Monticello

Okay, today was a surprise! The days go so fast now and we have all been sleeping in! Sophie left 2 days ago. It was a little tricky getting her to the Richmond airport. They wouldn't let us all go in with her but they also made us stay with her until her plane left. So were divided and it is not the nicest airport. The kids were really sad to walk back into the condo with no cousin present :(. Yesterday Haley, Ben, Gabe and I went to the YANKY CANDLE! It was really fun. It snows every 15 minutes and there is a ton to see. Ben and Haley made candles using their hands as a mold. Pretty creative. Eric took the other kids miniature golfing and swimming. We had a yummy dinner at the condo and then went to the outlets. We found shoes for Gabriels extra big feet (thanks to Papa's jeans)!

But today we drove into Charlotesville! Just like the Walton's :). It was about an 1 1/2 hour drive or so. We went to a place called Mitchies Tavern. Okay, this would be a dream place for most of the men in our family. It is an old tavern with buffet style old fashioned colonial food. Real mashed potatoes, green beans, black eyes peas, stewed tomoatoes, biscuits etc. But the best part was the fried chicken. It was to die for. It was all you can eat and all served on old tin plates etc. Very yummy and fun. And it is only 1/2 mile from Monticello where Thomas Jefferson lived. It was so beautiful and incredible to stand where I had only viewed in pictures. We met archealogists who were wonderful with showing the kids what they were doing. Eric was enamered with the house. It was so graceful with creative details everywhere. They just opened a "kid room" that recreates the house and has things for the kids to play with. We loved that they said-"Please come in and touch everything" We were the only people there and the kids played for an hour and would have stayed longer . The lady working there was so gracious. We were excited to learn so much about his contributions, hear his wonderful truth filled quotes, but sad learning he was a diest. The kids shared all they learned and we were surprised with all they shared.

They were the calmest they have been on the car ride home. THANK HEAVENS :) I sang an old hymn and Caleb said," That sounds like a song the slaves would have sang". They have learned so much. I am so grateful to feel so good pregnant. I think all the walking has helped. Although we have tested too much chocolate and I am afraid to go to the doc when we go home and weigh in HA. We listened to a neat sermon on the way home too. It talked about how the Lord blesses us with good thigs but they are only good if they don't distract us from Him. Good thoughts especially as we delight in this special time as a family.

Halloween must be very big here because there are decorations everywhere and things for sell. They are transforming Busch Gardens into a scary land and the big kids can't wait to go there this weekend. It is stormy out right now with huge thunder clouds and lightening like I have never seen before.

Caleb is missing his backyard and we are missing all of our family and friends :)