Our house looked great considering what happened while we were gone. We've been spending our days working in the yard/garden, washing clothes, washing cars, and trying to get everything back to normal. The day after we got home we woke up to this:
This is the driver-front tire. Our tire indicator light turned on during our drive home, but it was driving fine and the tire looked a little low the night we arrived. We must have had a slow leak the last day. We filled up the tire with air and took it to get repaired. There was a large nail stuck in the tire. They were able to replace it, which is a lot cheaper than a new tire.
We've had a great time. Andrew said, "Our month trip was great. It feels like we've only been gone a week." Time flies when you're having fun, but it's nice to be home. We wish we had a couple more days to get things settled before Patrick goes to work, but he has to go back some time.
Writing the blog has been good for us. It's made us take more pictures than normal to document our trip. We're looking forward to making this into a family book to keep a record of our trip. We hope you've enjoyed following along. If you plan on visiting the places we did you're welcome to ask us questions. We'll try and help any way we can.
Final Thoughts...
Patrick-
Best thing: Being together. The kids were at a good age for the trip. On some of the hikes the kids would take turns holding our hands. It was nice. I don't know if I want them to grow up and ignore us like teenagers do.
Worst thing: We were fortunate the whole trip. Even hiccups turned out okay. The flat tire and Mia getting sick weren't fun experiences, but we survived them and it didn't impact our trip much.
Favorite stop: Every stop was unique and I liked every one. We sure do have a beautiful world. My favorite thing was driving in the Northwest. It's green like Virginia and has mountains like the west.
Where I want to visit again: Mt. Rainier or Banff
Most memorable moment: Mia getting sick or playing games as a family
Biggest surprise: How green the trees were in Oregon and Washington.
What I wish we could have added: Oregon coast.
Other observations: Every place we stopped had international travelers. I was seeing these things for the first time yet people from outside the U.S. were taking the time to see them as well. It reminded me of a story I once heard. A man from New York was visiting Zions National Park and stopped to fill up his car's gas tank. He spoke to the gas attendant and said, "It's amazing you have this beautiful park in your backyard." The gas attendant replied, "Oh. I've never been there." The man from New York was incredulous. The gas attendant asked the man, "Where are you from?" He told him, "New York." "Oh, I've been there and visited the Statue of Liberty," said the gas attendant. To which the man from New York replied, "Oh, I've never been there." There are so many things that are in our own backyard. While international destinations still sound exciting there are a lot of things close by that are worth the trip. I'd like to visit the Great Smokey Mountains and spend more time at the Shenandoah National Park.
Emily-
Best thing: Being together. I feel like the kids really bonded, and it was really fun to have memorable experiences together.
Worst thing: Not having a break from the kids in the evening. We were either in a hotel room or a tent with them. It was hard to have adult conversations without listening ears. And sometimes parents just need a break. We need a date!
Favorite stop: I was really happy with everywhere we went, but I really liked Mt. Rainier and the tide pools at Rialto Beach in Olympic.
Where I want to visit again: I wouldn't mind spending more time in Seattle or Mt. Rainier
Most memorable moment: Mia's eruption at Mt. St. Helens or the Lighting Presentation at Mount Rushmore or driving on the back-woods road in Idaho
Biggest surprise: I really liked Canada. I thought about moving there, but I'm not sure Patrick's job would transfer very well.
What I wish we could have added: I would have liked to see the Oregon Coast. We tried to work it in to our schedule, but couldn't fit it in. Also, I hear that Victoria, British Columbia is beautiful. I wish we could have worked that in.
Other observations: There were cyclists everywhere! Banff had a ton of mosquitos, and they were mean!!
Brian -
Best thing: Seeing Luke, my cousin
Worst thing: I got hurt when I tripped and fell on the hike at Hoh Rain Forest at Olympic.
Favorite stop: California or Glacier
Where I want to visit again: Luke's house, Disneyland & California Adventure, Hurricane Harbor
Most memorable moment: Dinner with the Mack family at the Newport Beach Resort
Biggest surprise: The waterslide at the hotel in Canada
What I wish we could have added: Luke coming with us the whole trip
Other observations: I didn't know there were weapons in Walmart. (Brian is interested in getting a bow and arrow.) We had lots of candy.
Andrew-
Best thing: going to the beach and seeing my cousins, going to the National Parks (Crater Lake was my favorite)
Worst thing: Not doing electronics some of the time
Favorite stop: Newport Beach, Disneyland
Where I want to visit again: beach, Crater Lake
Most memorable moment: boogie boarding at the beach
Biggest surprise: we got to see a movie at a movie theater
What I wish we could have added: King's Dominion, Death Valley, Yosemite
Other observations: I saw bears for the first time
Mia-
Best thing: Water park (Hurricane Harbor), going to Zac's house, going to Grandma's house, getting some candy, Disneyland, getting badges at the national parks
Worst thing: Getting sick
Favorite stop: Chicago
Where I want to visit again: water parks
Most memorable moment: Getting sick
Biggest surprise: the deer being on the grass of a house
Other observations: going to the water parks, going on rides that didn't have water on them, going to the pool
The End.
