Apparently I can drag this out forever.

The spring break extravaganza was so long ago that I can barely remember what happened anymore!  But, I'll do my best, because that was where the drama happened!  First, we toured a few monuments we had missed, and it was wet and rainy.

We got to the airport with plenty of time,  got loaded on the plane, taxied out to the runway, then WAITED.  and WAITED.  and WAITED.  and WAITED.  There were storms in Detroit, where we were going.  Planes were being hit by lighting.  one hour.  two hours.  At the 3 hour mark they taxied back to the terminal, but brightly told us not to get off, because we would be taking off any minute now.  But wait!  Now the lighting and wind was close to us, so we couldn't take off.  Now there's WATER LEAKING IN OUR PLANE.  The captain was pretty excited about that actually, because it became a maintenance delay, not just a weather delay and the airline would have to pay hotel etc. for those who had missed flights (us, for one).

So!  For the 4 1/2  hour delay in that cramped teeny airplane how were we prepared?  Well, the kids were tired of their books and toys.  We forgot to charge both the gameboy and the DVD player, so they both conked out after about 15 minutes.  I played a million card games with the youngest 2, after which Roger read Gregor to Ethan and Eli.  Our kids did a really, really great job - for which we were all grateful.  It really helped that there was about 20 teenagers from a school group, so our kids weren't the loudest ones!

In case you're wondering, no, they don't feed you any extra while you're being a sardine in a can.  Once they passed out the package of peanuts and little cup of pop, THATS IT.  When we finally landed we were tired and hungry, and we still had to take the shuttle to the hotel.  .

The one really awesome thing about this whole fiasco was that Chris, my brother who lives in Detroit heard we were laid over, drove up to our hotel, and visited and ate dinner with us at midnight! (bad picture, I'm sorry) Then he came back the next morning and visited us for breakfast, then drove us back to the airport.

And thats not the end of the story!!

We got to the airport in plenty of time, dun dun dun, got on the airplane and it started to take off.  We were going really fast - then all of a sudden the plane slammed on the brakes!!!!  It was pretty scary!  After we finally got stopped, the captain said that an error light that had popped on, and the maintenance guys would come look at it.  It took 1 1/2 hours! And THEN we still had the 4 hour flight!  So in the end, we were on the airplane for almost the same amount of time as the day before.  I had purchased 6 granola bars at the airport, so that and the darn peanuts were the kid's lunch.  We were all tired and hungry when we finally got back to good old Salt Lake City, where Breanne picked us up.

And THATS the end of the story!

Busch Gardens

Our plan for Friday was to go to Colonial Williamsburg, which is supposed to be pretty fabulous, but we were feeling like the kids were getting museumed  out.  Well, OK, we might have been feeling a teeny tiny bit the same!  Arek suggested Busch Gardens theme park  - Bring it on!  SO, of course it cost a mint and then some, but the FUN WAS HAD in a serious way!!  The roller coasters were the main attraction, and I have never seen anything like them.  Roger said one was the scariest thing he had ever been on, and the man has been bungee jumping!  Weather-wise, it was the most perfect and pristine spring day ever.  It only got chilly when you got yourself soaked in a water ride, which, of course everybody (but Roger and I) did.


The only fly in the ointment of the day was that Ethan and Aislynn were too short by just an inch to go on most of the roller coasters, (they measured on each ride!)  but there were a couple they COULD go on, which scared the heck out of them multiple times.

BEHOLD ! 

There were critters and critter shows

Only these 2 could take the spinning rides.

Kid runs

Sky Trams

Eli and Ethan are about to get wet for the 4th time.  Arek was poised at the bottom to slaughter them with a squirt cannon in case the ride didn't get them wet enough

You pay $5 and you stand inside the people dryer, complete with heat lamps and blowers.

Can't leave without your whiplash.

Leaving the park after an exhilarating, exhausting and well-fed day.  

Back at Mom and Dad's - Amy came to visit, and Dad cooked up steaks.  YUM!

We all lounged around and talked, and listened to Roger crack jokes.  

These are the best times of all.

Definitely.

The Lovely and Talented Elder and Sister Butler!!

.......... in front of their apartment.

For the first part of the next day, we took the kids to Colonial Beach which was close to King George.  The sane people wore actual warm clothes, and the kids changed into their swim suits and went in the water!  They had the awesome good time kids usually have when surrounded by freezing water, miles of sandy beach and a sunny day.  It was hard to peel them away! 

While we were sitting in the gazebo chatting, a downtrodden man sat down to tell us his sad tale.  I got to witness Mom putting the gospel whammy and sacrament meeting invite on him, and I was quite impressed.  You go - Sister Butler!! 

After the beach, we drove around and toured the local environs, stopped at an awesome antique store (the 2 youngest picked up a chinese parasol apiece, Eli got a ring of antique keys) then went home and ate DELICIOUS local Barbeque  (holy cow, it was really good)  Then the boys went to the US Marines Museum and then to a battlefield in Fredricksburg, while Mom, Aislynn and I went shopping in the cutest little boutique shops in Fredricksburg.    A good and tiring day was had by all!  


We were having such a good time visiting, that we didn't get any pictures though.

Here's a clearer picture of the kids in Mom and Dad's front yard area, the hotel is in that long building on the left.  So peaceful.