My happy helping sunbeam

A couple of weeks ago, our home teachers came to visit and sat down with the kids and sang "Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam" and then talked about ways to be a sunbeam for Jesus, especially around the house. So for some reason the conversation really stuck with Kaden because for 3 days now, and especially today, he will do little things, like getting dressed before coming down in the morning, and picking up toys, and my favorite--saying "yeah!" every time it's time for rest time or bed or leaving a friends house. And he will make little comments to himself once in awhile, like the other day I heard him say "I'm going to be a good sunbeam today and pick up these toys". Mind you, this is not the norm in our house, but it has been so so nice. Today he labeled himself as Mom's helper and has gone out of his way to be nice and helpful. My sweet Kaden, who I don't always give enough credit to. He really loves to know he makes me happy and has the cutest dimpled grin. He's the primary kid waving wildly to his parents while he sings in a sacrament meeting program (or yesterday waving as he is kicking wildly and trying to stay afloat in swim lessons). I am grateful for him.

Day 7--Virginia Beach

The great thing about going to Virginia beach on a very cold day was that it was pretty deserted and everyone was dressed adequately. The kids didn't even seem to notice it was cold in their bare feet and coats. I, however was quite chilly and very glad I brought Micah's little parka (especially so I could later use his blanket for a scarf for myself =).

Neptune Statue--this was very big and cool...

Noah, Kaden and Ammon

View from the shore--I think this is both Tara's and my first view of the Atlantic Ocean. The whole reason we had to go despite the cold. It was Tara's last day with us...

Ammon

Kaden

Tara and Micah

I guess I look grumpy when I'm cold, but I wasn't feeling grumpy. Really!

We only saw after this picture that kids are not cupposed to climb on the artwork...

This was a coast guard station many years ago which is now a Coast Guard museum. Inside they had all kinds of information of methods they used to save ships in trouble (or at least all the people they could). I can't imagine how much worse it would have been when they didn't have the means to predict and follow hurricanes.

Day 6--Part 2--The Living Musem

We just left right after Noah got home from school this same day (which meant getting Micah up from quite a short nap) to catch the last hour of the living museum. We have a membership and they were nice to let Tara in for free since it was not open much longer. Totally worth it. The jellyfish are always my favorite. What amazing creatures.

Day #6--Yorktown Victory Center

These of course are pretty out of order. Kaden dressed as a soldier above. More pics of the war camps and soldier and artillary stuff to follow. Below is a rooster from the farm which showed how most people lived and survived after the war. The rooster and chickens were Kaden and Ammons fav. They got to feed them pie dough from the nice lady making pies and cornbread in the kitchen.

It was so fun to watch this lady actually making and doing things in the kitchen. How spoiled I am!!! It looked kind of fun, but only for a day or so...

Kaden was also fascinated watching the pie progress

Dried fruits and vegetables, and salted meats all hanging in the kitchen...

This is in the soldiers' camp. They actually did a demonstration of firing the mortar.

Day #5--Jamestown Settlement

Here it is Monday and back to exploring Virginia. This is showing how the Powattan Indians made boats by start little fires in the logs and scraping the ashes with seashells.

The blacksmith in the colony, making nails...

The community oven...

Gardens

Small houses where they ate and slept in the same rooms and had to just put their beds away every day.

My little troopers. Poor Noah has school and I had already pulled him out a few days the week before. But obviously we will take him back there. It's not far from us and it's even free for York County residents.

Ammon sitting on a bench in the church house...

Micah did usually eventually pass out for an hour or so when he had surpassed nap time by a couple of hours. Poor guy.

They had the 3 ships that brought the colonists here in the 1606-1620 range. This was very coold and fun to see and try to imagine living primarily in the small dark quarters beneath the deck for 4 1/2 months.

On deck

Kaden got to practice lighting the canons...Yes, he really liked that for some reason.

Trying out the sleeping quarters.

The following are the Powattan Indian village...