DC Three (days that is)

Saturday the amazing weather continued. So we packed up our 7 kids (our 3 and Keller's 4) and were off to the Smithsonian. What I learned from from watching "Night at the Museum; battle..." (where would I be without that movie) is that the Smithsonian is actually several museums that line The Mall between the Capital and the Washington Monument. To keep the kids interest we decided to go to the Air and Space Museum first.

There was a bit of a line to get into the museum so to entertain the kids we had them look in the windows to help get their wiggles out. It did make them a little excited to see all of the airplanes and rockets that were just on the other side of the glass wall.

We were so excited about the museum that we missed photo ops. But as the kids ran on the grass of The Mall and ate Mickey D's ice cream I caught them being kids. They played duck duck goose, freeze tag and hide and seek. Mallory was so cute peaking around the tree.

Paco...I mean Jack was having fun finding sticks and then throwing them at the big kids as they ran by while playing tag.

Ayla was such a sweet Princess as she picked flowers and blades of grass.

We caught a picture of the Kellers in front of the Capital. The large crowd in back of the Kellers is the protesters protesting National Health. Part of History! (Did I mention it was a very sunny day?!)

Then we caught a family picture of us.

Ah, the blessings of living on the East Coast and being able to experience history 4 hours from our home. It was a great weekend and we did not want to leave. But Sunday afternoon we packed up our little family and went back to our big city. It was wonderful to cross the George Washington bridge and see to our right the bright lights of our humble home.

Walking throught History

On Friday April volunteered to watch our kids while Matt and I toured DC. So for the day she has a 6 year old, a 5 year old, two 4 year olds, a 2 year old, a one year old and a 5 month old...crazy! But thanks to her we had some much needed hand holding and less stroller pushing.

Our sights were set on the Capital. The weather was beautiful and we had a long way to walk but with amazing sights along the way we enjoyed every minute. The sheer size of the Capital took my breath away.

As we took a tour inside the Capital it was wonderful to learn of the history behind the craftsmanship. I learned that this amazing dome was being worked on during the civil war. Abraham Lincoln thought that it was important that the Capitol Building was finished to show the people that he believed their was going to still be a Union after the feuding.

This is the painting on the inside of the rotunda. Hand painted to show George Washington in heaven looking down on what this country has become.

All around the walls are the most beautiful windows with carved molding. Our tour guide told us that if you took the Statue of Liberty off of her base, there would still be 30 feet above her head as she stood in the rotunda. The guide told us about all the beautiful, historic pieces and how one man tried to steal a piece of one of the paintings. The things people would do to have a piece of history. He was tackled and the painting restored.

This plak was under a statue in front of the National Archives. The statue portrayed a woman holding a child high on her shoulder. It was a great reminder that if we teach our children correct principles it will effect future generations to come.

It was an amazing day. We bought hot dogs from a cart and enjoyed a picnic on the lawn. The line to get into the National Archives was a mile long, so we enjoyed a walk down the National Lawn. We then went to Georgetown and walked through the charming little streets. After dinner we enjoyed a cupcake from Georgetown Cupcakes. Perfect ending to a perfect date.

April survived the day and we stayed up until 1am giggling.

Washington D.C

With Matt's spring break coming we had to get away...fast. So where better to go then to Washington D.C. Thanks to the Keller's we had a place to stay and great company. So off we went, leaving homework and New York behind.

On Thursday we drove to DC and marched right up to the White House. It was amazing how small it looked. It was also fun experiencing this new place with my family. They were so excited to see where Jack's best friend lives...Barack Obama. (Jack includes President Obama in most family drawings)

It was so amazing to be in the exact place where so many great Presidents have lived.

Our second stop was the Lincoln Memorial. We had just watched "Night at the Museum, Battle over the Smithsonian" so our kids were excited see Abraham Lincoln. It was amazing to climb the steps and to come face to face (so to speak) with Abraham Lincoln. All three of the kids were in awe of the size of the memorial and the felling that they were left with.


Claire was so excited because she learned that Martin Luther King Jr spoke on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. There was a stone to commemorate his speech. There was also a Park Ranger that was playing a recording of MLK's speech which made it come to life. Amazing!



The boys loved collecting rocks in the shadow of the Washington Memorial.

Jack met a duck and had to tell him about all the things he had seen. He was a crack up!

Lance was waiting to see the octopus that Ben Stiller put into the Reflecting Pool.

What an amazing day. Seeing so much history and being able to see it though the eyes of my little ones. It was great to learn so much and to learn how much I have to learn.

One day down 3 more to go...

Not all Created Equal...

I have been a little spoiled with haircuts for the boys. I get teased when I gush about a "great" boys haircut, but today I have be taught in a painful lesson "Not All Boys Haircut's are Created Equally"

With Matt's Spring break he have to get out of town while we can. So we are going to visit friends in Virginia and tour DC. The boys were looking a little shaggy and had bed head more often than not. My Mother-in-law, who cuts there hair in not coming into town until Easter and that is way too far away. Lance made the comment that his and Jack's hair had grown so long that people were going to think they were girls!

There is a place in Scarsdale (20 min away) that charges $20 but it is not open today and I have so much to do. A place around the corner charges $28 and one charges $30, but come on these are little kid heads! So the boys and I went on an adventure to find a "Family Barber".

When I had lost all hope and had melting ice cream in the trunk, I drove past a sign that said "We specialize in children, teens and elderly". I did I u-turn and ran in (since I had to pick up Claire in 45 min)

I should have picked up on the Mexican music or that the pictures on the wall were all of Hispanic kid's haircuts. But he was only charging me $12 each and I had a time line.

It should have also been a clue when the guy that was cutting Jack's hair used the clippers to cut his bangs! But at that point what do you say?! Do I grab my kids and run knowing that they are going to have to wear a hat for 3 weeks?! So now we have the cutest little blonde boys...with Mexican haircuts. $20 each is looking pretty good right now.

With a hand full of gel, the boys look a little more like themselves...Handsome none the less. It is a good thing that Matt gets home when they are in bed.