Civil War!

Just after New Year's, Grandma and Grandpa told us that we were invited to visit a friend's house who was in the military and has a collection of Civil War memorabilia.  He  had agreed to let the kids come over and see what he had.  

Caroline was thrilled to be able to go--she has been studying the Civil War in school and she lives and breathes history.  I have to admit that I was excited to go as well....the boys were more along for the ride, but I think they found it much more interesting than they expected!

I do have to admit I was a little nervous about 9 kids age 10 and under going to see valuable items in someone's home--someone who doesn't have a lot of little kids around.  I warned the kids over and over to "NOT TOUCH ANYTHING" and made them promise to keep their hands in their pockets.  But, I shouldn't have worried---he was so nice and had so much information for the kids--he let them hold the antique guns and swords and answered every question they had.  The kids were thrilled to be able to hold everything, but I'm not sure too many of them understood how rare it was to even see such things let alone hold them.  Really, his collection was amazing.

 

My nephew, who loves everything about the civil war, asked if he had any working guns--when he said yes, all the kids wanted to see them.  The kids, were thrilled to see them, of course they were kept well away from the kids and weren't loaded--and the kids got a nice lesson on gun safety.  

The kids also got to try on his actual jacket and actual hat (2 versions)....

There is something about this picture of Aaron that I just love

 

 

 We left after that.  The kids were thrilled to have seen so much and I was thrilled that we were able to see such amazing things and nothing was ruined!