Life as a Leach

Although Caleb was a little nervous about these demonstrations beforehand, they quickly became some of his favorite memories of our trip! We went to quite a few of these demonstrations.  Something we realized is that Abby was perfectly fine with the noise if she could watch the set-up and everything that was happening.  She cried if we were further away and she wasn't able to see everything leading up to the firing.

Abby discovered her love for chickens on our trip.  They were free range all over the historic sites, and she would get really excited whenever she saw one.  I never did get her to say chicken,  but she would yell out a rousing, "Bird!" every time she spotted one--and she had quite an eagle eye! This gal made her nest in a fire box in a kitchen.  Guess who spotted her?  Abs! This crazy chicken was inside the oven !  If she only knew the irony of her chosen place of rest.   One of the people who worked there came to get her out, since they do really bake in there, and she refused to budge.  He ended up using a fire poker to prod her out, and she was none too happy. He made sure she wouldn't return to her comfy bed, and she proceeded to stand outside of the oven and protest loudly for the next ten minutes. Take a listen at the angry bird!

The Thursday of our vacation was dubbed Free Day, since we'd shelled out quite a bit on several of our activities earlier in the week.  I searched around on the internet and found two free activities that sounded pretty cool. 1.  The Space Park This website boasted of real shuttles, missiles, planes, etc. that the kids could run around and climb on.    Score!  Caleb will LOVE this!  What it didn't say is that there was a crotchety old man running the museum who followed the children from one exhibit to the next, forbidding them to touch anything at all.  Fail. This gives you a little perspective of just how big this missile was! This was one of the few planes that didn't have a fence around it, so Caleb was able to go right up to it and stand under the wing.  It was really low to the ground!  His head just barely fit under it. The second free activity of the day was to a farm run by the local ASPCA.  You could see l...

We got one of the week-long passes for Jamestown and Yorktown, because we knew that spending an entire day at each one with small children would be torturous for all involved.  We were able to come and go as we pleased, and it worked out quite well!  These pictures are from several different days, which is why you see some different outfits.  :) Caleb enjoyed pounding the corn. Abby spent a whole lot of time after lunch doing this... ...except when she was just trying to fake me out! There was a church that Caleb LOVED.  He didn't want to leave.  We thought he was pretending to be the pastor and deliver a wonderful sermon to those in the service.   Nope.  He was having a battle in the church.  Nice one. The ships were a big hit with Caleb.  There were three we could go on and explore...and explore, he did!! Piece the Cannon!!! This girl loved Caleb, and he asked her all kinds of quest...

Here are some various pictures of our vacation, and even a little proof that I actually went on it!  (I love being the photographer, but it's nice to have a few of me with the kiddos as well!) Williamsburg   I have a real phobia of giving someone my third child camera to take a picture of all of us.  Therefore, I rarely have family photos.  This couple looked nice enough and had two small children who would slow them down if they tried to run off with my beloved D90, so I took a chance.  Interestingly enough, they were British...in Williamsburg...watching the fife and drum core...listening to generals rant about England.  Kinda funny!  Bonus: they didn't steal my camera.  Sheeeew! The Farm These next few were taken at a farm when the kids were hot, sweaty, tired, and full of too much vacation.  Let's just say they were less than cooperative. My Caleb Boy What a handsome boy he is!  He was also very jealous ...

Our condo resort included free, unlimited mini golf--as well as a free arcade that Caleb spend waaaaay too much time visiting!  We played twice during the week, although Matt and I would have liked to play more.  Whenever given the choice, Caleb chose the arcade.  I'm so glad I avoid non-educational video games at home!!  This was Abby's first time "playing" mini golf, and she loved it!  She naturally chose a purple ball, and enjoyed carrying it around, throwing it on the ground, and swinging the club wildly.  Sounds about right! Matt did try to teach her how to hit the right way, but she was much more content to just keep us on constant look-out for the wild club! We didn't keep score for the first game, but Caleb claims he won.  No matter how many strokes it took him at a hole, he'd say, "Well, let's just call that a hole-in-one!"   I don't think we're raising any future Tiger Woods here.

There's a ferry in Jamestown that is free, and one of the main ways to get to the other side of the river.  Even though it meant taking the very looooooong way to Hampton (I had no idea how long!), the kids enjoyed our "River Cruise."   We were right in the front, so we let the kids get out and watch through the gate. These girls were feeding the seagulls that were hanging out on the edge of the deck.  Abby was absolutely intrigued.  I do so love that cute, wrinkly nose! Hey look!  It's a picture of Caleb--and a good one, at that!!  Woo hoo!  There was no screaming or running away involved either..bonus!

Ever since we got home from Williamsburg, Caleb has been obsessed with soldiers, marching, cannons, and various weapons.  (Well, that one has been going on for a while...he is a total boy!) He has been guarding the baby gate to ensure that Abby doesn't climb the stairs intruders don't get in the fort.   The order, "Piece the Cannon!!!" has been given more than once. And, of course, the sword has been right by his side at all times--just in case there are any bad guys that need to be attacked. BOYS!!!

The Viginia Living Museum has a little bit of everything.  It's part aquarium, part zoo, part museum, part marina....like I said, a little bit of everything!  Some is inside, and some is outside.  It's pretty big, and you definitely need a map to get around. Abby loved all of the fish tanks.  She would have stood here all day if we'd let her.  Although, the big fish that swam right up to her startled her a bit! The poor girl conked out about halfway through, but she saw most of the exciting things. These beavers were right below our feet!  Abby kept trying to reach in between the rails to touch them! We left the exhibit and I turn around to see Caleb hanging over the guard rail trying to get to them.  He was this  close to being beaver dinner, which I told him during my lecture.  The smart alec reminded me that beavers are herbivores.  *sigh* This was a beautiful waterfall with great landscaping. The boy wasn'...