There's No Place Like Home

There really isn't any place like home.  I love my home which is a good thing because we spend lots of time here.  As much as we love home, it was fun to travel this summer.  It wasn't planned that we would leave and be gone most of the summer, but as opportunities kept presenting themselves and things fell into place, we took one journey after another.  The Peterson family has definitely enjoyed a summer of travel, and folks kept asking us, "Where are you going this time?" At one point I did stop and look at our travel to scan for frivolity.  Maybe we were being a bit excessive in our journeyings?  It is the first summer that the girls have been old enough to handle this much adventure, and the first time I've been able to handle lots of traveling due to their being more independent.  I also experienced an extreme need to bend with the wind after a seriously scheduled school year.  Maybe I went a little overboard in my planning?  What made me do it??  I don't know, but I started to look at what we've done, and I was very satisfied that there was some real quality family time involved. The connections with my family and friends are what make my heart soar.  So, this list is for me, but I'm blogging it just in case anyone is curious.  I'll probably think of more later, but for now, this is an okay list. Enjoy!

Summer Travel Review 2009

• Traveled to the states of Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado

• Traveled to Northern California 

• Reviewed some California economy and history with Heather including farming and agriculture, the CA Aqueduct and Gold Rush era

• Visited 3 of 4 cousins on Melissa's side

• Visited 1 of 2 living Aunts on Melissa's side

• Melissa spent time with her only sister

• Kelly spent time with his only brother

• Our last living Grandpa made one of our trips with us

• Girls had several fun experiences including horseback riding, playing at aquatic centers, playing at a bounce house, playing at a water park, riding a ferry, visiting San Francisco, riding a trolly car, riding the subway, touring the California Academy of Sciences and spending a day at an amusement/animal discovery park

• Girls connected with little cousins and bonded with them

• Girls got to know their great aunt and uncle, aunts and uncles and older cousins better 

• Spent two of our vacations with our Daddy which is always fun

• Spent time with our immediate family camping at the beach

• Melissa got to visit with several girlfriends (okay, that part was selfish--ha, ha)

• Girls got to play with friends and neighbors while we camped

• Girls and Mom experienced a Victorian tea

• Lots of swimming, hot tubbing, beach days and wonderful food at new places

• Fun sleepovers at both a nice hotel and a boathouse on the water

• More fun with cousins, friends and family than we could ever ask for!