Thursday, September 10, 2009
Yesterday we woke up at 5:00 am, loaded the van and drove over 2 hours to Springfield where we road into DC on the metro. It was a huge, wonderful day. I am not sure how many miles we walked, or how many times Chloe and this pregnant mommy had to use the "potty" but it was such a special day despite moving all of us around. We were able to meet the Cogressmand and tour the Capitol. Congressman Walden was so gracious to us. His helper "Erika" gave us a wonderful tour. Since The Pres. would be in the building that day everything had to be shut down by noon. It was kinduv neat because everyone was in a frenzy with preparing for him to come. So we saw tons of secret service people. Also, the Congressman pointed out all the "Officials" would be in the same building at the same time. After that we ate a $50 lunch at McDonalds in the Space Smithsonian! Very spendy :). Eric and the big kids would and could have stayed there all day but we had so much left to see. While that was neat it was when we walked to the Wash. Monument and saw all the sights on the "Mall" that were truly amazing. The kids were troopers and each one seemed to glean something a little different. Gabriel and Caleb can run and run and run. We have a few funny stories to tell when we get back. You just can't explain it all unless you are there. How beautiful and moving it is. The weather was perfect and it was very sparse with people. A great time to bring our crew :). We finally arrived home after 10 pm. There are more highways, freeways, wierd roads and together Dad and Eric finally got us home. While we were tired after a huge day :) it was one of the most special in my life personally. MOst the kids fell right to sleep but Haley and Ben came into our bedroom and watched The Pres. speech to America in the very room we had been in only hours before. They wanted to hear what he said. Today cousin Sophia comes to town and the kids are already awake, hyper and ready for a new day. We miss everyone. GOD BLESS OUR AMERICA!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Yorktown
Today we slept in and did school work. Eric and Papa were able to catch up on some work. The kids are calming down (a little) :). It rained really hard here all morning. It is wierd because it is still warm out while it is raining. Everything is so, so green. The houses all look clean and cute with all the greenery they have. We fixed lunch and then ventured to Yorktown.
This is where the last battle of the American Revolution took place. It looked really neat. In fact you could almost picture how it happened. Again, it is amazing to stand there and picture it. And to think of all the things that "went right" to end the war. The Lord's hand was there so many times. We keep hearing new stories about fog that hid the troops, a strom that appeared and gave us great advance etc. It is fascinating. The kids watched a movie about Yorktown, walked through a boat replica, and then we all walked in the actual trenches the men had dug. We drove the tour route. Dad and Eric were thrilled with this part. We found an old grave yard where slaves were buried. We took some really neat pictures. Chloe was saying "revomootion" instead of Revolution and asked out of the blue, "when are we gonna get that baby of ours"? She is enjoying the Papa carrying her everywhere.
Tomorrow we are waking up extra early and will drive into DC. They changed our Capitol tour time because the President is addressing Congress tomorrow. We should get to meet our Conressman. Our silly rental van is making strange noises so pray we make it safely into Washington. On a much lighter note, Eric bought Dad and I coconut m&m's. Eric does not like coconut at all. And they were very yummy. We are missing everyone already and love reading email.
This is where the last battle of the American Revolution took place. It looked really neat. In fact you could almost picture how it happened. Again, it is amazing to stand there and picture it. And to think of all the things that "went right" to end the war. The Lord's hand was there so many times. We keep hearing new stories about fog that hid the troops, a strom that appeared and gave us great advance etc. It is fascinating. The kids watched a movie about Yorktown, walked through a boat replica, and then we all walked in the actual trenches the men had dug. We drove the tour route. Dad and Eric were thrilled with this part. We found an old grave yard where slaves were buried. We took some really neat pictures. Chloe was saying "revomootion" instead of Revolution and asked out of the blue, "when are we gonna get that baby of ours"? She is enjoying the Papa carrying her everywhere.
Tomorrow we are waking up extra early and will drive into DC. They changed our Capitol tour time because the President is addressing Congress tomorrow. We should get to meet our Conressman. Our silly rental van is making strange noises so pray we make it safely into Washington. On a much lighter note, Eric bought Dad and I coconut m&m's. Eric does not like coconut at all. And they were very yummy. We are missing everyone already and love reading email.
Busch Gardens!
This is the prettiest amusement park ever. We all still love Disneyland but we had an absolute blast yesterday.
Jamestown
On Sunday afternoon we went to Jamestown. It seemed unreal to be standing where America began. The kids and I have studied it for so long. It was marshy and buggy and swampy. It was absolutely beautiful. There was a fort and the 5th church that was built was still standing. The water was pretty. The kids seemed to gain a greater understanding of what happened and what it looked like. We will return to Jamestown on the 14th where the kids will take a tour and classes. It is hard to believe we are here.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
We are here!
We made it here! And it is absolutely beautiful. WOW-4 plane rides is a lot! The kids did great but Dad, Eric, and I were sooo tired. We got our rental van. It is the exact same van as ours at home. Chloe is sure it is ours. The only diference is the seats and we don't beep when we back up....We snuck to Busch Gardens to check it out that first night. It is a beautiful amusement park. The weather is so nice right now. Around 80 with just mild humdity. Dad loves all the trees. He names them each time we see a new one. Everything seems so, so clean.
Yesterday we ventured to Richmond. We went to the Holocaust Museum. It was very sad. Very hard to go there but a good one to take kids to. They had a fake underground tunnel and lots of photos and replicas of a concentration camp. While the little ones didn't understand, Josh, Haley, and Ben surely were left with a strong impression of sadness.
We drove 10 miles through 2 toll bridges (new to the kids) to find a top 10 restaurant dad found on line. It was more like a bar. We laughed and decided the Chick-fillet next door would be fine. We then went to the Hollywood Cemetary where we saw where many famous presidents and Confederate soldiers are buried. It was so beautiful and taken such good care of. During our drive we got lost "in the projects". It was very sad to see. And seemed a little scary. There was a grave yard close to that that. It was terrible and not taken care of and full of tons and tons and tons ofof grave stones. They were one on top on another.
We drove through Williamsburg. The college William and Mary is so pretty. Tons of parents were dropping their kids off at school. The kids still weren't tired to we went swimming back at the hotel. It was nice to swim.
Pictures will be much more exciting but I will wait until we reach our condo tonight. We have been in hotel for these first 2 nights waiting for our condo. The space will be nice :).
The kids are writing in their journals and we are getting ready for church. Gabriel is walking around saying 'airplane". He loved taking off and landing. Watching his little eyes was priceless.
Well, off to church to see what the Lord is up to in Virginia.
Yesterday we ventured to Richmond. We went to the Holocaust Museum. It was very sad. Very hard to go there but a good one to take kids to. They had a fake underground tunnel and lots of photos and replicas of a concentration camp. While the little ones didn't understand, Josh, Haley, and Ben surely were left with a strong impression of sadness.
We drove 10 miles through 2 toll bridges (new to the kids) to find a top 10 restaurant dad found on line. It was more like a bar. We laughed and decided the Chick-fillet next door would be fine. We then went to the Hollywood Cemetary where we saw where many famous presidents and Confederate soldiers are buried. It was so beautiful and taken such good care of. During our drive we got lost "in the projects". It was very sad to see. And seemed a little scary. There was a grave yard close to that that. It was terrible and not taken care of and full of tons and tons and tons ofof grave stones. They were one on top on another.
We drove through Williamsburg. The college William and Mary is so pretty. Tons of parents were dropping their kids off at school. The kids still weren't tired to we went swimming back at the hotel. It was nice to swim.
Pictures will be much more exciting but I will wait until we reach our condo tonight. We have been in hotel for these first 2 nights waiting for our condo. The space will be nice :).
The kids are writing in their journals and we are getting ready for church. Gabriel is walking around saying 'airplane". He loved taking off and landing. Watching his little eyes was priceless.
Well, off to church to see what the Lord is up to in Virginia.
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