A Little Trip to Remember

Almost a month ago, the five of us traveled to Washington DC for this year's spring break trip. Last year was Florida; this year, the Northeast. Frankly, the closer we came to the appointed time to leave, the more I was wishing we had picked Florida. We certainly weren't going to come back looking more tan than we had left! Still, leaving the snow behind, we ventured East and were pleasantly surprised at the beautiful sunny skies and warmer weather that awaited us.

The most exciting part about this adventure most definitely was that my parents were flying from Seattle to vacation with us. My mom and dad joke that they crashed our trip; however, I did sort of mention why don't they meet us in DC? Next thing I know, they've ditched an anniversary cruise for a week with their kids and grandkids. That's a little nuts, but you gotta know them. They kind of like being with their family. For some families, it might truly be agony to vacation with good, old mom and dad (no disrespect intended); however, for us, that was icing on the cake. They've always been hilariously fun to hang out with...except for when I was a teenager! The greatest thing is my kids (17, 14, 7) LOVE to be with their grandparents even at their ages. When I related to them that grandpa and grandma were meeting us in DC, they were ecstatic. One of them even screamed with delight! I really do think our kids would ditch us in favor of hogging g'pa and g'ma to themselves. This is only because grandpas and grandmas say "yes" a lot more than moms and dads do.

Anyway, I know that everyone has been dying to see these pictures and hear about our trip because of the excerpt I wrote so long ago in which I mentioned I would be blogging about this. I can't emphasize enough that everyone should take their children to DC at some point in their lives (preferably around elementary age and older). What a picture my children now have in their minds about all of those sites they've heard about, precious documents they've read about in school and places important to our country's beginnings.

One of the best things we did was to stay in a hotel right downtown, so we could walk everywhere...and walk we did! Our dogs growled and barked at us, but the sights were definitely worth the little yippers nipping. We packed more into our 4 days in DC than we thought possible.

(Day 1 - Arlington Cemetery)

Seeing the changing of the guard at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier was emotional. Twenty-four hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, this tomb is never left unattended.

(A few strays on the streets)

(Grandma and Grandpa with the grandkids)

(Alix taking a picture of the Washington Monument)

(Resting our "dogs" at the Air and Space Museum)

(World War II Memorial - remembering the sacrifices made for freedom)

(Day 2 - watching the sunset at the Lincoln Memorial)

(Looking at the Washington Monument from the Lincoln Memorial)

(Day 3 - Capitol Building Tour)

The Capitol Building tour was unbelievable. The assistant to our Indiana representative was our guide and did an outstanding job. We even experienced being evacuated because of some war protest threats! Our children loved sitting in the gallery in the House of Representatives and getting to be part of an actual vote. Not only that, but we were able to view the old Supreme Court chambers and see where Lincoln's desk was actually placed in the Senate. NOTE: we had taken a tour of the White House the previous day which was actually quite disappointing after waiting almost two hours for a scheduled tour. To top it off, the tour was self-guided which meant we meandered through rooms with no detailed explanations about anything. Thus, having a one on one guided tour of the Capitol Building was one of the highlights of the week.

Other places that we visited during our week were the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, where paper money is made, and of course, the Holocaust Museum. My dad and Tony took Maddie to the National Geographic Museum because of her young age. That was a wise choice given the graphic nature of some of the pictures and videos. I'm quite certain that no one desires to view the kind of evil that happened in our world during World War II; yet, it is most definitely not something any of us should ever forget. It was sobering to walk through this museum and deafeningly quiet. In fact, after reading and viewing so much information, I began to experience overload and walked zombie-like through the last floor. All of us were quiet as we eased out the door back into the "real" world. It's completely unbelievable that someone of such evil persona could murder 6 million people while the world stood silent, unwilling to get involved.

We traveled to Williamsburg, Virginia for our final two days of vacation. While our US government made its final resting place in DC, Jamestown was where it all began in 1607...the site of the first permanent British settlement. We visited a museum built on top of the foundation of one of the original buildings. It's amazing how many thousands of artifacts have been discovered there, and it is still an active archaeological dig site.

(Jamestown, VA well...it was a little windy)

(Yes, this is Pocahontas who married John Rolfe)

Our second day in Williamsburg was spent exploring Yorktown as well as Colonial Williamsburg. Yorktown was the place where George Washington conquered the British army in the last decisive battle of the Revolutionary War. Bunkers are still there showing where the British troops fought the American and French troops. Even more amazing was our tour guide...a Russian student intern. Imagine listening to her talk about American history!

(Listening to the fifes and drums on the streets of Colonial Williamsburg)

(The Governor's Palace, where one of the last Royal Governors resided)

(Standard decor in the entry of a palace in order to threaten the people...guns, swords!)

(The Cheese Shop, a sandwich place that a friend said we must eat at!)

(Last but not least, look at these two criminals we saw in stockades!)

Our family made enough memories to last a lifetime on this trip. While our dogs were fairly dead by the end of the week, the places we beheld where our history began, the monuments we viewed to honor momentous events and people, and the people we shared it with (mom and pop, aka gramps and grams) made the effort and pain all worthwhile! We loved every minute of it, including hotel card games of Zion Check and watching American Idol...you didn't think we would miss THAT show while in DC, did you?

Just had to add my mom's input on all our memory making in DC (she'll probably shoot me now):

Also, I LOVED your blog. After we talked I went online and read it (with stinging eyes, I might add) and loved it, loved it. That trip was a memory maker...who can forget the canolie? or what Maddie really thought of it? or trying to find the right sweatshirt for Alix? or Grandpa trying to kill himself running up the steps with Nick at the Lincoln Memorial? or Nick, Alix and me stealing away from you all in the Museum of Nat History going to the cafe and getting something to eat? (bet you didn't know about that!), or Tony falling asleep on the bed while we wouldn't leave until we played ZC? Or sending out for MickyD's on your anniversary? Now there's a memory for ya! (Annette & MickeyD's? No!) That's what is so great about pictures...they remind us of what we forget. Sorta like going to church...the sermon reminds us of where we want to be and helps get us back in focus. Anyway, I didn't want to say all this on your comment page, but wanted you to know...we'll never forget either. It was a trip "from God with Love." Love you tons and tons and tons...Mom

This is exactly what I was trying to convey...my family is soooo much fun. I can't hardly stand it!