Jamestown and the York Town victory center

We visited the Jamestown Settlement, it was the first permanent colony in North America. They had a really cool Native American village with demonstrators. We got to see replicas of the ships that brought the settlers to America, the Susan Constant, the Discovery and the Godspeed. We watched a guy fire a really interesting musket gun. It had a wick you stuck in the firing hammer when you were ready to fire.

After Jamestown we drove to Yorktown. We went to the National Park but realized that it wasn't part of the package we paid for and our friends were in a different place. So we left and went to the Yorktown Victory Center. We got there just in time to see a cannon being fired. The kids spent a lot of time in imaginative play today. They were Native Americans with their own houses, they were settlers in a new world and solders on a battlefield.

On the way back to the hotel we stopped a put our feet in the bay. Then all of us had a wonderful dinner at a Mexican restaurant and the kids ended the day with swimming. It was a wonderful day!!!!

Williamsburg day 2

We spent the morning visiting Williamsburg again. We saw the wheelwright and the blacksmith. Then we went over to tour the Govenors Palace. It is very pretty and very interesting. It was like a mini armory inside!!! The whole foyer was totally lined with weapons....guns and swords.

After the palace we came back to the hotel for lunch and swimming. The boys swam a long time then some of our group went back to Williamsburg to see a fencing demonstration. The rest of the kids swam and then swam some more!!!!!

Tomorrows line up is Jamestown and Yorktown and hopefully a junior ranger badge!!!

Da Vinci at the Frazier

Last month we went to Louisville to visit the Da Vinci exhibit at the Frazier History Museum. It was a great exhibit but we weren't allowed to take pictures of it :( But as always the rest of the museum was awesome as well and I did manage to get a few pictures of those and the live historical performances. We got to see the end of a sword fight and the actors spent a long time afterwards talking to the kids and showing them all the weapons. Had a great day and looking forward to visiting Louisville again soon. I always forget how much I love down town there!!!!

colonial Williamsburg

We left yesterday morning for Colonial Williamsburg Virginia. Most of the day was spent driving but we had a beautiful drive at least!!!! Stopped at a scenic view.....so pretty!!! This was very close to the place where Earl Hamner grew up and he based the show "The Waltons" on his early life here. We drove by Charlottesville and I got giddy! Definatly stopping at the Waltons Museum on the way home! We ended the day swimming with friends at the hotel pool.

Today we got up ready to tackle Williamsburg! We saw the court house and lots of horse and carrages. We went to the museum and did a little Scherenschnitting (German paper cutting). Lots of interesting things in that museum, including a hippopotamas record player!!!!

The whole area is just beautiful!! Lots of white pickett fences and ivy. And so many pretty yard gardens.

We walked 10 miles according to Michael ;) But it really wasn't that far. We are all tired so I am just going to let my pictures tell the rest of our adventures today.





Close to Charlottsville

Very cool...we found a fairy circle.

Scherenschnitte.............

As this thing played its tongue moved!!!!

Only here for and hour and already they are in trouble!!!!!

The judges.....think you would get a fair trail.....Oh YES!!!!

Acting Sheriff Anthony

The re-enactor showing Jacob how he would get to Massachusetts if he joined the army.....