Child Returns Heart-shaped Rock from National Park: A child took and then mailed back a heart-shaped rock from Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the article here.This is something I can see my kids doing without knowing it’s illegal. But, that’s a cool rock! D23 Expo This Weekend: The D23 Expo has already started and continues […]

Last month, my family traveled to Australia and New Zealand. We spent 7 nights on a farm just south of Rotorua, New Zealand. There is a lot to do in the Rotorua area! (Also see my posts on visiting Sydney, Australia and Hobbiton). i-SITE Visitor Information Centre The owners of our rental house recommended we […]

Kauai has been on my mind lately. As some of you know, next year we are supposed to spend four nights in Oahu on our way to Japan I thought I made my peace with not visiting Kauai on that particular trip. It really didn’t make sense to split four nights between two Hawaiian islands. But […]

About 10 days ago, my daughter and I watched the USA Gymnastics National Championships on TV. We saw Simone Biles make history with her double-twisting double-somersault beam dismount and her triple-double on the floor exercise. For my daughter, who is a recreational gymnast, it was an exciting moment! Watching elite gymnastics on TV made us […]

Last week, when I shared the good and bad about my summer travel, a skeptical reader had questions for me and how I managed to take those trips. He wrote, “I guess your kid’s college funds are all topped up and you’ve paid off your mortgage?” Actually, no and no! It got me thinking: Should […]