Spring Break: The National Zoo

The last place the kids wanted to go while we were in D.C. was the National Zoo.

Stayc had to teach class (via Skype), so we left him at home. Then we couldn't find parking (the lots were all full), so Aleithe dropped off me and the kids and went to find parking. Long story short, it ended up just being the three of us, which was ok. This is why I'm a stay-at-home mom, after all :).

The kids wanted to see everything, so we did. (I did mention the whole increased-endurance-as-they've-gotten-older thing in another post.)

By the time we'd spent 30 minutes in the gift shop, while Lutece wavered between spending her money on this nick-nac or that nick-nac, I was so done with the zoo.

Still and all, it was a fun day and a good trip to D.C.

Spring Break: All About the Museums

During our Spring Break visit to D.C., we spent two full days downtown at the various museums and sites. As the kids have gotten older, they have outstripped me in stamina and endurance. After seeing three (and a half) museums the first day, they were ready for another museum. Fortunately, I'm still the one with the money and the car, so we went home (also, museums were closing).

We started at the National Musuem of Natural History, the kids' absolute FAVORITE. I don't even know how many times we've been there, but it never seems to get old.

Then I dragged them to the modern building of the National Gallery. Sadly, due to renovation, all the rooms with paintings were closed. However, we did get to see all the sculpture, which the kids really enjoyed.

As you can see, I had some fun myself.

Luckily, the kids were game.

Such great stuff!

After the National Gallery, we headed to the Museum of National History, one which the kids have never been to in all their visits to D.C. (gasp!). It didn't capture their interest much, but we did get to see the original U.S. flag in all its glory (and dimness . . . it's housed in a dark room). One of these days, we'll go back and do the museum some justice.

The next day, we headed downtown again, this time with Stayc and Grandma DuBravac in tow. After nabbing tour tickets to the Mint (the Department of Printing and Engraving), we drove over to Arlington National Cemetery to visit Grandpa DuBravac's grave and put some flowers on it.

We did the Air and Space Museum and then rushed over to the National Archives (another first for the kids and me) to see the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Very cool.

We had tickets for the 3:00 p.m. tour at the Department of Printing and Engraving . . . you know, where they print MONEY, and we literally ran the mile and a half from the National Archives to make it in time. Whew! (Grandma sent us on ahead and still made it in time, so maybe we didn't have to run after all :)

This was a favorite museum visit for the kids. The tour was fascinating and it was really cool to learn how they make money and watch them do it. We also learned that Phoenix is worth more money than Lutece. Tough luck, Lutece.

We tried to get into the Holocaust Memorial Museum (which is right next to the Mint), but tickets were all gone. Next time.

How lucky are we to have a Grandma who lives right near Washington D.C.? Seriously lucky.

Spring Break: Mount Vernon

We decided that Spring Break was a perfect time to visit Grandma DuBravac and Washington D.C. this year. Lutece has become quite the travel planner, and I hardly have to plan any of our trips these days. It only took 19 years of marriage and raising two children to finally have help in that department. Thank goodness for a daughter who is as regimented and scheduled as I am.

She had every day planned out, and first on the list was a trip to Mount Vernon, which the kids never seem to get enough of. They love the "tradition" of visiting certain sites in D.C., and a trip there just isn't complete without them.

 As usual, we saw all the buildings, grounds, cemeteries, museums, and gardens.

Lutece takes site-seeing very seriously.

One special addition this year was lunch at the Restaurant at Mt. Vernon Inn, which was very good! We told the kids the story of how Stayc and I got engaged at that very restaurant, some 20 years earlier. It's good to share these places and stories with our kids. I feel very grateful that 20 years later, Stayc and I still enjoy spending time together . . . now with our small family in tow.

Memories at Mount Vernon

No trip to Grandma's would be complete without a visit to Mt. Vernon. We dedicated our last day to its perusal. This latest trip to Mt. Vernon, and especially this close-up shot of Phoenix, reminded me of all the other times we've visited Mt. Vernon over the years . . . particularly, THIS fateful trip.

Now that the kids are older, they have the energy and attention-span to really enjoy the museums and grounds of Mt. Vernon.

We saw the house, the grounds, the museums, the gift shop, AND the food area (lunch, you know).

We even got in the tomb and the Slave Memorial.

It might just be impossible to get it all in with one visit. Thankfully, we just keep coming back for more.

A Day at the Museums

The one museum the kids had been dying to see for the months leading up to our DC trip was the International Spy Museum. Lutece heard about it from somewhere and determined that we needed to experience it. Grandma got tickets for everyone*, and we made a day out of going downtown, visiting not just one, but three museums by the end of the afternoon.

I thought the Spy Museum was fascinating and quite enjoyed myself. The kids enjoyed themselves as well, but will, I think, appreciate it even more in another few years. There were a few hands-on activities, like the above simulation of holding on to the ledge of a skyscraper with a wind-machine blowing on you, or the system of air ducts that the kids could climb around in. There were also lots of cerebral and/or computerized quizzes and activities that the kids *mostly* enjoyed.

Two things worth noting: 1) Lutece really wanted to be an independent agent during our time at the Spy Museum, meaning, she begged me to be able to walk around the museum herself, without having to be with the family. I finally consented, and told her to meet us at a specific time (about 45 minutes later). Even though I was vaguely concerned for her (and I still tried to keep her in my sight), I feel like she is responsible enough to manage on her own and stay safe. I suppose I should have consulted with Stayc on this decision, as he wasn't as comfortable with the idea of her being left on her own. Within 20 minutes, he was searching the entire museum for her. I finally found her near the end and told her she needed to stay closer to the group. She responded, "Mom, I still have 20 minutes. I know because I just asked someone for the time." My responsible little/big girl.

2) Not only did Grandma pay all our entrance fees into the museum, she also promised the kids one item from the gift shop (which was super cool). Lutece had her heart set on a spy watch, and when she found one, most of the cousins wanted one too. Phoenix decided on an all-purpose knife/tool/etc. Super fun stuff!

After the International Spy Museum, we hit the Shake Shack for burgers, fries, and milkshakes. While Stayc, Aleithe, and Annie ordered the food inside, I sat outside and set four different watches to the correct time :).

After lunch and saying goodbye to cousins, we headed across the street to the National Portrait Gallery. Although it is part of the Smithsonian collection of museums, it is off the mall, and thus not as frequented nor well-known. In fact, this was the first time I'd ever been there. It was marvelous! I'm excited to return. The first floor had a collection of modern dance icons, including various videos of performances. The kids were entranced by "Thriller."

Understandably, the kids were not extremely interested in viewing portraits of famous, dead Americans, so I bribed them with Tic-Tacs. If they could identify 10 people they knew and tell me something about them, they could have a pack of Tic-Tacs.

Needless to say, it kept them occupied and vaguely interested, and they were able to identify such American greats as Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, Andrew Jackson, Pocahontas, and even Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.

 

The Tic-Tacs also kept them occupied while we waited for Dad outside the museum.

Lutece fiddled with her new watch and told me what time it was in Sydney, Hong Kong, and 15 other places in the world.

I thought the kids would be exhausted after two museums, but they asked to go to the American Museum of Natural History (their favorite, hands-down), so we walked the couple of blocks to the mall and enjoyed another couple of hours at the Natural History museum.

Whew! All the adults were wiped out by then . . . and the kids look a little tired too. I asked for one final picture on the mall before we got on the Metro, but Lutece wasn't cooperating. I love these next few pictures. I asked them to quickly put their arms around each other so I could take a picture. Lutece wouldn't do it.

Phoenix tried to make her, and I heard him say to her under his breath, "Just do it Lutece. The faster we do it, the faster it will be over with." Smart kid.

She refused, so we finally just got a picture of them side-by-side, but smiling at least. The kids really ARE good travelers (albeit not great picture-takers). I'll take it!

* Sometimes I don't think the kids realize how good they have it with their Grandmas, who are always buying or doing something or other for them. They are very blessed!

A Visit to Arlington

The day after the Fourth (that would be, ahem, the fifth), we spent the morning at Arlington National Cemetery visiting Grandpa DuBravac's grave.

It was the first time we'd been able to see the gravestone in person. The kids helped Grandma decorate the grave with flowers, small flags, and even a pipe-cleaner firework that Lutece made.

 Afterwards, we wandered around the cemetery because, really, it's beautiful.

 

We made it to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier just in time to see the changing of the guard.

It was fascinating. I'm glad the kids got to see it.

Fourth of July, 2014

A week and a half after returning from Florida, we hopped back in the car for a 9-hour drive to visit family in Washington D.C. (how lucky are we?). Going to visit Grandma over the Fourth of July is becoming a bit of a tradition for us (two years makes a tradition, right?).

This year was even better than last year because cousins were in town as well, so we got TONS of family time in along with all that D.C. has to offer.

We started the day off at the same little Lorton city parade that we attended last year (Shawn and Annie and crew live in Lorton). It's very small and crowded, but the kids love all the free junk they get . . . everything from star wands and mini flags to water bottles and ballpoint pens to snow cones and patriotic temporary tattoos. What's not to love?

This year we also got to see the kids' cousin Nick, who was walking in the parade with his All-Star Little League team.

Thank goodness it was at the beginning of the parade because the kids lost interest really fast . . . some time after the fire engine (which was the first vehicle in the parade).

It's more about the experience and the excitement of the day than the actual parade.

After the parade we all headed over to Shawn and Annie's for awesome grilled grass-fed steak (hello, what's more American than that?) and a World Cup game (not really very American).

Later on, we met back at Grandma's house for hours of crazy, dangerous fireworks (not sure if that's more American or Chinese).

Gotta have a cousin pic.

As soon as it was dusk, the kids started pestering us to do fireworks. Stayc warmed up the kids by lighting off firecrackers under a tin can. The kids took turns trying to catch the tin can when it flew up into the air. That was the tame stuff.

Now give me your crazy stuff!

(Just want to note the awesome patriotic shirts the kids have on courtesy of Grandma. Wearing our flag? Definitely American.)

Grandma had bought a bunch of illegal fireworks in some state other than Virginia, and Shawn brought over a bunch from his stash. It was a crazy fireworks show! The fireworks were big and oh-so-close. Luckily, none of the kids got hurt, although I think we all got hit by some of the falling debris.

Stayc was the only one who suffered any real harm, receiving a small cut right between his eyes. Whew. Incurring harm due to crazy illegal fireworks? Most definitely American!