Thursday, October 22, 2009

Our Vacation

We decided to take a vacation to Williamsburg, Virginia this year. We studied about the Jamestown Settlement in History so we thought it would be fun for the kids to see for themselves how things were 400 years ago. But before getting to Williamsburg, we worked in a couple of other things. Warning: this is a very long post!

The State Fair
We took the kids to the State Fair on Friday. My Mom and Dad met us and picked up Madelyn and she spent the day and night with them while we enjoyed the fair. This was Miller and Bailey's first trip to the State Fair and their first time riding rides. They loved it!

where the wild things are


Miller had a blast riding rides--the faster the better!


first roller coaster ride--they loved it!


Corbett Family Reunion
On Saturday was our annual Corbett Family reunion. We always look forward to spending time with our family.

Madelyn and my Uncle Griffin


love that smile!


Every year my Uncle Gary takes the kids (and some of us adults) on a hayride around the farm. It's something we all look forward to.


Yorktown
October 19 was the anniversary of Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown, so the weekend of the 17th-19th they had a celebration at the Yorktown Victory Center. It was so cold and windy that day!

the Continental Army Camp


an original broadside of the Declaration of Independence, dated July 1776


This is how they washed their clothes


talking to the british doctor


they shot the cannons and it was loud!


I think our favorite thing at Yorktown was the school for the soldiers. Miller and Bailey both "enlisted" in the Continental Army and learned about life in the army back then.

Miller is signing his enlistment papers


He got a whopping "$20" for joining!


Bailey is making her mark


receiving her papers and money


They learned the requirements for joining the army. Here they are getting measured to see if they are tall enough


Miller taking his hay to his tent (to sleep on)


working hard


they learned how to march in formation and how to carry their weapon


Bailey by the river


all boy


Jamestown
On Monday we spent the day at the Jamestown Settlement. After touring the museum, we toured the Powhatan Indian Village. Here is Miller grinding corn.


Bailey inside the Indian house


scraping a deer skin so that they can make leggings


We toured replicas of all 3 ships: The Susan Constant, the Discovery, and the Godspeed
stearing the boat




In the fort area we were able to see how the colonists lived. Here is the storage building where they kept their armor and weapons.


bowling in the streets


we tested the armor by throwing rocks at each other


Miller trying to start a fire the old fashion way


learning the art of canoe making




The Virginia Zoo
On Tuesday we decided to drive to Norfolk and go to the Zoo before coming home. We had been to our zoo when Bailey was a baby so it was like her first time going to a zoo and she was very excited.

feeding the animals




our favorite thing at the zoo


The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
Another unplanned activity was riding on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. We thought it would be a neat experience for the kids and since we were so close, we decided, why not?!





One of the great things about this vacation was that we could count each day as a school day! It was a great learning experience for all of us! Miller and Bailey are planning to make a scrapbook of the trip. I can't wait to see how they turn out! I have to add that Madelyn was such a trooper! She didn't fuss or complain a bit, even though it was cold and her eating and nap schedule was way off!

I'll leave you with something funny that Bailey said. I had a bag of skittles in the van and she asked me "what is that green thing?" and I said "it's a bag of skittles." then Bailey said "why is it there?" and I said "because I don't have anywhere else to put it.". Then Bailey said "you could put it in my tummy!".

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