Vacation Part 1

We just returned from a little Fall vacation, courtesy of Ryan's parents who graciously gave us a time share week at a resort in Williamsburg.  We had some plans, not many, few carried out, and one completely stifled, lots of fun, relaxation, and devotion to nothing but having a good time.  That's one of the great things about vacation with little ones.  It doesn't matter what you do, doesn't need to be grand, and doesn't need to be extravagant. What matters most to them is that they have your undivided attention, they sleep in a new place and wake up there too, they get to swim when it's cold outside, and it's all new.  When it's new, it's exciting. That is their best vacation.

Case in point: we went to the Yankee Candle Store on Saturday because we had looked at an advertisement that boasted about their "year-round snow," "visits with Santa," "kids candle making stations," "huge hickory-dickory-dock clock with anamatronic singing and dancing mice," and "wax hand making."  All things our kids would love, so we made that our first stop. Suffice it to say, that was their favorite stop.  Bingo.

We waited a very long time in line for this whole "dip your hand in wax and make a permanent mold of your hand," deal. Isabella and Declan were intent on making 'a hand' though. Seconds before it was our turn we saw the teeny tiny paper that stated "you must be 42 inches to do this."  Sorry Declan, and Isabella, you barely made it...barely. 

I tried to talk her into making a symbol with her fingers, like a peace sign or an I love you sign. She insisted putting four fingers up. You know, in case we ever look back on the hand mold and wonder how old she is.  Asking a four year old to hold her fingers very straight though, while dipping her hand in wax and then ice water, five times, is a very big thing to ask. And as a result we got this:

I think it's pretty sweet. And even sweeter that she came up with it herself.  And one day, I know, I will hold this mold and wish for that tiny hand to be in mine again.
In part of the store that was set up like a Winter Wonderland (already, seriously?) it snowed every four minutes.  I'm not sure what it was, but it melted.  And our kids caught it on their tongue.  Behind that, Santa himself was hanging out taking lists (already, seriously?). But, they loved it.  All of the twinkling lights, the big bridge, the penguins, the Christmas ornaments, manger scenes, and Mr. Clause himself.

Just to get in a little history, we also visited Yorktown and Jamestown.  Pretty sure Ryan enjoyed that the most.  The kids loved seeing the big ships, playing in the sand, but totally didn't get the whole "old days" scenario.  Isabella was cool with wearing poofy dresses every day, and they were totally down with scraping deer fur off of a hide with an oyster shell.  Declan and Quinn liked smashing corn into meal, and Isabella could play a mean game of bowling with wooden pins and a very heavy ball.  I think they could handle a blast from the past. Better than me, anyway.

Nothing says "Indian Village" like a big ol' stroller (with a sweet lil' babe).

 Every time we walked up to an exhibit, Declan stood perfectly still, hands clasped in front of him, and listened intently. Makes a teacher  mama happy.

Declan insisted on wearing his boots with his shorts.  Ryan totally supported his request, stating that he was going for the correct period look. 

I want to live in Yorktown. Right on the riverwalk, transforming one of the little shops into our home, visiting the rocky beach every single day, walking on the cobblestone paths nightly. Yep, I want to live there, definitly. 

Stellar family shot #562.

The sand along the river walk was my favorite kind of sand: not too sandy, kind of rocky, doesn't stick to you, and nice and clean.

 Mom was talking about the awesome ship that was sailing by and said to Isabella "look how beautiful!"  Isabella turned to her and said "I know, that gate is so beautiful! We could get married there."  So she and Declan proceeded to "get married" in front of the gate. And getting married, to them, is hugging, dancing, and kissing.  Sounds perfect to me...

Declan was a little weirded out by these two.  But he loosened up a bit and went with it. He knows how his daddy likes a good photo op.

This was just the first few days. There was much more fun had, and some fun planned, but not had (and a good story to go along with it).

To be continued...