Our trips across the pond...

One of the things that we wanted most for Scott and Lara was for them to see some of the world and to broaden their horizons while they were still children. We felt like this was one of the best ways for them to learn the lessons that we felt were vital if they were to become the well-rounded, tolerant, broad-minded and adventurous adults that we so much hoped they would one day grow into. So, with this in mind, we saved every bit of money that we could possibly afford to and set off with them for some great adventures. They have travelled a lot in Europe too but I wanted to first share the America holidays that we took them on when they were younger. Neither we nor they will ever forget taking them by the hand with their eyes closed from the parking lot to the edge of the Grand Canyon and hearing them gasp when they saw the beauty in front of them for the first time. The first time that they saw the Pacific ocean or stood at the botton of Yosemite Valley and looked up at the wonders above them will also stay with us all forever. These pictures tell the story of many of the things that they have seen and done, including the honour of having stood on top of the World Trade Centre, but they cannot show the lasting benefits that we are sure that these holidays have had on them. Both Scott and Lara have a huge hunger to travel and see as much of the world as possible and they have already started to spread their wings. Lara backpacked in Australia at the age of 18 and had her first holiday alone with friends in the Canary Islands when she was just 17. Scott went to Turkey with friends at 18 and is right at this moment in Prague for the weekend with his girlfriend. Both would love to see more of America and I brought Scott over last summer for an east coast trip for his 21st birthday present. Lara is coming with me to Oregon in March.

I originally added music to this video that reminds us all of the trips but I'm afraid youtube didn't like my copyright violations! I could have screamed as it took me hours to get the songs all lined up and I almost posted it without music but, remembering how Youtube liked Jeff's Jolly Holiday music, I decided to go with some other songs from Mary Poppins, my favourite Disney movie.

The original songs were:

Disney - It's a small World
NYC - New York, New York
Arizona - Goodbe Earl (Dixie Chicks) - we bought the CD over there and all sang this song like demented things on our road trips.
California  - Whenever, Wherever (Shakira) - reason as above
California, Oregon, Washington - Fields of Gold (Eva Cassidy) - again, as above.

Enjoy!