Where We’ve Been (And Why I’ll Always Pinch Those Pennies)

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In case you haven't figured it out, our family has been traveling for the last two weeks. Fifteen days, fifteen states, eight state capitols, five national and state parks, three colleges, one Broadway show, an amusement park, at least eight jillion public restrooms (okay, maybe not but with two little girls it felt that way. . . ),and about 2500 miles. Whew!

Needless to say, I've struggled to keep up with PPP but have had some wonderful extra help along the way. (Thanks, Shannon, Merissa & Misty!) I woke up each morning to work from 4-6:30 AM before the rest of my family woke up for the day ~ so thankful that was 5-7:30 Eastern time, but my computer always registered it as 4AM, so I felt like I was working in the middle of the night!

Since I couldn't pop you all in my car and drag you along for the ride (not sure anyone would want to hang out with our family for the last few weeks . . . ), I thought I'd just share a few bunch of pictures of what we did along the way. Because I don't keep up a personal blog, this is also a way for my kiddos to remember what we did one day. 😉 Here's a peek . . .

We did a lot of picnicking at any rest stop that would have us . . .

Saw my nephew in West Point's Parade the day before graduation (and sat in these great seats)

Cheered Christopher on when he graduated (on the coldest, rainiest graduation day in West Point history. . .)

Ate chocolate everything at Max Brenner's in New York City (and also saw Annie on Broadway, but I didn't have my camera with me ~ ugh!)

Looked at the Statue of Liberty

Then decided we should be her ourselves

Visited the American Girl Store

Rode the elevator to the top of the Empire State Building

Checked out Central Park (we were so surprised by it ~ had no idea it would have so many great places to climb and be so big!)

Danced on the big piano at FAO Schwartz

Did a bit of hiking in Vermont

and New Hampshire. . .

(See that tiny speck at the bottom of this next pic? That's shows how big that waterfall was compared to my son, and he was right up in it!)

Drove through a few covered bridges

Saw so many pretty state capitols (Vermont was my favorite because it was just beautiful nestled on the hillside)

Toured the Ben & Jerry Factory (yum!)

Found more incredible stops for picnicking

Ate Lobster in Maine (and visited the 24 hour LL Bean store ~ no deals to be had but so many things to look at!)

Visited Kennebunkport and put our toes in the Atlantic Ocean

And even saw the Bush home (talk about location)

Actually got my kids to all smile at the same time for a picture . . .

Toured Old Ironside in Boston

Found Quincy Market (after we paid $25 for hot dogs at the Boston Harbor ~ we were so mad at ourselves because there were so many yummy places to eat in there!)

Then visited the city of Plymouth

Showed our kids Yale (and promised we'd send them if they could actually get in ~ but with a $59,000 price tag per year, I'm thinking they'd better look elsewhere!)

Ate more PB&Js in Valley Forge

Where my son practiced his photography skills on my hubby and me . . .

As well as a few of the old cabins (where twelve soldiers lived in each cabin during the Revolutionary War)

And finally made it to Hershey Park where we surprised the kids with a day at the amusement park.

(This is what they looked like for most of the trip ~ wild!)

We lucked out and they were giving away free chocolate samples ~ as well as free boxes of brownie mixes and frosting. (We even got incredibly fortunate when we were leaving and they were trying to get rid of extra frosting ~ came home with 16 free tubs of frosting!)

Then met my mom and her hubby before we headed back home today.