Wicked Awesome!

That is what Noah said about the 4th of July fireworks at Colonial Williamsburg. The fireworks display started at 9:15pm and Noah was falling asleep at 9:00pm., so I promised to wake him up. I started at 9:13pm. and he grumbled and cried that he just couldn't open his eyes. I got him to sit up a bit, then the first firework went off and he was wide awake and exclaiming his excitement with every burst of the rocket. We had such great seats on the Palace lawn that we were infrequently getting pelted with ash from the fireworks. The kids thought that was cool. We were close to the Wythe (pronounced with) House. There was music leading up to the fireworks, but none during the fireworks themselves. The kids thanked both Michael and I for bringing them.

...

Earlier in the day we got to tour the Governor's Palace, the Wythe House, the courthouse, the shoemakers and the forgery (again...Rachel's hangout). We went to the Capitol for the reading of The Declaration of Independence. After that we went back to the Brickyard to muck about in the clay, again. We took the kids costumes off so they wouldn't get dirtier...since they were already somewhat of a dingy mess. Eve in her zealousness to get into the pit didn't wait for me to undo the last tie on her dress and went to step out and ripped the front of the dress. I was furious because I had told her to wait and there was an additional fifty dollar deposit we would forfeit on the dress. I put her in timeout and went into the brickyard with the others. Aaron decided to act like a teenage and mumble a smart remark, so he was sent to timeout.

Eve was penitent and asked to say sorry and give me a hug and she was super sweet about it. So we let her play in the clay, too. We did this for about 20 minutes, then washed up.




Rachel and I wanted to go to the dancing lessons back at the Wythe House, so we parted ways with the others who went back to start swimming in the hotel pool. The lady who was teaching the lessons actually has her all girl dance class learning some of the dances while she is teaching the crowd.
We sat in the front parlor and watched her explain some of the different routines. The dances were all partner dances. Rachel was able to participate in three different styles of dance. After we were done we walked back along the foot bridge.

...Swimming...

Everyone got to swim and when Rachel and I arrived Eve was kicking and flapping her arms while Michael supported her back. The boys were dunking each other. I still can't get my ear wet, but I seem to have a little more hearing in it so I must be mending! Yeah!

::::::::::::::::::::Monitcello::::::::::::

I forgot to mention our trip to Thomas Jefferson's home at Monticello, Virginia. The grounds were amazing with the great vegetable garden, vineyard and flower garden. The weather was warm, but not hot. The kids had a great time stopping at the visitor's center. They all wrote with a quill pen. What was funny was when other children would come sit down at the table Eve would explain to them exactly how to do everything like she was the one in charge. She was polite, but firm. The boys got into the strategy game of Fox and Geese. They even played it a second time so they could switch sides.

The tour of Monitcello was very interesting and what Rachel and I liked best were the alcove beds that Jefferson put around the house because he had seen them in France and really liked them. The writing chair and the copy machine were pretty cool. Jefferson also had a model of the solar system with all "6" planets. Noah and Eve really liked the gravity fed clock that had a cable that went across the wall and down into the basement. The ice house and the other rooms beneath the house were fascinating.

So, another postitive recommendation.

:::::::::::Today:::::::::::

We are heading to Philadelphia today. We have to stop for a new tire, so I hope all goes well. We also plan to go through Amish country and take a buggy ride.

I hope to check pack with you soon!