Williamsburg, first half of week

The Road Trip Begins

If you haven't checked the blog in a week or more, check out the two posts immediately before, as they are both recent as well.


They are both happy at the same time, yay! Riding in our car before borrowing Grandma and Grandpa Lockes' van.

First Stop: Ohio

Recreating a picture of Brooks at 16 months in the same high chair, eating a banana

Elliott gives "high fives" now.

He loves this book with pictures of trucks--he waves to each one. :)


Surprise from Grandma and Grandpa Locke -- loads of fun.

Second Stop: Pittsburgh

Our welcome at the Babson's :)

The cousins play "together"

Third Stop: Langhorne

Great-Grandma tries to pick up this heavy boy.


How big is Elliott? SO BIG!

Great-Grandma Locke and the great-grandkids and her grandson

Fourth Stop/Destination: Williamsburg, VA

DAY 1: Relax a little at the resort

The baby pool at Williamsburg Plantation.

DAY 2: Colonial Williamsburg

Jillian in period dress for the day at Colonial Williamsburg. Her sash matches her croc's.

Grampa Jim's gift was the dress-up for the day, and she got to keep the bonnet.

I had to tell her not to smile for this one.

I liked Jillian's bonnet. Elliott liked waving bye-bye to the shuttle buses.


Elliott took a short nap in the stroller with Nana and Grampa

The spice lady told us that nutmeg is a hallucinagen if you eat the whole nut.

Aren't they so cute?


Me and Brooks at the Capital (re-created for the third time, we learned)

Fife and drum players outside the Capitol. I couldn't get a pic of them playing because it was too crowded then.


Jillian as the Speaker of the Common inside the Capital, recreating a meeting in May 1776


Jillian and Brooks on the jury...probably Brooks' only time to do it, too.

Tour at the Governer's Mansion, inside.

At the Governer's Mansion...so precious, I had to put it in.

DAY 3: Busch Gardens--way cool! Elliott stayed with Nana & Grampa Jim

Jillian near the entrance with the beautiful blue hydrangea bushes.

Brooks and Jill wearing their 3D glasses for Curse of Darkastle in Germany. We also wore them for a cute story called Corkscrew Hill in Ireland.

We saw lots of cool animals, like these bald eagles, some wolves, and a hawk. We wanted to see the "More Pet Shenanigans" show, but we instead saw an Irish dance one and a rock 'n roll dance and acrobatics show at the end of the day.

Me and Jill on the Katapult.

Me and Brooks on the carousel.

Jillian on the carousel

Brooks and I on a ride together...the only one.

Jillian on a carousel horse.

Griffin: The roller coaster we didn't go on...with 2 90-degree drops.

We rode Le Scoot (log flume) and got drenched, the Loch Ness Monster, Brooks and I took turns on the Alpengeist, and we all enjoyed the Big Bad Wolf and Apollo's Chariot, similar to Raging Bull at Great America. Jillian required some convincing (ok, forcing) to go on some of the rides, but she was fine. She thanked me later for making her go on them. :)

Weather was warm but not very humid or overwhelming. I dressed for the sweltering heat I expected and was delighted to experience some more mild coastal-Virginia climate. Thank the Lord for two beautiful days outside!!! Busch Gardens Europe is really beautiful, I highly recommend it!