Sunday, October 3, 2010

Back in the Day


Some thoughts on a weekend away:

If you are the one making the reservations (Tom), and you see that the hotel has an indoor pool, please share this information with the rest of the family. Not super fun to watch the kids have to resist the siren song of the pool just because no one thought to pack bathing suits.

If you are packing the portable DVD player (Anna), it might be a good idea to remember the plug as well. Kind of stinks to have a brand new movie in the car and no way to watch it.

When you take your kids to Historic Williamsburg but don't want to spring the money for passes to the exhibits, you may need to find other ways to turn the weekend into a learning experience.

Note: The old-timey dressed actors will NOT let you inside without a pass. Trust me on this. And what is a milliner anyway, and why does she think she's all that?

Tree climbing is free:










As is spending time with the livestock:


Just be warned that both horses could be male and may be rather "excited" to see you.

While it is not on the official Williamsburg curriculum, this could be described as a "teachable moment." It could fall under science, or sex ed.

I do not recommend zooming in on the next photo, even though this is well after things had died down, so to speak.


If you find you need a little alone time, you can just throw those meddling kids into the stocks:


If one child says his shoes are stuck and he can't get out of the stocks, just yell, "There's a BEE!" and see how fast the problem resolves itself:






Talk about lightning speed.

Feel free to take the kids down to the James River in Jamestown. If your daughter falls in, gets soaked, and starts wailing, just keep shooting pictures and laughing:







You may want to apologize later when you realize her leg is scraped up and bloody.

Give her a hug when you hear that she risked lfe and limb to recover a submerged Colonial artifact.

Give her another hug when she discovers her treasure is a mangled 1991 penny.

Bear in mind that the success or failure of any trip is directly related to the mother's blood sugar level at any time. Feed said mother chocolate and Diet Pepsi at regular intervals.

And finally, remember that despite the schlepping and the arguing and the enormous fear of bedbugs (or fear of enormous bed-bugs), a get-away, even just for a day or two is usually worth it.


23 comments:

Sokphal said...

I completely laughed when I read about falling in the river part! You.Are.Awesome! (P.S. I would totally keep on taking pictures too!). :)

Marg said...

I can totally relate to the packing the portable DVD player. I took our portable ipod speakers away on holidays and left the plug at home.
Also when your 17 yr old says she really really wants to go to Fiji for a holiday with you and she promises that she will be really nice to you, don't believe a word she says.

Anonymous said...

OMG, I went there when I was little. I think I was 5 years old or younger, but I totally remember being in those stocks.

You and I have the same blood sugar issues. Except yours are funnier.

jbhat

Julia said...

Many successful family activities have failed because of blood sugar. Quick, get Mama a cookie!

Works every time. And then I feel a little guilty about the grouchy yelling attack. ha.

Love your post. xoxo, Julia

the Hawks said...

some days, I wish YOU were my neighbor!

K A B L O O E Y said...

I always wish you were my neighbor. The shot of the kids looking "downstairs" at the horse is hysterical. Tell your son "Go Yanks" for me.

K A B L O O E Y said...

And why can't you find a good set of stocks nowadays? It's getting too hard to lift my daughter up to hang her by her belt loop from that hook in the closet.

Jill said...

So now you and your kids (lucky you!!!) totally understand the saying, "hung like a horse".

And by the way, I think I snotted a bit laughing about yelling "BEES" ... and seeing the photos of your sons shoes. Hysterical!

Christy said...

Hysterical! You're so funny Anna! Those horse pictures are too much!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Lynn from For Love or Funny said...

I LOVE Williamsburg! And what trip isn't complete without a kid falling into water?

Cat@BudgetBlonde said...

Haha awww. W&M is my alma mater and I definitely miss my student ID allowing me to get in free everywhere! Y'all can always go into the Wren building for free!

Cat@BudgetBlonde said...

Thanks for becoming a follower of Budget Blonde! I've been reading your blog for a long time, and you are hysterical. And, until today, I didn't know that you probably aren't too far from me. I'm in Richmond. Thanks again!

Catsngrams said...

I am still laughing. What a fun trip. Presious moments and memorable ones. Thanks for sharing

Gretchen said...

That is awesome! I love the "tell them you see a bee" comment! You are so naughty!!!

Pamela said...

OMG my kid was up in arms after our trip to NY for fear we'd brought bed bugs home with us...

Loving the bee remedy! To note: "There's a spider in your hair" also works like magic when you want them to STOP walking away from you...

Debbie said...

We just got back from a trip and you should have seen us inspecting the room for bedbugs!

Heidi said...

This was so, so funny!! You are so, so, so funny.

Marinka said...

Your daughter and I have the same crocks!

Mrs4444 said...

I really love this post. We share a similar attitude towards "emergencies" and I love your sense of humor :)

Anonymous Soul said...

"You are invited to Anonymous Soul to answer this question
{What's worse, being forgotten or replaced?}"

Kate Coveny Hood said...

Hilarious! I often get my kids to move by yelling "a bee!"

Rachel Elizabeth said...

I can't wait to have family vacations like this.

Amanda @ Healthy House on the Block said...

I popped over to your blog from Young House Love and I saw the picture of your kiddos in the guillotine in Williamsburg -- and I had to laugh becuase my husband and I JUST took a picture exactly like that there a few weeks ago! Looks like you had fun! LOVE your house projects, too! :)