Day 4- Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens and a Birthday!

Day 1 saw us at the NASA center.  Day 2 at Jamestown and Day 3 at the Zoo and Williamsburg.  Saturday (Day 4) found us at another awesome tour in Williamsburg and a fun afternoon/evening in Busch Gardens.  I tried to make it extra special as it was Kiddo #4's 8th birthday!  I cannot believe it is 8 years that our sweet girl was born.  My husband was on the phone from Iraq during the birth.  It was an amazing paradox-- incredible sadness that he wasn't with me coupled with amazing happiness over the birth of our daughter.

Our morning started with the "Children's Christmas Tour" in Williamsburg.  I was very impressed with the program.  The kids were taken from station to station, preserving an orange,

 making a colonial craft (a silhouette),

 a Christmas ornament (clusters of fresh smelling pines and greenery),

 got to listen to stories from people in character and play colonial games.

 They really enjoyed it.  We also had a chance to walk through the different buildings and to see the various tradespeople at work.

We went to Busch Gardens for a special buffet dinner and Christmas show.  Kiddo #4 really enjoyed it.  They made a fuss over her for her birthday and she was on cloud nine.

The park was decorated beautifully for Christmas, with one area that boasted more than 5 million lights.  It really was breathtaking!  I was so impressed that every worker (even the younger ones!) was pleasant and courteous and was always wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.  Wow.  How encouraging to see a park filled with the sounds of real carols and to have Nativity scenes as decorations.  Love it!

Two rides really stood out-- one was the skyride.  It was like a ski-lift, but so much better.  It had multiple levels and really gave a beautiful view of the illuminated trees and decorations.  We also liked the "Fly over Europe."  Kind of like a "Soarin'"(Disney) ride, we were treated to a flight over all of the landmarks in Europe.  With the wind blowing in your face and the seats moving all around, you truly felt like you were flying by the Eiffel Tower, the Roman Coliseum and more.  I wish I was able to get the camera in my hand and photograph the joy on the kids faces while they we were "flying."  :-)

A trip to Busch Gardens wouldn't be complete without the traditional photo with the magnificent Clydesdale horses.

or a photo in the stocks for "offenses" (they tried hard to look in character, lol!)



Happy Birthday to our precious angel

She said it was her "most awesome" birthday ever.  I guess we did ok.  :-)