Day 4 -- Spring Break Road Trip '09

After many rousing rounds of Marco Polo and Sharks vs. Minnows in the indoor pool last night, (the kids made friends with another family from Dallas)........everyone was tired. So, we slept late this morning. Yippee!! Temple's favorite part of the trip......sleep.


Day 4 brought us back out to the Creation Science Musuem for a couple more hours of fun. There were a few more exhibits we didn't see yesterday, and each day there are new speakers in the lecture hall, and different shows at the planetarium. However, when we arrived, the featured speaker of the day had been cancelled due to flight problems.

• Armed with a handful of quarters for the feed machines, we headed outdoors for the petting zoo and gardens.

Look at these two sweeties.....

• "Hey, lady....take my picture, I'm cute!"

• 25 cents worth of corn kernels only goes so far-----Rivers handful was out before the goats were full. So, he bent down to pick some pieces up off the ground.......and the goat took advantage of the moment....if you don't have corn kernels, a head of little boy hair will do just fine!

• Walt petting a "Zonkey". They also had a brown striped animal, a "Zorse".

• Tyner Beth was brave enough to try feeding the camel....

• And I just love this shot I took, so I included it here. These little signs of spring popping out....the wonder of it all.....God's creation is certainly a beautiful thing, indeed.
  
  
• After leaving the Creation Museum, we drove through downtown Cincinnati:

PHOTOS FROM THE KID CAM:

• This was a good shot Tyner Beth took of this corkscrew willow bush we loved.

• Tyner Beth was just about scared out of her pants when she was trying to take a picture of the goats and this little guy jumped up on the fence rail right in her face!!
  

• She also just informed me that she took this shot of the football stadium in Cincinnati---"you know, Momma, the Cinncinnati Beagles"!!!

• Walt had the camera for this shot.....and we had already passed the Cincinnati Reds ball field.....he loves the Reds. Mainly because that is the name of his baseball team this season. But he was quick to show me that he did get this shot of a lovely billboard with the Reds baseball in it! :)

Day 3 -- Spring Break Road Trip '09

Day 3's featured stop was the CREATION SCIENCE MUSEUM. It is relatively new, been open almost 2 years, I think. EVERYTHING in the museum is biblically based. It talks about dinosaurs, fossils, Noah's ark, the flood, the garden of Eden, the fall of Adam (and thus all man), the apostles, the disciples, the scopes trial, it covers astrology, biology, geology....all based on belief and backed by HIS WRITTEN WORD. And there's absolutely no way I can even attempt to tell you all about it.......but I'm going to try to show you a few photos from the day......

From the Creation Science Museum website: http://www.creationmuseum.org/

"The Bible speaks for itself at the Creation Museum. We’ve just paved the way to a greater understanding of the tenets of creation and redemption. Our exhibit halls are gilded with truth, our gardens teem with the visible signs of life.
We invite you to visit the Creation Museum. Your life may change forever."

• Sure this is a poisonous dart frog......but I think he's so cute! :)

• Do you recognize these two men of the Bible?

  

• This is the best overview I found to give you an idea.....the 7 C's as it was called in the Creation Science Museum: Creation (what God did in 6 days), Corruption (Adam's sin), Catastrophe (the flood), Confusion (Babel), Christ (the creator became a man), Cross (Jesus died there to pay for OUR sin), Consummation (one day the creator will return)

• Here's that ugly serpent himself. Sorry, dude, I hate to spoil it for you, but I know the ending.....and you LOSE.

• Adam naming all the animals...... this area was Walt's favorite part of the museum area we toured (the "jungle", as he called it)

• Temple studying over Noah's Ark. Although this exhibit looked HUGE to us.....it was only about 1% of the total size of the ark. MASSIVE.

• I just loved this verse......

• Another favorite of mine and Walt's---this lovely creature. I just stood and watched him look back at me through the glass----one eye at a time!!! .....Weird.....and Amazing all at the same time. And this is only one of the many many many many creatures God made to inhabit the earth.

Photos weren't allowed in the lecture halls or planetarium. We listened to a lecture by Ken Ham---he talked of the complete importence of our faith in Genesis. The first few verses of the bible provide a strong foundation for everything else that follows. And we all loved the Planetarium movie....... listen folks, in case you didn't realize it.....we are but just a small little spec in a vast universe. If you are ever in the area......don't miss stopping by the Creation Science Museum.

As usual, we were hungry.....so our next stop was for food.

I know a tip usually comes at the end of a meal, but Walt and Tyner Beth were sitting at the end of our table together in their own little world. They wrote this note on the back of their kid's paper placemats, and pulled some of their money from their pockets for the tip. Then they proceded to offer it to the waiter---before our food arrived. :) So cute.

Walt ordered a "make your own" pizza. And he did just that. Once completed, the waiter took him (Rivers and TB were able to tag along too) to the kitchen to put his pizza in the oven.

• Because we were all already miserable from 6 loaves of crusty, delicious bread, dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar.....followed by our pasta entrees......we couldn't pass up some fine desserts-----even though we knew better. A creamy strawberry swirl cheesecake.....and my favorite, Tiramisu.

• PHOTOS FROM THE KID CAM:
  
  


• Well, it seems they forgot to bring their camera along today for the Creation Science Museum.......so when we got back to the hotel, I asked did they want to go take some photos for me. Of course they did.....the camera is a big hit. But, someone was pretty disgusted and thought it should be HER turn behind the lens.

• Walt gave in, and handed over the goods. Here's a couple of her skillzzzz:

The hallway outside our room---I think she was trying to show you her depth perception.

• And the fine staff that had the joy of working the night shift. At least they thought she was cute and humored her with big cheesy smiles! Who knows what she said to them......

There you go.....that's day 3.....maybe that little gal behind the counter is waving good-bye....cause that's what I'm doing right now....see ya later!

We interrupt this road trip for breaking news......

SOMEONE TURNS A DOZEN TODAY---and it ain't St. Patrick!

Happy 12th Birthday, Rivers!!

• My firstborn, my baby boy----he's 12, already?? You know how you tell your little boy is growing up?.....he starts REQUESTING pink clothing, which means he WANTS to wear pink. He was beside himself when Aunt Karisa sent him a birthday package and within was this PINK shirt!! Isn't he handsome? I love you, son.....pink shirt and all. :)

Obviously, there will be more birthday photos to come......we just haven't made it to that "day" yet on the road trip blog posts!! :)

Spring Break Road Trip '09 --- Day 2

For Day 2, we gathered up our bags and left the Galt House.....Tyner Beth took one last chance to do a straddle split across our window seat to view the Ohio River and peer over into the state of Indiana with only the naked eye.

• And here we are driving in the drizzling rain....taking the short trip over the river by way of this fine bridge:

• See....there's proof....the Indiana State welcome sign....now who else would post a blurry, rain spotted photo of such if it weren't the truth?

So, mark Indiana off the kid's list of states....we did something awesome there.......wanna see?

• Nope it wasn't the Indy 500, nor the Home of the NCAA that we visited to mark this milestone..........remember, we are traveling with Pappy and Nana---and Pappy loves Cracker Barrel.....so here's how we celebrated the great state of Indiana. And by the way, in case you are wondering, the Northerners haven't managed to mess up a Cracker Barrel....still good southern style cooking. Walt ordered his standard two boxes of cereal with a side of fruit---and he noticed his milk was brought in from Illinois. So, he's thinking of counting that as a visit as well. :) HA!

For those of you who remember our trip from last year, Temple and I had a rule that we would not eat at any chain restaurant---no McDonald's or Cracker Barrels allowed---only local fare for us. And mostly in the form of a great Diner. We all love the show on Food Network, "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives". So this would have been a MAJOR rule-breaker for us......but because it was Pappy's choice, we let it slide! :)

• Today, for our big stop, we visited a National historical landmark in Kentucky, known as Locust Grove. Not only is it a local historical site.....it is also part of my children's heritage. Which makes it score serious BONUS points for a road trip stop. In fact, I already have plans for one of the kids to do this as their history project next year......good stuff.



• A photo of the homestead known as Locust Grove: It was built by William and Lucy (Clark) Croghan. One of Lucy's brothers was General Jonathan Clark -- who happens to be the great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather of our children. Another brother to Lucy and Jonathan was George Rogers Clark (who would be a great....uncle)--the founder of Louisville and a great commander who conquered the Northwest Territory. Later in life, he lived at Locust Grove with his sister, until his death. Another famous brother, and thus a great......uncle of the children, whom you may recognize the name......was William Clark. Keep reading to the end to see what he was famous for.....



• I'd like for you to meet our fabulous tour guide---Ms. Lynn Renau. Who just might happen to be the best little Locust Grove historian to grace the day. We so enjoyed her lively and informative tour. She was equally thrilled to be hosting us for the day--- "relatives of General Jonathan Clark"----a really big deal to her, and she made us feel so important!!! Thanks Ms. Lynn---we appreciate all your efforts to learn and then further impart that knowledge to us about our history.

• One of my favorite parts of the tour of the home was this ballroom.....and the wallpaper they had found underneath all the scrapings. I thought it was beautiful. Obviously they had replicated it---but on the wall in the ballroom, they had actually pieces of the original wallpaper behind a glass frame.....remember this was from the late eighteenth century. This wallpaper would have been plated in either Paris or London, and sent to this Kentucky farm. FANCY!

• One of the bed coverings......made from Indigo dye--a very expensive item back in the 1700's. Tyner Beth looked up at us during this room's tour and said..."that bedspread looks like Auburn."....... so there you have it, from the mouth of babes. Clearly, our family was ahead of it's time.....already Auburn Tiger fans, long before anyone ever heard the cry "WAR EAGLE!"

• What? You think I'm kidding? Here's even more proof that Tyner Beth found on the third floor: She saw this room and looked up at me and said, "oh, momma, I love that bed, especially that net stuff across the top.....it looks like Tiger pawprints." Seriously, can you dispute such research?

• There's tons of info I could give you about Historic Locust Grove, but I'll just give you the link for you to get an overview of it for yourself when you find the time .....
  
• www.locustgrove.org

And maybe you might want to look up more info on Lucy's brothers----George Rogers Clark and Jonathan Clark---both of whom were Generals during the Revolutionary War.

....after we left Locust Grove, it was time for another food break.

• Well, just to show we made up for breaking the rules this morning, we ate at a local, non-chain restaurant tonight! And it just so happened to be a diner Temple found iwith the GPS. Rima's Diner was classic family style---and had an apparent love for The King himself, Elvis. We all enjoyed some good food.....and there were a couple who even treated themselves to dessert. Fun times!!

• We finished off the night by stretching out at the hotel! Here are Pappy and Tyner Beth in deep concentration over a game of Crazy Eights.....in which she won almost every match!! :)

And now the highly anitcipated:

• PHOTOS FROM THE KID CAMERA:
  

Walt captured his Daddy playing with one of the pistols in the gallery at Locust Grove. Tons of history written on the walls.

Now here's a nice shot Walt took----recognize this room? It's that beautiful, old wallpaper from the photo I took above----the Ballroom. A great place to be, and so lovely. And the spot where many famous Statesmen, Patriots and Presidents gathered for a evening of music and cards.

• Oh, would you look at that---I actually made it into a photo thanks to the kid cam. This was taken on the 2nd floor of Locust Grove. But most important to note in this photo is this:

I began to think about the fact that here they are, Temple Bowling, IV (my father-in-law) and Temple Bowling, V (my husband)---the descendants of General Jonathan Clark, brother to Lucy Clark Croghan, -- standing in the very home at Locust Grove where they all slept....ate meals.....standing in the very home where their family ancestors entertained President James Monroe, General Andrew Jackson and several other historical leaders. Even Lucy's brother, (remember me telling you I'd have more to say about him) stopped by Locust Grove --- William Clark and his fellow explorer friend, Meriwether Lewis----whom you know as the famous expedition team of Lewis and Clark.

And as Paul Harvey would say, "now you know the rest of the story." :)

That's all for Day 2, folks......a history lesson from part of the kids own history---now, that's priceless.