East Coast Spring Break - Alyssa Turns 8!

We enjoyed a wonderfully long vacation during spring break. We visited my sister and brother-in-law in Maryland, made a quick stop in Philadelphia, spent a few days in Williamsburg and Alyssa, Kelley and Michael took a quick side trip to DC. It was definitely planes, trains and automobiles on this trip. Thank goodness both kids did amazing on the flight and really well on the train and in the car. We were non-stop the entire trip and they handled it like troopers. Rather than me go into great detail about the trip, I've posted several pictures.

Pictures are not in chronological order because, well, I'm just too lazy.

We went to Intercourse, PA so I could gawk at the Amish. So fascinating!

When there is a handwritten sign posted on the side of the road that says, "stop here for homemade rootbeer." You HAVE to stop to check it out. We drove down this road off the main street to have some rootbeer.

When you come to the end of the road, the sign on the shed says it all.

This is what you get for $2. Not super tasty, but totally worth being able to go inside the shed and pick up a homemade bar of soap while I was at it.

You can take a ride in a buggy in Amish country. I so wanted to, but it was pouring rain and not sure Jakey would have sat still in there for the 45 minute tour. Totally doing it next time!

We visited Chocolate World in Hersey, PA. The kids are working the Hersey kiss assembly line.

Uncle Mike took Sebastian, Alyssa and Jake to the B&O train museum. Mom and Auntie K had some shopping to do. Jake had so much fun. He is still telling me the trains were old and are just resting.

We're not afraid to take the long way home from Williamsburg. And when I say long way, I mean adding 3 additional hours to the ride. But we got to go on the longest underwater tunnel. Can anyone say claustrophobic? And along the way home we rode this pulley ferry. We pulled up at 5:27 pm and the last trip was at 5:30 pm. Whew! Close call!

Williamsburg was so cool! We saw glassblowers in action. Of course I had to buy something from their store and bring it home.

We also went to Jamestown.

Beautiful old church on the settlement.

James River. They are currently digging right along the water and discovering remnants of the first structures. So cool to see something so historic.

The river looked exactly how I pictured it when reading history books in school. Super choppy, brown water.

One way to have them be still

Jake is super into Jake and the Neverland Pirates. He loved being on the ships like a pirate.

We toured 3 old ships.

Marching down the street in Williamsburg

I need one of these at home

Poor Jakey was so tired!

We were supervising! (and explained that you never put things around your neck. EVER!)

Each ship had someone dressed in character providing historical information

We were all in Dylan's Candy Bar, but Jakey couldn't take his eyes off of the train going around the toy store

Alyssa made candles (you can see by her shirt that she finally made it to Georgetown Cupcakes)

Alyssa turned 8 on the trip. Auntie K and Uncle Mike had a little birthday celebration for her. Cake and Justin Beiber.

Birthday girl on the morning of her big day!

Spent a day in Philadelphia. We visited Betsy Ross' house, and saw so many historic places in Philadelphia. What a cool city.

Sebastian loves coins so we visited the US Mint. Very cool!

Jakey doesn't love us taking pictures together or hugging for that matter.

Liberty Bell. Sebastian was a little disappointed with the size.