Things I am looking forward to about our trip, by Victoria

• going to Disney Land and Lego Land.
• Going to the ghost towns.
• F.A.O Schwartz toy store in New York
• Ice skating
• Going to Mesa Verde
• walking across the Golden Gate Bridge
• living in an RV 

by Victoria

Home schooling planning

So, in true Julie and Ken fashion, we are busily preparing the kids for our trip. Whilst Ken and I have made an effort in the past to learn a new language prior to travelling ... we don't really need to this time (hopefully!). Ken has channelled his energies elsewhere, and has found a fabulous set of texts for the kids - "A History of US" Joy Hakim - a 10 volume series of the birth and development of the United States (www.ahistoryofus.org). Right now I am listening to a lesson about Native Americans, in particular those who lived at Mesa Verde, where we will visit during our time in the USA. Ken - our history buff - is a pig in mud, and the kids are lapping it up!

The kids have also signed up to be junior rangers (http://www.nps.gov/band/forkids/beajuniorranger.htm) and as they complete curriculum activities along the way they will receive iron on patches - so cute!

That is it for now ... will be in touch!

60 sleeps and counting ...

So, rather than join a social networking site, I thought I would 'cut my teeth' on blogging. That way, you can follow us as we pootle around the USA, see any pictures I learn how to upload, and keep in touch.

We have secured our visas, bought luggage, booked the RV (http://www.roadbearrv.com/rv-rental/class-c-23-26), booked most National Park RV sites, organised our homeswap for Washington DC, purchased medications/contact lenses/spare specs, and (Ken has) made several spreadsheets of our itinerary and checklists of checklists!

The next (daunting) task will be getting our heavy rigid truck licences! Need to find myself a pair of 'truckin' boots' for that experience! Funnily enough, we don't need any special licence to drive a monster vehicle in the USA - our Aus driver's licence will suffice - but we want to get the feel for driving a 10 mtr long vehicle before we get there, so that the panic is slightly less as we drive off down the road in our house on wheels!

The kids are getting very excited about our trip. We will home school them along the way. Victoria has the first birthday whilst over there - and she has already requested a shoe shopping trip in San Francisco. I will be most happy to oblige. Benedict remains unaware that his birthday falls shortly after Victoria's, and so there have been no requests from him yet!

So come along and join us 'virtually' during our 5 month odyssey!

( Photo by Sheila Higgins Photography sheilahigginsphotography.com.au )