for the Jane family

Dearest readers,

Today's blog post is a very special edition of "Jump Into My Life." This would so happen to be the blog post which will serve as a thank you note to my favorite Ontarian family, the Janes from Burlington. I will tell you all about my thrilling weekend, which indeed includes my trip to Burlington, Ontario, and the Thanksgiving fun we all had.

Saturday
I woke up at 9ish to get ready (pack my bags, clean my room) and go off to Burlington! I was kind of late leaving my room, soooo I sprinted to the subway station and probably looked like someone with a significant mental disorder, but it was worth it, as I did indeed make the 10:43AM train. I ended up sitting with a girl I know, Kathleen, and that was awesome - I've always heard of other people randomly meeting/bonding with people on the GO Train, so I finally have had that experience.

After being greeted with a "holla holla" by Ash @ the GO Station, the Thanksgiving fun had begun!!! After lunch (with some uninvited hornets,) the family and I (Ashley and Danielle, twin sisters, Mike and Maryanne, parents) went to our first stop: The Balls Falls Thanksgiving Festival. We took approximately 346596 pictures - here are a couple to give you an idea as to what it was like. We had apple fritters, saw ladies spinning yarn, and participated in other such hick activities.

After this, it was time for Stop #2: Niagara Vinelands in Jordan. So beautiful! Hope we didn't crash the wedding that was happening at the time, nor the promotional video. Anyway, here are some images from that stop - please note the amazing scenery, and ridonculous dessert.

Does the fun stop? No. Stop #3 you ask... NIAGARA FALLS. Yes, they took me to NIAGARA FALLS. When I was 10, my parents and my brother and I went to Arizona, and we attempted to drive to the Grand Canyon, when we realized it was too far/too cold, so we had to turn back. I was really hoping the Janes would not pull a "Grand Canyon," which they did not. Holla!

So THAT was phenomeonal. And so after this, we were all pretty tired. We were going to visit some Greek restaurant, but that was apparantly closed for the season, so we visited a Lebanese restaurant (yum!) close to Downtown Burlington. And then we watched "I <3>

Sunday

It was a fun time going to church again! I never go to church when I am in Toronto, which is awful, I know. So it was nice to go again with the Janes to church, quite lovely.

For the afternoon, Ash and I grabbed lunch in downtown Burly, (yes, I am well-acquainted enough with Burlington to call it "Burly" at this point in my life.) We then had a lovely country drive, which was awesome, just because I got to see all the lovely scenery of the Niagara Escarpment. We stopped by an apple orchard (with a parking lot designed by a 3-year-old,) of which I definitely have pictures, once again. (You love it.)

This event was followed by a RIDONCULOUS Thanksgiving dinner prepared by Maryanne- aka Martha Stewart - so that was just lovely. (As my friend Justine and I would say, I definitely "obesed myself. And it was sooooo gooddddd.)

Sooo.... Midterms? Yes, I have one today, then one on Friday. So, this is all I can type for now. But this is for you, Jane family!!! Enjoy. Hope everyone's having a sweet week and lots of exciting things on the horizon - I know I do !!!

Yours,

Joel

(P.S. Was your Thanksgiving as cool as this??? Didn't think so!)