Out West Adventure Part 1

We went on a 3 week trip out West in America with two other Home School families. We hired a 15 seater van and off we went on an adventure of a life time! We went through 14 different states, drove nearly 7000 miles and learn`t a great deal about American History, Science, (God`s creation as opposed to evolution), Geology, Geography, relationships, communication and life skills in general. I have over 1500 photos so I have tried to include the best ones I have, with writing these posts in a few parts so that this will not be one very long post. This is Part 1 and I hope to complete all the parts in the next few weeks. It will take a great deal of time. So, here goes.......!

All the States we drove through! We did not count Arizona and New Mexico as we only went to the four corners (where 4 states touch) so we "touched" the states but didn`t actually enter them. Maybe next time?!

 Our first stop was the Laura Ingalls Wilder Homestead in Wisconsin! It was a wonderful place and we had so much fun there!

 All the kids! 7 boys and 3 girls.

 The look out.

 We didn`t realize how small the wagons were - so narrow!

 The brave mums - Patricia, Linda and myself.

Luke sweeping in a Sod house (made of mud and straw)

 Trying out the pump.

 The beds felt so hard - made with straw.

 Time for washing - it looks like an old fashioned washing machine!? So that's where it came from!

 The school house.

 We were given a little History lesson. We all behaved ourselves!

 Imagine wearing these today? 

Our transport to the school.

 Making corn dolls.

 The little church.

 On the road again to our next stop - Badlands National park.

 At the site where Louis and Clark made peace with the Indians.

Linda and me

 Sunflowers - we saw many of these!

 Heading towards the Mississippi River in Minnesota.

 Now in South Dakota on the way to the Badlands. The scenery is changing - no more trees, very flat, grasslands but then.........

 .....but then.....we spot some mountain peaks....we are coming closer to the Badlands.

 This was a wonderful place and one of our highlights of the whole trip! The boys felt a renewed sense of freedom, climbing on all the rocks and soaring like eagles! It felt like we were back home with all the open spaces!

 It kind of looks a bit like the Pyramids?

 Mum and boys - How special!

 We didn`t see any!

The Badlands offered such interesting landscapes! It was very different to what we had ever seen. We were just having such an amazing time together! Part 2 is next - here is the link: 

http://frosthomeschoolzim.blogspot.com/2013/09/out-west-adventure-part-2.html