Rhode Island

Words cannot do New Port, Rhode Island justice. It was amazing. I've already planned my next trip seven times over. 

We tagged along with Cody because he had to go for work. Then we drug some friends along. It was the perfect get away. Cody was being accommodated at the Vanderbilt Grace Hotel, which was built by the Vanderbilt Family as a YMCA type facility and then later changed into a hotel. It was beautiful and amazing and we sort of had to sneak our children in. The most certainly said, "Children not recommended!" But, we were met at the front steps by fancy valet drivers and a bellhop to care for our luggage. Due to the sneak-age of the children, we politely declined, but it was still super cool. Then we drove around back and tried to make four children seem like none. They were super well behaved and so sick of me shushing them, it wasn't even funny.

We tried to soak up every single second possible. We hit several beaches, collected 100s of shells, and an array of sea glass, and a few cool skipping rocks for me. We walked the Cliff Walk at Easton's beach, behind all of the famous mansions. We ate super over-priced ice cream, played at an arcade, swam until we were water logged, found a few hidden beaches, we were invaded by jelly fish, visited a light house, and a nature exhibit where we saw a blue lobster and were able to pet jelly fish. 

Then we parted ways with our friends and picked up Cody from work and went to Plymouth Rock, in Massachusetts. We were taken on a fun guided tour by Leo, who was dressed as a Pilgrim. It was a beautiful day and it was fun to see and hear about all of the neat things that the Pilgrim's did. One thing, that may make you sad to hear, Pilgrim's did not actually have buckles on their shoes or hats. I know... it was all a lie. After that fun adventure and a refill on pizza, we headed to Salem, Massachusetts where the Witch Trials took place. We went on a child friendly tour. I want to go back and go to the Witch Dungeon, but it sounds frightening, even for an adult, there was no way we could take our children in. 

While we were on the tour at the Witch House, the tour guide was telling us that during that time period, the young boys around the ages of 8 and 9 were sent to work on the boats and they were used to set the sails. The tour guide said to Kevin, "How old are you?" Kevin answered and he said, "so in the next year or two, you would leave your parents to go and work on the boats." Lacey then piped up and said, "I'm getting big, too! I don't even have to wear a diaper to bed anymore!" Haha! The look on the tour guides face was priceless. The look on Lacey's face was extreme Pride!  It was so funny.

We rolled into our driveway a little after ten, tucked all of our munchkins tightly into bed and fell right to sleep. It was definitely an awesome trip, that could have only been better if our Dad had been playing with us, instead of working. (But then...we never would have gone!  Thanks for taking one for the team, Cody!)