Saturday, April 27, 2013

Lincoln Memorial

Spent a day going around to several of the memorials, including the Lincoln Memorial, Ford’s Theater, and the Pearson House (where Lincoln died).  Ginger has been reading aloud the book “Killing Lincoln”, which has been giving us a good background and perspective.

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It has been interesting that at Williamsburg and at the Lincoln Memorial, the guides have been pointing out that things were not as cut and dry about the Revolution and the forming of our nation as was taught in school. Like we really fought for independence from the King of England, and not because our taxes got worse.

TIGGER!

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Melissa’s Highlights for Animal Kingdom

In Animal Kingdom there were lots of animals and ducks but what I loved the most was the two shows. One of them was Finding Nemo the Musical…… they made a musical from a movie that has no music. But it was lots of fun. They had one person puppets for and the puppeteers were also the voice of the character. Some of them were so big (like the shark Bruce) that it took many people. They did a very good job with the music.

   But Nemo was not like the other show… Festival Of The Lion King!! You walk out of the theater amazed! It was truly a performance full of music from the Lion King sung by real singers, dancers at every corner, and the main characters from the Lion King as a robot(but very convincing ones) and a dude in a Timon costume. No words can describe the magnificence of this performance.

  Although these shows were extraordinary, nothing can compare with this. I got to go see Winnie the Pooh. Now if you do not know this, Winnie the Pooh is BY FAR my favorite Disney character. I have loved him since I was a little girl. I got to meet him at disney world when I was 11. Why not see him again? Even better Tigger and Eeyore was there to! I got so excited because that was the top thing I wanted to do in Disney World…… yes, I am 15 years old and the top thing on my list is to see Winnie the Pooh… What can I say?

   Anyway I got there and it was a short wait. I told him he was my favorite character ever since I was little, he kissed my hands Open-mouthed smile and gave me a great big hug!! After I saw Tiger and Eeyore I got so very giddy! CALL ME SILLY! I just giddy over seeing my childhood roll models! Family Vacation 110     Family Vacation 112

Williamsburg

 

right now we are in virginia and dad is lecturing me about the different states. we went to williamsberg to spend the day there. I wish I could show you but I can’t find my downloading chord. we watched a demonstration of weapons such as muskets and cannons. In the future I will show the pictures to you guys.

Melissa’s Highlights for Hollywood Studios (Continued)

One of my other favorite things we did in Hollywood Studios was the “Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular!” (just saying the title gives me chills) It was full of guns, smoke, loud noises, giant rolling rocks, and EXPLOTIONS!!!!! The stunts contained of punching, whip cracking, dodging flying spears, and all out falling off of buildings!!! Now you see why I loved it so much. but what I loved the most was that they did it as if they were actually shooting the film. so you got to see how they really did everything. That was pretty fascinating. Jennifer got some awesome pictures. Hopefully she will put some up! I got a Indiana Jones baseball cap. it is pretty cool!

   The last thing was the two big rides. Tower of Terror and Rockn’ Roller coaster. Tower of Terror is based off of an old tv series “The Twilight Zone”. I have seen a few but they can get a little boring. (sorry Twilight Zone fans). This one is the story of a family go to a five star hotel and get into the elevator. they get to the top and the hotel get struck by lightning. So the get into the Twilight Zone. But then we become a part of it Anyway you first go in and they put you in the mood of the haunted hotel! Spooky and make your legs shake kind of thing and you board the Elevator. Sit down and strap in… It takes you to the top and the hotel and takes you through the weird stuff in the twilight zone. then you stop and Jennifer is screaming “GET ME OUT” (it is SCARY stuff people!) and then the family that was in the story appears as ghosts and try to lure you in. Everything then goes black…… and then they drop you. up and down, up and down (All this time you are still scared because of the creepy things you went through). I had done this in Disney Land in California… I was 11 so I was creeped out! but this time around, it was alright.

   The Rockn’ Roller-coaster was AWESOME! the point was you were fans of the band Aerosmith and you needed to make their concert. So you get into this car rollercoaster and you go to the launching pad. it counts down and launches you. It is in the dark but they have lit up traffic signs and of the sort! Lots of fun because it is fast! you did small drops and sharp turns and 1 loop all in the dark!! (and of course the ride played Aerosmith music) But as you will see later… that is not the biggest ride I went on this trip.

Melissa’s Highlights for Hollywood Studios

If you know me well, you know that I love seeing onstage performances. That is why I was so excited to hear that they had an on stage production of Beauty and the Beast. It was only half an hour so it felt like they rushed it but it was quite fun. But I have to say that my favorite actor was the guy who played Geston. Great voice and did well with the part.IMG_0280 IMG_0253IMG_0261

Monday, April 15, 2013

Disney World: Magic Kingdom

 

today I am going to talk about the Magic Kingdom.when we went to the front there was a big sign that said “ Magic Kingdom.”

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later we found a beautiful flower on a tree

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then we went on the ride It’s a Small World and got the song stuck in my head. and I have a picture

of the Disney castle.

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And finally I have a picture of me standing next to the statue of Walter Disney and Mickey Mouse.

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Well, I hoped you enjoyed the pictures and I will continue to blog.

Disney World Animal Kingdom

 

The following pictures are few of the many animals we saw at the Animal Kingdom in Disney World, enjoy!!!

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That’s all the pictures I have for Animal Kingdom and I hope you guys have a good day.

Disney World: Epcot and Hollywood studios Part 2

Epcot was fun and Hollywood Studios was great because it had rockin rollin rollercoaster but I’ve already talked about that so I’ll talk about other things.

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the top picture is a picture of a flower garden in Epcot and at the bottom is a picture of the statue in the Germany section in Epcot.

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the following pictures are pictures of the Epcot fireworks festival

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Well, I hoped you liked it and I will continue to post.

Disney world days one and two: Epcot and Hollywood studios Part 1

 

At Epcot we were driving to the parking area and the first thing I noticed was the Epcot ball thing and we had lots of fun.

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When we finally got in the park was breath-taking and so much fun. it had rides from space launch rides with simulated G-forces to Simtrack with speedy roller coaster rides. they also had lovely flower here and there.

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day……………………I don’t know

Hi, we’re on day……………well, I don’t know right now. But on the way to our Alabama KOA camp sight we saw things like sky scrapers and battleships and lots of other things.

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the top picture is a picture of a cathedral we passed along the

way and the bottom picture is a picture of a battleship we saw

on the way.

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the bottom picture is one of the many sky scrapers we saw on

the way to the KOA.

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we also went through a tunnel shortly after we saw the sky

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I hope you enjoyed the pictures in this blog and I will show you more in my upcoming blogs.

4-9-13 Christopher

picking up the sisters today

We are listening to Adventures in Odyssey and enjoying Florida landscapes. we’re about two hours from our destination and Melissa is stitching. we are going to pick up Stephanie and Jenifer after we set up camp.

4-10-13 1:28 by Christopher

FYI to all, if you scroll across the empty spaces at the bottom of the blog, a comment link will appear so that you can comment if  you wish.  It isn't really obvious and we don't know why.  Also, some of the pics didn't post from Melissa.  App
These past four days we went to the four parks of Walt Disney World. The first day, we went to Epcot. Then the second day, we went to Hollywood studios. The third day, we went to animal kingdom. And of course the fourth day we went to Magic Kingdom.Each and everyone of them were spectacular but here are my highlights of each and every park. But the very best part of all the parks was having my whole family,all six of us, together doing a family trip to Disney World. When you walk into Epcot of course see that famous golfball. It is so beautiful and so much bigger in real life. Inside that golfball you experience a ride. but it's no roller coaster, It is just sit down and then Enjoy what they have to offer. if you have ever been to Disneyland or Disney World it is sort of the pirates of the Caribbean or it's a small world kind of ride. They had many many Of these in Epcot. The most amazing thing about these rides were the robots. These robots look so incredibly seamen most of the time I literally thought they were actually there but somethings give it away like there Lips weren't wouldn't move as much as normal human would. Or that they went to move as suddenly as humans with the other than that they looked very and sounded very much like normal humans. I was very astonished. All these kinds of Reisberg very entertaining to watch and to listen to. That's I can remember, there are only two real roller coasters of a sort. There was a Soarin' ride and then there was a simulation ride. You Dornerid has always been a favorite with our family especially to my mom. Soarin' is like her very very favorite ride to go on. The simulation ride we went on in Epcot, was actually a very good one you got to program your own ride and use that in this robotic arm where it would take you through simulation through your ride that you had just created. And he did a very good job. Stephanne I are are both thrill seekers So we went together and did get the most possible fastest ride we could create. It is honestly the best simulation ride that I went on. The whole theme of Epcot, is mainly the future and different places in the world and how we can help it. But that wasn't all. in the middle of Epcot they had a Great Lake and on around the lake they put different parts of the world like China,Japan, Mexico, Italy, and Venus. They even had America for those who are visiting from other countries. Honestly I have to say how many different languages I heard while I was in Disney World. Most of these small areas had an attraction like a ride or a show but some places like Italy and I believe Venus just had food. One of the shows we went to was lots of fun. It was called Ellen's dream. It was a show on energy, but you are inside Ellen's dream and trying to help her find out everything about energy So that she can win Jeopardy. In this dream, Bill Nye the science guy joined her and took her back in time to the time of dinosaurs. All of a sudden the column started to move through the curtains and we went through a short ride electronic dinosaurs. It was quite fascinating. Then afterwards they gave the little video with Bill Nye the science guy teaching Ellen about energy And that energy was being Used back when dinosaurs were alive. One of my favorite parts of the park Epcot was that we went to the US, And watched a show on some of our history of America. That beforehand a small choir came out and beautifully sang old American songs and old folk songs warm us up. And I just have to say wow. Their voices were absolutely beautiful! very very talented. -Melissa
Greetings to all!!  It is a day of rest from the blistering 8-15 mile days we have been walking.  The heat is bearable but the feet are complaining. Curt ran the older two to the airport at 3:30 am and then went back to bed and we slept until nearly 11.  It was a day to do laundry, vacuum, put stuff away, and get the ship in shape! We have  been blessed with a Sams and Wal Mart less than 5 minutes away.  The family did well in our little camper.  We were too excited in the mornings and too tired at night to care that we had to navigate around each other to find the bathroom, get anything, eat, or breathe.  Disney was great and I was impressed with the well-oiled Disney machine. I was wishing I had that team to come clean my bathroom several times a day! We all knew it was 1:30 in the afternoon when a chorus of little kids had their meltdowns because of missed naps.  You could set your clock by it.  One of my favorite memories is of the little girl that was so tired waiting for the light parade that she leaned against Curt's arm and dozed off.  She was so cute.  Grandma was horrified but Curt didn't mind.  He is the soft touch.  Melissa got her Winnie the Pooh fix.  I think she was the tallest and most excited kid on the ride and she bubbled non stop after getting her picture taken with him.  Disney really does bring the little kid out in everyone!! Universal promises to be much more of an "upside down and get your stomach spun out of control" kind of park. Wheeeeee!!!!  Ginger

Friday, April 12, 2013

Hi it's day eight today and I just went on my first real roller coaster called rockin rollin roller coaster  at Hollywood Studios in Disney world, at first it shoots you like screamin California and then it's just like a regular roller coaster,

4.12.13 christopher

P.S. the ride was awsome!!!
Stardate 2013.04.12 - Personal Log

The crew is very fatigued from the two days of long march, 15 miles yesterday at Epcot and 8 miles today at Hollywood Studios. Everyone is has gotten to see lots, and have taken many photos.  Poststo come.   Curt

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Stardate 2012.04.10

Made it to the Orlando Cluster. After a quick stop by the Spaceport to pickup two new ensigns (expendible crewmen), Stephanie and Jennifer, we began work on the dripping air conditioner. Hopefully tightening a few bolts will seal it up for the night.  Otherwise Engineer Christopher will wake up a little soggy, and we will need to wring him out on the large centrifugal equipment at the local entertainment establishments.  Curt
We have discovered the wonders of a GPS on this trip--now I have something to blame if we get lost.   The captain of the ship did take my advice over the GPS to get us off of the toll roads--I love our captain! Sitting and waiting for the older two to arrive with Curt from the airport.  I think this camper is going to get very small over the next five nights!!  Discovered that 7 hours of driving in the green is as long as 7 hours of driving in the desert.  We ALMOST had Chris convinced that the reason the trees have no lower branches is because they trim them so that the alligators can't climb the trees and drop on you while you walk through the forest--ALMOST.  I am really looking forward to making this home for the next 10 days--a break from breaking down the camper. We have a great KOA.  Epcot tomorrow and then we will see where the Crowd Calendar takes us to next!!  Heard it was snowing in NM--I guess we just needed to leave for it to snow--LOL!!  Love to everyone!!  Ginger

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Boiled Peanuts?!

We hadn’t tried them before.  These cajun flavored ones were not too bad, but probably we won’t try them again.  Picture from Melissa.  Curt

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Dressed up for Scarborough Faire

Archer Cathie, “Robin Hood” Chris and Lady Melissa got dressed up for the day at the Renaissance fair, Scarborough Faire.

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Depart Day Photo

Here we are starting the trip in Los Lunas!

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Hello everyone!!  We are in beautiful Alabama and can literally see Florida from here.  Our kids are a joy to watch as they see everything as an adventure--even boiled peanuts from the gas station.  Tonight we are grilling lots of meat and doing laundry to get ready for the next leg. Christopher is learning the joys of coin operated laundry-LOL.  I am looking forward to seeing the older two.  Looks like rain for the WDW days but better than baking heat.  Some pics are not posting well so tech support is working on that a.k.a.-The Captain. We miss seeing everyone!  Ginger
In Mississippi on our way to Pensacola beach. If y'all wondering our truck is fine and nothin' to horrible happened. We just stopped at a gas station and every where we see advertisements for boiled peanuts. We saw them again at the gas station. ( It must be a Mississippi thing.) for two bucks it was worth the try. The lady showed us how to eat them correctly. You suck the juice out and then eat the insides. We got the Cajun kind, so it was spicy. They didn't taste anything like peanuts. The nut itself is a strange taste. They aren't to bad. This morning I showered with bugs that would fit in your palm. Nothin like it! It took me longer to take a shower 'cause I had to keep an eye on them. I could swear that they were plotting to jump me! ;) but it was half expected when it comes to camping. All part of the adventure! It has gotten so humid so fast! It feels nice in a way. But all y'all know that i am weird like that! But the rain is quite beautiful. It has been drizzling since we got up. You know I have been seeing a lot of one thing that I have not ever seen in NM.... Signs that say "watch for ice on bridge" I am loving all the greenery in Mississippi! So many trees!! Last night we sat outside and all you could hear was chirping of birds. As most of you know I love nature...... But showering with big bugs is not my thing. For all you BBC fans and whovians, i am on Moffat Rd!!!!!!!!!!!! We are in Loxley. I really hope most of you get where that is from. Hint: Robin of Loxley We just stopped at Burris market and bakery. His weekend is a strawberry festival. So we bought locally grown strawberries. I be those will be good!! -Melissa
Tomorrow I get to see my folks. Can't wait!!!

Monday, April 8, 2013


Here are some pictures from the renaissance fair
Stardate 2013.04.08

Number 4 cylinder on the USS Expedition has gone bad.  We were able to make it to the Space Station Wray Ford near the Shreveport system.  Engineer Reggie, who oddly looks like Mickey Roonie, reports that repairs will hopefully only take a few hours, and the schedule will only be effected for the day.

So I have given the crew shore leave, which has allowed everyone to electronically reconnect to the Earth.

I am starting on recover from my coughing caused by Regalian Cold.  A day at the Scarborough Faire actually seemed to help. While indulging in the likes of Meat on a Stick, gyros, candied nuts, and turkey legs, we enjoyed shows such as the Birds of Prey, Zilch,  the dyslexic comedian, Marquise and Ima Nut and their dog Blockhead.

Melissa was greatly embarassed by Rondini the escape artist, while helping him get strapped into his straitjacket.  I was selected to help chain him in, and he actually did get out in about 3.5 minutes.  Pictures are hopefully forthcoming.

Christopher checked out many of the sword snd armor shops, and Ginger picked up a nice glass creamer.

Signing off - Capt. Curt

 Yesterday was a day to remember. The famous Scarborough renaissance fair!   Christopher, Caitlyn (my cousin), and I all dressed up for the occasion. Chris dressed up in a Robin Hood like costume. Caitlyn was a hunter dressed up in a leather like dress that she made herself. I was a fair maiden or a lady. I wore a dress that I have worn many times as an elf (like in The Lord of the rings.) and in a play. We have pictures of all of us we will see if we can get them up.my aunt and uncle and my parents dressed up in regular people of 2013. :) 
   when we got there, the entrance was the frount of a castle and they were getting the crowd ready to go in the king and queen walked atop of the castle and the towns people were putting on a little performance of acting. After this. Caitlyn all of the sudden plugged her ears and braced herself. Of course I am very confused and nervous. Then the queen and king said "open the Scarborough fair" then BOOM!!! A cannon went off! It was LOUD!! You could feel it in your chest! Now I understood my cousin. We were all aloud to go in. When we got in (and this was throughout the day) Oh man! The sites, the smells, the sounds, the laughter, the fun!!! I felt like I belonged there! No picture, no story can describe the true merriment in that fair!! It really felt like you were transported into the era. All the people who worked there dressed up and people who visited dressed up. Lets put it this way  few people dressed as if they were in the 21st century. Everyone acted as true ladies and true gentlemen or lords. If you were the part. Meaning some people were supposed to be drunkards  and of the sort. But most were of the royal kind. You can call me girly, you can call me silly, but I LOVED being call "m'lady" and "m'am " all day long! But there was one thing that I was called that I disliked! I was called "baby". Here is the story. 
   We were all walking and an African American dude said "come over here I am doing my show!"  We were the first ones there so we were in the frount. He said he was an escape artist and that he needed an assistant : 0!!!!  He said "she needs to be a woman, ...... Young,..... And RICH!"  we could tell it was either me or Caitlyn. But when he said rich.. I knew it was me. (there HAD to be gold on my dress!) I was very excited to go up there!!!.........… at first. He asked my name. After this he said that we needed to change my name, my identity to "baby". So I throughout the show he kept calling me baby. I knew he was just doing his show!but after he told me to do many things. I was....... Lets just say it went against everything mom and dad taught me not to get into. My uncle recorded most of it. We will try to get it up on the blog but it may not happen. But if we do and you watch it. There is crude humor. So just be warned. 
There are so many shows there but my favorite was the jousting. When you think of jousting you think of men in shining armor trying to knock the other knight off of his horse. This was family friendly. They had people hold rings for the knights to try to get their pole through. They did many variations. For example many rings at once rings, thrown up in the air, and of the sort. But there is more to this tale. (And if you are curious the good knights were on white horses) The crowd was in to sections, one half was rooting for the good and the other for the evil. We were on the good but we moved to the evil ;)! It was confusing because you have to boo for the good. But in my book ( and apparently Caitlyn's also) you cheer for everyone!! So many times we had to correct ourselves to say boo! They made it so that the knights had "arguments"  and interacted with the audience! Stuff like  the good says to the evil cheering crowd  "to all who boo us. I have one thing to say, I forgive you. For it is Sunday and it is the right thing to do" in such a manner it was priceless!! And the good to the evil  knights says "you are all embicils!" One of the evil knights says "I do not know what that what that means." The good knight says " it means   high and mighty!"   " Then we are all embicils!" Exclaimed the evil knight with his arm high, "in fact we are the greatest embicils of all!!" So in short they made jokes of that sort. 
   There were many, many things we did in that one extraordinary day! But those were my highlights!! 

  We are sitting here in the car dealership. The engine is having problems delaying our trip a bit. But they say an hour and a half. I pray that it won't be to terrible. But we are actually very happy. This kind of thing was expected, apparently.   

Saturday, April 6, 2013

We arrived at my aunt and uncle's house at about 5:15 after we parked the camper at a campsite. We had papa merfy's pizza while we all talked and told stories and recalling past others. Personally that is my favorite part of visiting family. Christopher and I stayed and slept at the house while Mom and Dad went back to the trailer. It was so nice to sleep in this morning and have coffee and donuts. Amazing thing. We once and again visited and got ready for the day. My aunt is so good to us. She gave us tons of tea to take home. She knows tea from the tea shop at which she works at makes us happy. At this moment we are watching the hobbit. I am very happy. I have chocolate milk and a blanket and someone who ACUALLY loves to cuddle!!  Cousin Caitlyn! All the while watching the hobbit!!! CAN'T GET ANY BETTER!!!!!
Hey Everyone!!  Having a great time in Wylie TX with family!!!  Listening to the cousins conquer the virtual world on the Wii and just catching up with everyone is a real joy.  The younger two are fascinated by how green this part of the country is and all of the big beautiful brick homes. Prayers for Curt would be great--he is feeling a bit under the weather with chest junk.  I told him he has until Thursday to get well b/c that's when he gets to go on the rides with the adventerous set.  Love to everyone in NM!!!   FYI, we are still getting bugs worked out in the blog but we are at a great place to get tech support.  Blessings, Ginger

Friday, April 5, 2013

At 8:46 we were out on the road. With egg burritos on our tummies,we were ready to face another day. But weather was giving us a hard time. The wind was strong and extremely cold. It made it difficult to walk to and from the showers,especially with wet hair and flip flops.  Today will be a long drive but our next stop is my aunt's and uncle's house. Where we will visit them and our cousins and on Sunday we will go to a renaissance fair! I have never been to one, so I am really looking forward to it! I have always loved that time period. With castles and knights and fair maidens. I especially love reading books in that time period, and in that case there are DRAGONS!!

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Captian's Log - Stardate 2013.04.04

We have been begun our 39 day journey, seeking out strang life, new civilized people, to boldly go where no sane father will go... a family road trip across the United States.

The first meeting of the trip was the chance encounter with the elusive Prairie  Shark... (a Southwest airlines rudder sticking out above the horizon, viewed from our camp site next to the airport! )
We just finished dinner, consisting of  sloppy joe's, salad, and strawberries!!! Classic! The sun is shining bi thee is a strong breeze,which makes it chilly. We are right by an airport so we keep hearing and seeing planes take off. Hopefully it won't do it all night! By our campground is a playground and a "camp k9" for dogs. It is quite cute! There are no hills or mountains anywhere,just flat,green, and sandy. Of course in NM there are hills and mountains........ So the scenery seems so....... Empty. Oh goody! Mom just pulled out cookies!! Dudy calls!

     At ten eleven we set off on our epic adventure across the USA!! Leaving the house was bitter, sweet for me. For the bed I love I won't see until May, but rughing it in the small makeshift bed will be a character  builder.  Leaving my precious dog was a pain, but I can go hug Mickey Mouse. All the space in the house will be envied, but the small space just may make us skinnier. I will miss babysitting a particular little boy, but when he gets older, I can tell him my adventure.

We just entered into Texas and enjoying the scenery. We are seeing all the giant, white wind mills and the green, flat plains. Here is a picture. 

We are now almost to Amarillo just 18 miles!       

Departure Day!!

Wow! I can't believe it is here.  I am excited for the family time and for the adventure.  I admit that I am also a little nervous about 39 days on the road and away from home.  I tend to be a bit of a home body.  A big thank you to the nice lady who stopped me at the light yesterday morning to let me know my tire was low.  At the end of the day, we had 4 new tires on the truck.  We didn't realize they were 7 years old even though the tread looked fine.  Praising God for the flat tire BEFORE we left and for the added safety of new tires.  Thank you friends and family for your prayers for our adventure.  Our family always has so much fun together and we plan to continue that tradition and learn some things along the way.  Bon Voyage!!!