One of the first questions I get when people find out how we live is, "How do you get your mail?" There are actually several options, including:  Earth Class Mail which is an online service, Escapees or Good Sam Mail Forwarding Services which give a personal touch to your mail handling needs, Mail Boxes Etc. or the UPS Store, who just forward everything, and lastly, a close friend or relative who is willing to sort it and send it to you.  The cost involved varies, but you will generally pay either monthly or annually for the service plus the cost of forwarding your mail to you wherever you are, usually via FedEx or UPS.  You'll be surprised at the variety of services provided, and the cost.  Take a look...

I taught my children to call me Mommy, even though they were born in the south, where Mama is more common.  I just love the sound of Mommy.  It reminds me of my childhood.  But somewhere along the way, recently, I've become Mom.  Mom?  Who said they could call me Mom?  It occurred to me to just ignore them, but then I thought about the whole "boys need to break away from their mothers and form their own masculine identity" thing, so I thought, let them go.  Just play it cool.  But so soon?  They're still little.  And Mom sounds so impersonal.  Like a title, not a trusted confidante.  Not a mentor or companion.  More like an accountant.  "This is my accountant, Herb.  And this is my Mom."  UGGGH.  I want my Mommy! 

Earth day is April 22^nd and our Cub Scout Handbooks arrived just in time to provide some inspiration.  One of our boys is working toward Wolf rank and the other toward Bear.  Each handbook has a required achievement that encourages scouts to take care of their planet.  So, for Earth Day we’ll be picking up litter in our campground, planting a tree, discussing ways to conserve energy, and reading books about protecting the environment.  Join us, or try one of these Earth day ideas…

As the long line snaked its way toward The Rotunda we got more and more anxious.  We knew what was in there - the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Magna Carta, not to mention the incredible artwork and the other important documents that surround the charters of freedom.   The boys wanted to see them.  As we walked up to the documents, we picked out George Washington's signature, John Hancock's large, curvy handwriting (so the king wouldn't need his spectacles to read it) and many other famous men's names.  We also saw the faded paper bearing the Bill of Rights.  That particular document prompted an earlier discussion that left me smiling.  Here's what happened...

Try this colonial favorite...homemade apple butter!

Driven to Educate is proud to support the incredible journey of the Vogel family, who plan to share what they learn pedaling from Alaska to Argentina with other children.  We are thrilled to welcome the Vogels as monthly guest contributors to the Families on the Road Spotlight!  

 Magic on Two Wheels

What do you get when you take two burned-out school teachers, their eight-year-old twin sons, and a brand new bicycle as long as a circus train?  I can't speak for others, but in our case, the result was magic.

I'll never forget that day - the day my husband came home after a particularly rough day in the classroom and said, "Nancy, I'm tired of this.  Let's quit our jobs, buy a triple bike, and take off with the kids."  Never one to sit back and let life pass me by, I jumped on his plan wholeheartedly.

Three months later we were ready:  our teaching jobs had been quit, the big bicycle had been purchased, and my old bike rebuilt.  Our bags were packed and good byes said.  There was no turning back; there was only a year of adventure ahead of us.  A year to pedal at will, turn on a whim, and explore sunsets without end.  Ah yes, we were ready - ready to tackle this great continent of ours with our children, ready to live and experience and grow beyond our wildest imagination.  Ready to be pushed farther than we had ever been pushed.  And ready for magic.

On June 18, 2006 we pedaled away from our home in Boise, Idaho.  My husband rode the "stretch limo" (bicycle built for three) with our boys while I followed behind on a single bike.  Anticipation, apprehension, excitement, and a little bit of dread filled our thoughts on that summer day as we wondered just what kinds of adventures we would find.  It didn't take long to find out.

Make a movie in your mind to remember the capital:
Picture a rich man in Europe sending settlers to start the first colony in Virginia. 
Rich + man = Richmond sending colonists to Virginia.  Richmond, Virginia.

Why is Virginia called the Mother of Presidents?
More US presidents were born in Virginia than in any other state - 8.  They were George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson.

The Natural Bridge, south of Lexington, VA is a 90 foot wide, 215 foot high stone formation that really is a bridge - US Route 11 runs directly over it.  It was once part of a limestone cavern, but millions of years ago the soft rocks that made up the roof of the cavern collapsed.  Some harder rocks were left standing, which formed the bridge.  Over the years, the stream that runs under the bridge carved away the bridge opening.  The first person to own the land surrounding the Natural Bridge was Thomas Jefferson, the third president.  He was fascinated by this geological oddity and asked the royal governor of Virginia to grant him a tract of land that included the bridge in 1774.  For many years he maintained a cabin there.

  -from The New York Public Library Amazing US Geography: A Book of Answers for Kids