2021 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Day 5

After the girls went on an early morning run with Mr. Bullington trailing them on a bike, it was time for our first stop of the morning! Pick up the phone, the American Revolution is calling! We spent a few hours pouring over the exhibits at Museum of the American Revolution. This is going to sound weird but one of the highlights of this museum is George Washington's Tent. Like, the one he schlepped all over tarnation trying to win our independence and start a new gig, free from the control of  Taxi Mctaxalot, George III. The museum presents the tent in a spectacular multi-media presentation that would spark awe in even the most sullen teenager  anyone! To think, night after night, while his bed at Mt. Vernon was empty, he slept, and studied, and paced, and planned in this humble canvas tent that is much like it was 250 years ago.  Chills! 

From there, we headed over to Independence Hall where the FREAKING DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WAS SIGNED! If those walls could talk! I stress about planning my menu for the week, I can't fathom laying out the ground work for an entirely new nation and government.  I spent a few moments chatting up the little park ranger. I've recently decided that if I were to ever have a second career, it would be a Park Ranger. My new friend was a cute little gal from Louisiana who is making it her life's work to inform about and protect our nation's historic sites. She told me that second only to the Grand Canyon, Philadelphia employs more park rangers than any other site in the country. This is on account of the high number of buildings (her words) and the high number of dimwits wanting try and take their picture in George Washington's chair (my words). 

No, it's cool, girls. I'm sure whatever you are watching on the TicTac is more interesting.....

In the room where it happened

Mr. Bullington and I sensed that the family's political tide was turning when we announced that our final destination for the day would be yet another fascinating museum, across town.. Fearing a teen coup, we relented to trade in our walking feet for bike riding feet. I still have PTSD from our first foray into urban biking in the year of our Lord, 2014.  We'd biked in Portland, but with a guide, and the bike riding lanes in Philly are limited and a skosh unpredictable, meaning, sometimes they abruptly end and deposit you in to traffic. Anyhooo, we acceded to the demands of the tyrants and a few minutes later we were each perched atop our very own rent-a-bike. 

Our next stop was a more agreeable one. The Reading Terminal Market is an indoor market with food stalls of every culinary genre. You want Empanadas? They have it! You want flowers? Tea? Fish with faces still attached? You've come to the right place! We settled on some spicy Thai food, because what better to fill up your gullet before riding a bike in the scorching heat to the Medical Malady museum.  

Charlotte being cheeky

Wait, don't take our picture until we're ready. Payback is hell. 

#1! 

We biked to the The Mutter Museum without disclosing to the children exactly what it was about. The element of surprise is often lost these days..... Unfortunately or fortunately for you dear reader, I was unable to take any pictures. They were very serious about the no picture policy. Meaning, they had cameras with someone monitoring them.  But some highlights included, slices of Albert Einstein's Brain, a tumor removed from Grover Cleveland and an extensive collection of objects fished out of folks. We learned not to swallow safety pins, fish hooks, and the like.  Thomas found himself in and out of the tools of child delivery section quick as a wink and Charlotte stared at the ground as not to have her eyes meet a jar full of gangrene hand. Another fun family outing is in the books! 

Tour De Bullington

Speaking of books, we ditched the kids at the hotel and ordered Uber eats for them so we could have some adult time. We met up with our buds, Joel and Chrissy Helmke who've recently moved to the Philadelphia area from California. Joel picked the perfect spot! The Old Bookbinders Restaurant and Bar. Located in a historic building and dating back to 1893, this restaurant's history can be traced back to when it was an oyster house owned by Samuel Bookbinder. Currently, it serves up delicious lobster and other delectable bites! Are we really to a point in parenthood where we can ALL ride adult bikes unencumbered through the city AND  can leave the kids for a few hours for a grown-up dinner?!? I feel like a trophy is in order....

Friends for LIFE!