Windsor

I think it's pretty awesome that since we've been here I've been to a completely different set of castles than on my last visit.  There are simply sooo many here.  While the boys went golfing, the women folk took the children to Windsor, Queen Elizabeth's favorite castle.  I'm pretty sure she stays there more frequently than she does at Buckingham.  She also hosts her state dinners there.  Visiting an occupied castle felt very different than the others which have been staged to look like homes.  We walked down the halls dignitaries actually walk down, and enjoyed the decor that is actually on display during their visits.  The banquet room had an enormous table where it was really easy to picture her guests dining there with her at the head of the table in her royal chair.   Pictures are prohibited during visits to the state apartments, but I didn't realize that at first and snapped this picture of Daxton relaxing in the china display room.  The Queen's china collection is extensive.  I quite liked the commemorative sets made for her jubilee and 90th birthday (not this set).  

In order to picture the rest of the palace, you'll just have to use your imagination.  One of the main ballrooms was covered with the shields from the Order of the Garter.  The ceiling had large shields which were all numbered that spanned the length of the room.  Their coordinating smaller shields lined the walls with the name of who belongs to it.  Prince William was the most recent honored member in 2008.  Many of the other rooms we toured looked similar to others that we visited, but truthfully I didn't have a chance to take in the details as we had five kids running through the palace.  McKenzie may be able to tell you more about the details of the castle as she had a scavenger hunt that kept her entertained and engaged as we walked from room to room.  Kelton was okay, but Stockton and Daxton were just wanderers and I really, really, really didn't want them touching something forbidden.   I'm glad they were still behaving when we stopped by to admire the doll house.  The girls were so intrigued by the miniature models of every room, right down to the tiny silverware, hairbrushes, and faucets in the bathroom that actually work!  The china dolls given to Elizabeth and Margaret were also a hit.  The girls wished they had a doll clothing collection as extensive as the princesses'.   

But here are pictures of the exterior of the castle that we could take.

Ah McKenzie, I guess you can only take so many pictures in front of castles before you have to get a bit goofy.

We chose to brave the crowds on Saturday in hopes of some children activities.  The kids were thrilled to find dress up clothes that were a perfect size for each of them.  Two little princesses.  I had to pay attention to how their dresses were made because it sounds like I may be making them each a dress for Halloween.  The boys looked so awesome in their king and soldier costumes.  After dress ups the girls made paper dolls and the boys made paper swords that they carried around with them during the day.  

Daxton loved dressing up.  He thought he was such a joker.

King Kelton!

Love that smile, even if the pic is a bit blurry.

Before we left, Alysha, Cambrie and I walked through St. George's cathedral.  It was really interesting seeing all of the kings, queens, and royalty who are interred there; King George VI and Queen Elizabeth for example (parents of the current queen).  

While we were admiring the chapel, the wigglers were outside admiring a marching soldier.  We were even able to have the kids stand next to him for a picture.  Those men must be so incredibly patient to deal with crazy tourists like us.  

As a bonus there is a fudge street outside the walls that gives away free samples of fudge.  Did you say free fudge?  Yes please!  We ended up picking up a slice of raspberry sorbet fudge for the drive home that is really good.  Good things we left Windsor with a good taste in our mouth eh?  (Ha! I'm so funny.)

Doverlicious

It was quite a drive to Dover but everyone thought it was doubly delightful and dupendous being there.  (Having a hard time being clever tonight).  The castle sits high atop the cliffs and is stunning from down below.  Being up on top was even better.  The girls were so happy to be free!  They wanted to run up and roll down every hill they saw, but it was so steep that they really weren't allowed to. 

We did the tour of the underground war tunnels first.  We learned about how they used the tunnels during WWII and the Cold War, and also learned all about the evacuation from Dunkirk.  

The girls haven't learned much about WWII, or English history in general so I've done a lot of explaining about the why's, where's, and who's while we've been there.  It makes me grateful for Mrs. Thompson, my US History teacher who first taught us English history before she began on America.  I know my girls won't remember everything they've learned, but I think they'll still have an appreciation of the people and the history.  The story of Dunkirk was pretty awesome, and being able to see France across the Channel made it so real.  How terrifying would it have been to know the Germans were just 21 miles away with only the Channel keeping them safe?   

Once we finished touring the tunnels we made our way back up to the castle.  There were so many hills to haul that wagon and stroller up and down!  It took everyone to get those kids up that hill!  

We wandered around the outer grounds first before making our way to the keep.  The defenses up on the crest of the hill made for some spectacular views.  

I laughed out loud when I saw this picture of Daxton.  He looks way too happy to be sitting on top of a cannon.  

The girls decided to go exploring down a side corridor and found a secret tower from the 12th century.  They really wanted to share their findings with everyone but they spent so long exploring their secret passage that everyone had already gone on ahead to the keep.  

Now the keep was awesome!  We didn't know what to expect as we let the kids loose, but it has been one of their favorite castle experiences so far.  Everything on display is touch-friendly so the kids could pick up the brooms, stir the laundry pots, sit at the dining tables, rest in the beds, and I didn't have to go crazy trying to stop them.   

Daxton actually cried when we took him away from this table after he saw there was no food in the bowls.  Poor, poor orphan boy.

Unfortunately because I didn't stop them they ran loose throughout the keep in what became the greatest game of hide-and-seek ever.  Every corner of the keep had a spiral staircase that branched off in different room and it was so easy to lose my kids!  

At one point I had two kids on the roof, one in the king's bedroom, and another in a back access hallway.  I had no idea where any of the adults were!  They were having the time of their lives.  Luckily we were some of the last visitor's in the keep that day so my kids didn't run into too many other people as they dashed through the rooms and up and down the spiraling staircases.  

A bonus to hunting for my kids is that I was able to see this pretty view from up top.

When I finally found my girls they were doing a victory dance celebrating that they found the exit.  

We know how to smile properly for pictures.

The kids didn't even complain on their way back down to the car because they had so much fun.

I think I need to make a collage of Daxton chasing birds at every attraction we've been to.   He just loves those little guys!
 

He was telling me a story about how he chased the birds and started panting to tell me what sound birdies make.  

The girls kept running up and down all the hills trying to launch themselves up and over. 

 Jeremy joined them for some of the parkour.  

He also borrowed the kids' wagon and enjoyed the ride down.

  After the castle we drove out to the white cliffs...can I just say, wow!  We had to hike along the cliff for awhile before reaching the best view point of the cliffs.  

We didn't want the kids wondering off the edge of the cliff, and we all know how well Daxton likes being restrained so Leesa and I hooked Tiawna's leash onto his belt loops.  As long as he didn't run away it didn't bother him.  So, it bothered him all the time.  As a win though, he did not run off the edge of the cliff.  

The setting sun made the cliffs glow.  I never thought I'd ever have a family picture quite like this.  I am one lucky girl, and we are one lucky family to have this kind of experience.  

Obviously we bribed the kids for this family photo with gummy bears.  They lined up in a queue to receive their ration of gummy bears just like little birds.  It was effective though because we have a great family photo with all of us.  

Peering over the edge.

I could have stayed on the cliffs until it was dark, but hungry tummies called us away.  We found a local pub and ate up.  Can you believe that Cambrie ate this whole steak?  

Didn't know a kid could look so cute just eating french fries huh?  

A night out with Dantley is never complete without a good laugh.  He somehow managed to fit his whole mouth over the lip of his glass.  Cambrie was very impressed!  

The drive home was long and we had two cars full of sleeping kids, but I am so glad that we made the drive.  Dover was divine!