Day 10

We ate a tasty breakfast (thanks, Clinton), tidied up the joint, got packed, ran an errand, took a few pictures of the cousins (since we'd only taken a thousand or so), and grabbed a sandwich on the way to the airport.

Thanks Mindy, Clinton, Lizzy, and Emma. Thanks. Wow. What an experience. How do you even describe it? We saw and did so much, we walked miles, and learned more than we imagined we would. I believe this trip has impacted my children. It was an adventure. It was amazing.

Day 9

--Museum of American History: saw the Presidents exhibit and the Price of Freedom exhibit, touched a piece of the Berlin Wall, saw the Continental Gunboat Philadelphia 1776 and Dorothy's ruby slippers
--Lunch: on the National Mall :)
--Back to American History: Planes Trains & Automobiles exhibit, inventor room
--Arlington National Cemetery: watched the changing of the guard, explored, walked to Arlington House

Day 8

--National Museum of Natural History: saw Rexy, chatted with a dinosaur expert/docent, touched dinosaur bones/teeth/poo (turns out it doesn't smell), learned how to tell whether the bones are real or replicas, saw the mammal exhibit, ocean exhibit, giant squid, Hope Diamond, gems and rocks, 1600's skeletons and forensics, had a good conversation with the kids on what we believe about the theory of evolution, and loved the hands on exhibits for the kids
--Lunch: picnic on the National Mall, played a little frisbee, then back to Natural History (to finish all the exhibit halls)
--National Museum of American History: Lincoln exhibit (really cool!), Star Spangled Banner (it's huge!)
--Walk to the White House (to see the other side)
--It was a good and busy day. I'm taking an average of 100 pictures a day. I wonder how many miles we've walked.

Day 7

--Bureau of Engraving and Printing: saw how money is made (quite interesting), stood next to $1 million (in 20s).

--National Mall Junior Ranger certifications: the kids worked on their packets for a few days, answering questions and learning about the monuments on the Mall, so they got their badges,a certificate, and a bouncy world ball (a fabulous toy for walking around a busy town).

--Washington Monument: got tickets, rode the elevator to the top, the day was beautiful and clear, had lunch in the shadow of the Monument, played ball and laughed.

--National Art Gallery (fine and modern art): we didn't spend a great deal of time here, Zachary suggested that the sculptors were perverts and Anna was uncomfortable with the immodesty in the paintings. Jeremy would've like to have spent a little more time there, inasmuch as he's studied art history. The underground walkway was very creative (last picture).

--National Air & Space: we went back to spend some more time in the stars and outer space exhibits which the kids really loved.

Day 6

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Civil war cavalry reenactment (super cool!), movie, cinema-in-the-round, museum, auto tour of Gettysburg, history, stories, cannons, monuments (over 1300 of 'em), Junior Ranger program (it included hard questions!), nice picnic, very full day. When reflecting on the day, Griffin said "I didn't laugh at all today." We had a good time.

Day 5

Mt. Vernon, President George Washington's home
Fall Colonial Festival: we met George Washington, Martha ("everyone calls me Patsy") Washington, the lace maker ("You shall be my lace makers because you are poor, I will pay you a penny a week." "We're not poor." "Of course you're poor, look at you!"), the housekeeper ("Dinner will be served at 3 of the clock"), the rat catcher ("I've only caught 16 today"), a broom maker, a potter, soldiers, scouts, privates, infantry, a sword swallowing fire breathing entertainer, camp followers, laundry ladies, dress makers, weavers, spinners, musicians, a blacksmith, and a surveyor. We took a boat ride on the Potomac River, saw a reenactment, observed the garden and out buildings, toured the mansion, visited the tomb, and wandered the museum. It was a hands on, fabulous day!

Day 4

--White House tour
--National Mall: World War II Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Korean Memorial, Roosevelt Memorial, Constitution Day, Jefferson Memorial (a LOT of walking, but pretty dang cool)

Day 3

--National Archives: Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, Constitution
--National Sculpture Garden: lunch, cool fountain, bizarre "art" sculptures
--National Air & Space Museum: planes (commercial, military, WWI, record breaking, Amelia Earhart's red, Spirit of St. Louis), rockets, Space Stations, lunar crawlers, Apollo craft, paper airplane contest, Wright Flyer (super cool!)
--Mall: frisbee in the warm rain, completely and insanely memorable!