Washington DC

Last weekend, before the 2 to 3 feet of snow hit our respective cities, we ventured out of the 'burgh and headed to DC.  We wondered if we were a little crazy heading to DC in the middle of winter-but we realized that, besides pushing strollers through snow, it was a good decision for us. Few crowds, no hot weather, and lots of motivation to move quickly through the cold.

Not every weekend meets your expectations as a parent.  You might think, prepare, and dream about family togetherness-and sometimes you just get real disappointed.  Not so this time.  Yes, some folks cried about being cold, wet, tired, hungry, etc... But there was real sweetness, wonder and joy in our time together.  That, for me, is the big picture, and I am grateful for it.  Several times during the weekend I heard (from Nate and Eden)  "I love this."  "That was so cool"  "Thanks for taking us here"  Suh-weet.

Day 1-The Capitol--we had an amazing tour with an excellent tour guide.  He spoke directly to the kids and quizzed their history. We had the fun of touring with a group from Beijing.
Inside the rotunda....

Inside the capitol

Listening to the tour

Inside the original House of Representatives-with statues donated from every state.  Sam said it was a room full of "Super Heroes".  Sounds about right.

House of rep

We then took the tunnel to the Library of Congress.  With Nate pushing Sam in a stroller, and Eden pushing Grace, there were some races on the way over...Good memory.

Tunnel to library of congress

The Library was stunning.

Checking out the lib

4 kids at the Capitol

Dad at the capitol

The Terra Cotta Warrior Exhibit from China was our next stop.  It was amazing to see these statues up close.  Fascinating to understand what lengths the emporer went through to protect and amuse himself in the after-life.  No actual photos allowed in the museum.

Terra cotta 4 kids

Sam terra

Day 2-The Ford's Theatre-with a Lincoln museum and talk by a Park ranger on the shooting and death of Lincoln.  Nate and I were fascinated by this and all that Lincoln had to endure during his presidency.

Lincoln

Fords

Ford's theatre

Coffee break-with lots of Laughter.

Off to the Air and Space Musuem-Eden and Sam's favorite.  So much ooohh and ahhhhing from Sam.  Eden loved the Wright brothers exibit as she had just studied it in school.

Air and space

Inside air

Original plane wright brothers

Awesome Day!  I then went to spend some time with my friend Jess- who had just had her 4th baby.  Little busy in that house hold.

Jess and grace

Then we hung out all night with our friends the Thompsons.  The kids played American Idol in their basement, and the adults chatted.  Brave, loving family for hosting us!

Phyllis

Day 3-our final day :(

A sunny, snowy trip the Washington Monument

Monument walk

Monument sunny

Our trip up the monument-where we did not have to wait was Grace's favorite time of the trip. She loved looking out the different windows.  I will always remember her excitement.

The whole fam

Our last and probably my favorite stop-the Lincoln Memorial with Nate and Eden.

N and e lincoln

and reading the Gettysburg address with Nate....

N gettysburg address

I will always remember Nate's enthusiasm for Lincoln and what that felt like reading those words with him.

N and mom lincoln

our last stop-visiting the rest of the Oliver clan-where the kids had a great time.  Whew-what an amazing trip!

Oliver and boyers

Comments

[Frank Family]

Sounds like a good trip!  Glad you had fun.