Celebrating 13!

Today was a fun day! We celebrated Maddie's 13th birthday a couple of days early so we could invite friends and family to the encampment at Saratoga National Park. We had a great time riding the tour road, visiting the re-enactors and ending it all with a picnic lunch and twix parfaits (with a very off key but rousing round of Happy Birthday!).

Twix parfait all ready to go in canning jars! Easy to carry-no cutting needed. 

Maddie made brownies for the rangers...who were very excited to have us there but even more excited to get brownies!

Dueling Cameras!

First stop the encampment!

Soup was boiling away in that pot and boy it smelled good!

Micah wasn't sure about the noise of the musket demonstration and Norah was kind enough to keep him company.

We found this lady using the glass to burn her initials into the bottom of the bowl. This was a new one on us! She explained that she was part of the cannon team. Her job is to light the slow match and the cannon. She is able to use this to light her slow match on super sunny days like today! The French sold this tool to the Continental Army.

Micah got to try!

The whole gang together!

He said "Wait! Who is the birthday girl!"

one more time! HUZZAH!!!

Ah, and then it was time to drill. This was not planned. They just jumped on having so many cheerful children I think!

Naomi was not getting left out of this fun!

Even if the gun was bigger than her.

Ah, that face, the "Oh darn, now I can't be a lefty any more!"

Bill helping Naomi tamp down the powder!

HUZZAH!! 

Kids with Buddy and Baldwin

Micah might be under that umbrella talking to Eamon!

It was good fun and now we are all pooped!! More birthday fun to come this week.