Williamsburg Retreat (week 2)

Two weeks after going on the MOMYS Williamsburg retreat dad and mom decided to go back for another week of learning and fun.  Since we live so close (which is a big blessing) it wasn't very hard at all to go back.  Mom and I (Heather) even found the time to make more period colonial outfits.  We arrived at Powhatan Plantation (a resort in Williamsburg) on Saturday (Mar. 17th) and unpacked. 

On Sunday we just played until evening and then we went to the ATGT.

 

Here is the crowd of people that went on the retreat with us (I think there was about 14 families).

Our whole family in our colonial attire (except dad).

Before the dancing started the people in charge of the retreat made announcements for the upcoming week and all of the families introduced themselves.

After we took our group picture (which is at the top of the post) the colonial dancing began.

Throughout the evening each of us got a self portrait done by an artist that was there.

Elijah was really good while he sat for his portrait. The secret is giving him a plastic cup, that always keeps him nice and content. :)

I was very impressed with the portraits they look just like a usual picture of each of us (just black and white).

~Monday~

The first week that we came we took a tour of Jamestown with the Jamestown tour guides. This week however the MOMYS retreat had there own tour guide come with them. Our tour guide was Pete Olson with Vision Heirs and our whole family thought that his tours where amazing. We had been reading about Jamestown in a book called "The Light and The Glory" and the history that he shared during his tour lined right up with it.

This week we also got to see and go in the "Susan Constant", which was being repaired the first week that we came

We also got to see the blacksmith actually make something this time (the first week that we came they were taking a break).

This was on the wall of the Church near the alter.

"The Lord's Prayer"

After seeing the church we headed over to the armory building, and Hannah got to try on 1 of the helmets. (they are really heavy trust me)

Our next activity that day was going to Historic Jamestown.

Our tour was by Rebecca S. and she was very passionate about the history of Jamestown which made her tour very interesting, even to the little kids.

These walls around the bell tower are original to this day!

After the tour we went into the museum and looked at all of the different artifacts that they have found in each of there dig sites.

~Tuesday~

Tuesday was our first tour of Williamsburg, and Mr. Olson led it again.

One of the neat things that he told us was that the owner of the Plantation that we were staying at for the resort also owner the house in this picture.

Once the tour ended we headed back to the resort for lunch and a Colonial music demonstration.

The first instrument that he demonstrated was a Glass Armonica, which was invented by Benjamin Franklin.

Then he showed us a pocket violin (and also played it).

He also showed us a Hurdy Gurdy, it is a pretty weird name but it doesn't sound so bad.  It basically sounds like a cross between a violin and the Bag pipes.

After listening to the colonial music demonstration we headed over to the play ground (which was right beside the building that we were in).  Bradley, Carter and Hannah had been wanting to go there all week and we finally had an opening in our schedule so we did.

They had lots of fun.

~Wednesday~

Wednesday morning we had another tour in colonial Williamsburg.

During each of the tours we have at least 1 picture of Hannah picking wild flowers.  She is sooo adorable.

After the tour Carter and Bradley along with other boys that they had met throughout the week pretended to fire the canons.

After playing around some more at Colonial Williamsburg we headed home to get some lunch.  Then After lunch Mom, Hannah, Elijah and I went to a Mother daughter activity.  While we were doing that Hayden, Bradley and Carter were at the playground in the resort doing a Militia drill with all the men.

~Thursday~

Thursday morning we headed to Yorktown Battlefield (about 30 min. away) for another tour.

It's hard to believe that this field was were the battle was fought just about 2 centuries ago.

That night we went to the King's Ball which is a lot like the ATGT except it is a fancier event. 

Hannah really enjoyed watching the dances.

Also I finally got to learn the "Virginia Reel" which is really fun by the way.

I think that we left the King's Ball around 10:30-11:00 and we were pretty tired but it was so much fun.

~Friday~

We spent Friday morning packing up and after lunch we went to Colonial Williamsburg to do some more colonial dancing and say goodbye to families.

Carter even joined in with the dancing today,...

…and even though it was very hot outside (80*) we still had a lot of fun.

Bradley opted to sit and watch though.

Hannah and Elijah had lots of fun too.  Hannah played with some of the little girls...

…and Elijah played with cups. :)

Saturday morning we loaded up our van and headed home.  Our whole family is so thankful for the opportunity to go on this retreat, and I thank we have already decided to go back next year!

To God be the Glory,

~Heather~