Life Lists

Plane used on D-Day

My brother was an avid birder and as is true of many birders, he maintained a life list of all of the birds he had seen. My nephew, Adam, has more recently become an avid hiker and birder. I've been keeping some other life lists for my kids. I wish I had kept a list of all of the children's museums and science museums the kids have been to. We have visited thirty-eight states plus DC and Ontario so far. Our goal is that the kids will visit the other twelve states over the next four years; we might also go to Puerto Rico. If COVID hadn't made international travel more difficult, we'd have kept our plans to spend more time in Canada. Hopefully we can do so in the future if COVID tests and vaccinations are no longer required at some point. Other countries we are hoping to visit over the next four years include Guatemala, Ecuador, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. 

The kids have been to twenty-six different amusement parks so far, and I think we should hit at least thirty before Nadia graduates. I'm thinking that the next ones to be added to the list might be Six Flags St. Louis, Kennywood, King's Dominion, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and Six Flags Fiesta Texas. 

The kids have each earned approximately 140 Junior Ranger badges, but they earned about half of those at home. They have been to seventy-one National Park sites in person so far. We have plans to visit nineteen more in September. There are more badges that they could earn at home. As far as visiting National Park sites in person, I think we might visit 150 total by the time Nadia graduates from high school. I haven't given any thought to where we might go in Hawaii, but I am thinking that we might visit Denali and Kenai Fjords in Alaska. The kids should each definitely be able to achieve the goal of earning between 200-250 Junior Ranger badges. I told them that when they earn their 200th badge or patch, I will give them $50. 

I also have been keeping a record of the chapter books that we've read or listened to together. The Candymakers and the Great Chocolate Chase was our 888th read aloud although that includes 51 books that we read more than once. I told the kids we'd do something special to celebrate when we finish our 1,000th book, but I'm not sure yet what that will be. I'm guessing we'll hit that mark sometime in 2023. I began reading chapter books aloud in December 2012, which means we've been averaging almost 100 books a year. 

Inside of the large airplane pictured above

Here are some things I am giving thanks for today:

1. We were able to spend a long weekend in Delaware; we are making progress toward our goal to visit every state! I would recommend The Dover Green (part of the First State National Park) and the Air Command Mobility Center (on the Air Force Base) if you are ever in Dover. Both sites were free and the tour guides at both locations were excellent. I found myself welling up with tears as we sat inside an airplane used on D-Day. If I could go back in time, I'd have picked something else to do in Wilmington before seeing Matilda, but as long as we use our zoo membership elsewhere over the next year, it won't have been a poor financial decision. 

2. Milo was a very good boy at the neighbor's house in our absence. It's such a relief to know he is handling our trips much better than he did last fall, and it's so convenient having our neighbor care for him. They very generously refused the money we offered them on Sunday evening when we returned. I'm going to take two of their kids on some fun outings this summer as a way of showing our gratitude.

3. Nadia and Ian are in South Carolina with our church's Bible quizzing team. Xandir came over for an eight hour play date yesterday. The boys played at our home, ate a delicious free lunch prepared by the local fire company at the playground, and swam for three hours. 

4. I lost four pounds in the first two weeks of my diet. Four down and nineteen more to go.

5. Paul and I have been enjoying watching episodes of All Creatures Great and Small via a PBS app together. Aside from The Chosen, it's been several years since he and I watched a show together, and this year we found two shows on PBS that we both enjoy (Around the World in 80 Days is the other one). 

6. It's definitely harder to find bargains in this time of inflation. I got a good deal on the deodorant Paul likes at CVS this week. I used coupons they had sent me plus it was on sale, and in the end, I paid less than a dollar total for two. A new Aldi opened in our area, and we received a $5 off coupon in the mail which I used, and I think that store opening prompted our local grocery store to issue four $5 off coupons that could be used on $25 purchases over a period of four weeks. Tab also received those coupons but doesn't shop at that store, so I ended up with nine $5 off coupons altogether! It's also been impossible to find two liters of Coke or Pepsi for less than $1.50 over the last 5.5 months, but Paul will also drink RC, and our local store has been selling that for 99 cents lately. 

7. I buy our cereal at Surplus Outlet, and a box I got there had a Nintendo code on it that Ian was very grateful to be able to use. If it weren't for Surplus Outlet, I don't think I'd be buying any cereal this year due to the soaring prices. 

8. I have been able to have lengthy phone conversations with three friends so far this week, which is a rare treat for me!