Saturday, September 26, 2009

Summer Vacation 2009 Part VII- Roanoke ,VA

The science geek hubby needed to get his fix so we went to The Science Museum of Western Virginia located in the downtown Roanoke City Market. It occupies the fourth and fifth floors of the multicultural building called Center In The Square, which is also the home to museums of art and history- lucky for me. It had lots of kid friendly interactive exhibits but Caelun was too tired and we had a major melt down. We calmed him down enough for the girls to get to explore but I didn’t get many pictures. We cut out early and headed to our hotel which had a great full sized pool and a wonderful kiddie pool. Once again all was right with the toddler world. The girls seemed to enjoy that as well.

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As you can see Caelun was not interested in the cool science exhibits.

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Clint calming the meltdown.

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Later at the pool.

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        0809 Vacation and Late Summer 09 0090809 Vacation and Late Summer 09 015Yummm…pool water nothing like other people’s feet laced with chlorine.  0809 Vacation and Late Summer 09 011

It was a really great pool.

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Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Summer Vacation 2009 Part VI –Williamsburg, VA

This was the highlight of the vacation for me. I am an avid history buff. I am particularly interested in the history of the foundation of our country. Colonial Williamsburg is a bit like geek heaven for me. Fortunately for me Clint is equally geeky- maybe not so fortunately for Abbi and Cae.

Here is the tour:

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The wonder twins entering Colonial Williamsburgvacation Williamsburg 09 002vacation Williamsburg 09 003   vacation Williamsburg 09 005 vacation Williamsburg 09 006 vacation Williamsburg 09 007   vacation Williamsburg 09 010        Clint is herding Caelun.

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Clint and I really enjoyed the gardens.

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The archways made of box woods and various trees were inspiring. Look for one made from dwarf apple trees coming soon to the Conley home.

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Caelun loved the horses

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The Governors House was very architecturally interesting to both Clint and I. All those windows, dormers and turrets were great fun.

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This was probably my favorite place we saw- now there was much we didn’t see but this was sooooo cool. I have goose bumps even now thinking about it.

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George Wythe was an amazing man. Wythe's signature is at the head of the list of seven Virginia signatories on the United States Declaration of Independence.  He was the first professor of law in America,earning him the title of "The Father of American Jurisprudence." he taught at the first law school- William and Mary. To me the ultimate is that he was the formative teacher and advisor for Thomas Jefferson and later for George Washington. Talk about a group of world changers. I was in awe to tread these floors.

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Caelun found the chickens in the chicken coop more entertaining.

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Inside Cae-Cae found some letter blocks to play with.

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Heading down stairs my son’s little hand is on the banister touched by the founders of our country.

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me too

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Okay Caelun – feel inspired to save the world- well okay you can wait until after kindergarten.

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We loved the period dress all around us.

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The girls- off on their own met back up with us for lunch.

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Williamsburg is also the setting of much Civil War history.

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The view from our lunch table.

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We loved this house- it is similar to the period and color of our house.

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Patrick Henry spoke here – arguing for freedom.

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Caelun wasn’t overly impressed.

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We enjoyed watching lath and plaster being built. Our house – being of the same period is all lath and plaster.

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This is for the pharm. tech. in Clint.vacation Williamsburg 09 086

 

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The girls found this really interesting- it was a museum of the mental hospital on the grounds – from back in that time period.

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There we lots of period original paintings.

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I loved the textiles and old quilts.

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The children’s art section had interactive parts.

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Clint makes his feelings clear- “Help Me”

  vacation Williamsburg 09 130 vacation Williamsburg 09 131Abbi and Perry admire the view on the way back to the car.  

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