Winter Vacation '08

Joshua Tree

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. We spent the holiday at home and then went the day after Christmas to Gary's parents in Palm Desert. We had a nice visit with them and visited Joshua Tree National Park for the day. The kids had a blast climbing over the boulders and exploring hidden caves and crevices. We had never been to Joshua Tree and had always heard how unique a place it was and it didn't disappoint us.

Jen's mom

and sister

U.S. History comes alive - East Coast, Summer, 2008

Every summer, we try to take a trip that goes along with what the kids are learning in school. Last summer it was the California Gold Country and this year it was U.S. History. We had a great time exploring the cities of Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, Cape Cod, and Maine. The kids learned all about U.S. History, saw the Declaration of Independence, toured the U.S. Congress -including sitting in on a session of congress, toured the White House, Independence Hall in Philadelphia, went to Betsy Ross's house and even sat with Benjamin Franklin himself at the sight of his house in Philadelphia. In New York, we went to the Statue of Liberty, top of the Empire State Building, to ground zero, and Central Park. In Boston, we followed the Freedom Trail, saw the sight of the Boston Massacre, the North Church where Paul Revere hung his lamp, Harvard College, and the Charles River. Then we enjoyed ourselves for a few days in beautiful Cape Cod. It was a wonderful journey and we look forward to visiting the east coast again soon.