Well, our trip is going so fast. We seem to be in a good routine. Everyone is on the East Coast time schedule and the Lord has blessed us with wonderful, perfect weather. We spent another day today at Busch Gardens. This is such a great off season time to be here. The kids saw the wolf show, we heard Italian singers, and the highlight was eating in Germany. Chloe got to dance with a German girl and all the kids reluctantly, but with smiles did the chicken dance with European dressed boys and girls. We have learned so much. Our minds have been filled with historic facts and hands on learning that no book could ever replace. But today I was thinking about a different kind of learning that has and is taking place.
The learning of being together. Let's face it. We are no easy group. When you put together a new place, 7 kids under age 12, a very pregnant woman, a small space, and more, together you have a great opportunity to be molded :). Isn't that a nice way to put it? I mean everything we do does take work. You don't just jump into the van to go somewhere without a filled sippy cup, diapers, wipes, hand sanitzer, snacks, etc. Even finding 9 pairs of shoes can be a challenge.
On top of that you throw in self. Each child (and okay us adults too) think of self first. And that becomes very apparent when you are already tired. We get squeezed and the real us comes out. Who gets to sit where in the van, who got the last cookie, and who gets to use the bathroom when you walk into the condo after a long ride home. All these little things happen on a daily basis and are escalated when you are having fun but running hard and in a new place.
But the beauty of it is that it also a great time to learn. Today I watched Caleb help Chloe and Gabriel get off of a ride. He gently lifted Gabe out of his little boat ride and ran right over to him all on his own. I saw Sophie be patient with the little boys who are loving having her here but could drive any cousin crazy. We told Ben to NOT get out of bed until we say it is okay. He was taunting the girls at 6 am the other morning. We can't afford to buy everyone a cotton candy so we share one big one and they seem to know how to do that and not expect anything differently. The older kids have experienced some new freedoms on our trip (like riding a few rides outside of our eye sight) and yet they have blessed us by telling us each experience almost as if they wanted us there to be part of it all. They have looked out for each other and taken care of one another. They are learning that others have to come first. Constantly. Chloe can't make it an hour without needing to go potty. All of us had a turn at taking her today. And its true, in our house, someone is likely to take your pillow, spill their drink on you, get into your saved candy, turn on the light while you are sleeping, sit in your seat where you just were sitting, change your channel, and more EVERY day.
But that is where you can have patience, grace, and growth. Things we all need every day. Believe me, Eric and I are first in line for the Lord showing us our need in this. And somehow in all of the chaos and craziness there is a joy and gratefullness I have for each of these special people God has allowed us the priviledge to parent. And how crazy is it that the kids are teaching Eric and I the very thing we are trying to teach them. We all are changing and growing.
I am constantly amazed at their differences. Who likes mustard and who doesn't. Who is hesitant to try new things and who has no fear. The have different needs, and different areas they need to grow in and being together 24-7 has allowed this to take place in a new way. We all need eachother and we all help each other. We have bonded and are bonding in a new way. I love us being together.
We missed our turn on the way home tonight. The roads here are crazy. And Eric and I both began to laugh where last week we would have been stressed. The kids are being more patient with one another and we are all daily being blessed with chances to show love and grace to others all in the midst of making wonderful lifetime memories. We are learning to work together. To be a team. To give forgiveness and also seek to think about someone else first. Together. These lessons of the heart are much more important than any history lesson. It doesn't get any better than that.
The Lord is so good :0)
Friday, September 18, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
birthday of the Constitution
Today was another special day! We slept in and Eric fixed breakfast. The big kids and I found the outlets near by. The girls loved shopping and poor Josh was dragged into Motherhood for a long time. The baby is kicking all of the time now and feels rather big :). We still don't know if it is a boy or girl but are excited thinking we will meet him/her in only 2 months and a few days.
We then went to Colonial Williamsburg for our "authentic dinner". We wanted to do this with cousin Sophie. We went to Shields Tavern. We were met at the door by a gentleman who seated us in a dark cllar like room downstairs with only candles. It was fun. Another man came over to the table and asked where we came from. When we told him Oregon he said he had not heard of it but he knew a lot of exploring was going on. He totally stayed in the time period. The kids loved it. Sophie had Thomas Jefferson's favorite meal-buttered noodles. I had an incredible roasted chicken and Eric had stew. It was really fun and the kids did great.
We then walked a LONG ways to the center of Gloucester Street where George Washington talked and the Pfife and Drum members played patriotic songs. The Air force band played a little program sharing the history of America in song since the signing of the Constitution. You couldn't help but feel thankful and proud to be an American. We made it ALMOST to the end of the program (when Gabriel and Chloe were done with sitting). As we walked to the van they ended with the National Anthem and you could see everyone standing singing from the top of their lungs. GOD BLESS OUR AMERICA!
Yesterday we went back to Yorktown for classes and a tour. It was much less intense than Jamestown. The kids seemed to really enjoy it and the lady who led the tour was great with the students. They saw a soldier camp and they shot off a musket and a cannon. They learned a lot about the soldiers life. It is a slow season and a great time to be here. I met another home school mom from Tenn. and had some neat conversations with her.
Time is starting to go too fast and before we know it these days will all be memories. Such special ones. We played a game last night in the resort with other families and we won. The kids were thrilled. Oh, and there is another family that has 9 kids who are staying here. So see, we aren't the only nerds running around. HA. We are missing everyone back in Medford.
We are grateful to be Americans more than ever before.
We then went to Colonial Williamsburg for our "authentic dinner". We wanted to do this with cousin Sophie. We went to Shields Tavern. We were met at the door by a gentleman who seated us in a dark cllar like room downstairs with only candles. It was fun. Another man came over to the table and asked where we came from. When we told him Oregon he said he had not heard of it but he knew a lot of exploring was going on. He totally stayed in the time period. The kids loved it. Sophie had Thomas Jefferson's favorite meal-buttered noodles. I had an incredible roasted chicken and Eric had stew. It was really fun and the kids did great.
We then walked a LONG ways to the center of Gloucester Street where George Washington talked and the Pfife and Drum members played patriotic songs. The Air force band played a little program sharing the history of America in song since the signing of the Constitution. You couldn't help but feel thankful and proud to be an American. We made it ALMOST to the end of the program (when Gabriel and Chloe were done with sitting). As we walked to the van they ended with the National Anthem and you could see everyone standing singing from the top of their lungs. GOD BLESS OUR AMERICA!
Yesterday we went back to Yorktown for classes and a tour. It was much less intense than Jamestown. The kids seemed to really enjoy it and the lady who led the tour was great with the students. They saw a soldier camp and they shot off a musket and a cannon. They learned a lot about the soldiers life. It is a slow season and a great time to be here. I met another home school mom from Tenn. and had some neat conversations with her.
Time is starting to go too fast and before we know it these days will all be memories. Such special ones. We played a game last night in the resort with other families and we won. The kids were thrilled. Oh, and there is another family that has 9 kids who are staying here. So see, we aren't the only nerds running around. HA. We are missing everyone back in Medford.
We are grateful to be Americans more than ever before.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Jamestown learning
Yesterday we woke up early & headed to Jamestown. It was a full day of learning. It was neat meeting other homeschool moms from all over. I learned about new curriculum and it was encouraging hearing their excitement for homeschooling. I mentioned to one mom that some days were hard, and she said, "Oh every day is hard" :) but it is worth it! We were all in line for a tour and classes they offer homeschool kids during this time.
The tour was outstanding. It was 2 1/2 hours though and by the end my own mind was boggling with all we have seen and learned. They have 3 ships to tour, an Indian villiage with live people demonstrating what life was like. The same for the the fort and much, much more. They recreate everything. The kids loved it. They also liked seeing the live hens running around all over and were thrilled to find a random turtle crossing the path and a squirrel that was leaping on the tips of the fort fence. It is the small things they find most interesting.
Each child was divided into age groups and went to "school" in the afternoon. Dad and Eric went with the kids. They said the classes were very well done.
After our Jamestown fun we found a COSTCO, ate hotdogs and went shopping! We got Papa an apple pie for his last night and came back to the resort and played mini-golf! That was funny. There are some stories for that.
Today the little ones and the girls will stay back while Eric takes Papa and the boys to Norfolk where they will tour some sights and then take Papa to the airport. It will be nice to have a down day and clean up and organize a little :). We are all sad to have dad leave us today. Chloe asked Papa to just get Nana and bring her back here. He has been a great help and we have such special memories. The kids are loving having cousin Sophie here. It keeps an element of excitement and hpyer in the air :) OH MY we have lots of energy in our house :).
The tour was outstanding. It was 2 1/2 hours though and by the end my own mind was boggling with all we have seen and learned. They have 3 ships to tour, an Indian villiage with live people demonstrating what life was like. The same for the the fort and much, much more. They recreate everything. The kids loved it. They also liked seeing the live hens running around all over and were thrilled to find a random turtle crossing the path and a squirrel that was leaping on the tips of the fort fence. It is the small things they find most interesting.
Each child was divided into age groups and went to "school" in the afternoon. Dad and Eric went with the kids. They said the classes were very well done.
After our Jamestown fun we found a COSTCO, ate hotdogs and went shopping! We got Papa an apple pie for his last night and came back to the resort and played mini-golf! That was funny. There are some stories for that.
Today the little ones and the girls will stay back while Eric takes Papa and the boys to Norfolk where they will tour some sights and then take Papa to the airport. It will be nice to have a down day and clean up and organize a little :). We are all sad to have dad leave us today. Chloe asked Papa to just get Nana and bring her back here. He has been a great help and we have such special memories. The kids are loving having cousin Sophie here. It keeps an element of excitement and hpyer in the air :) OH MY we have lots of energy in our house :).
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)