Not too long ago Nonna had found a site where you can schedule to go air ballooning above Monticello and the neighboring area. We decided to combine that with a tour of Monticello so the boys would also get to do something since they couldn't go up in the air balloon. Unfortunatly the weather was not cooperative enough to go air ballooning since it was a little overcast and the company didn't want to take any risks. But it was still a great day because we got to go to Monticello and see all of Thomas Jefferson's property and amazing things. It was very special for Mommy to get to share this with Wyatt since she visited a lot of Virginia mansions as a child and learned so much from her Daddy and Monticello was always one of the favorites.
Monticello is unmatched in its style and layout. Jefferson was very interested in space conservation and used every inch of the space effectively so of course Daddy LOVED it being the design lover that he is.
Once we arrived we were just in time to watch a short documentry on Thomas Jefferson where Wyatt and William were amazing. They sat listening and were very interested in what the documentry was saying. Wyatt even whispered some questions to Mommy during the movie.
Here is Daddy and Wyatt hanging outside of the visitors center with Thomas Jefferson:
They built a whole new visitors center with a gallery and a discovery center with lots of hands on activities for the kids. The kids got to try out some of Jefferon's inventions like the 5 book holder, the decoder, and the polygraph. They had building blocks there so the kids could try their hands at design which was really more Nonna and Mommy trying their hands at design and balance while Wyatt and William attempted to play chess. They had a little mock of the slave quarters with a fire where they could pretend to cook and samples of what the clothing was like.
They also had a sample of the bed that Thomas Jefferson slept in just in case some lucky tyke wanted to sneek in a little nap:
After playing for a while in the discovery center we headed off to the gallery where they had these cool magnifying glasses out so that you could read some of Jefferson's ledgers. I think Wyatt and Willliam wanted to use them to do some investigating:
After a looking around in the museum shop and the gallery it was time to take the bus up to the tour spot.
Look at these little budding historians in action:
Since we had a litttle wait before our tour of the house we decided to take a little tour of the grounds. Here is Nonna showing Wyatt and William all of the cool vegetables that are growing at Monticello:
Wyatt and the orchard:
I think Wyatt really dug this spot. The overlook had such a beautiful breeze coming through the windows and was a great way to overlook the property and the surrounding mountains. And also a great place to take a short rest.
My little Jefferson:
Already making himself at home. Here is Wyatt and Daddy outside of the house following the tour of the house. I was super impressed with Wyatt and William as they went through the house. Wyatt did a great job of really listening to what the guide was saying about each thing and did a great job of not touching a just listening even though Jefferson had a TON of cool things that everyone secretly wished they could touch. William showed off his smarts and asked a lot of great questions which added so much more information to the tour. It was great to see how curious the boys were and that William was brave enough to ask questions that then added so much for all of us on the tour.
Here are the boys outside of the house just goofing around:
What a pair:
Wyatt sitting on the stairs, big house-little Wyatt:
Daddy and Wyatt outside of the house:
After the house tour we toured around the dependancies below the house. Of course Mommy had to take picture of the smokehouse and kitchen.
Something funny which we haven't solved the mistery of yet is that Wyatt kept calling Thomas Jefferson Papa G which we are baffled as to why. He kept saying Papa G's house and Papa G this and Papa G that. Perhaps some reincarnation of Jefferson's grandchildren? Anyway here is Wyatt walking Papa G's grounds:
Thomas Jefferson's grave:
The boys were all jazzed up and ready for their bus ride back:
Thomas Jefferson and Nonna:
Mommy and Wyatt goofing around in the gift shop.
"I cannot live without books" a famous quotation of Jefferson's in a note to Adams which I think suits this picture well. Wyatt picked out this book all by himself which made Mommy very proud. It is all about how Jefferson and Adams went from best friends to horrible enemies and then back again to the best of friends. And Mommy loved the hat so that was a for sure buy.
Wyatt and William showing off their goodies for being such great little guys the whole day. What was so impressive was how smart the two of them really are. It is a lot to ask of a 5 year old and a 2 year old to go through a house with so much cool things to see and not to touch but they both did a great job and they really showed what great listeners they are too- I can't brag on them enough!
Afterward we headed to downtown Charlottesville to have some dinner and look around a little. We ate Hamiltons which was pretty good and then looked around before getting an ice cream and heading home.
Here is Wyatt and a very saucey shadow lady-I am thinking Wyatt is trying to enact some censorship here-LOL:
A cute concert hall
which happens to be right across from a neat theater- we may have found home!
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