Hi from Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Hi everyone! I'm having a great time with Kate and her family. We have been really busy since I arrived, but its been so.much.fun. There are lots of sisters to play with at Kate's. There was quite a commotion when I arrived, and the girls were even a little spooked by my mysterious arrival, but we are all having such fun hanging out together. Nellie and I, especially, have become great buds.
Kate has been showing me around Calgary. The weather has been A.W.E.S.O.M.E. I know why they call it "big sky country" because you can see forever, and the sky is SO BLUE. We've had really summery weather. Yesterday we went to an historic park to buy tickets to an upcoming Halloween event. The park was deserted, so even in the daytime, it felt a little spooky. I spent a lot of time exploring the park and I found an old windmill overlooking the water. There were lots of beautiful sailboats out because it was SO SUNNY and warm. I just loved sitting in the grass and watching the boats float around on the blue blue water.

Today I met the cutest baby elephant EVER. See, that's her picture at the top. Her name is Malti. I also met a tiger cub and her mom, and some really amazing giraffes and a rather large snake. It was all very cool.

Kate and I are very busy planning a Halloween party. Its going to be on October 28th. We have been busy shopping for treats and putting costumes together. I'm quite excited. This week we are going to be decorating the house. We bought some of that white spiderwebby stuff and some fun fake spiders. Its going to be F.U.N.

Of course, we have to work on school stuff too, but even that will be fun because Kate and Nellie and Emily and Nicki and Jess and Kit and Small Kate and Marisol and I (phew) are all going to do school together. Kate is rather a mischievous one, and Emily too. I am hearing outrageous prank stories, one after the other. Glue in the hair, salt in the sugar bowl, the whole nine yards. These girls are pretty hilarious.

We planted a new tree tonight, as part of a municipal greening "neighbourwoods" program the City of Calgary is sponsoring. Kate and her family and I planted a hawthorne right out on the front garden. Kate called the new tree "Violetta" in my honour. Isn't that something?

Really miss you Mom, but as you might have guessed, I'm having a wonderful time in Canada. I met a lady today who has a Chatty Cathy! She was so nice.

Well, that's it for now. Over and out from the Great Big Blue Skies Over Alberta!
LOVE you,
Violet

P.S. Here are the links to all the albums so far:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2086994423
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2086977826
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2086960207