: go sightseeing! I do like to travel after all. ;)

Favorite meal?

Laura's absolute favorite meal is pizza with black olives - like Cali said as well - and I like that a lot. As for it being my favorite, I don't know, though. I like a bit of everything. Pizza, sushi, pasta, salad...yeah, it really depends on my mood.

Place to read a good book?

Curled up on my bed with a favorite UglyDoll - or nestled among the pillows on Laura's window-seat.

Favorite vegetable?

Green beans. Broccoli.

Where do you want to live when you graduate?

Europe - whether that's France or somewhere else like England, Scotland, Italy, it doesn't matter.

What time of day do you like best?

Night - I'm a night owl! I like to stay up late reading or surfing the web. Or IMing friends in a chatroom. Or blogging. ;)

What is your favorite flower?

Irises and violets are pretty. So are poppies - like the fields of poppies in Italy!

I think I like roses best, though. Perhaps it's because of this particular scene (in one of my favorite movies)?

Do you like writing?

Well, I do have this blog, so I must like writing at least a little bit!

What is your favorite month?

August - my birthday month!

Do you like adventure?

OUI!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you collect anything? If so, what do you collect?

Books - yep, I love collecting books, particularly mysteries and thrillers.

Postcards/Posters - from places I visit.

UglyDolls - I have three now, thanks to Laura just buying me a new one. Inky got me addicted to these things!

Do your grandparents live near you?

Um, no. Well, they live in France - and fairly near me when I'm actually in France - but now that I'm in the US? Of course they don't live near me.

Are you bored of this?

Maybe a little (this was long!), but I like filling out memes - and I like being tagged. Thanks, Cali!

I tag (provided they haven't filled it out already - and actually want to):

Sabine

Cate

Kirsten

-and anyone else who wants to fill this out and hasn't already been tagged!

-Sophie

La Neige dans Virginie!

2009-12-22T16:55:00.000-05:00

Ciao amiche!

As you probably know from my earlier posts, j'adore la neige - that is, I love snow. It's probably because my school is located in Central Virginia, so we don't get it very often.

But, while I've been chillaxing with the quints in Minnesota - but of course I'd visit somewhere where snowstorms are common! - my friends back in Virginia have had a snowstorm of their own!

And how much do you LOVE this picture of me and Zipporah, Violet, Sora, Lyre Chickadee, and Lorikeet?

Et en Décembre aussi?! I don't know WHEN the last time we got snow in December was - certainly way before I moved here!

Et d'accord, it's not much for those of you who are used to snow in Massachusetts or...or...Minnesota, for crying out loud, but Anya, Nathalie, and Coconut were very excited to play in it.

Bien sûr, they were SUPPOSED to deliver Christmas presents, but...

...they got very distracted...

...but who can blame them really?!

I'm so excited for them that I almost miss them - haha! I'm just having so much fun with Zipporah et al.!

If I don't post before the 25th,

Joyeux Noël à tu et tes amis!!!

Love, Sophie

All is well - I'm safely in MN!

2009-12-05T18:16:00.000-05:00

Okay - I can relax now!! I'm safe in Minnesota and am now chillaxing with Zipporah, Lorikeet, Lyre Chickadee, Violet, and Sora Valdez - yippee!! Je suis très, très heureuse - very happy indeed!

When I arrived, Zipporah and her sisters welcomed me with open arms, excited that I will be with them for Hanukkah, Christmas, and their birthday. :-) They immediately led me over to one of their beds and engaged me in conversation. I told them about my adventures with Jeanette and showed off the seashell I'd picked up while in Florida.

Then we started playing a Nancy Drew computer game called "Danger By Design" which is set in Paris (yay, my hometown!). A game where there is a mystery to solve that is set in France? Bien sûr I loved it!

I'll keep you updated! Right now I'm just SO RELIEVED to have gotten here safely and am so glad I didn't decide to head back to school.

-Sophie

D'accord. Ce sera vraiment intéressant.

2009-12-03T15:12:00.000-05:00

Salut tout le monde!

Ce sera vraiment intéressant. Pourquoi? Maintenant, je suis en route à la personne suivante! La seulement problème est que la personne suivante en ligne a eu à canceller son internet, et la communication entre Laura et cette personne sera difficile maintenant.

Maintenant Laura écriront une véritable lettre à cette personne - cette personne qui je visiterai est la personne de Zipporah et les soeurs habitent avec!

Mais du moins je verrai mon amie encore! Zipporah a visité à moi il y a environ deux ans - elle est une bonne amie. :)

***

Hey everyone!

This will be really interesting. Why? Now I'm on my way to my next host! The only problem is that the next host in line had to cancel her internet and communication between Laura and my next host will be rather difficult now.

Now Laura will have to write a real letter (and not just email!). But who am I visiting? Jill! You'll know her as the caretaker of Zipporah and her sisters.

But at least I will see my friend again! Zipporah visited with me about two years ago - she is a good friend. :)

So as I leave Utah for Minnesota (and sleep in that dreaded box again!), here's a checklist of what I did during my extended stay in Salt Lake City:

* I took a trip downtown to see the beautiful gardens surrounding the Mormon temple - and I even went inside the tabernacle home to the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir

*I went to a huge outdoor pageant in south/central Utah and even got to meet some of the actors - which was really fun considering I do love theatre!

*I went to Florida in June, then AGPLA and the Utah AG meet-up (when I met Violet) in July

*Then there were the HUGE PARTIES with Jeanette's girls - because, you know, many 18" girls live with her in that house :-)

There are pictures, but Jeanette hasn't had the time to upload them - unfortunately. If I see them posted online, I'll post a few here. Unfortunately, I don't see how I'm going to post pictures of my stay with Zipporah, either - merde!! I have the worst timing ever. If only I'd have visited her sooner, but as all of you know, it's not good if we keep harping on "If only this" and "If only that." I'll just keep you as updated as I can regarding my stay in Minnesota - maybe that'll involve a trip to the Mall of America store?

Love, Sophie

UGH! Not fair!

2009-11-29T22:58:00.000-05:00

So. My pauvre hostess had the flu. :-( I'm sympathetic, I am, but guess what? My teacher - my favorite teacher - is seeing movies *without* MOI! Where was she at 10pm EST last night?! At the bloody cinema seeing *gasp* Coco Avant Chanel (Coco Before Chanel is the English translation)!

Coco Avant Chanel is the film detailing Gabrielle Chanel's life before she made it big as the fashion goddess simply known as Chanel! And guess who plays the fabulous Gabrielle Chanel?! Pas Juliette Binoche, pas Marion Cotillard, mais Audrey Tautou, mon actrice preférée!!!

That's right: Mlle Laurette went to see Coco Avant Chanel starring Audrey Tautou, and where was I? Sitting on my behind halfway across the country!

Six months with one host is just too long, je suis désolée...

squirm

2009-10-29T18:09:00.000-04:00

Help. I'm getting so restless! I wanted to see the world, but if I'm not actually seeing it, I'd rather be back at school.

Say, being a traveling doll is really quite dangerous, isn't it? My school has hosted the two traveling dolls who've never, ever made it back home.

Oh Sophie, grow up! It's not as if you're in a dangerous place. You're just delayed...just stationed between point A and point B.

But help. Help, help, help.

I'm still here (just a bit delayed)!

2009-10-10T15:34:00.001-04:00

Salut tout le monde,

I'm still here in Utah. While I CANNOT wait to see my next host again (hehe, I've met her once before!), my current host is still undergoing rehab-and I must be patient. Patience is a virtue that I sometimes have trouble with, so I guess now is as good a time as any to practice it.

Meanwhile, Gracie (the JLY 28 who switched with me this past spring) has made it back, and we are now discussing her stay at Fair Hollow School for Girls and how crazy my classmates are. If you haven't yet seen her album, you can see it if you click here.

Now, because I hate posting an update without a picture, I'll leave you with a picture from my arrival album. I officially arrived in Virginia in December 2006 and first attended FHSG in January 2007. Hehe, I had everyone's attention from the moment I arrived; nearly everyone wanted to be friends with me (but BOY, do I HATE that outfit!).

Love, Sophie

Joyeux Anniversaire à Moi!

2009-08-09T17:40:00.000-04:00

C'est mon anniversaire, et je veux faire une fête! Oui, j'ai 13 ans aujourd'hui, et je suis une adolescente! :)

C'est l'anniversaire d'Audrey Tautou aussi. Elle est mon actrice favorite, et nous partageons une anniversaire--très super dans mon livre!

It's my birthday, and I want to party! Yes, I am 13 today, and I am a teenager! :)

It is also the birthday of Audrey Tautou. She is my favorite actress, and we share a birthday--very cool in my book!

***

That said, since my host is recuperating from knee replacement surgery, I won't be celebrating my special day other than this post...so, if you want to see how I've celebrated my birthday in the past, check this video out.

~Sophie

New Video of Moi & An Update :)

2009-07-28T21:16:00.000-04:00

Hi all! Laura just finished making a video compilation of various pictures of me. I thought that I'd share it here, since the pictures *are* of me. It's pretty cute and set to one of favorite French songs, "Ma Jeunesse" by Carla Bruni (the French-Italian singer/songwriter who just happens to be France's First Lady!).

Anyway, let me know what you think, and if your owner/mother/big person has a Youtube account, go ahead and friend Laura's account (if they haven't already).

Her link is here.

In other news, I took a trip to California last week! I went with Mrs. Jeanette and her friend Kathrine (from Denmark!) on their trip to AGPLA and other sites around Los Angeles. Kathrine and I had never visited California before, so it was a treat for both of us--and Kathrine got herself a new girl so I had someone to get to know on the trip back to Utah.

OH and the best news is that I got to meet Mrs. Sheila and her girls (yup, including Bossy Amanda) in Corona, CA as well--Laura's very, very jealous of that! She's been to California herself, but only once, despite having family in Ojai and a mother who grew up on the Central Coast.

Pictures will be posted if/when Mrs. Jeanette posts them on AGFans.

-Sophie

Click here to see the video!

La Jour de la Bastille :)

2009-07-14T21:10:00.000-04:00

Well, not that I'm home to celebrate it, but...

JOYEUX LE JOUR DE LA BASTILLE! :)

Usually my family likes to celebrate the holiday ensemble and sometimes we'll watch the fireworks like these done over La Tour Eiffel...

Meme from Kit

2009-07-04T02:08:00.000-04:00

Since I *know* you guys miss my regular posts, I thought I'd fill out this meme that Kit has shared.

Hey, it's better than nothing, right? ;)

1. What time did you get up this morning?

Pretty early. I'm an early bird unlike Laura and many of my classmates...

2. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?

I'm not sure I remember. We had that showing of Chrissa Stands Strong at school, but yeah...I haven't been to the cinema in a while.

3. What is your favorite TV show?

Urgences!! (that'd be ER), Sophie, and Pushing Daisies...but all three are cancelled now :(

4. What is your favorite dessert?

mousse au chocolat et crème brûlée

5. Favorite sandwich?

Un croque monsieur, je pense.

6. Favorite item of clothing?

my baby blue beret :)

7. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would
you go?

PARIS! (Where else?!) But, if I had to choose somewhere other than my hometown, then anywhere in Italy, Greece, or England would be grand.

8. Morning or night person?

Night!

9. Any Pets?

None for me. Ma soeur est allergique.

10. Texting or IMing?

Tous les deux. Both.

11. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share with us?

J'ai rencontré Violet!! I met Violet, but you knew that if you read my last post.

12. What did you want to be when you were little?

A super hero, duh! ;) Now I just want to be Nancy Drew...

13. How are you today?

Bonne. Good.

14. What is your favorite candy?

au chocolat noir! dark chocolate!

15. What are you listening to right now?

Mon nouvelle amie, Sofia. My new friend, Sofia.

16. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?

Blue-Violet! (I found my color, Zippy!)

17. Favorite restaurant?

Umm, je ne sais pas...I don't know!

18. Summer or winter?

Summer. My birthday is in the summer (August 9th).

19. Hugs or Kisses?

Tous les deux, both.

20. What is under your bed?

Dust bunnies.

21. What are you afraid of?

Embarrassing myself.

22. How many towns/cities have you lived in?

Umm...3?

23. hearts or stars?

les étoiles...stars

24. Most embarassing moment?

Probably my first day of school in America when I wasn't feeling so confident about my English-speaking ability. Even though I speak English much better than Maura speaks French. (Désolée, Maura.)

25. Favorite genre of movies?

les drames romantiques avec Audrey Tautou, Juliette Binoche, ou Marion Cotillard :)

...mais J'ADORE tous les films avec JOHNNY DEPP aussi! :D

~Sophie

Meeting Violet!

2009-07-01T18:20:00.001-04:00

Salut mes amis,

If you've read Violet's latest blog entry, you'll know that Violet and I finally got to meet this past Saturday (6/27) at the annual Utah AGFans meet-up. :)

<--- Since coming to FHSG in December 2006, I've heard many good things about Violet. Of course, Lindsey never fails to remind me about how much more she liked Violet than me, but hey, after hearing so much about the girl who looked similar to me AND loved to travel just as much (or maybe more?) as I did, I wanted to meet her for myself.

When Mrs. Jeanette offered to host me, I knew that maybe I'd have the chance of seeing Violet. After all, Mrs. Jeanette's house is a heck of a lot closer to Violet's house than my school in Virginia! ;)

So Ruthie (she's traveling like me!) and I headed off to the meet-up on Saturday--both of us feeling nervous yet excited. My nervousness subsided though when I saw Violet, and we started talking. We chatted about Violet's adventures with her best friend Inky (okay, I'd love to meet Inky one day, too), about how much Violet wants to visit Paris (and me? go back!), etc.

Twins! Well, sort of. I now know why my classmate Isabel never wants to leave her best friend Susanna's side!

Group photo of us and some of the other girls in attendance:

(Pictures from LinneaAnne's album)

*sigh* That really was a great day. Maybe we can see each other again someday? :)

~Sophie

Le Fabuleux Destin de Sophie Amélie

An Unexpected Homework Distraction

Winter Wonderland @ The Doll Wardrobe {Please Vote!}

Christmas Presents!

The Fair Hollow Winter Festival 2011

What's Cooking?

My Room!

Home again, greeted with presents!

Day 7: Victoria, B.C.

Day 5 and Day 6: Ketichikan and another day at sea!

Day 4: Tracy Arm Fjord

Day 3: Juneau, Alaska!

Day 2: Seasickness!

Day 1: Boarding the ship!

Shopping in Seattle!

Packing for Alaska!

The Bike Course

Horseback riding with the girls!

Visiting Oregon again!

My Absence!

5th Avenue Fun!

Je me sens comme une princesse...

Beach Day.

Afternoons in the City

Le New York City Ballet!

We've been nominated!

Une promenade dans la neige!

Valentine's Day Giveaway @ Doll Diaries!

Le 23 novembre: Joyeux Anniversaire, Inky!

Visiting Manhattan with Inky!

Jamaica Bay!

Pumpkin Carving w/ Violet & Inky!

Autumn Fun/ Meeting Haley & Ruthie!

Mystic Seaport!

An addendum to my last post.

Avast, me mateys, here's a pirate tale for ya!

Exploring NH, VT, and MA with the Star Valley crew!

The Jessica McConnell Show!

Fun with the Sisterhood of the Water St. girls!

Une boîte mystérieuse à la maison de Kit-Kat!

Hors du prix ou Impayable!

Adventures in Colorado!

Au Revoir, Oregon et Bonjour, Colorado!

Celtic Music Night!

Le Jour de Pâques...quelle surprise!

A Mystery to Solve (and meeting Marsali)

Sleepover fun!

Finally in Oregon w/ the Bolton girls!

"J'adore ta sourire"

Ride 'em, Cowgirl!

More AGPLA surprises!

My Saturday at AGPLA (and a surprise!)

Oh, California!

More fun with Zipporah, Lyre Chickadee, Lorikeet, Violet, and Sora Valdez!

Hanukkah and Christmas with the Quints!

Tagged by Cali :)

La Neige dans Virginie!

All is well - I'm safely in MN!

D'accord. Ce sera vraiment intéressant.

UGH! Not fair!

*squirm*

I'm still here (just a bit delayed)!

Joyeux Anniversaire à Moi!

New Video of Moi & An Update :)

La Jour de la Bastille :)

Meme from Kit

Meeting Violet!

squirm