On Tuesday morning we got an early start. Abe and I actually did the 400–in my case quite a few less than that– and sweat up a storm before the day started. The humidity here is crazy! We then dropped Abe off at work and arrived at the Museum of North Carolina when they opened at 9am. I asked the kids to figure out genuine questions they have about North Carolina and see if they could find the answers in the museum. Mary wanted to know more about North Carolina’s military history, and Lydia was interested in figuring out what distinguishes its culture. If I were only traveling with my two oldest girls, museums would be a dream! They are so interested in all of the displays, they read the captions, and they linger to study the artifacts. It is a great joy to take these two places.
Ammon and Clarissa, on the other hand…are quite a bit younger. They spent the three hours we were at the museum literally running in circles and occasionally screaming with excitement. I had a lot I wanted to learn about North Carolina myself, but that took a back seat to making sure I didn’t lose my youngest children and that they didn’t actually do damage to priceless artifacts and beautiful displays. Sigh.
After this museum we ate lunch at a Lebanese restaurant called Sitti, and the muhammara was deliriously good. I also ate a salad with oranges and figs that I want to try to recreate at home.
Then we headed over to the Museum of Natural Sciences and saw some great skeletons, displays, and watched a 3D movie on volcanoes. Ammon was sure the photographer in the movie had died when the volcano erupted and would not be quieted on this point. Luckily there was only one other group in the theater.
After the museum we spent two and a half hours at Pullman Park where the kids played with local kids. The weather was perfection and I loved the 1920’s music that was piping in against the natural sounds of the park.
Abe walked over and joined us at 6:30, and around 7 we headed to Irregardless Cafe for dinner. We enjoyed amazing food there (Abe said it was his favorite restaurant and meal of the trip) before heading to a gelato place for flower ice cream. I have been neglecting my diet and honestly forgot that I gave up ice cream, which made the gelato that much more tasty!
Here is what Mary captured about today:
