Halloween at my brother's house...(Shawn is the stop sign)
Alex was the grim reeper, this is him in the school parade
David was "Alex Ovechkin" (like thats a change from his day to day outfits), Melissa was a pretty/nice witch and Greg was a transformer (I think the guys name was Optimus prime, but I called him Optimal Crime)
Dale was a hot pirate!
The kids had a four day weekend, so we decided to head to Pennsylvannia for the weekend. We stayed in Intercourse, Pennsylvannia (yes, that IS really the name!) It is in the heart of PA, dutch country, which is well known for it's large Amish/Mennonite population. It was really cool to learn about the Amish and see their buggies everywhere. I didn't want to offend them by taking their photos, so I took very few photos, and only from the car when they couldn't see the camera.
To summarize the Amish in one sentence is not doing them justice, but due to short attention spans, I will do my best. They are Christian and very spiritual. Their choice to live a simple life, disconnected from the world, stems from their desire to remain close to God. They came to settle in Pennsylvannia in order to practice their religion free from persecution, upon invitation from William Penn (a Quaker) . It was fun to learn about their simple life. On saturday night the young, single Amish date (or court) each other. They let loose! I heard buggies going by all night long, one Buggy was jammin with heavy metal!
Buggy at the citgo station...not paying the gas prices I pay, thats for sure!
A buggy on the road...
the kids on a buggy
the kids in a covered buggy (I love the word BUGGY! I think I will call our family car a Buggy)
We rode the historic Strasburg railroad one day
The Engine
The kids eating on the train
One day we went to a Chritmas museum where we saw lots of neat displays, but the best was walking to "Bethlehem"....We walked for several minutes through a life size recreation of old Bethlehem, through the "market" and to the "Inn" all the way to the "stable"
The "stable" with baby Jesus
the kids in front of the manger
We visited Valley Forge, site of the Continental Army's camp during the winter/spring of 1777-78...George Washington was able to take a rag tag army and get it together here in Valley Forge despite the hardships of weather, starvation and disease. The British, who had occupied Philadelphia, were pulling out and George Washington and his army, that he had reenergized at Valley Forge, were able to follow the British soldiers as they retreated from Philadelphia to New York.
The kids on a cannon
a Valley Forge hut. each hut was home to 12 men as they battled the elements. Valley Forge was camp for 6000 soldiers (at it's low) and 20,000 (at it's high in the spring)
The kids on a cannon
a Valley Forge hut. each hut was home to 12 men as they battled the elements. Valley Forge was camp for 6000 soldiers (at it's low) and 20,000 (at it's high in the spring)
Next we jumped in the buggy and headed to Philly....
Eating at City Tavern (est. 1773)
Independance hall...this is the room where America was born...to be in the same room where our founding fathers debated the framework of our country was amazing and humbling
the Liberty Bell
My Junior Rangers
How appropriate that our trip to Philadelphia was topped off by running into Ralph Nader and his 08 running mate....! (I saw the results today, they didn't win ;( )
Eating at City Tavern (est. 1773)
Independance hall...this is the room where America was born...to be in the same room where our founding fathers debated the framework of our country was amazing and humbling
the Liberty Bell
My Junior Rangers
How appropriate that our trip to Philadelphia was topped off by running into Ralph Nader and his 08 running mate....! (I saw the results today, they didn't win ;( )
We saw so many things on our trip, it's hard to post them all, but I did my best!
8 comments:
Looks like your trip was a blast! Great photos! That's awesome your kids get to visit all those historical places. I love the Ammish and the Mennonites! There is a family of Mennonites that come to our local farmer's market and they bring the BEST jams and pies ever! Shawn goes crazy over it.
First of all, how do you guys go on so many trips. Hopefully, we can be that way someday. When I was a teenager our family stayed a week on an Amish farm and every night they had a campfire for us. It was a really great experience.They seem like such loving and peaceful people. Two questions: What were YOU for Halloween? and Did you send Shawn out to steal that stop sign? :)
What a great trip!! We spent some time in Philadelphia last spring. It makes you appreciate the Constitution, doesn't it?
What a good trip for the family! I'm glad you were able to go and not only have fun, but for the kids to see and learn new things too!
sorry--it's Michelle! I'm at my parents house and apparently I was logged in as my dad and not me.
uh, I was a pirate for halloween (seeing how this is my page, I can be selective in the photos I post, and I was in no way going to post a picture of ME in costume!) and no I didn't steel the stop sign, I made it!! (I have always been known for my craftiness!)
Yes..."craftiness"...
You have? How did I miss that?
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