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A photo of Ainsley, Rayleigh, Dillon, and Grayson standing on red, yellow, green, and blue spray painted symbols on the side of the road

32 Days in America, Day 10

Stats

  • Miles traveled: 23.8
  • Miles traveled to date: 1854
  • States visited today: 1 – Florida
  • States visited to date: 9
  • Tanks of gas pumped to date: 6
  • Meltdowns: 10
  • Loads of Laundry: 7
  • Illness: 1

Daily recap

So… our plans took a slight turn. While visiting in Florida with Grammy and Grandpa – it was discovered that Grandpa was going to need emergent surgery. Since we were already local we have decided to stay put and help get things in line for his recovery post-op here in Florida. Today, Kelsey spent much of the day at the hospital and Kevin and the kids went to a Burrowing Owl Festival. In the evening we enjoyed a seafood dinner at Pinchers with views of the sunset and harbor. At the moment Grandpa is content to be at the hospital and the rest of us aren’t complaining for a few extra days of warmth, sunshine, and pool time.

Highlights

  • Petting a snake
A photo of Ainsley, Rayleigh, Grayson, and Dillon petting a large snake being held by an animal rescue worker
Snakes are cool. All the kids agree.
  • Petting an alligator
A photo of Grayson and Ainsley petting an alligator held by an animal rescue worker while Dillon and Rayleigh look on
The kids got up close and personal with a little alligator. Its mouth was held shut so it couldn’t snack on them.
  • Q & A with owl experts
A photo of Ainsley, Grayson, Rayleigh, and Dillon listening to a presentation on burrowing owls in a small auditorium
We caught the Q&A portion of the burrowing owl talk. Ainsley asked how to tell the males and females apart and why they burrow instead of making nests in trees.
  • Have tree? Will climb.
A photo of Dillon hanging from a tree branch in a park
Just Dillon hanging out.
  • Family Dinner
A photo of Kevin, Kelsey, Grayson, Dillon, Rayleigh, and Ainsley at a restaurant table with menus spread out in front of them
We went out for a rare dinner out at a restaurant at Pincher’s for some local seafood.

Other photos from today

A photo of Dillon with his head upside down in the cutout of a board with a painting of a burrowing owl on it
Some owls can turn their heads upside down, and so can Dillon, I guess?
A photo of Ainsley smiling while holding a French fry cut in the shape of a smiley face
Happy fries for a happy girl.
A photo of Ainsley, Dillon, and Grayson petting a lizard being held by an animal rescue worker
The kids got to pet a bearded dragon.
A photo of Rayleigh eating a snow crab leg
Rayleigh, taking after her mom, ordered the snow crab legs.
A photo of Grayson, Ainsley, Dillon, and Rayleigh sitting in front of a fountain outside of a restaurant
The kids ordered themselves by age for this photo without being prompted, which caused another diner to remark that we had “professional kids.”

And now for your moment of zen…

A photo of a door with the door handle put on backwards sitting ajar because it can't close due to the handle pointing the wrong way
When we returned to the house and tried to open the door, the door handle popped right off. We tried to fix it and half succeeded?

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Kelsey Ernst

Comments

2 responses to “32 Days in America, Day 10”

  1. AnnM Avatar
    AnnM

    A book (fiction) they might like to read about Florida owls—Hoot by Carl Hiaasen!

    1. Kevin Fodness Avatar
      Kevin Fodness

      Yes, Rayleigh read it and loved it!

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