Can't even think of a title today...

Still playing around with the layout-- it sure isn't the cutest blog on the block, as I initially attempted, but for now it will do...

We are more or less ready to go. I can't really start to pack much for at least another week. Tomorrow I am doing the big Walmart run-- stocking the first aide kit, and a long list of other things to make our adventure a little more comfortable.

Nothing else of interest to post, so I am off ...

Three Weeks From Today We Leave...

Well, three weeks from this morning, David pulls out of the driveway. Jeffrey and I are leaving the next day. David spared us the first 850 miles and is letting us fly to Richmond, where he will meet us and we'll carry on from there. (And there will only be daily drives of no more than 200 miles...most are less.) We'll fly home from somewhere, sometime in August. That is is the only thing we don't have firmly settled.

I still am not sure that we are doing the right thing-- especially when a nameless blog follower is making me nervous-- basically telling me I am crazy to have agreed to this sojourn. Too late now. We are very organized and with any luck, won't be scrambling at the last minute.

I am trying to find a way to make this page look prettier, but I am going to have to have the nameless blog reader assist me. I am technologically challenged. But her page is way prettier than this! And has great music too.

Not much to add right now. Except we found an awesome camp for Jeffrey in OH. One of the private school runs a Magic Tree House Camp. It was partially designed by the author, Mary Pope Osborne. Jeffrey is over the top excited. Each week they explore one of the books and each day they do different things, related to the theme of the book.

More later...

Summer 2009 Update

Well, it is official. We are leaving FL on June 12 and returning on August 16. Truth be told, I never expected that we'd really do this, but reservations are made, tickets are bought and we are getting ready to hit the road. David has done an amazing job once again, planning. We have a detailed plan and in some instances, plenty of room for last minute decisions. The first two days are very ambitious. We are attempting to get to Savanah night one and Richmond, VA on night two. We'll spending the next day in Richmond and then off to Washington DC for serveral nights. We have our tours all secured and tickets all purchased. No waiting in long lines for us-- with a lot of pre-planning, no one has to really wait in a line any more- But the key is to know what you want, and when you want it.

That's all for now. I am trying to figure this site out a little more-- want to make it prettier of course.

Best,

Ellen

Early Planning Stages of Summer 2009

Not sure if we are really sane or not, but we are in the midst of planning a 9 week road trip. Two weeks travel to OH, two weeks travel home and five weeks in Beachwood. From OH, we plan to take a couple of side trips, including five days in at Niagara Falls and Toronto. We have 6 baseball games planned, in five states and of course Toronto too.

So far, the travel path to OH includes major stops in DC, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh We had talked about white water rafting in WV, but opted to pass this time around. Instead, we'll have breakfast with Ben Franklin, check out the Liberty Bell, visit the Crayola Factory, hit Hershey Park and take in all the age appropriate sights in Washington, DC. We're staying on campus at Penn and I know David is very excited about this too.

On the way home we're spending time in Chattanoga, TN, visiting Gramma Joan in Telico Plains, and spending a few days in Atlanta. My geography is challenged, but I know we are stopping in NC somewhere along the line too. David's college room mate is a pediatrician at Duke.

The rationale behind nine weeks travel is that the weather in South FL is so gross in the summer. We did the math and somehow managed to get the numbers to workout that this plan was no more expensive than taking a two week vacation, running the air 24/7, sending Jeffrey to camp etc., etc.

Anyway, I don't expect to post much on this thing, but wanted to check it out, because it will be fun to update this while are travelling.

In the mean time, we have a couple of Orlando trips planned before the end of the year. We never seem to tire of that mouse. We have some special things planned and are looking forward to spending Thanksgiving at Camp Wilderness for brunch and the Polynesian Hotel for dinner. Then right before New Years, David and Jeffrey are going back to Orlando, to UCF. They are hosting a basketball tournament that Penn is playing in. They went last year in Miami and had a blast, so I guess this will become an annual father/son thing.

Thanks for reading this far!

To be continued...