Spring Break!!

We just got back from spring break, and it was wonderful! We took a little trip up the coast to Newport, Plymouth and Boston. It was a lot of fun! I think everyone had a great time. The first day we explored some beaches in connecticut and Rhode Island and visited the Nautilus which is the first nuclear submarine. It has been turned into a museum and is free to the public in Groton, CT just outside the naval base there. It was really interesting. We didn't get any pictures the first day because we got a new camera and were waiting for the battery to charge. The beaches were really cold.We ended the night at a hotel in Newport. The kids were so excited to be in the hotel room. Michelle was especially mesmerized by the mini fridge.
The continental breakfast each morning was a favorite of the kids. You would of thought we were dining at a super fancy restaurant. They loved it.

Day 2: The Cliff walk and Breakers (the Vanderbilt mansion). I loved Newport. It was my favorite day. I think eveyone else really enjoyed it too. The next couple of pictures are views from the cliff walk. It is a 3-4 mile trail that has breathtaking cliffside views on one side and spectacular mansions on the other. It was truly remarkable. The only bad thing is that at one point there is a 2mile section where you can't exit the trail because you would be tresspassing on private property and they have fences etc. At that point Samantha had to go to the bathroom and so she and Justin hurried off to find a bathroom. Me and the other kids followed but at a much slower rate. There are a few spots where the trial gets a little treacherous and I probably would have turned back, but we wanted to catch up to Justin and Samantha. Thankfully Joey and John were really helpful with the little kids. John gave Michelle a piggy back ride and Joey walked right by Nathan and made sure he didn't slip on any rocks or stray off the path. Nathan was pretty obedient.

After the long but beautiful walk we made it to the breakers. It is the largest mansion in Newport and belonged to the Vanderbilt's. They had a great family tour. Each of us got our own headset and was able to go on the tour at our own speed. The kids did surprizingly well. I was nervous that we would have to leave and that the kids wouldn't behave, but they did great and seemed to really enjoy the tour.

We weren't allowed to take pictures inside, but as you can see the building is very large and impressive.

Family picture on a tree outside the breakers. After our day in Newport we hopped in the car and drove to Plymout so that we could rest for the next days adventure. The hotel there had a pool, but the heater didn't work well. The older boys were the only ones brave enough to really swim. The other kids "swam" in the bathtub in the hotel room.

We ended the night with a disney channel movie "Lemonade mouth".

Day 3: The Mayflower and Plymouth Plantation. Plymouth plantation was really interesting. They have a whole village laid out just as it was in 1627 and right next to it there is an Indian village. The people in the village all adopted a character and would talk as if they were in 1627. It was great! The people were so amazing and it was fun to learn about history at that time.

The "moo-flower"

A Wampanaug Indian home. This is a winter home. It was pretty warm inside.

THis is one of their summer homes.

Inside the summer home.

THe English fort and main street into the village.

Houses in the English village.

The cannons in the fort.

The "little" kids with their happy meal hats on their heads.

Samantha and Michelle on the Mayflower.

Katie

Nathan's birthday dinner at IHOP

Birthday cupcakes (ding dongs) at the hotel.

Birthday spankings! Don't you wish you were in the room next to us?

John, Kate and Nate!

The hotel in Boston. It had a great pool. Justin took the kids swimming while I went to the temple, then I took them to the science museum while he went to the temple.

Family bike ride on the farmington canal on good Friday.

Brooksvale park. THe destination for our bike ride.

The peacocks at Brooksvale.
IT was a great spring break. Sad to see it over. Happy Easter to all!