Friday (April 22nd)

Our anniversary by the way.

Today was going to be a rainy day so we wanted to head out to the White House first. We didn't get tickets to get in for a tour from either of our Congressmen, so we had to be content with just looking outside in.
The front yard is a lot smaller than it looks on tv.

We got a little snack on our way to the next museum--The Holocaust Memorial Museum. I didn't realized that Hayden's Spongebob Popsicle had left a sinister and ironic trace on his face at the Holocaust Museum. Kent scrubbed it off when he took him to the bathroom later.

You need tickets to the Holocaust Museum to see the permanent exhibit (apparently) which is 80% of the museum. So we were left with the leftover 20%. We went through "Daniel's Story" which is geared toward children. I don't think the other 80% would have been appropriate for my children's ages anyway. Hayden kept asking why they were killing those babies? McKinley was able to comprehend more and asked some very good questions. Sawyer just kept commenting that those were the "bad guys from Indiana Jones".


Next, we were right on top of the U.S. Capitol, so here's more pictures of the capitol.

We snapped a few pictures in front of the Supreme Court here. There were guards stationed around it, so we didn't think we should go up the steps.

Next door is the Library of Congress. I love libraries. This is the Jefferson Building section.

The inside had a beautiful rotunda. We got to see the research area...the one featured on National Treasure where they go in the secret passageway...anyway, you can't take pictures there either. In fact, the viewing area is fronted with Plexiglas.

But we officially read a book at the Library of Congress. They only let Congress members or staff check out books there.

Back to the Metro, then dinner at TGIFriday's. I had a great time. Kent found the vacation to be very...busy, and not so...relaxing. I knew we'd only be there once though, and had to get everything in that I really wanted to see. So we can always rest AFTER the vacation.

That night we said goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa since they were to leave early in the morning for a flight back to Utah. McKinley broke down in tears to say good-bye. She said, "I know I'll see them in 1 1/2 months, but it's still hard to say good-bye."

I agree.

Thursday (April 21st)

On Thursday we went to the National Archives. This is where they house the original Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, and Constitution. They don't allow photos inside, so this picture is it. It was very cool to see it. The Constitution's ink is still easy to read, but the other two are pretty faded. Both are written on some sort of animal skin stuff.

Here we are a little further down the mall and closer to the capitol, so I took another picture. It was a little chilly (which I prefer) so we wore our jackets all day.

Then we visited the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. It is humongous!
Sawyer liked the big airplane guns.

I can't remember all we saw, because aircraft blur together for me after 100 or so. I know we did see a Sputnik, some space modules, spy planes, world war planes, and an Amelia Earheart airplane.

This tree sculpture made out of metal was one of the Smithsonian outdoor Art Gallery sculptures that the kids thought was really cool and wanted to touch it.

Grandpa, Grandma, McKinley, and I went back to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History to visit the butterfly exhibit since we ran out of time the other day. We also promised McKinley she could get her "gem" souvenir (made in China) that she wanted.

The butterfly exhibit was fun for McKinley. I have realized that I don't like butterflies to touch me...they are BUGS even if they are colorful!

We rested a minute on the National Mall lawn to catch our breath. That is the Smithsonian Castle in the background.

The kids got some "rock crystal" suckers from the gem gift shop at the Smithsonian.

We called it an early night headed back to the hotel area for dinner. I got really motion sick on the train back so Hayden and I went to the hotel while the others went to IHOP--kid's eat free you know.

Wednesday (April 20th)

Today we started by visiting Mt. Vernon--George Washington's beloved estate.

This is a view standing on the back porch looking onto the Potomac river. That old tree in the background is original to the property.

There was a main building for the home and then little free standing buildings for storehouses, laundry rooms, clerk's rooms, etc.

This is the "old vault" where the family's remains were originally. Washington directed in his will that another brick building be built for their remains. So it was and the bodies were moved.

Hard to see, but the sign says:

"Within this Enclosure

Rest

the remains of Genl George Washington"

And here lie the remains of George and Martha Washington. The little door in the back leads to catacombs filled with his relatives.

At the time of his death George Washington had over 300 slaves working on his plantation.

His will freed them at his death.

Here is a marker remembering them and their unmarked graves on the plantation.

Here we are taking a rest on the side of the Potomac River.

We all sat down to rest on Washington's back lawn viewing the Potomac. The boys loved running around. My favorite part of the estate is this backyard view they had of the river.

I could get used to that view.

McKinley taking some pictures. That is a view of the back of the house.

Now on to Arlington Cemetery.

It is in the 80's today. I hate the heat. The walk is all uphill to the tomb of the unknown soldier. It may have been one of the longest feeling walks of the trip.

We watched the ceremonial changing of the guards at the tomb of the unknown soldier.

The tomb reads:

"Here Rests in Honored Glory an American Soldier but Known to God"

The amphitheater at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Then we took a quick drive over to the Iwo Jima statue. It was a much larger scale than I thought it was going to be.

Last stop for the day was to see the D.C. temple.

The temple was cast in a beautiful pink light at sunset.

And the blossoms around the grounds were beautiful.

Tuesday (April 19th)

We were tired from all the walking yesterday, so we slept in a little. We made it to the National Zoo around 11:00. Parking is kind of a nightmare, but luckily it was raining and a few spots opened up for us without too much waiting. One family said they were stuck for 40 minutes in the parking line and were sent right back out without a spot. We were lucky. The rained cleared up a few minutes after getting out of the car. We rented a double stroller today (for $12- good thing the entrance to the zoo is free!) to save the kids feet and our sanity.

This zoo is huge! The habitats for the animals look nice and spacious and happy for the animals.

Hayden's very favorite animal is the panda bear. I have never seen a real one before! So cute!
There was an awesome looking family of lions here.

The lion family had 4 (I think) cubs out and about too.

The rain picked up a couple of other times. Hayden finally fell asleep in the stroller. Oh- and poor little Sawyer. He went with Kent into the dark men's room to go potty. While in there the poor unsuspecting kid slipped in a puddle (in a very bad puddle!) in the bathroom and landed smack dab in the middle of it. He was soaked. The zoo only sells shirts---no shorts! It was a long yucky day for the kid. Although he didn't seem to mind as much as the rest of us.

McKinley is feeling better today, but has a nasty cough now. She always gets sick when school is out.

After about 5 hours at the zoo (yikes) we headed over to the Washington National Cathedral.

It was gorgeous.

When we walked inside to look around there was a men's choir practice their Gothic sounding a'Capella music. It made the ambiance perfect. Kent, Sawyer and I tried to hurry and explore the crypt below, but they were closing it up just as we got down there, so we didn't get to see anything crypt-ish.

The stained glass was beautiful. With the sun going down it started to cast colorful light on the walls inside.

That night we had to stop at Target (in a shady part of town) and get Sawyer some "souvenir" replacement shorts and shirt. Hayden got some "souvenir" clothes too. We also picked up a $20 stroller to save our backs from carrying Hayden in the days to come. I got an ear full of conversation from a crazy lady in the public restroom including the beatings her mother used to give her, and when a raucous started to arise from the adults "hanging out" at the Target, we hurriedly got our kids in the car and got out of there.

Monday (April 18th)

We met up with my parents who flew in to vacation with us. Our first stop was the National Mall. Washington Monument

Behind us is the U.S. Capitol building (and one of the only pictures with me on the trip)

Here's another one of me (in Kent's sunglasses) with the Washington Monument

McKinley and Sawyer standing against the Washington monument.

We didn't get to walk up the monument because you have to stand in line on the morning of your visit (some as early as 5:30 am) and we didn't.

The cherry blossoms were finished for the year. But I did find a very few stragglers. And since I'm not going back any time soon, these will have to count for my cherry blossoms in D.C.

We walked around tidal basin (where the cherry blossoms are) and saw the Jefferson Memorial.

Hayden hanging out on the Jefferson Memorial steps.

Mr. Thomas Jefferson

The Jefferson Memorial viewed from the side because construction cranes are renovating and ruining my pictures from the front.

Walking around tidal basin to get back to the other side, here is another view of the Washington Monument.

I'm not sure how much we walked, but it was a long walk even for adults. We forgot the stroller, so the kid's tiny little legs were dying. Hayden was easily distracted from the objective and must have picked up 1,000 flowers/weeds on his leisurely stroll.

Sawyer picked this beautiful flower and took a nice big smell. His face was covered with a bright yellow dandelion mustache. The pollen in D.C. was crazy. Our car got covered in a film every day from the pollen dropping on it.The FDR memorial is a nice outdoor pathway exhibit.

I loved this quote by FDR "I Hate war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen the dead in the mud. I have seen cities destroyed. I have seen children starving. I have seen the agony of mothers and wives. I hate war."

On to the Lincoln Memorial.

Just as impressive in person as you would imagine.

Some of us were a little tired though.

Walked a little further to the WWII memorial. There was a ring of stone with bronze wreaths, each representing a state. Oh, and even though I didn't post a picture of it, we did see the Korean War Memorial too.

Hanging out at the WWII memorial. It started to get a little hot. It had been a nice 60's all day, then it jumped up to a sunny 70's.

Our final stop for the day was to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. I love that most of the museums are free (well, we pay for it with taxes). This is the museum that was in "Night at the Museum".

The Hope Diamond is on display here.

Now we are done for the day. We take the Metro back to our car and back to the hotel. Our feet are killing us!

We finished the night off at IHOP (yay IHOP!) but McKinley had a little heat exhaustion and threw up in the bathroom so I took her back to the room (luckily we were right next to IHOP) where she threw up a couple more times and proclaimed that "this is the worst vacation ever!"

Poor kid. She felt better in the morning and we made sure she drank more the next day.