On our way

So here we are on our way. Frank, Haley and I all loaded up on Southwest. Oakland to Baltimore via a brief on plane layover in Missouri. We took snacks with us from Trader Joes and enjoyed a very smooth flight. We played games and napped and had a great trip.

When we arrived, we picked up our car. We saved a nice little bit per day by renting and paying in advance with Priceline. When we went out to get our car in the multiple carrier lot, they told us to just pick which ever car we wanted - of course in the econo section. When we got out there, there were two to choose from. But Haley was excited to get to pick the one she liked the best. Thankfully she only had to choose between two, or we would have been there all night! We then drove on to Annapolis and found the great restaurant we had eaten at before. Buddies - we had the buffet, but if we ever go again or if you go get the all you can eat crabs.

Once we left Annapolis, we ran into terrible traffic. We spent about an hour going four miles outside of DC. We finally made it into Williamsburg about 1:00 am. It was a long trip and Frank and I were mighty tired.

We stayed in a nice Crown Plaza where Frank was training. In the morning, Frank drove us girls over to Colonial Williamsburg. Our hotel was situated about 3/4 of a mile from the area. Frank was able to hang out with us until about noon. Then we girls were on our own.

we spotted our first cardinal.

A green frog on a red rock sunning himself below the cabinet makers shop.

We mixed the clay that will be made into bricks with our very own feet that will be a part of restoring Williamsburg in the future.

We spent twice as long getting the clay off our feet!

Here is Haley observing all the goings on at the brick yard.

We discovered that they use leftover clamshells to crush and make into "gravel" for walk ways.

We had lunch at the Kings Arms Tavern and had their very own bottled ginger ale. It was excellent. We talked with a wonderful couturier who was doing her fellowship there in Williamsburg. She was working on a reproduction of an antique jacket and discussed with us all the fabrications, seam construction and all other sorts of fascinating sewing things, I could have stayed there all, all day!! Then we went on to talk with my second favorite thing. Jewelry. The silversmith was fascinating. It was really enjoyable to hear the craftsmen and women talk about their trades.

Then we wrapped things up with a really nice ride in this beautiful carriage around Williamsburg for 20 minutes.

By this time it was REALLY hot and humid. It was nice to take a load off and ride around and feel a bit of a breeze.

After our ride we walked what seemed a really long way back to the car. We headed back to the hotel and had a nice long nap.

After Frank's training, we drove out to York and picked up Nathan Murphy. We had such a great time with him. It was great getting to know him, finally. Haley really enjoyed having a big brother around for a little while. He just totally cracked her up! He was really glad to get the two pictures of his little sisters that Cathi sent with me. I also wrapped up some of the cherry sauce that Cathi sent me home with. He was delighted. He enjoyed looking through the pictures on my camera from our trip to Canada. Especially the pictures of his dog Storm. He almost cried when he saw the pictures of his sisters though!I really hope my kids could be so friendly and socially adept as to go out and have dinner with total strangers to themselves - even if they were friends of your folks, maybe even especially if they were friends of your folks- and seem to have such a good time.