Titanic

In honor of  (that doesn't quite sound right :/ ) the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and, I'll admit it, because of a great discount :), the girls and I recently visited the Titanic museum.

From the time of spotting the iceburg, the crew had only 37 seconds before impact.

A video game/simulator let us try to change course quickly enough to miss it.

We were unsuccessful.



Cameras weren't allowed inside, but we took a few pics outside.

The employees were great, really bringing the stories to life.

Also, a crew from USA Today was there, working on a story, so we got to follow them around a bit and listen to all of the cool things they were learning! (Watch for the story in April :).

 The girls next to a replica anchor.  Titanic's center anchor weighed over 16 tons!!!!!!!

 A side note, in case anyone is interested - Keegan was displeased I told her to wear something, "not ratty."  Haha.  According to her, her spring style is going to be "ratty t-shirts and sports shorts." I generally don't make an issue of clothes, but am not thrilled by this development :/.

 We learned some interesting facts and stories and saw a life jacket (worn by John Jacob Astor's young wife) valued at over a million dollars.  Wow!

Such a tragedy, that also brought out so many acts of heroism. 

Neat opportunity for us to learn :).

One Room Schoolhouse

Recently Kelsey and Keegan had an opportunity to return to the one room schoolhouse where they spend a day in 1892.  It is a cool program and a very fun way to learn some history!  They did geography, math, writing, memory games, and spelling (Kelsey won the spelling bee - yea, Kelse!)

Kelsey :)

The entire class

Keegan and Kelsey were happy to be there at the same time as some of their friends :).
Everyone looked so cute in their outfits.

The schoolhouse was moved board by board from another location.  It really was used in the 1800's and all the way up into the 1950's!  They actually have the school superintendent's diary from 1892 and use that to organize the children's day.  The teachers are always "Schoolmarm Miller" because that was the teacher's name that year.

 For some unknown reason, this is what happened when I asked Keegan and Kelsey to stand together, thinking I would take a lovely picture of my lovely daughters....

silly me :).

My favorite picture of the day

Colonial kids

Once Upon a Nation was great!  They supplied the storytelling benches and storytellers around town, organized the Colonial muster and reading of the Constitution (by costumed actors,) and provided a Colonial Kids experience around town.  Keegan, Kelsey, and I went on a Colonial Kids Adventure.  They felt almost too old for it, but it was fun anyway!  And I enjoyed it, so how could they be too old?

This was the guide who introduced the storyline - the newly printed copy of the Declaration of Independence was missing and it was our job to find it.  All the kids received hats.

During the adventure, Keegan found the bag which had held the Declaration, and Kelsey found a clue in a flower bed!

Kelsey had to keep her hat low on her head because she had just gotten her glue on her forehead a few days before, and wasn't supposed to let a hat sit right on it.

Being sworn in as Patriots

At the end, with the cast.  A fun filled morning :).

Breakfast with Ben!

In Philadelphia, we had the opportunity to eat breakfast with Ben Franklin.  Well, a very accurate impersonator, anyway :).Initially, we were planning for Kelsey and Keegan to go with Bill or me the weekend Bill was there visiting.  Then The Rock cancelled Saturday morning classes for that day, so we all went!

This man has done this for years and knows a lot about Ben Franklin, his sayings, and his life.

He told stories while we ate, then had a Q&A session at the end.

 A shot from the upstairs balcony, where the breakfast was held, at the Visitors' Center.

Some Colonial music

All of this and bacon, too :)!

Civil War Ball

And the next Civil War Ball....
These pictures are repeats if you are on Facebook, but I couldn't help myself :).
To the left is the first dance of the evening with, as you can see, everyone holding hands and snking around in a line - a giant follow the leader :).

Kelsey's hair - Caitlyn, Keegan, and I are all jealous that Kelsey's hair will actually hold curl when you fix it!

Caitlyn is in the center and Kelsey is to your right.

The dancers come in to the center from opposite ends of the lines on opposite sides, dance, then return to their spots.

 Kelsey in the center

Kelsey, Walter, Keegan, and Lydia
Our friend Walter is one of the most perfect gentlemen you could ever hope to meet :).

 Kelsey and Lydia were not traditional dance partners, but they sure had fun :)!

The girls go under the guys' arms, then 

RACE

Pretty Caitlyn in her new ball gown

Keegan

 Aw.  Only for these girls would Bill dress up and dance.  Good Daddy points for him.

 Chad and Kelse and Caitlyn and Josiah waltz.

Some spinning going on out on the dance floor

 Caitlyn and her good friend Rayonna looked beautiful.
Rayonna and her mom came to our house to get ready, which made things even more fun :). 

Caitlyn and Walter leaving the dance floor. 

Angie and Caitlyn

Angela taught and helped Caitlyn to sew her gown

A note - Angela and Walter and along with another brother and sister have a singing group.  Check out The Willi on Facebook when you have a chance!

Wordless Wednesday - Colonial Kids in Philadelphia