Where a President Was Born

Take a homeschool family studying World War I, add in some late-winter dreary days that could use a field trip, stir in a not-too-far-away birthplace of the 28th president (who just happened to be president during said war), and what do you get?  This.  :)

To be honest, I wasn't sure how it would go today, me being the only adult in my company of five children.  But it went wonderfully, with friendly, helpful staff; and our time there was a true joy.

 In the museum, the staff had scavenger hunts, tailored to each grade level, for the boys to do, which was a fantastic way to get the kids involved even more in the exhibits there.

When we went into the birthplace itself, we weren't allowed to take any pictures; but for me, there was a strong sense of....hmmm...what to call it?...destiny maybe?  To be in the room where Woodrow Wilson was born, to see the cradle where he slept, to think that when he was born, his mother had no idea what the future would hold for her precious son--it was all so...so...something.  I'm at a loss for words.

At any rate, the lady guiding my family through the birthplace was quite nice, but a little nervous, too, it seemed--and understandably so.  After all, with a group of young'uns who might get a little rambunctious and, say, break a 160-year-old chamber pot, we'd all be a little anxious, I imagine.  :)  But by the time she got to the end of the tour, she relaxed enough to even take us up a blocked-off staircase and show us an extra room.  :)  She kept things very interactive, and I had a blast listening to my kids answer her questions (and ask her some of their own).  The part I remember most is when she was showing us an old tub they used for bathing, and was describing their system of weekly baths, not throwing out the water until each member had used it, etc.  She asked what day of the week the baths would have been on, and why; and quick as a wink, Josiah and David replied that it was on Saturday evenings because of church the next day.  Well, of course.  But then she said that 98% of the children she gets on the tour don't know the answer to that!

 One exhibit we liked showed inventions from the years of Wilson's presidency, and we learned, for example, that he was the first president to use a microphone.  They had one there that the kids could try out.  :)

Because we've been doing so much reading about World War I, the boys were really excited to see the trench exhibit (a new exhibit there, from my understanding).  All of these connections between the things we've been discovering in books and the things we discovered in real life today are so valuable--and one of the best parts of homeschooling.  :)

For a look back at the last time we visited this museum (which Josiah only remembers a little of and David doesn't remember at all), click here (David in a dress???) and here.  :)  

If the boys were awake right now and helping me write this, they'd want to add that the excitement of the day didn't end when we left the museum.  The next special thing was stopping at Burger King to pick up food for lunch, since we were pretty late leaving the museum and still needed to drive home.  Then, after a shortened quiet time at home, we got to go the the children's museum (free on the first Friday of the month!) for David's Family Night, and then out to dinner at Country Cookin' (David's choice).  Four special things in one day?  Astonishing!  :)

Tonight as I tucked the boys into bed, I kept hearing them say, "I am so tired.  I'm exhausted!"

Me, too.

But happy.  :)