Mr. Tim and the Family Go to Washington

Since summer seems to be sneaking on by with little regard to my need for keeping my blog updated,  I guess I'll just jump back in with both feet by highlighting some of the items that we have checked off on our Summer Fun List. (By the way, this list has been great for reminding us on some of our slower days that we have actually done lots of fun things this summer - and we're not finished yet.)

One of our more major items on our to-do list was a trip to D.C. This trip has been a long time in the making. We were supposed to go 2 summers ago - but I got pregnant with Mia and the thought of July in D.C. pregnant made me want to poke my eyeballs out. Then last year Mia was too young to leave and again the thought of taking a baby to D.C. made me want to poke my eyeballs out. So this year was it. Mia was old enough to leave with the grandparents - so off the rest of us went to explore the nation's capital.
 
Day 1:

Smile for the camera boys! (Even though you're cramped in the tiny back seat of our rental car.)

D.C. is only about 4 1/2 hours from where we live, so we drove. It wasn't too bad since we weren't traveling with a toddler. I mean two tween/teen boys - they popped in the ear buds and we never heard from them. Probably the only peace and quiet we had the whole trip.

First stop - Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum at Dulles - Airplanes, airplanes and more airplanes.

Just a little excited to be here. Although I think the big boy (not pictured) was the most excited about this stop.

The Concord - very big, very fast, very nice.

Joshua's fav - the SR 71-Blackbird

Space Shuttle - Enterprise. One word: HUGE.

Future astronauts?

Enola Gay

After Udvar-Hazy, we went and checked in at our hotel. We stayed in Arlington just across the bridge from Georgetown. We could not have picked a better location. Right near a Metro stop, great view of the Potomac - just generally great.

So we dropped our bags and ventured out. Remember I mentioned we were close to a Metro stop - yeah well, we decided not to take advantage of it our first night there. Let's just say the key on our little guide map was a bit deceiving - so after having driven 4 - 5 hours, toured a museum that is in a gigantic airplane hangar, and having temps close to the 100 degree mark, we took off on foot to visit the monuments. (Just thought I'd give you that background so when we all look wilted in the next few photos you'll know why.)

We started with the Iwo Jima Memorial. It was on our side of the river. But notice how you can see the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. Doesn't look to far you say? So off we go.

And go, and go, and go we went. Perception is a funny thing.

We made it. And what do you know - there's the Leaning Tower of...wait, I mean, the Washington Monument. We tried for 10 minutes to get that thing straight in the photo, but it just wasn't cooperating.

The Lincoln Memorial - how come when you see this in movies there's no one on the steps?

After hanging out a few minutes with Abe, we hobbled to the nearest Metro stop and quickly found out what we had been missing. Thank goodness for public transportation (never thought I'd say that being from the suburbs).

Our vacation was off to a good start - despite having bunions on our feet. More to come - stay tuned!