Halfway!

Well, when I started the project and this blog, I certainly expected to have a lot of free time to keep up with the blog.  Ha ha... as any mom knows, "free time" is rare, even in the summer.

This week marks our halfway point in the summer.  Despite the lack of travel (hence the reason for the project), we have been keeping rather busy.  B has been doing some work for others, running at the high school, and doing various youth group camps/bible studies/fun nights.  R has been practicing piano, babysitting for the first time, and doing many youth group events as well.  T has been busy with some schoolwork and getting ready for football season.  G ... well, she's been busy following everyone else around.  :)  For the last four months, I've been studying for some exams.  My last (I hope) test was Saturday, so I can hopefully keep up with the blog a bit better now.

A really cool fact to go along with this being the halfway point in the summer?  We are halfway through the states!!  As of today, we have collected postcards from 25 states so far this break.  Some places are obviously quite popular... we have several from some states.  The big surprises were none from Virginia and/or California, and only two from Pennsylvania, my home state.  I thought they'd be rolling in weekly.  LOL  

My goal for the kids was to get postcards from at least 25, hopefully 30, states before the end of summer.  Now, though, I think we can get a few more.  I'd LOVE to be able to gather from all 50 states, but I'm tapped out of my resources.  I've posted the request on my Facebook status, my Facebook Road Trip page, through emails and through pleas with family.  Spread the word!!!  If they need our address, give them our blog address with the email link.  These are the states we are still in need of.  If you have friends or family traveling or living in these states, PLEASE ask them to consider helping our cause (our cause being... um... making my kids use their brains over the summer?)

Still needed:

Alabama

Alaska

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Georgia

Idaho

Illinois

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Mississippi

Montana

Nebraska

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

North Dakota

Oklahoma

South Dakota

Vermont

Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Here is the current appearance of our map.  It's looking more colorful... but that midwest and west is still quite white... and those are the big states.  Any Alaskans out there?  Man, that would add some mega-color to our map.

I've been focusing on the US above, but we're proud to say we've also received postcards from thirteen countries so far!  In addition to the US, we have gotten from Australia, Mexico, Iceland, UK, Cayman Islands, Bahamas, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany (a ton!!), Austria, Czech Republic and United Arab Emirates.  The photo below is only on a small section of the world, since it included most of the coloring (save UAE and Australia).  I'd love to see at least one country from each continent... any South American, African or Asian readers out there?

Sorry, this is a tad blurry.  I took it while holding my camera phone up over my head (this map is up HIGH on the wall.... ha ha ha).

If you can help expand the minds of my kids and keep those brains actually buzzing during the summer months instead of shriveling up from all the Cartoon Network mindlessness, please consider sending a postcard!  Thanks!!!