Pirates and Blackbeard

Today was Family Day at the NC Museum of History. The Blackbeard Exhibit was free to everyone so we took advantage of the offer. The museum also had "extra features" today for families to enjoy. We packed a picnic lunch and ate downtown in the midst of our museum fun. Photos are not allowed inside the exhibit but here are some photos from the "extra features".

This pirate was educating us in the art of swordfighting. I didn't take any photos of the children participating (none of mine were up there:) but it was really funny. The pirate had noodle swords for the kids to use. This was one of B's favorite activities today.

The children had the opportunity to make Ship's Biscuits which were just flour, salt and water. They taste more like hard tack. Nothing we'll be making for our meals!

E had a good time kneading the dough!

It was quite interesting to watch the craftsman make "ships in a bottle". Now I know how they get those things in the bottles.

Rope making...First you hold the string for the lady to wrap it around the hooks.

Then you turn, turn, turn, turn, turn, turn and turn some more.

Finally, rope! Each of our children came home with a rope about 18 inches long.

Arrrrgggggghhhhhhhhhh! Pirate B!

E on deck at the cannon...that's kinda' scary! :)

After we left the museum, the kids wanted to go to a park. Dad found a nice neighborhood park with swings. (Raleigh has a great parks system.) Then he drove us to "the purple house". He had promised H a few years ago to take her there ("purple") and never did get down there with her. So today we all went. The house actually has a name, Turkish Delights. Although they serve some yummy desserts, we all had a scoop of yummy ice cream. It was a tasty end to a fun day!