Spring Break Revisited

After two months of interruptions, both of the good and the bad, I am quickly revisiting and tying up loose ends from our spring break trip in April . . .  

On Tuesday morning we headed over to Williamsburg for an afternoon in the 1700's. We began our adventure watching a Colonial movie and then wandering the streets of Virginia's Revolutionary capitol. We visited the shoemaker and the dressmaker, where the kids listened intently to the shop keepers and then in turn asked question after question. 

We listened to flute players, shopped in the outdoor market and tried out the pillory and stocks. 

We finally settled down with pecan pie and ginger cakes from the tavern as the afternoon historical reenactment took place. This day's theme was pre-revolutionary war events that took place in Williamsburg. We watched Patrick Henry shout, during a debate with loyalists, "Give me liberty or give me death." We listened to members of the House of Burgess's argue how much sympathy they should give Massachusetts after the Boston Tea Party, the shut down of the Boston Harbor and the Boston Massacre. And we witnessed the control that Governor Dunmore, the governor appointed by the King of England, had over the colonists. 

The two hour reenactment took place throughout several blocks of Williamsburg. Jonathan and Emilie raced from location to location to get the best seats for the next scene, while Annelise, Sophia and Ezra had different interests for the afternoon! 

We returned home for another night of swimming and then all climbed into bed, looking forward to our next day in Colonial Williamsburg.

On Wednesday we finished our trip back in Colonial times. We began the day touring the Governors Palace and it's beautiful gardens.

 We wandered through such buildings as the blacksmith and the Geddy House, which was Elizabeth's house in the American Girl books and attended a court hearing, dramatized after actual court documents from cases in the 1700's. 

As soon as the afternoon reenactments began, this time of the years during the war, Emilie and Jonathan's interest was piqued, while Annelise, Sophia and Ezra's interest began to fade. I took the little ones to see a children's museum, but before we could make our way there, there was a cloud burst, canceling all activities and causing the hundreds of visitors to run for cover. Our time at Williamsburg abruptly ended and we headed back to the condo for a movie, miniature golfing when the rain cleared and swimming. Despite the rain, the day was another success.

On Thursday we completed "America's Historic Triangle" with the day spent at Jamestown and Yorktown. At Jamestown we spent the morning in the Native American village. 

We then climbed aboard the ships that brought the English to their first permanent American settlement. 

Afterward we toured their simple homes and churches and even were lucky enough to watch a musket demonstration. 

Not far was the glass blowing house, which provided the settlement with their main commerce with England.

In the afternoon we made our way to Yorktown where the Revolutionary War ended. We visited the Victory Center and then wandered through a recreated Revolutionary War battlefield site with tents similar to what George Washington would have commanded from.

 

We found it particulary interesting to have learned about the end of the war after spending the past three years living almost on the battlefields where the war began.

We departed from our days of history and culture and headed to Busch Gardens for an entire day of wild rides and entertaining shows. As soon as we mentioned that we were adding an amusement park to the agenda, Jonathan began doing research. Immediately we heard about the Griffin, the "world's tallest and fastest dive machine" and it's 71 mph 205 foot drop. It did not disappoint. We have heard about it ever since. Annelise's highlight of the day was being chosen from the audience to join the German polka dancers on stage, with Sophia joining soon after. Ezra loved the kiddie rides. 

With short lines, perfect weather, and excitement for all age levels, Busch Gardens was a huge success and the perfect way to end spring break.        

Here's to great women . . .

May we know them

May we be them

May we raise them.

As soon as the doctor announced "It's a girl!" in the dimly lit ultra sound room, Steve and I began thinking of names for our sweet baby. We tossed around Olivia and Brooklyn, and the kids were dying for an Elizabeth. Knowing that this baby was our last, we wanted to choose a name full of meaning, hopefully a name that would help our daughter connect with positive role models and strong characteristics. For baby Mia, we chose Miriam Caroline, after three great women.  

Miriam Bentley Milne

From the moment I met Steve and his family sixteen years ago, I began hearing about his Grandma Milne. Grandma Milne was truly the center of the Milne family. She was devoted entirely to her children and grandchildren, her siblings and parents. I heard stories about Miriam caring for her baby sister, Maude, as if she were her own, since her mother's health was not good. I heard about her spending months sewing her sister's entire trousseau when she learned of her sister's engagement so that she would have a collection of nice clothing and house linens to begin her new home. Miriam spent summers in her backyard with her children and grandchildren, enjoying the family pool on almost a daily basis. While the children swam, she brought out gallons of homemade ice cream that she had mixing in the kitchen. She invited the entire family to their cabin or for holidays in St. George. Christmas at Grandma Milne's was magical, with an elegant dinner, a nutcracker waiting at each table setting, and a visit from Santa. It was an event that the family looked forward to all year. Miriam had an unshakable faith in Jesus Christ and the power of prayer, so strong that it was almost tangible to those close to her. She devoted her life to following the gospel and sacrificing wholeheartedly for each calling she received, from visiting teacher to being on the Board of the General Relief Society.  How lucky we are to have such an outstanding woman for whom to name our sweet baby.  

 Carol Crandall Spendlove

My earliest memories of my Grandma Carol are of her throwing family parties for her grandchildren. She always was wearing the latest fashions. I remember her baking individual sized pizzas at a granddaughter sleepover, in Gogo boots, a mini skirt and a beehive hairdo. She planned trips for the family to the cabin, Canyonlands and Jackson Hole and always invited us to bring our bikes and stay a few days in Dugway, where we could ride to the ice cream store down the street or the park around the corner. It wasn't only her family who felt at home with Grandma. Grandma opened her doors and her heart to everyone who came her way, including her children's friends and her neighbors in each new spot Grandpa and Grandma settled. It's no wonder that Grandma was the ward activities planner everywhere she went! Grandma is visionary and determined. She and Grandpa came from humble beginnings, but Grandma knew of Grandpa's potential. Grandma supported Grandpa as an undergraduate at BYU. When asked what her husband was doing in school, her response was always, "working on his Ph.D.", which was true , but he just had to earn his undergraduate and master's degree first! When her children were grown, Grandma became a realtor and soon bought several apartment buildings to run. Eventually she wrote a book on how to successfully be a landlord. Into her eighties, Grandma continues to write for the Church History Museum and stay active in various ways. Grandma Carol is a survivor. Her life hasn't always been easy but Grandma didn't let that hold her back. She has put aside her troubles and created a success story for herself, her husband and for her children. I have always felt blessed to have Grandma Carol as an example for myself and now for my children.

Caroline Romney Eyring

Several years ago, my mother gave me my matriarchal line in photos. Each time I look at the women from whom I have come, my gaze stops on Caroline Romney Eyring. I truly look forward to meeting this woman. Great Grandma Caroline is my Grandma Rose's mother. Despite having only an 8th grade education and living in humble circumstances, she was able to turn out one success story after another in her children. Recently, while reading my grandmother's life story, I came across a description of her mother:

I remember mother as a tremendously dynamic individual, the kind of person that makes the world go round. She wasn't, however, the most comfortable person to be around, because she felt that others, too, should be up and doing. There wasn't a lazy hair in her head and she tolerated no laziness in others, particularly her children. . . Mother did wonders with her love and affection. Though she had eight very individualistic children, she always had plenty of love to go round, and somehow she succeeded in making each one of us feel that we were extra special and the one most loved. . . Mother had the kind of faith and outlook on the world that I consider admirable. Her faith was so strong that I believe it could literally move mountains, yet it was so practical and genuine that even her most skeptical children could accept her way of thinking. . . I would be happy to be counted just one half as successful as Mother.

I believe that it was these characteristics that allowed Caroline to raise eight outstanding children, including Henry Eyring and Camilla Kimball. Grandma Caroline is one of the maternal figures who I have always admired most. Hopefully Mia will also look to Grandma Caroline as an example and source of strength.

I have always felt so grateful for two families full of great men and women by which to raise my children. My children have many examples of faith, love, service, determination, optimism and purpose by which to live their lives.