Vacation 2019 by the Numbers

Our wonderful family vacation has come and gone, and we are back to the routine of summer...EXCEPT L has started back with soccer practice this week (2 nights/week.)

We spent another week up in Erie the end of July.  After 2 summers of going up in June and being unable to go in the water due to it being excessively cold, we decided to go a month later, which was a good choice.  We also decided to take our dog, Stella, along this year.  She has been notorious for being extremely carsick, so we have been taking her on short car trips all year long to help prepare her.  We also dosed her liberally with Dramamine.  She travelled well, but was so anxious the entire time we were there, that I don't think we'll be doing that again.

The weather was lovely for most of the week.  There were 2 mornings of clouds and rain, during which we visited The Tom Ridge Environmental Center/Museum and watched a big screen movie about volcanoes one day, and chilled at the house watching movies on the other day.

The girls and I also took a couple of long bike rides - one day we rode over 7 miles and met JP at one of the beaches, where we hung out for awhile.  Another day, we rode around the entire peninsula of Presque Isle (over 13 miles) and met JP at a diner for lunch.

Even Stella got to go to Presque Isle, we walked with her on the trail there too.  We declined to take her on the beach, though, as we were concerned that her Velcro like poodle hair would collect too much sand.

We walked up 78 narrow stairs to the top of Presque Isle Light House on one day, and up 132 steps in the Tom Ridge Environmental Center look out on another.

We played some games, watched some movies, ate a lot of good take out, and enjoyed just relaxing.

Unfortunately, I managed to fall down the stairs at our house on the first day, and to fall off my bike on the 3rd day, so I am still healing from 2 giant bruises on my left thigh.  Luckily all my bones are still intact.

As enjoyable as our vacation was, it is good to be home.  We harvested all of the hens, with my parents help, on the day before we left on vacation, so there have been fewer chores and more quiet on our hill since we've been home.

Now it is time to gear up towards the start of school, although it is still a couple of weeks off.  We have bought school supplies, and I think we are good on school clothes until it starts getting cold.  L's soccer cleats still fit (thank goodness), so we are good on sports equipment as well.

Enjoy the last few sunny days of summer!