Monticello

I have always wanted to come to Monticello and learn for myself more about the interesting life and education of Thomas Jefferson. We ended up spending the entire afternoon touring the house, the slave quarters, and the gardens. There was a lot for the kids to see and do. We finally left in the evening when it started pouring rain. We love being in such beautiful gardens. Everything is so green and lush. Even the rain was welcoming. It will be hard to go back to the dry desert after this.

Katelyn writing out the Declaration of Independence from memory with a quill pen. When in the course of human events...

Zach, Amanda, and Josh tried it too. They spent a long time on this. It must have been pretty fun.

It was easy to see why he spent so much of his time designing and building Monticello. It was a beautiful home and garden--with an amazing view. I wouldn't have wanted to leave it either.

Day of Rest

It rained most of Sunday morning, so we slept in and slowly got ourselves ready for church at 1:00 pm. After church in the Arlington Ward, we went for a drive to see the temple. The weather cleared off perfectly, so we felt like sticking around a while to write in our journals and just enjoy the beauty and serenity.

These are the fawns and their mother that we saw across the street from the temple. We enjoyed watching them for a while. Instead of writing about something they had seen or learned on our trip, the kids wrote about the deer in their journals. Oh well. I try. :)

Hearts for Grandma and Grandpa. We love you!

Day at the Museums

The last few days we have alternated between small road trips to the country and staying here in the city for museum and historical monument visits. It has been a great plan so that we don't get tired of driving or walking.

Here are some of the pictures from our monument and museum days. We spent time in the Natural History museum today. We also went to the National Archives (but photography was not allowed) and saw the Constitution, Declaration, and Bill of Rights. We've also been in the Air and Space Museum and the Museum of American History. We enjoyed them all, but the kids really loved the Natural History today because there was quite a bit for kids. We all loved being in love of learning today.

Mount Vernon and Colonial Williamsburg

It's a rainy Saturday morning and all of us are feeling like going a little slower today. We have been going nonstop for quite a while. We decided to do a little schoolwork, some laundry, and even let Dad shut his eyes for a little while. Unfortunately, I have been sick the entire trip with a cold and cough and it doesn't seem to be getting better. Brian has been so good to make sure we all get our sleep, even though he is up at 5 am ready to go.

We spent Thursday at Mount Vernon. It was incredibly hot and humid, but so much fun anyway. The kids loved exploring the entire estate. We spent all day there.

Listening to the audio tour for kids.

On Friday we spent the day in Williamsburg. It was so fun for the kids to see an entire colonial town with the British flag still hanging and the townspeople having to decide which side they would be on. We walked 10 miles, but it was so fun. The kids amazingly had the legs for it--even Zach.

The day ended with the militia firing their muskets and canon followed by the fifes and drums. Zach told us that someday he is going to be in the military and ride a really fast horse.

Philadelphia to Washington DC

We got in a bit late last night and had to figure out how to fit a family of seven into a hotel room made for four. After our awesome Philadelphia room (2 bedrooms with a view) we were a bit sad to have to cram in like sardines.

Here are some photos of our last two days.

This is the most important room in the world--at least my kids think so. They thought it was a sacred place. It is where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were debated, revised, and signed here at the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall). We knew almost every question on the tour, even the one about the significant piece of furniture in the room--the chair where George Washington sat which has a carving of a rising sun. Benjamin Franklin commented that all through the Constitutional Convention he didn't know if it was a rising sun or a setting sun. With my kids learning all about this and caring so deeply about it, I can't help but think it is still a rising sun.

The Liberty Bell.

Eating at City Tavern was so much fun. It was a delightful colonial experience, complete with colonial period clothing, recipes from the era (we tried a chocolate cake from Martha Washington's recipe collection), and even a tour. This was the place where the Founders came to discuss events, politics, and business. It was quite the happening place in it's day. Here we are with Thomas Jefferson and a local Philadelphian.

On our way to the Smithsonian museums. We went inside with temps in the 100s and not a cloud in the sky and came out to pouring rain. The rain ponchos were a big hit even though we looked like a family of Smurfs. The kids hadn't seen rain in a long time, so it was a welcome sight.

The big kids loved all the US history--so many interesting exhibits like the history of all of the US wars, the Presidents, the First Ladies (and all of their inauguration gowns--okay just us girls liked that one), pop culture, transportation, and American inventions. We finally had to leave at 5 pm because our little ones needed to do something else. Even the trains and cars were not enough to keep them happy.

Just as we were leaving the area, a policeman shut down traffic and told us to wait for a minute and have our cameras ready. We were standing just beside the Washington monument, a little down the street from the White House. A huge motorcade went by and we saw what looked like the President. The kids thought it was cool, even though they wished it had been Mitt Romney. :)

Zach seemed unconcerned with all of the pomp and circumstance. He was too busy playing in the puddles to care.

We Arrive in Philadelphia

I was forced to write the last two posts while my kids and Brian were waiting to leave the hotel room in Palmyra, anxious to get on the road. Tonight I should be able to give a few more details. We are enjoying our downtown Philadelphia room on the 19th floor overlooking Town Hall. William Penn is standing on the spire of this clock tower and looks like he might be trying to peer in our window. :)

On the way here we made a stop in Oakland, Pennsylvania (formerly known as Harmony) where we saw the place where Joseph and Emma met, married, and lived and where Joseph and Oliver worked on the translation of the Book of Mormon. It was also where the Aaronic Priesthood was restored and where Joseph and Oliver were baptized.

The kids were also very interested to know that Joseph and Emma's first child was buried in the nearby cemetery. They couldn't leave until they found the gravestone. They were deeply touched by the tribulation that this couple endured.

It was a long day of travel again, but we broke it up with a picnic along Lake Seneca where many Saints were baptized following the organization of the church at the Whitmer farm. We also had to stop for an ice cream cone. We have had a few squabbles, but for the most part the kids are doing really well. Before we left home I bought a roll of tickets that I am using to reward happy and positive behavior, writing, and whatever I choose to praise. They are responding really well to this. They know that the tickets can be redeemed for money (we cashed in our change jar before we left home), so they know that if they want souvenirs, they better be nice to each other and listen to Mom and Dad.

Here they are relaxing in the big bed. Brian found "Night of the Museum 2" which is all about the Smithsonian. They are getting really excited to go there.

Tomorrow we spend the day learning more about our Founding documents, the Declaration and the Constitution, and as much history as we can find in this interesting city.