Day 3 Part 2: Lucy's Birthday Party

Lucy requested a Fantastic Mr. Fox Movie Birthday party. This was a pretty great choice. After we were done at the battlefield, we rushed home to make ready for the party. The sheets went up, the red carpet was rolled out, the concessions stand was made, and the tickets for the movie were sold.

Anders manned the concession stand

Tucker had prepared some Fantastic movie posters for the occasion. He even created a spotlight for the Fantastic Mr. Fox poster from a flashlight and piece of paper. Genius.

We ate pizza, had a dance party, walked the red carpet, opened presents, watched the movie and basically had the best night of our lives. The only sad part was when Clara realized that the presents were Lucy's and not hers.This was really tragic because the little doggy that Lucy received loved Clara more than it loved Lucy. C'est la Vie...

Lucy singing a Taylor Swift song

The bouncers, just to make sure the kids didn't get out of control. Well done Hastings.

The watching of the feature presentation

Happy 11th Lucy! It was one kick cuss birthday!

Day 3 Part 1: Manassas National Battle Field

In the summer of 1861, enthusiastic volunteers in colorful uniforms gathered to fight the first major land battle of the war. Confident that their foes would turn and run, neither side anticipated the smoke, din and death of battle. Nearly one year later, both sides met again on the same battlefield with the Confederates winning a solid victory bringing them to the height of their power. Many neighboring villagers came to take in a picnic and watch the battle, much like our own modern adaptation of dinner and a movie.

Only one civilian was killed during the battle of Bull Run. Judith Carter Henry, an 85 year old bed-ridden widow, was mortally wounded by Union artillery fire. She is buried in a small family cemetery located on Henry Hill.

Click here if you would like to read about the first or second battles.

We spent a very very pleasant afternoon here before we had to prepare for Lucy's big birthday bash. We took every opportunity of enjoying ourselves and had lots of fun discovering a great love for jumping pictures. It is said that some of the earliest documented jumping pictures occurred here on the Manassas National Battle Field. I know this because I took them!

We decided to break away from the tour group just outside the Henry home and had Anna read to us about the battles instead. This was infinitely better because we were then able to spend as much time taking pictures of each other as we wanted, which we did with no shame or hesitation!

Good 'ol Stonewall

So appropriate for the setting if you know your Yoga positions and their names.

I'm the one on the ground and Stonewall is the one on the horse... just in case you were wondering...

Heel jumps!

Courtney's shot of me and my self portrait. Can you find me?

Back to the visiting center for a little career advice

Junior ranger and confederate soldier? I mean, we do have degrees from Universities... It just make sense that this would be our life's ambition. Right?

Thanks for the great day and for being sick. You know who you are.

Virginia Day 2: Sky Meadows and The Plains

Anna will have to correct any errors I post in this particular blog relating to the name of the little town we stopped in to explore. In my mind I call it The Plains. If you use your imagination I'm sure you could come up with a cute name you like as well!

We were able to sleep in a bit and then Anna took me to one of her favorite spots. Just an hour’s drive from Washington, D.C., Sky Meadows State Park in Clarke and Fauquier (Pronounced fock-yer) counties, offers a peaceful getaway on the eastern side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With rolling pastures and woodlands, the park boasts beautiful vistas of the foothills and access to the Appalachian Trail. Its rich history is shaped by the development of agriculture and the impact of the Civil War. Activities include hiking, fishing, picnicking, horseback riding, primitive camping, and nature and history programs. We of course only participated in the hiking and picnicking. No fishing, horses, or primitive camping for us.

Great tragedy struck when Clara, quite suddenly, couldn't walk anymore because she didn't know how! Can you imagine? There were many tears shed from all parties involved. We were able to take a break at the top of the hill to eat a home packed picnic of tuna sandwiches and clementines. It were DELISH! We continued the walk back down, fortunately Clara remembered how to walk once her blood sugar was back up and we were on a decline. It was a great overcast sort of day for a fine hike and the views were beautiful. Sky Meadows has a right to boast of its vistas!

The great tragedy struck and we all took a moment to ponder what it really means to be able to walk.

Oh Mah Heck! Aren't we so dang cute?!

After our hike we proceeded to take a tour about The Plains, a town in Fauquier (Pronounced fock-yer) County, Virginia, United States. The population was 266 at the 2000 census. It is centered around Virginia Route 55 (John Marshall Highway) and Virginia Route 245 (Old Tavern Road). The mayor of The Plains is Robert Gurtler. The Plains is home to Great Meadow, a large open-air and open-field facility that hosts several large events throughout the year, including the Virginia Gold Cupsteeplechase horse race, which attracts over 50,000 guests on the first Saturday of each May. A museum dedicated to the history of slavery in the area is located near the train tracks that go through town. Long Branch Baptist Church (est. 1786), the third oldest Baptist Church in Virginia, lies a little bit to the north, in the unincorporated area called 'Halfway.' The evangelist William Broaddus, founder of Southwestern Seminary in Louisville, was pastor there in the 1830s. His nephew, John Broadus is often called 'the father of homiletics (preaching)'. Wakefield School, a pre-school through grade 12 independent school, makes its home in The Plains, VA. Actor Robert Duvall once owned a restaurant in the Plains called "The Rail Stop." He still makes his residence north of town at his 360-acre (1.5 km²) Brindley Farm.

Such a postcard worthy little town.

Thence to Wegmans, the greatest grocery store that ever was. Have you been to Wegmans? I didn't think so... We enjoyed a yummy eclair and pain au chocolat there, or as the American's say "chocolate croissant" (pronounced cross-ont) from their bakery.

Thanks for the great day and all the fun Anska!