Nadia preaching at Colonial Williamsburg.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Sabbatical Part 5 - Williamsburg
We headed to Colonial Williamsburg and while it is a neat piece of history, I don't recommend it with kids, of any age really. It is NOT a stroller-friendly place. I can't see toddlers making it through any of the lengthy tours. Elementary aged kids might get a kick out of the artisans (there were a FEW homeschool kids there while we were who seemed to be into it). Teens would see it as a forced history lesson. So my overall recomendation is to save Colonial Williamsburg for once the kids have left the nest. However, we sat through the time share spill and got our tickets for free, so it made it all okay... as a side note, if anyone reading this wants to plan a trip to Colonial Williamsburg before Dec 31, 2012, we have two free year long passes we'll be happy to lend you! 
My girls holding hands as we walked through the town. 
Here we go! (Still having high expectations of the day)
Our first stop was the first church - Nad stepped behind the pulpit and started preaching with dramatic hand motions! Preach 'em up Nad! 
In the Governors gardens
On the Governor's mansion steps
Ready to call it a day. 
Such a sweetheart! 
We also drove through Jamestown while the girls napped but spent the rest of our time here relaxing, making a "Build a Cat", playing games, doing laundry and swimming in the pool. We attended CrossWalk Community Church.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Sabbatical Part 4 - Washington DC
Next stop - our nation's capital. 
Taking in all the sights!
We went to the Museum of the Native American. They had a hands on children's section where she got to basket weave and 
listen to animal sounds. They have a cafeteria with all kinds of traditional native foods which were very delicious. 
We went to the Museum of Natural History which is what she was looking forward to most in our pre-trip discussions - "The Dinosaur Museum" was good and has a very kid-friendly cafe. We rode the metro train each day and that itself was a lot of fun for her. I did gain a whole new understanding of the difficultly of getting around a subway with handicapped or stroller access - it's long and time consuming but possible. 
We stayed at The Mayflower Renaissance Hotel on Constitution Avenue - a very historic site as several inaugural balls have been hosted there as well as allied force meetings in WWII, long-term housing for several members of Congress. We pricelined it and got a great deal. At check-in when the desk worker realized there were four of us, she quickly started scrambling. She started apologizing because there were no rooms with two beds available. Once I explained that all we needed was one bed because we had brought two pack and plays with us, I could see the relief come over her face. I off handedly said, "As long as we have space enough to put up two pack and plays, we are great." Next thing I know we were in a gigantic hospitality suite - complete with dining table for 12, kitchen/bar area, living room and LOTS of open floor space. It was the perfect room for us as the girls had room to stretch out and play.
After two full days of going to museums, we woke up on day 3 and I asked Nad, "Would you like to go to another museum today?" She quickly said, "No museums, please!" So dispite it being 40 degrees, we headed to the National Zoo! A GREAT choice! She had a ball, didn't have to be told to "Stop, Don't, Wait, Stay with us, etc" and got to go and see all the animals she wanted. She walked/ran a million miles and it was our best day in DC for sure. 
She would tell us "This is not a real panda, it is a statue!" But then she'd talk to it and play with it as if it were real. 
The "real" panda bear! The National Zoo (which is free) is one of only three zoos in the nation with pandas. 
It was a COLD, WINDY day, so Lydi stayed covered up while she was sleeping, but she was snuggly warm and quite happy the whole time. We promised to take her back to a zoo when its not so cold this spring! We met with ministers at VBC Alexandria, attended the National Community Church for worship and had a great stay in DC.
Sabbatical Part 3 - Virginia
Next stop - Wintergreen Ski Resort, at the mountain home of our friends the Badkes who so generously let us stay at their home. It was so nice to have some space, be able to cook for ourselves, do laundry and just hang out and play. We had hoped for some great snow, but it was actually nice to NOT have snow on the mountain roads and for it not to be soooo cold while we played outside.
We offered Lydi her first rice cereal... she wasn't really a fan! We'll try again later.
Blaaaah....
We had heard the views from their home were incredible and we had a quick glimpse early in the first morning before the FULL fog set in. We couldn't even see the edge of the deck by mid morning, but as we ate dinner, the fog lifted...
we could see for miles!
It was gorgeous. I was holding Lydi and it was cold, so I didn't open the glass door and now highly regret it as this picture doesn't begin to capture the view!
We played in the blown snow at the kiddie park. Nad was soaked in no time.
Lydi took it all in from the warmth of her bucket seat.
A playmate for throwing snow balls!
Lydia woke up to see her snowman.
This was Nadia's snowman. She found the sticks for the arms all by herself!
All bundled up ready for the snow! We left Virgnia feeling refreshed and ready for the next leg of our trip!
We offered Lydi her first rice cereal... she wasn't really a fan! We'll try again later. 
Blaaaah....
We had heard the views from their home were incredible and we had a quick glimpse early in the first morning before the FULL fog set in. We couldn't even see the edge of the deck by mid morning, but as we ate dinner, the fog lifted...
we could see for miles!
It was gorgeous. I was holding Lydi and it was cold, so I didn't open the glass door and now highly regret it as this picture doesn't begin to capture the view!
We played in the blown snow at the kiddie park. Nad was soaked in no time. 
Lydi took it all in from the warmth of her bucket seat. 
A playmate for throwing snow balls!
Lydia woke up to see her snowman. 
This was Nadia's snowman. She found the sticks for the arms all by herself!
All bundled up ready for the snow! We left Virgnia feeling refreshed and ready for the next leg of our trip! Sabbatical Part 2 - Tennessee
In Tennessee we went to Nashville, Knoxville and Kingsport. We started in Nashville in our first hotel that was more than a single room - this meant we all got a little more sleep and had a few moments in the evening to check email, watch tv and do laundry. We visited the Opryland Hotel, had a fun pancake breakfast at Pfunky Griddle (a highly recommended stop for families as you get to make your own pancakes with add ons of your choice on griddles at your table), met with ministers from and attended church at Brentwood Baptist.
In Knoxville we went to a Children's Museum (where I forgot to bring my camera) and interviewed minsters at FBC. Then it was on to Kingsport where we met with ministers at FBC and went to the Bays Mountain Park. They had several animals to see and open space to run, which was just what we needed.
Lydi's first snake... can't you tell she's soo intrigued behind her eyelids?
In contrast, Nad WAS very intrigued and really studied each snake!
But all good things must come to an end and lead to a nap!
In Knoxville we went to a Children's Museum (where I forgot to bring my camera) and interviewed minsters at FBC. Then it was on to Kingsport where we met with ministers at FBC and went to the Bays Mountain Park. They had several animals to see and open space to run, which was just what we needed.
Lydi's first snake... can't you tell she's soo intrigued behind her eyelids?
In contrast, Nad WAS very intrigued and really studied each snake!
But all good things must come to an end and lead to a nap!Friday, February 24, 2012
Sabbatical Part 1 - Georgia/Alabama
And we're off! On a 30 day road trip through the southeast to interview ministers in parallel positions to our own at churches of similar size and mindset, to read, to reflect, to rest and to relax with our girls! What an exciting opportunity for sabbatical and what a gift from our church! With our car (not really our car but Andy's dad's van) packed to the roof and in every nook and cranny, we set out for our first destination... Atlanta! Less than a mile down the road, we stopped - to eat and feed everyone... then diaper changes, then back on the road again. This time we made it about 40 miles before stopping again - for gas... then 1 mile to stop again for car charger spliters. We trucked on for another while only to stop AGAIN.... so before we could even get to Atlanta we required 3 stops! Oh no, hopefully this was just a rocky start and not the pattern of what was to come! 
Arriving in Atlanta, Andy still not feeling his best, Lydi still on meds for an ear infection and Nad still have stomach bug issues, at least we were there. We spent the night and woke up for our first round of interviews, lunch and some fun in the pool. Within hours I was sick, sick, sick... in a hotel room with everyone piled in together. The next day Andy was feeling horrible and we were in for one of our our longest drives of the trip - Atlanta to Athens to Birmingham.
We did make it, stopping in at Milledge Avenue Baptist for a Go Red for Women Brunch in memory of Anne, Andy's mom. We met up with one of Andy's oldest childhood friends and his family in Birmingham for dinner and made plans to meet them for church and a trip to their farm the next day. We went to Shades Mountain Baptist for worship and had a wonderful day with friends.
In between church and the farm, we were able to visit with my Great Aunt Becky who lives in a nursing home in the area. She is the eldest living relative on my mom's side of the family. It was her first chance to meet both of the girls. Though hard of hearing, she is sharp as a tack and we had a delightful visit.
Mid-afternoon we headed out to Eric and Heather and their three children - Erica, Lucas and Savannah's home. A recent move for them, they are now living the farm life to the fullest. Nadia was able to check the chicken coop and "find" an egg they'd intentionally left behind for her to discover.
She romped all over the farm among the chickens, guineas and goats in some borrowed farm boots. As you can see, we look a little like "city" folks with her long sleeves and coat on (compared to Savannah who's not even wearing pants in the freezing cold!)
It took her a little while to warm up to the chickens being so close to her, but once she realized they were more afraid of her than she was of them, she had a ball.
She got to feed the ducks and fish in the pond.
Lydi was along for the farm adventure too!
Hummmm.... I'm not sure what to think of all this. I'll just hang onto Daddy!
Our next stop was Huntsville where we met with ministers at FBC Huntsville and went to the National Space Museum.
Where's Andy? Nadia? Lydia?
If you don't like crowds, February is a great time of year to visit the space museum - we had the whole place almost to ourselves. We ran into two other single people and a couple of school groups in passing and that was all during our entire visit!
Nad liked it for a while...
but at one point had had all the museum she could take. :)
That's when we found the more interactive parts like landing a space shuttle.
And the kid play area complete with legos
and a child sized mission control - a much happier Nadia!
Arriving in Atlanta, Andy still not feeling his best, Lydi still on meds for an ear infection and Nad still have stomach bug issues, at least we were there. We spent the night and woke up for our first round of interviews, lunch and some fun in the pool. Within hours I was sick, sick, sick... in a hotel room with everyone piled in together. The next day Andy was feeling horrible and we were in for one of our our longest drives of the trip - Atlanta to Athens to Birmingham. 
We did make it, stopping in at Milledge Avenue Baptist for a Go Red for Women Brunch in memory of Anne, Andy's mom. We met up with one of Andy's oldest childhood friends and his family in Birmingham for dinner and made plans to meet them for church and a trip to their farm the next day. We went to Shades Mountain Baptist for worship and had a wonderful day with friends. 
In between church and the farm, we were able to visit with my Great Aunt Becky who lives in a nursing home in the area. She is the eldest living relative on my mom's side of the family. It was her first chance to meet both of the girls. Though hard of hearing, she is sharp as a tack and we had a delightful visit. 
Mid-afternoon we headed out to Eric and Heather and their three children - Erica, Lucas and Savannah's home. A recent move for them, they are now living the farm life to the fullest. Nadia was able to check the chicken coop and "find" an egg they'd intentionally left behind for her to discover. 
She romped all over the farm among the chickens, guineas and goats in some borrowed farm boots. As you can see, we look a little like "city" folks with her long sleeves and coat on (compared to Savannah who's not even wearing pants in the freezing cold!)
It took her a little while to warm up to the chickens being so close to her, but once she realized they were more afraid of her than she was of them, she had a ball. 
She got to feed the ducks and fish in the pond. 
Lydi was along for the farm adventure too!
Hummmm.... I'm not sure what to think of all this. I'll just hang onto Daddy!
Our next stop was Huntsville where we met with ministers at FBC Huntsville and went to the National Space Museum. 
Where's Andy? Nadia? Lydia? 
If you don't like crowds, February is a great time of year to visit the space museum - we had the whole place almost to ourselves. We ran into two other single people and a couple of school groups in passing and that was all during our entire visit! 
Nad liked it for a while... 
but at one point had had all the museum she could take. :) 
That's when we found the more interactive parts like landing a space shuttle.
And the kid play area complete with legos
and a child sized mission control - a much happier Nadia! By the time we left Alabama, everyone was feeling well again, we were starting to have a moment to breath to relax (just a moment... not much more than that, but I'll get to that later!) More to come as we moved on to our next state in the journey!
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