Here's Robert...

We are at Vero beach. My favorite part of the trip is hanging with my family.

In DC I really liked the natural history Museum with all the rocks! 

I'm off to find Mickey Mouse and better not be late or he will start celebrating! 

Miss me?

This is Adair again. I want to tell you about going from learning to fun. Sure going to museums is very cool but beaches are pretty awesome too. I was glad for a break when we finally got to Hilton head. We ended our learning part of the trip in DC I've been there before but we got to see things I didn't know were there. We went to almost every monument. We saw museums at the monuments that no one knew were there. As soon as we got to Hilton head I noticed we all sort of relaxed. Yeah yeah don't tell me that everyone does. Being at the pool and beach made everyone really happy.

Bradley's Perspective

Today my mom is making me write the blog. We are at Hilton head at the Disney resort in south Carolina. We were having fun at the Beach. If you have kids I would recommend this trip but if your kids are over 16 then let your kids drive.

Are you having fun my mom told me to say that... Oh yea!

Life in the Low Country

After the hustle and bustle of Northern VA, South Carolina's Low Country is the perfect place to recharge. 

We have done nothing but hang outdoors under the oak trees and swim until the evening hours. The smiles, giggles and fun returned to this brood. 

The boys played bean bag toss and shuffle board, while Adair patiently played Mermaid for the majority of the day thanks to one demanding two year old. 

The boys found a hiding place in the kitchen so they don't have to help with chores.

I have enjoyed shrimp and grits every day and the beauty of the Marsh. Tomorrow we might even make it as far as the beach! 

The decision to head to Hilton Head early was the right one for this family. 

Lesson Learned: Flexabilty is the key to this adventure!

Final Chapter of the History Tour

What a week in Washington, DC! Wednesday we spent the entire day at Mount Vernon touring and really enjoying the new Education Center and Museum. It provides a nice overview of the Revolutionary War with some great interactive exhibits that the kids loved. (Snow falling on you while Washington crosses the Delaware is pretty cool!).

Cameras help engage them for our last leg and thank goodness for the bubble blankie!

Eliza enjoyed Mount Vernon's gardens as much as Mommy. 

Wednesday was also the night that Robert finally protested no more museums!! I wish he had used the skills he had learned about a peaceful protest but he chose a full-out war over the smell of the shampoo and my insistence that he shower. (I had no idea a 7-year-old could have such terrible B.O.! Did he acquire that skill at camp?) We are very lucky that we were not thrown out of the hotel or on the front page of the paper because the protest was LOUD (his and mine)!

A good night's sleep always refreshes children and mother. Thursday we headed to the Spy Museum...a Robert bucket list item since he was 3 years-old. The museum did not disappoint as we trained to be international spies, learned the history of espionage, and enjoyed seeing the many gadgets from James Bond movies. The kids had a ball and found plenty of gadgets to take home thanks to the awesome museum shop.

We finished our DC tour at the American History Museum to see the Star Spangled Banner and visit the American President's and First Ladies' exhibits. Even Adair cheered a little bit when she heard that was the last museum of our tour. (Eliza has been chanting for two days No More Museums!)

Lesson Learned: Krispy Kreme has been our secret weapon for stamina both for children, mother and grandmother. I don't think I can eat another hot donut EVER!

Change of Course - Due to the unpeaceful protests of the whole group I'm changing our itinerary and foregoing Asheville, NC. (Very sad to miss Biltmore Estates but feel this family needs some water, beaches and R/R).

We are Back...

After spending the entire day Monday in the hotel doing nothing but watching television, playing video games and going to Whole Foods to get some of our favorite foods, we are back in business!

We welcomed Zaza to our big adventure Monday evening and kicked-off DC with a private night tour of the monuments and our Nation's Capitol. Before you get too impressed the additional charge was minimal for the six of us to have our own driver and tour guide and be picked up at our hotel. It didn't matter how loud the toddler tantrum was - our family was the only ones that had to endure it.  (There was no time for Zaza to get acclimated she had to jump right in). 

We saw the Vietnam, Korean War, WWI, WWII Memorials, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, White House, The Capitol, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, Pentagon, Arlington Cemetery, Washington Monument, and everything in between. We heard great stories and history on each while deciding on our  own time when to get out and when to drive by. It was a great overview of the city and start to our DC trip.

Today I successfully got four children and one grandmother on the Metro from Old Town to the Smithsonian. We, and the rest of the summer vacation crowd, enjoyed the Air and Space Museum - think lines like Disney World. We had a great lunch and time at the Native American Museum with no lines, great food, and a wonderful area for children on the third floor.

After letting the boys run around on the Mall, we headed to the National Art Gallery and ended our day at the Natural History Museum. There was total disappointment when we found out the dinosaur exhibit is closed for renovation, but all was right in the world once we hit the gems and minerals exhibit. A rock lovers paradise!!

We ended our day with everyone making the Metro back to our hotel. The energy level for the younger folk is definitely back. Hoping to find a way to bottle that for the 39+ crowd!

A kids view

Hi I'm Adair. I want to share with you my points on Williamsburg. Well actually mostly the governor's ball. We were all really excited to get there. We went to a tavern for dinner.  Once we were done me and Robert sparred with wooden toys. Crowds gathered around taking pictures. I guess no one heard the Hancocks were in town!

We put each other in the stocks and pretended to decapitate each other. Even Eliza commited a crime worthy of the stocks! 

We saw a long line at the governors palace and knew it was time to go in. We enjoyed learning how to do the pleasantries that you do at the beginning and end of each dance. The people who ran the ball did a couple of dances first. 

Then they started picking people to dance, too. They would tell us what to do and then we would go over it and do it to the music. Everyone in our family except for Bradley danced at the ball including Eliza. No one had to ask for me and Robert to dance they could tell we wanted to. I danced probably three times. Every dance but one had at least one Hancock in it. 

When mom danced  Eliza  could not stand the thought of mom dancing with anyone except dad. It was a hour long but felt more like 10 minutes . I wish we could of danced all night. I was having a great time even though I couldn't get my lefts and rights right. I wasn't too good but neither was anyone else so I was not embarrassed. 

It turns out that no matter what the age of the man it is still hard to talk to him. What am I supposed to say to a man who asks me if I danced before because it seems like it? Anyway after what seemed like 10 minutes the ball was over.

I have to say I wondered the whole time if you were supposed to wear a sun hat to the ball. Robert danced so many times they started calling him Master Robert. What about a title for me? Mrs. Adair. No more like Lady Adair. 

By the end of the day I could see why so many people work at Williamsburg. Guess who found a college summer job! Even though you don't get paid much it is an awesome experience. Most likely that is. I hope that many more people get to come and experience the same fun. Including you.