And on your left...is the Washington monument...well, actually it is behind us...but the kids LOVE that family joke from when we lived here in the 90's. My sister, Gloria, was visiting and Steven took us down to DC. It was one of our earliest visits there, and we didn't know the city real well yet. He would drive past the monument and say "And on your left...is the Washington Monument". Then he would get turned around...and drive past it again...and again...and again...and...It came at us from the left, the right, front, back and sometimes it felt upside down! We got so lost and disoriented on that trip, but it left us with a great family joke that has made us laugh for over 15 years!
It was sooooo cold and windy...check out Missy's hair! Bad hair day!
On the way home, we HAD to take the kids past the DC temple...it is so beautiful at night. We got there at dusk and were able to see it as the lights just came on. I had kind of a "duh" moment though...I was getting frustrated looking for the reflecting pool. I remembered being able to see the temple reflected in it, but couldn't find it. Kimmy finally laughed when she realized it was frozen and not reflecting...silly mommy!
This was Kimmy's absolute favorite exhibit at the Smithsonian American History Museum when she was a little girl. She used to stand of it FOREVER and sit and look at each room. She got her love of miniatures from this dollhouse.
This exhibit was very special to me. Steven served in Operation Desert Shield/Storm under these two Generals. It is the combat patch that he chooses to wear on his shoulder of his uniform. (He also has the option of Fort Hood since he went back to Iraq with them) I remember sitting glued to the television as Desert Storm started. I was only 20 years old...way too young to have to be worried about war, death, bombings...I watched Schwarzkoph and Powell give their briefings over and over...praying that my husband would return safe and sound.
I just thought the National Archives is the coolest looking building! I kept driving everyone nuts having to look at the architecture...but I LOVE old buildings!
Stevie's favorite president is Abraham Lincoln. He is obsessed with the Civil War. He about got a case of whiplash when we failed to tell him about the big Civil War exhibit at the Museum of American History. He also was thrilled with the big exhibit about Abraham Lincoln. This picture shows a copy of a cast of Lincoln's hand and you can compare your hand to his. A pretty good role model for him to look up to!
Kimmy LOVES rocks. It started with a geology class she took in Texas. She collects them, talks about them, reads about them...You can imagine how excited she was at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. They have a HUGE rocks and gems gallery, including the giant topaz in front of her and even the Hope Diamond (which I thought was so interesting--they MAILED the diamond, by US Postal Service, to the Smithsonian when it was donated! I don't even trust the mail when I mail out ebay LOL!) She definately wants more time to explore!
We did the National Gallery of Art on the run...well, we did all of the museums on the run (it was just a sneak peak for the kids) so I thought this picture that came out kinda blurry like it's in motion was kinda funny! Missy was in HEAVEN...she was in the middle of ART! The girls just want to take their sketch pads in and draw!
Stevie's was SO excited to go the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum! This was HIS museum!! He even was excited for the McDonald's because it wasn't any old Big Mac...it was an AIR AND SPACE BIG MAC...that is SO much better! He even got into his best Guy Fieri position to eat it (if you have seen "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, you will understand)
Parking Pass: $21
Lunch (with Air and Space Big Macs): $50
Souveniers: $30
Spending the day in DC with my kids (and seeing the excitement in their eyes): Priceless!
No comments:
Post a Comment