Thursday, July 28, 2011

Family Fun



After months of being the one left behind on all the fun trips, we finally made plans to go somewhere together! My Tommy planned the day (as usual, since he is way more fun than I am) and was so considerate to plan something NOT involving a bathing suit. :) We took a drive to the Shenandoah area, or Mount Jackson, more specificly.

We first made a trip on the Covered bridge. It smelled so wonderful! Cedar, I think.

I had never driven on anything like that before.

Next stop was the Route 11 potato chip factory. We hoped to watch them cook, but they weren't that day.

Here is William holding his "tail." I never thought I would put any of my kids on a leash, but we don't have a double stroller right now. William was really cute with the monkey on his back, and though he was strong and sometimes pulled me, it was good for the sightseeing we did that day.


All set to go in the Shenandoah Caverns! It's the only caverns that had an elevator to get down the 60 feet to the caverns.


It was 52 degrees down there! Thankfully, Tommy remembered a blanket for the baby.





We had a little bacon while we were down there...




And eggs!



Here is Patrick's castle. It's so amazing to see what God has done. Our guide said that it takes 125 years to make an inch of the stalagtites and mites. So beautiful!




Mommy and her cuties!





Daddy too. On a side note, I want to say that my kids were really good in the caverns. We had a groupl that was super rude and just kept talking and talking while he was trying to lead us. It was a funny tour, because he had to turn the lights on and off for us, as we traveled in each room, so we had to wait and stop, and wait. But, really, we were on a tour and the adults were just too chatty. I was really proud of my kids and how well they listened.




Rainbow lake.





This looks like something here in DC. Not sure what the kids are doing, but can you guess what this is?


There was also an area with the old-fashioned store window displays.

The great part of this trip was that the three main things we did were all in one area! There is a huge place with American Parade items - inaugural parades, mardi gras, rose parades...the place was filled and everything was HUGE. You see that stuff on TV but never realize how enormous it all is, and that some of it moves!










This is the Lone Star float, used in the inaugural parade for George W. Bush.





This train was over 100 feet (I think) and was the largest piece there.





I just want you to see the size of the building. This is only half! Look how little Tommy looks!


Then there was a place to let the kids just have fun. A big yellow barn with all kinds of neat things to see and play in. There was a beehive IN the wall, where you could see everything, a rabbit to pet, scavenger hunt and a train ride in the parking lot. The kids were thoroughly exhausted after this place, and it was a perfect stopping place.







After dinner, Tommy took the scenic Skyline Drive home for the sunset. We caught almost all of it. We would stop at the overlooks, and Emma would say something along the lines of "the sun isn't moving." "Where's the sun again?" It was funny. I am so happy we had such a great family day!

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