back East - Part II: in which Natalie is put in the stocks

Our first day in Colonial Williamsburg did not start out well. As soon as we got off the shuttle and started making our way into town to watch the demonstrations the wind picked up and it started to pour down rain on us. We took shelter (as advised by a passing costumed cast member) on the porch behind the Kings Arms Tavern, and waited out the 15 minute deluge.

Once the weather cleared we walked through town, but most of the activity had wrapped up for the day. Natalie still had a chance to pose in her costume on some colonial steps.

And in the stocks.
We also ran into Thomas Jefferson as he was drafting the Declaration of Independence!
The next day we had another shot, (and beautiful weather!) at Colonial Williamsburg.

Natalie had to see what was inside this colonial barrel, (just a trash can).
Pushing Jackson in the stroller after giving him a branch to play with - lucky kid!
A glimpse of the rare Colonial Squirrel!
Hanging out in front of the governor's palace. Natalie liked the Unicorn on the gate.
She also liked playing with the stick and hoop!

Once we'd packed up it was time to head to Baltimore for the last night of our trip. We even got to see the Washington Monument on our way through D.C.!
We got to Baltimore in time to help close Fort McHenry for the day. But first Natalie tried to pick up a cannon ball to take home as a souvenir.

She was just the right size to head down into the bomb shelters under the gate.
View from the top of the inner harbor.
The flag is so big that they need help putting it away for the day so it doesn't touch the ground. It was a view of the flag flying over Ft. McHenry that inspired Francis Scott Key to write "the Star-Spangled Banner"!

Jackson liked the cannon balls too.
The whole Baltimore Inner Harbor area was fun to walk around and I wish we'd had more time to visit there. This boat is the only one that still survives that was in the attack at Pearl Harbor!
If you look close you can spot Natalie hiding in this picture. She was tired of the camera by this time.
Dinner after a LONG day. These kids were doing surprisingly well, though my mom and I were wearing thin.
The next morning we headed to the National Aquarium. This place was awesome.
We started at the bottom where the pool of sharks and rays was, and gradually made our way up five floors of tanks and exhibits. It was so well done.
I had to check the stroller at the beginning and they lent me this Kelty backpack, similar to what I hike with. Jackson had a good view of everything from in there and even managed to take a nap.
Natalie put on a fish performance in the kids area.
And Jackson enjoyed some freedom there as well.
But the best part was the dolphin show. Jackson looks a bit concerned in this shot.
We had terrific seats. Right up front but we managed not to get splashed! This is where the dolphins said good bye.
And then we just had to head back and get to the airport.
Phew. The kids were great on the airplane and we made it home in one piece. We're back to our routine and just enjoying the beginning of Fall here.

back East - part I: in which we hike, swim, and kayak

Last week the kids and I got back from a week-long trip to Virginia and Maryland with my mom. We had a great time, though I think I'll avoid traveling as much as possible in the near future!!

We spent the first part of our trip at my Aunt's parents' house in Virginia. They live about a block away from a nice little beach on Lake Monticello so we went to the beach at least once a day.

Jackson didn't like the way the sand felt on his knees so he quickly adapted his crawl to this bear-walk.
But he loved the sand everywhere else - even in his mouth! Yuck!
This first day we weren't quite prepared for the water - I think his diaper probably weighed as much as he did when he was done.
Natalie loved the kayak and got to go out on it almost every day.

Later that day another couple family members arrived. Here's Jackson playing peek-a-boo with Aunt Kathy, (my aunt, his great-aunt!)
The next day we went apple-picking. Natalie found out that she is 13 apples tall.
and picked her own apples - we'd worried that the trees would be too high up for her to reach, but everything was really low to the ground!
Jackson loved having his own apple to gnaw on too.
Hanging out under the tree with Uncle Steven.
And our first sight of Fall Pumpkins as well... they're everywhere now!

Later that afternoon, (after naps) we walked to the beach again and spotted our first deer.

The guys...
A lovely afternoon for a paddle.


And here is the spider that Natalie named Sam. She usually greeted us from the window next to the front door.
One morning we played for a while at the neighborhood park.
Natalie showed us which letters were which.

And Gary played with Jackson on the swing.
Later that day we went for dinner where we knew there would be a balloon guy. While we were there we had the only child in the place, so Natalie got a lot of attention. She left with two hats, a cool ballon toy, and a balloon bracelet! This guy was a balloon genius!
The next day we did the two mile walk up the hill to the Monticello visitors center. The walk started in a nice park where we had lunch and Natalie got to play in these cool hollow tree stumps.


Jackson enjoyed the ride... there were these great railed in boardwalks, or bridges over a lot of the trail.
And every time we came to one we had to do something, (Gary and Regina did push-ups, Natalie did jumping jacks or marched.)
Once Natalie started to get tired she just needed her muscles massaged a bit.
At the top there was a nice children's area. When Natalie walked in the man told her she could touch EVERYTHING. That was exciting for her.
The next day, before we left Regina's folks' house we managed to get in one more swim at the lake. We wanted to tire the kids out before putting them in the car for 3 hours on the way to Colonial Williamsburg.

Stay tuned for part II!