Jamestown, VA

On Tuesday we visited Jamestown, the first European settlement to prosper in America. We got to walk through the little Indian village with the dome huts, then we went on board a replica of the ship that the settlers came on, and then we walked through the fort.

Mark, at the well that the settlers dug after months of drinking the dirty water from the James River.

The original fort walls.

Mark and Greg with the John Smith memorial.

The orginal Jamestown fort recently found and excavated.

Mom with Amy Stillman Hoag, who came to visit with us and show us around the settlement.

The original chapel that the Jamestown settlers built was replicated here, and the foundation is still from the original building.

A memorial to the Jamestown settlers.

Sadie, showing me where the ceiling is in the museum. Here they show artifacts uncovered at the original Jamestown fort that we visited.

Here, we are visiting the original glass blowing place in Jamestown from the 1600s, where we were able to see someone making a fancy glass vase.

Colonial Williamsburg, VA

We all enjoyed learning about how the colonists made their shoes, furniture, books, clothes, baskets, tools, and in the picture above a man is teaching us how they made bricks. Although I'm pretty sure no one had tattoos at the time of the revolution.

Greg and Mark were very enthusiastic about all the weapons that were hung on the wall of the governor's house.

Mark, Kalli, Greg and I, all headed to the gallows.

A colonial house.

In front of the Governors Palace where the leaders of the town once lived, including Thomas Jefferson.

Mark checking out the homemade soap balls. They smelled really good.

Learning about colonial medicine.

Mom, Mark and a woman from 300 years ago.

We visited Colonial Williamsburg for two days last week and were able to experience and observe what colonial life was like in Virginia.

Yorktown, VA

Yesterday we took a trip to Yorktown, here in Virginia, the town where the last battle of the revolution took place. We visited the battlefield, where we posed with the canons, and the boys were in heaven! Then we went to an old farm where we learned about the way farms worked in America at the time of the revolution. We also took a trolley tour through the town and learned about all the different historical buildings. Some of the buildings in Yorktown date back to the 1600s.

Outterbanks, NC

Then we stopped by the beach!

(Pleased to report to Nana and Grandad that we collected plenty of sea glass)

Kitty Hawk, NC

We went to the Wright brothers museum. But, unfortunately we arrived about five minutes before close up time, so it was a very rushed educational experience.

A lighthouse under construction

On the drive to the Outer Banks.

Raleigh, NC

We stayed at the Clawson (Dad's sister Megan) home for the first few nights of our journey.

We had dinner with the Clawsons and the Calhouns last night. It doesn't get much better than this!

First week in North Carolina and we have weathered 2 ear infections for Ben, and a tooth pulled for Mark. We are getting to know medical staff . We bought a 2008 chevy express and we are equipping it with a rear view camera and dvd players to help us maintain equilibrium for the long trip ahead. We have had lots of playtime with Clawson and Calhoun cousins and this is a grand highlight for the kids!

Our new 15-seater van (above) that we will use throughout the journey.

Yesterday we were able to walk along the Tabacco Trail, where there use to be a railway that they would use to transport tabacco from the farms where it grew. But then the government wanted to have a reservoir made, intersecting the track, so the rails were taken out, and now there's just the trail left. So that was our historical field trip! Then, since today is St. Patricks Day, we have all scraped together all the green clothes we could find and are now unpinchable, and tonight we are having corn beef and cabbage, peas, salad and other green things for dinner. Sad to report however that mom had to take Sadie to the doctor today and she too has an ear infection. We're all having a great time, however, playing with the Calhouns night and day!

The little girls at the Calhoun's house in their new matching outfits.

Here's some pics from when we went to the wildcat rescue place in NC.

Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, NC.

Mark, cheerfully being eaten.

Cuteness.

Don't worry, they survived!

More pictures from the museum of natural science.

Museum of natural science and and the museum of North Carolina/USA history museum.

Yesterday we were able to visit the Stagsville plantation, here in North Carolina. In this picture, our guide is showing us where there were fingerprints on the bricks, left there by the slaves who built the house. Apparently this plantation owned about 900 slaves and was at one point the largest plantation in the South.

Us, in front of the family's house at the Staggville Plantation.

Mia, in front of the tiny door to the attic, where the children would sleep.

Mark displaying his homemade leprechaun hat!

(above) We visited the Duke cathedral and the gardens. Both were beautiful!

Kalli and Abbie frollicking on the lawn in front of Duke Cathedral

Mia and I lounging on a butterfly bench.

All the Taylor girls (plus Ben) in front of the pond at the gardens.

All sitting along the fountain where the kids fished out wishing coins so they could throw them back in.

On a bridge at the Duke gardens

Abbey, Kalli, Phoebe gang

Sadie knows that all dogs love her, even big ones.