All of the opportunities my family experienced, which includes myself, my daughter; 8 years old and my son, 14 years old.
- Visit to Long Island, Peconic, to see their great Aunt Agnes, and great Uncle Ray. Cousins: Margaret, Heather, Kenny and spouses and children.
- Attending Grandpa Cruickshank's Senior Olympics in Louisville, Kentucky - He won the bronze and made us proud, even though his official racket broke partway through.
- Grandma Cruickshank and I went to Caesars Indiana casino on a boat. Cool!
- Traveled to Branson, Missouri after the Olympics. Visited many shops and shows! Patrick and Grandpa were serenaded at a singing restaurant. Patrick turned purple!
- Via Mississippi, where I wish never to venture again, we went to a restaurant with a humongous bull picture hanging on the wall. We laughed til tears rolled down our face! Catfish this and Catfish that!
- Arrived in Biloxi, where the devastation still amazes me! Stayed at an awesome casino. I will have to add the name later. I have temporarily forgotten it!
- Longboat Key Condo and Palmetto Villa visit with Grandma and Grandpa. Chuckie came to see me and spend a romantic four days together. Patrick and Caitlin had a wonderful time with their Daddy in Fort Myers traveling to many museums and landmarks.
- Visited with Uncle John in Tampa. The triplets and Aunt Suzie were in Conn.
- Went home....... Cleaned, unpacked, organized, cleaned, and repacked....
- Flew to Portland, Oregon... to visit Aunt Debbie, Uncle Bernie, Rita, and Micha. Spent a week together,.... ate lots of meat.... they are meat eaters... and visited the Oregon coast one day which was beautiful..
- Drove to Seattle and took a cruise to Alaska. There will be a separate post just for that trip.
- Returned to Seattle and spent two nights there, just me and the kids. We stayed at the Max, a modern luxury hotel. Very nice and large rooms with flat screen TVs. We took the Underground Tour, which is fun! We went to the Pike Fish Market! and of course, shopped. We ate at the Cheesecake Factory and a delicious, outdoor vendor of crepes. It turns out the owner went to Ithaca College. Small world!
- Flew back to home and were relieved to be here. Our own beds, kitchen, car, toys, neighbors we are used to.....
- Final thoughts: We definitely made the most of our summer! We felt very privileged to be able to travel so much and see so many people that care so much for us. We are energized and ready to start our school year. We were home only 16 days this summer. Wow!
