THE ADVENTURES OF NICO AND NATALEE: July 2013

Friday, July 12, 2013

Kickball

Starting in the middle of June, right after t-ball ended, the kickball season began. Luckily, many of the rules of kickball are similar to t-ball so Nico was up to speed on how to play the game. Here are some pictures of Nico playing in three different games.

Cheasapeake Beach Water Park

On the 4th of July we took the kids to the Chesapeake Beach Water Park for the first time. It's amazing that this little place is in walking distance from our house. We had a great time splashing around and floating down the lazy river a few times! We will have to make sure to get another visit in before summer ends!

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Fireworks over the bay

The city of Chesapeake Beach, for whatever reason, celebrates the 4th of July on July 3rd. Nobody seems to know why, but people from all over drive in to the fireworks over the Chesapeake Bay Beach. Luckily, we did not have to drive anywhere. Thankfully the rain that had been hovering for going on a week decided to let up some. So we loaded up the wagon with our kids, chairs and some drinks, headed down the trail which ends in our neighborhood and found a great spot to watch the fireworks. It was a pretty late night for Natalee, but she made it through without totally falling apart! Nico had a blast running around with glow in the dark things and playing with his friends on the boardwalk.

Friday, July 5, 2013

Old Tyme Photo

I thought I would post this picture separately from the rest of the Gettysburg pictures. Before leaving Gettysburg, we decided to have a laugh and have our picture taken as if we were in the Civil War times. My dad has one of these old time pictures of Jason and I from over 20 years ago at Gettysburg. We all had such a great time together and decided that this trip was going to be a first, the first annual mini-vacation for us. Ninny would be so happy we were continuing on with our vacations as we used have. Can't wait for next year!

57 years later

On the left is the picture of my Dad 57 years ago at Wadsworth statue in Gettyburg, and on the right is Nico at the same statue just a few days ago. This is pretty cool!

Gettysburg 150 years

After the short stop in Columbia, we headed south to Gettysburg. July 1-3, 2013 marked the 150th anniversary of the greatest battle fought on American soil. Dad brought Jason and I here years ago, probably multiple times, however, this time, visiting as an adult, the experience was so different. The strategy the armies had to use in order to attack each other was quite amazing. Warfare was so much different then than it is now. There was so much blood shed and lives lost. It was literally brother against brother in some instances. Looking out onto the what had been the battlefields 150 years ago, it was so surreal to imagine what horrors occurred right where we were standing. I feel like I got a new perspective and learned so much about Gettysburg. Luckily my Dad is basically a Civil War expert and he was able to easily describe where the armies had been, what direction they were heading, who was leading them and what their demise was.

It was so fun seeing so many people dressed up and in character as if we were still in the mid 19 century! I have a funny feeling many people in the area do this on a daily and regular basis...what I wouldn't give to be able to walk around in a Scarlett O'Hare dress for a day!

My Dad was especially happy to have his picture taken with General Lee!

The Confederate Military uniform...very uncomfortable.

Silly guys pretending to be Abe Lincoln

Dad had his picture taken with Armistead and Pedigree, the two Confederates who got the furthest North during the battle of Gettysburg.

Proud that Texas played its own part in not just the battle of Gettysburg but the Civil War as a whole.

This memorial is of Armistead and Hancock at the High Water mark within the National Cemetery

Approximately where within the National Cemetery where President Lincoln gave his forever famous speech..."Fore scores and 7 years ago..."

In front of the visitor's center

Statue of Wadsworth...my Dad had his picture taken here 56 years ago.

Natalee and Mommy at Pickett's Charge.

Dad at Pickett's Charge

Dad and Nico at Pickett's Charge

Union soldiers marching down the road

Alexander Webb

PA Memorial with Meade and Reynolds names on it.

Union encampment

Cemetery Hill

North Carolina Memorial on the Confederate Line

Nico at a canon on the Confederate Line

Texas Memorial located on the Confederate line

Memorials for MN and PA

High Water Mark: memorial indicating the most northern point in which the Confederate armies got to during the battle (although where Armistead fell is the most northern point)