My SHORT trip to Gettysburg was nice. It wasn't TOO relaxing as I drove 5 hrs starting at 7:30am on Friday and left Sunday at 1:30pm and drove another 5 hrs! Grandma was a WONDERFUL copilot and stayed awake the WHOLE way both ways! She kept checking on me on the way home as I was exhausted from the day before and not getting much sleep the night before.
Friday we arrived just after lunchtime and everyone was there! It was wonderful to see the whole family but was immediately missing Ron. He wasn't able to go being that he just got a new job less then 2 months ago... I was originally going to share a bed with grandma and room with Julie and Keith and munchkins but Kerby was by herself in the loft and asked if I wanted to join her. So I did, thinking grandma could definitely get rest without having to share a bed. Unfortunately we didn't get to have a "slumber party" as we had to be up early Saturday and I was driving home Sunday...but it was still wonderful to have that time with her...even if we were sleeping. haha
Saturday we left bright and early to get to the field to watch the 145th Reenactments. I REALLY enjoyed this time. I did relax a little that day. Katelyn made her rounds with everyone as we were sitting there and I had told her if she needed some water to let me know, she could have some of mine. She asked for it a few times and then the last time, she kept it. The little stinker! :) I just laughed. I had taken 2 bottles so I was fine. She didn't let that bottle go all morning! She was so cute! After the first battle we walked around the camps as they reenactors were living the way the soldiers actually lived (for the weekend) with their tents and cooking over a fire and washing clothes...everything! It was cool to see different tents and everything. One group was "cooking" pies. The one soldier told us he was making a peach pie in the dutch oven over the fire. Apparently we looked like we didn't believe him because he said "here, look!" and there it was...the most delicious looking peach pie!! They had 2 more to cook too. (Kerby wanted us to distract them so she could snag one! haha) We weren't all planning on staying at the field all day, but we ended up just sticking around. We went back for the 5:00 battle and didn't get a front row seat, but still wasn't too bad. We had a bit of a fright though as (I'm sure it happened during the battle) a horse got spooked and lost his rider and was bolting up the hill at full speed! He was coming toward our area, turned before he got there and shot straight up the hill towards the other group sitting on the ground. He made a 90 degree turn and they soon wrangled him up. My heart beat a little faster for a few minutes during that whole ordeal!! I felt bad for the horse because he was so scared and couldn't get away from the noise. They got him calmed down though... We made it to the church service at the camps too! It was really cool to attend one of those. Very enjoyable and uplifting after the long day! Then we went to Old Eagle Grill for dinner. Very nice restaurant and nice to have some a/c after being outside all day! The food was delicious!
Saturday night...we all went to bed as we were all exhausted from the whole day's activities and had somewhat of a plan for Sunday. At around 12:30ish...the smoke alarms are going off...wakes EVERYONE up (except Caleb)...they go off 3 times. They finally stop. We all go back to bed after the owner came to check things out and found nothing. Dad and Jason searched the house as well..found nothing. Around 3 or so, they go off again. At that point, it wasn't a "fear" of a fire in the walls or something like that, it was just annoying! Trying to sleep knowing I had to drive home that day and not having any sleep to feel rested at all. I tried to sleep a little longer then others but that didn't happen when everything echoes through the house!
Sunday - I got up...was planning on going into town, eat at noon and leave no later then 3pm. Not many were ready when I was so I skipped going into town. I ate at noon with grandma and we left around 1:30...as Dad wanted us to go so I didn't get too tired and I thought the longer I waited the more tired I'd get. Grandma and I made it home in good time- I thanked God we weren't going east on the turnpike as they were at a dead stop in a few places!!! We enjoyed dinner together at Perkins in Greenville and I came home.
Overall the trip was wonderful - seeing everyone - and wished I could have stayed longer but was more then happy to get home and see Ron!!! That was the hardest part!!!
Here are some pictures:
They were posing for an "old fashioned" picture...camera and all set up!
Second battle - right in front of us!
Poppa got Josiah some soldiers and they were setting them up to have a battle - Poppa explained what each soldier did and how they would move. Katelyn was a spectator! :)
Our crazy family! (Minus Ron)
Katelyn and I...notice the water bottle? haha
One of the horses in the coral between battles...I loved the blanket!
Talk about expensive hobbies - this was one of the reenactor's "props"
Peach pie "baking" in a dutch oven over a fire! mmmmm
Just relaxing in the afternoon - she was sewing...
He made some spice cake (over the fire) and had people going past try it (they said it was good)
Josiah, Katelyn, and I before most things started...
Katelyn relaxing with Poppa (Mike in the background taking it all in)
Lower end of the field during the first battle
This horse was so tired after the first battle...he was trying to eat and sleep!
We tried to get this horse to look up but he was hungry, so I bent down! I LOVE horses!
Caleb helping mommy clean the fridge and put things away!
Katelyn and Josiah - being goofy!
Josiah in the morning posing with the horses!
Katelyn petting the horse with Poppa and Neena. She wasn't afraid!
They were on their way down to the tents for a "Meeting of the Generals"
The Harpst clan...SOMEONE said to make faces...but mom and dad missed the "memo" hehe
Our beautiful home for the week(end)!!
The beautiful view from the porch!
My dessert I made for the 4th! It was yummy!!!