About a month later we set out. First we packed up then got some subway.

When we got down to the drop off we heard this awful noise. A car then pulled up and two dogs bolted out. The dogs and their owners played fetch. The dogs then were wheezing swimming back with the sticks.

We final got in the water and started paddling  We saw fish and ducks and a lot of dragonflies. After a little bit we stopped in some shade and ate our subway. Which was very good. Then we kept paddling.

All of a sudden we heard a train. My poppa told me to get ready to smile and wave because I was about to receive 5 minutes of fame. “I wonder how many people will take a picture of the silly people in the canoe with all that stuff.” he told me. And he was right, people smiled and waved and took pictures of us. I smiled and waved right back.

As we got close to the islands were we were camping on, he told me that there is a big island and a small one. He informed me that the little one was better because we could have it all to our selves.

When we got there there was a boat on the small island we then got up on the big island. They were only fishing yay! While waiting for them to leave a couple came up and got out.

We talked to them for a bit and my poppa told them that they could set up there stuff any were, and that we were going on the small island once the fishers left. The fishing people then left and we went over to the small island. We got out and my poppa set up a tarp while I swam in the lake a bit.

That night we made a fire and cooked some steak. We sat in front of the fire for a while listening to our neighbors playing horse shoes, which at the time sounded more like some one throwing knifes at wood.

The next morning (and yes we did sleep in a tent the “old fashion way”) we had ranch bagels that were oh-so-good.

We started to paddle back and we planed to go further up and surprise my grandma. (the river is connected to the woods in their back yard.) But the wind decided to blow nice and hard in the opposite direction that we were going in, so we pulled up on the side of the road and called my mom to come get us. It was a wonderful trip and i suggest that if you get the chance that you take some time to go outside with your family.

Well it depends on whom you ask. For me I do not know normal. I live in the weird. Its really all I know, I have been brought up to not be “normal”.

Though my parents did not say, “lets raise our children to be weird”, but I am and so are my brother and the rest of my family. We like it that way if my parents weren’t the way they are now if they were so to say “normal” I might not have been able to buy that first roll of duck tape. I might not even have an opportunity to tell you my thoughts like I am now.

Weird is good its fun in all ways, so be weird because when it comes down to it your definition of normal depends on your definition of weird.

Mine is that normal is boring.

photo by John Blaney

Don’t worry here’s the recipe.

Monster Cookies

• - 1 cup Brow Sugar
• - 1 cup White Sugar
• - 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• - 1 teaspoon Maple Syrup
• - 2 teaspoon Baking Soda
• - 1 1/3 cups Peanut Butter
• - 1/2 cup Butter/Crisco

Mix all together.

Add

• - 4 1/2-5 cups old school uncooked Oatmeal
• - 2/3 cup M&M’s
• - 2/3 cup Chocolate Chips

Bake for 8-10 mins at 350 on ungreased cookie sheet

Please tell me what you think.

My mom was on a business trip and my brother is at camp, so I got to go to Syracuse NY with my dad.We drove there.

my view from the car

Our plan was to play it by ear, so when we got hungry we stopped in a town called Utica. We ate at Master Pizza. (after driving around we found that it was the only place open) We also found out that Utica is famous for the Boiler Maker road race. When we got to Syracuse we our hotel we stayed at the Sheraton.

my hotel

We went to Armory Square. There we stopped at Joette’s at armory square.

I got a toe ring but when I went to pay the woman at the counter noticed that the button on my purse was broken. She offered to glue it back on. It worked. See she had the hot glue out all ready. What she did was not hard and it didn’t take long. What she did we call being nice. BE NICE!!! It’s free and not hard.

my toe ring

We then went to dinner at dinosaur BBQ. It was very good. They had spicy deviled eggs. YUMMY!!

The next day my dad was to speak and his friend assigned me a intern. You can’t help but feel special if you have an intern. She was very nice.

We ate pizza at Varsity. After we got cookies from a cookie truck. After that we headed home. We stopped to get some snacks. I was delighted to see that they had pecan pie glazed pecans. YUMMY!!

Please please please let the little things in life make you happy. If you don’t you might be looking for some thing that’s not there. You’re only as happy as you let yourself be.

As for example we stopped for dinner in Lee,Massachusetts. Some people next to us ordered lobster. The lobster was wearing a little chef hat. All they were was a little paper cup with the sides pushed out. Also it helped that every thing was wonderful.

Oh by the way we ate at Salmon Run Fish House. One other thing that made we happy was me and my dad went on a walk after dinner.

Spend time with family.

When I was at New York I toke some pictures.

(So no this is not an Epic Fail)

And yes I know they look like cups of tomato juice.

If nature gives you materials use them

If nature gives you a talent use it

If nature gives you a talent and materials to help that talent then i do not see how you can not succeed

You most likely will not be rich

Or famous

But you will have a job and most people do not have one right now

As you can see we gave emily explains it a new look. Now I am more independent with my videos. Also, now if you go to words you can see my blogs or other peaces of my writing. Check it out!!!!!!!

I’ve been a big fan of The Smurfs ever since I saw an episode on Boomerang.

Now, I’m playing the Smurfs’ Village iPad app a lot and can’t wait for the new Smurf movie to come out later this year.

My Dad’s friend works for Sony and sent me this hat when she found out I was fan. My Dad came home to find me all dressed up like a Smurf and smiled and said, “you really should do an Emily Explains It.” So here we go!

Everyone in my house loves to play with LEGO. We even got to go on a great trip earlier this year with them.

But, when my Dad and brother got copies of the new LEGO Universe I was bummed to not find a single visible girl on the packaging anywhere and that made me start wondering why LEGO has always ignored their girl fans.

If you are a girl and a fan of LEGO let me know. Maybe they will listen and stop ignoring us.

A couple of weeks ago, I got to go and see my first Cirque du Soleil performance. It was the Boston opening of OVO and I loved it.

They were kind enough to invite me back to chat with a member of their costumes department since I love fashion so much. A special thank you to Tanya for taking the time out of her day to chat with me and a hug to my Dad’s friend Jessica for making it happen.

If you have a child younger then high school then you probably already know about Silly Bandz or you will very soon.

Me and my brother are really into them and the variety of shapes and colors they come in is a lot of fun. I thought it would be helpful to show what they are so that if your kid starts asking for them, you will know what they are talking about.

I also gave you a sneak peek of my new project Joe The Fuzzball which I hope you’ll check out.

Enjoy!

I live in a house full of technology so of course when my Mom got an iPad I wanted to play with it as well. Plus, how many 9 year olds do you see doing technology reviews?

In this review you’ll see me talk about some of my favorite applications, why I like using the iPad and why I think you’ll like using it as well.

Got a kid friendly iPad app that you want me to check out? Leave a comment and let us know about it.

With Spring officially here, I decided to buy some chalk and head out into our driveway for a little creative expression.

As you’ll see, I’m excited by this time of year and even more excited any time I’m doing creative, fun things like this.

Happy Spring everyone!!

In January when we went to the Bahamas, Frankie “The Bonus” Jonas was along for the trip. He kept to himself mostly, but my Dad introduced himself to Mrs. Jonas and asked if I could do an interview. I was psyched because I’m a big fan of The Jonas Brothers.

I’m sorry that we didn’t have time to set it up better so as you’ll see we are in shadows and it is a bit hard to hear us. My Dad says he is going to get me a reporter microphone so that this doesn’t happen again.

This was filmed outside of “The Dig” at Atlantis.

My dad has known Brooklyn Hilary for years, but they had never had a chance to meet in person. When she began her Fiesta Movement journey they were determined to finally connected.

She came over and stayed the night with us and we had a great time. Of course we had to make a video while she was here. After all she had a funky green car and loves to take pictures so how could I not?

This web show will focus on how the growing mind of a young girl can explain a variety of topics. She isn’t allowed to prepare and doesn’t know the questions ahead of time. The camera starts to roll and the question is asked. What happens next is anyone’s guest.

We are excited about this latest C.C. Chapman experience and hope you enjoy the show.