We did some great sightseeing during our Columbus, Ohio, weekend. We ranged as far north as Dayton (the National Air Force Museum) and Kirtland (LDS Historical Sites). On Friday morning, before those trips, Dave and Camille went running along the many green, winding trails. I walked around the Eberts' neighborhood in the suburb of Dublin. The Eberts' backyard abuts the elementary school which Annelise, Sophia, and Ezra attend. That provides one huge backyard!
When the crowd was awake, we ate leftovers, the best part of Thanksgiving.
We then drove to Dayton, Ohio, to visit the National Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The "Wright" in the name of the base is for "Wilbur" and "Orville", the inventors of the airplane, who lived in Dayton. The museum is full of airplane treasures, from early double wing airplanes used during World War I to stealth bombers. There were also special military exhibits, such as video interviews with soldiers who had liberated the Nazi prison camps during World War II. We promised ourselves to visit again, when we had a whole day to spend, rather than just a few hours.
Columbus has fabulous ice cream stores, and we tried out several of them.
While the adults chatted, Ezra gave Oakley a good scratch and watched "101 Dalmations" over and over and over again with his sisters.
On Saturday, we traveled to Kirtland, Ohio, where the Mormons lived from 1831 to 1837. Dave, Michael, Sophia, and I visited an exhibit of nativity sets from all over the world, while they waited for the rest of the Eberts to arrive.
We then visited the Newell K. Whitney store, where Joseph Smith asked Brother Whitney, whom he had never met before, "What do you want of me? You prayed me here."
We visited the upper room of the store, where Joseph Smith received many revelations recorded in the Doctrine & Covenants.
We also wandered through Kirtland village, enjoying buildings from the 1830s, the creek where early members of the Church were baptized, and the mill and potash plant which provided wood and an export for the early Saints.
At the research computer at the visitors' center, Dave looked up Peter Shirts, his ancestor who lived in Kirtland.
Next stop was the John Johnson home, where Joseph Smith was living when a mob broke into his house one night, dragged him out, and tarred and feathered him. There's now a garage/visitors center on the back of the house, but the front is original.
Saturday night, Dave, Michael, Camille, and I went to dinner at one of Columbus' stylish restaurants.
On Sunday Michael drove home, but Dave bought tickets home Monday, rather than Sunday, by mistake. We enjoyed another day with Steve, Camille, and the kids, including watching Annelise lead a family night on The Proclamation of the Family.
Ezra led the Eberts in singing, Sophia showed off her climbing skills, and the whole family formed a pyramid, at Annelise's urging, to demonstrate family unity!
Steve had already decorated the house for Christmas by the end of Thanksgiving weekend. He also baked his famous chocolate chip cookies for us to enjoy, with a glass of cold milk.
