Our Trip to Washington, D.C. & The Maryland Bensons: Stop #1

Alia enjoyed her visit to Antietam National Battlefield.  This photo was taken near Mumma Farm and Cemetary.  This was after the bloody, visitor center movie during which she continued to ask, "Are those the bad guys?"  I had a hard time explaining perspective and point of view to her, so I just said that yes, the Union soldiers were the good guys, the Confederates were the bad guys.  (Sorry to all my southern friends & family).  She chose to stay in the car at many of our auto-tour stops, and continued to ask us if we were lost on the way to Uncle Jamie and Aunt Corinna's house. 

The Bloody Lane - We had a hard time envisioning how this sunken farm road was, at one time, filled with thousands of dead soldiers, piled one upon the other. 

The observation tower was built after the war for training purposes.  Linnea, Makenna, and I climbed to the top and waved to Alia in the van below.  It was lots of steps to the top; I think Linnea counted 69.  The views of the surrounding fields and former battlefield were amazing.

Is it okay to pose and smile next to a cannon, knowing that nearly 23,000 men died on this battlefield, some as a result of that cannon's shot?  It didn't seem quite right, but we did it anyway. I haven't been to enough battlefields to know battlefield etiquette.

Burnside Bridge and the surrounding countryside were so peaceful and picturesque.  It was hard to imagine the sights and sounds that would have filled those idyllic places on September 17, 1862.

Daffodils at Burnside Bridge

The cannon are original, their supports and wheels rebuilt since the war.  We didn't realize that "cannon" could be the plural form of the word "cannon".  Now we know.  You can also say "cannons", that's okay, too.  The more you write the word, though, the stranger it looks . . .

Never have we seen so many statues and memorial plaques in the middle of the countryside.  So many men died that day.  So many lives changed forever.  This was an unexpected stop on our trip to see our family and D.C., but I highly recommend stopping there for an afternoon or for the day.  We could have spent much more time hiking, driving, looking, playing, reading headstones, and stepping back in time.

Antietam National Battlefield
http://www.nps.gov/anti/index.htm

 

Take Pride in the Potty

READERS with WEAK STOMACHS BEWARE . . .

A first word, a first step, learning to ride a bike, a first date.  These are all milestones, but to a 2 or 3 year old, there are few things as exciting as when she first masters the art of going poo poo in the potty.  Some may not find this "Blog-Worthy", but Dave and I have shared this excitement with each of our girls at or around this age.  It may make us seem a bit odd, but we even have documentation and even songs to commemorate the occasion.

With our first child, Linnea, we documented it with a photo taken at the Scarlet's in North Carolina!  Happy Thanksgiving one and all!

With Makenna, it was a photo taken in Glacier.  I find it funny that there is so much TP, you can't even see her pride and joy.

 

Then there is Alia . . . one would think the excitement would wane with the 3rd child, but not so.  I feel that with the 3rd child there is increased excitement and even relief due to the fact that potty training is finally coming to an end.

 To all who are potty training, have potty trained a child in the past, or who are potty trained, I salute you!  Congratulations! (And I hope I haven't scared you away from our blog forever.)