Williamsburg, VA - 9/19-9/22/10

To headed to Williamsburg, VA for a nice, long weekend on September 19. We didn't make our usual OBX vacation this year as the Starcher family was awaiting their newest arrival during that time. However, we knew we needed a getaway and what we got was just what we needed.

We spent Saturday through Monday exploring Yorktown battlefields, Jamestown forts and ships, and Colonial Williamsburg. I think this trip was better than the last time we were here because we knew where to go and what to do. Last time, we spent quite a bit of time just getting around and figuring out what to do and where. The weather was beautiful - 85 degrees, sunny, with a nice breeze. The kids were able to swim in the outdoor pool during the day and the indoor pool at night. It was a weekend of fun, but we all got a lot of rest too. The boys were kept on their school bedtime schedule so as not to get out of that habit. Justin and I went to bed early too, so was very nice! We had a great time.

The boys on a Yorktown battlefield.

Jamestown offers so much for the boys to do. Lucas was only 2 the last time we were there and Hayden was only 4, so they really didn't remember much. They both took the maps and offered themselves as guides! It was rather amusing.

The first thing they led us to was the Indian village -

Tanner loved the corn "grinder". He was amazed that this was the method they had to use to grind the corn down for cooking uses.

The next place the two little boys led us to was the ships -

This is where they met a shipman who explain to them a LOT of history of the ships, different weapons utilized to defend them on the high seas, etc. The boys, who most know do not sit still well, were fully engaged the whole time he was talking.

I don't know about you, but I don't think a thin blanket covering six barrels laying on their sides makes a very comfy bed. However, Lucas thought it was great!

Dress-up was the game of choice for these two when they found this straw hat!

Ahoy there - on an ocean going vessel!

Ahoy there on a river going vessel!

I remember a year and a half ago how much Tanner and JJ LOVED these sets of armor that they could try on. Hayden and Lucas were just as excited this time!

Inside the fort at Jamestown, they have several games set up to show how the settlers and soldiers may have passed the time. Hayden loved the ring toss game that was basically four loops made out of rope with two dowel-like wooden stands on either end.

JJ tried his hand at the ring toss too.

Tanner enjoyed the bowling game - 12 wooden, carved pins and a wooden ball.

While the brothers were watching the presentation of the black powder muzzleloaders that were used in the fort, Lucas crept inside one of the buildings with his ears covered. Are we surprised that it just happened to be the hut where the swords were kept and sharpened? This nice "settler" let Lucas hold a sword because she "understood that as the youngest he never got to do anything fun just for himself". I think he's the master manipulator and the smirk on his face when I arrived in the sword hut was all I needed to see to prove me correct! He loved "playing" with the sword and his brothers were quite jealous when they arrived on the scene.

As we were leaving the Jamestown settlement, the little boys wanted to pose with the "three ships". I think we have a picture of the older boys in a pose much like this from the last trip.

When we headed to Colonial Williamsburg, the boys found their favorite place from last time!

Can you tell which child was very excited about this? (hint: same kid on the left in each picture!)

No McCreadie vacation would be complete without at least one round of putt-putt golf being played. This time it was pirate golf and the boys found lots of "loot" - they kept finding lost golf balls throughout the course and we turned them all in when we were done with our round. Poor Justin with his bum ankle - we unknowingly picked the course that was all stairs up and down the course. He was a trooper though.

Lucas got a hole in one!

The last night we were there, Justin got sushi. The nice man at the sushi restaurant gave him kid friendly chopsticks that are pretty much like tweezers. Spaghetti was on the menu for dinner, so the kids ate their with their chopsticks and thought they were fabulous!

We left Williamsburg early Tuesday morning and headed to Staunton, VA to meet the newest Starcher, Gillian. We spent the day there catching up, the kids played, we ate lunch and then we headed for home. We were actually home in time to get the kids in bed by their 8:30 school night bedtime. It was perfect!

We enjoyed out time away very much. It was a very needed break from life and the stressful weeks that led up to it. We're hoping to be back to our OBX vacation next year because my husband really missed that he didn't get to go to the beach this year. Me? I'm perfectly happy with this year's vacations - Maine and Williamsburg. That's why we're a well-rounded family. Justin keeps us visiting the beach and I keep us visiting the country. It's great!