We left a rainy Wichita and began our drive home.
The highlight of our final day is always picking our state for the following year – 2027! We love this tradition so much. Here is how the drawing went:
Mark = Missouri
Elise = Minnesota
Jacob = Michigan
Sarah = Hawaii
Benjamin = Connecticut
Lydia = Nebraska
This was the second year in a row that Hawaii was picked and there was GREAT excitement from the kids!
However, there is always an opportunity for a veto. And this go around was FULL of vetoes!
Missouri, Hawaii, and Nebraska were ALL vetoed! I am pretty certain that is the most vetoes we’ve ever had. For all those that may question our Hawaii veto – knowing what we knew then about a move happening, we just weren’t sure about moving across the country AND budgeting for a trip to Hawaii all in one year. But we will get there someday!
So here was round 2:
Mark = Rhode Island
Elise = Minnesota
Jacob = Michigan
Sarah = New Hampshire
Benjamin = Connecticut
Lydia = Delaware
The final draw went to…
CONNECTICUT!
We are so excited to visit Connecticut! This will be the first time getting to the east coast AND to New England! We are excited to be able to stay in the same place and just day trip where we want to go because the state is so small. And we are excited to just experience this part of the country for the first time.
We are also tentatively planning on adding Rhode Island to this trip. Now, I must make it clear that we are not lumping them together (because we are not wild heathens and we have rules!). But there was only one year we have missed a family trip and that was in 2015 because we just couldn’t afford to – so we will just ADD Rhode Island to this trip and make a slightly longer trip. We can’t wait! Bring on all the colonial history, prestigious universities, fall foliage, and unique food!
