2,972 miles

Last September we went on a 25-day vacation that involved driving around 7,000 miles through twenty-five different states and visiting twenty-seven National Park sites. Over the last fifteen days we drove 2,972 miles through nine states and visited sixteen National Park sites and four amusement parks. Last September we saw the license plates for all 50 states, DC, and several provinces of Canada during our vacation. This time we saw the license plates of 40 states, DC, and five provinces of Canada. We're going to see how long it takes us to spot license plates for the last ten states. For many years we've included at least one science museum in just about every vacation, but that didn't happen this time because the science museum in Charlotte wasn't open the day we were there and because the kids decided they'd rather spend more time at the Canaveral seashore, so we skipped the Orlando Science Center. We had visited the Carnegie Science Center earlier in May, but we didn't visit any during this vacation. During our trip in September the only times we saw any friends of family were when we visited my sister's family in Chicago and Nadia met her pen pal in person in Illinois. During this southeast trip we were able to spend time with my friend Jo and her family, my dad and Margie, and my Aunt Tina and her friend, Janice. With both trips we were very fortunate in terms of the weather. It was very hot at the start of this trip, but rain was never an issue, for which we were grateful. I worked on Duolingo every day during both vacations. During this recent vacation I achieved the badge in Duolingo that is earned by doing Duolingo every single day for a full year. We were also very thankful that no one broke any bones on this trip! Gasoline was definitely more expensive on this trip than our trip last fall. Of the nine states we drove through in May, the cheapest place to buy gas was in Georgia. We actually paid less than $4 a gallon once in that state! Here in Pennsylvania the price is inching closer to $5 a gallon. EEK!

I had made changes to the National Parks we would visit on the first and last days of our trip because some of the parks are currently only open five days a week. In September 2020 I learned to keep checking on the hours that places were open while we were on vacation because things were constantly changing. On this vacation I didn't do that, and this was a mistake in one instance. On Tuesday morning our first stop was the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center, which is part of the Blue Ridge Parkway National Park. Unfortunately, it was closed, and driving there added about 40 minutes of driving time (round trip). Some of the other Visitor Centers in that park were open that day, but at that point we decided we'd rather just get home to Milo a little sooner. The kids earned another Junior Ranger badge at the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center, which is part of the Shenandoah National Park, after we hiked the Fox Hollow Trail. 

I took very few pictures from September 12, 2021 - April 30, 2022. I haven't made a photo book for 8 months, which again is very unusual for me. I took more pictures in the last month than I took over the combined previous

seven months. I'm going to make a video about our vacation and then start working on a photobook so that I will be ready the next time Shutterfly has an unlimited pages coupon code. There was a code that expired yesterday, but I had too many other things to do yesterday. Last October I was very frustrated when we came home because I was unable to help with much of anything. The grass was really tall when we got home. Paul started mowing it on Tuesday night while I was unpacking. On Wednesday morning I finished mowing the lawn, did the weed whacking, did two loads of laundry, vacuumed the van, and trimmed some of the bushes. I didn't finish the yardwork because it was really hot out, and I was exhausted. The most painful day for me in terms of my ankle on the vacation was May 24. The pain level was very high that night even when I was in bed. The next day my ankle only bothered me when I was standing still for extended periods of time. From May 27 to the present, I've had zero ankle pain! PTL!! Three months ago, I was beginning to wonder if my ankle would ever be back to normal. I am so, so thankful that I think it's back to normal now! I didn't take Milo for a long walk yesterday, but I'm planning to resume that habit starting today. Yesterday I also started dieting again. I am hoping to lose at least 23 pounds. 

Nadia and Ian had Bible quizzing and youth group yesterday from 4:30-8:15. Because the national competition is only 2 weeks away, they will have quite a few extra practices in the coming days. Today and tomorrow, the homeschoolers on the team are practicing from ten to noon. Xandir is going to hang out with Oliver at our house while their siblings are at the practice. Tomorrow two of Nadia's friends are coming here for a sleepover, and Ian and Oliver are going to Xandir's house for a sleepover. The whole Bible quizzing team will practice on Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. All three kids are going over to the Schreck's house on Saturday afternoon so that Paul and I can have our second date this year, which is a huge improvement as previously we had gone 49 months without a date. I'm very thankful that I feel my ankle is ready to go ballroom dancing with Paul for the first time in I'm not sure how many years. We joined a swimming pool again this summer, and the pool opens on Monday. Tomorrow will be the last day of school for kids in our area.