Thursday, March 27, 2008

Civil War Battleship





This is a battleship that was recovered from the Mississippi River. It was restored and we were able to walk through it and see what it was like. It was really impressive. This was also located in Vicksburg. The ship also had a museum that held tons of relics that were found in the river that went down with the ship. Taggart especially liked this site. It's so fun to imagine life for the people that lived during this time. (It makes me grateful that I live now.) When we were in Vicksburg, Taggart pulled up our genealogy on his computer and found that we have about 1000 ancestors who were born or died in Mississippi. That made it even more special. Mississippi is a really beautiful state.

VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI






Vicksburg Mississippi was a very interesting place. It was the location for a battle in the civil war that helped the North to gain control of the Mississippi river, which gave them a lot of power to win the war. The town has done an amazing job preserving the history of the area. We toured a museum and then took a 16 mile driving tour of the battle grounds. The land was hilly and gorgeous. The weather could not have been more beautiful. They had many , many memorials all along the way telling us what had happened in that very spot. It was just a really neat thing to do. This cemetery above, is full of thousands and thousands of civil war veterans, some from this battle and some from others. Freedom is not cheap.

The Stennis Space Center






This is where they test all of the engines for the space shuttles. We took the kids on a tour of the center which included a cool museum, very hands on. They all loved it especially Boston and Daddy. The whole thing was free too, which was cool.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Airpane Fighter Hanger and US Submarine





Next we were able to see some neat jets and Daddy treated the whole family to a flight simulator ride of a fighter plane. The boys especially loved that. Then we toured a submarine, which I loved. It was neat to imagine how it might feel to be in that underneath the ocean. Cool.

Uss Battleship Alabama





Battleship Alabama





USS Alabama Battleship






This was one of the highlights on our vacation for me. We toured the USS Alabama battleship in Mobile, Alabama. It was amazing! Thousands of sailors were on this ship at once. It had been in many battles. It was an amazing maze of 10 levels and stairs and ladders everywhere. Now, with all of this going through tunnels and up and down ladders, what happens? Well, we lost Briggs! It just did not surprise me. I was not worried because I knew that he would be ok, but it did strike me as a funny thing. Daddy, Quincey and Boston were running all over the ship yelling for Briggs while I kept Sarger and Piper in one place. It was about 20 minutes of this scene until Quincey found him. It turns out that he was looking for a bathroom and ended up wetting his pants. Poor guy. We were able to finish the tour and then we got to see some fighter planes that were on display.

Mini Golf





The whole family went mini golfing. Even Sarger did it. This trip was a break through for Sarger. He was one of the big guys. It was so refreshing for Daddy and I. It was so fun to have our arms to ourselves. Sarger is really such a joy. I can't say enough.

Slick Track Racing!






We took the kids to a slick track to drive race cars. It was a blast, and yes, Daddy did crash into us and drive us all off the road. Pealing out with an evil laugh as he drove by. (Notice how he is gritting his teeth as he is driving? This means LOOK OUT!!!!!!!!)

Dolphin Cruise!





Dolphin Cruise