Aside from planes, Paul's other great love is history, especially guns, warfare and coonskin caps. Yesterday I told the kids we would do something fun today if we got all our chores (which we normally do on Friday) done. The chores were cheerfully and quickly (mostly) done so I followed through on my promise.
The kids and I loaded into the van this morning and headed to the park to enjoy the Lewis and Clark reinactors and all the other folks dressed up as fur trappers, etc. from the 1800's. Paul was prepared. He wore his tri-cornered hat and carried his "Kentuckian" rifle that he purchased at Williamsburg last year. He completed the ensemble with his camo shirt and shorts.
We saw demonstrations on blacksmithing, soap making and dutch oven cooking. The woman who was cooking wanted to hold Jude. I let her hold the baby. We enjoyed the benefit of being able to ask a lot of questions as she got her snuggle time in.
Paul was in heaven at the sporting goods store booth. The owner of the store took a liking to us (he came from a family of 21 kids!) and gave Paul a lot of extra attention. Paul got to hold and aim several guns and shoot a cross bow.
Meriwether Lewis instructed Paul on the proper way to wear a tri-cornered hat so that it could easily be removed as he was bowing to greet someone. A fur trapper let Paul hold an Arctic fox fur and try on a hat that put his own tri-cornered hat to shame.
The kids got to enter a couple of different tee pees and we all (except Elizabeth) enjoyed the duo who sang and played music appropriate to the period. Joel was just too cute when he danced.
When we got past the point of "Beyond Tired and Hungry", I knew it was time to head home. We ate our lunch and had a good quiet time. Daddy and Mommy took Paul out for dinner. We started this tradition last year. We take the birthday boy or girl on a date, just the three of us. We tell the birthday child the things we see in him or her that we're proud of and also the character areas in which we'd like to see improvement over the coming year. Paul ordered his favorite chocolate chip pancake with sausage tonight and was delighted when the chef made it in the shape of Mickey Mouse (ahh, to be a kid again).
We got home, had cake and ice cream and watched Paul open his presents. We got in our p.j.'s and had Bible time. Paul was arranging his newly acquired presidential transportation set when Joel came up and swiped the limousine. We got the car away from Joel and back to Paul. Then Joel began to hit Paul on the head. Daddy stopped reading the Bible and looked at Joel. Joel started lovingly petting Paul's head. Daddy started reading again and Joel went back to hitting Paul's head. Oh yes, we are by nature sinful and unclean.
Here's another picture of the birthday boy enjoying his new gun and hat with his little brother.
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