Rock Creek Park

Rock Creek Park
June 2009

Rock Creek Park is a large park that has hiking, biking, a kids' learning center, horse-back riding, and more.

The kids loved the horses the best, although Andrew got turned off when the horse sneezed all over him (and daddy). We had to drag Gracie away (we hope she does not ask for a pony on her next birthday).

Katie, on the other hand, was not too excited.

Watching the thousands of bees come in and out was pretty neat, too.

Part of the kids' learning center let the kids dress up as their favorite animal, insect, etc. Gracie dressed up as a butterfly, and Andrew dressed up as a bat.

Namma and Amy Come to Visit

Aunt Amy and her friend Kaite came to visit last week, along with Namma. The kids loved having them here -- they played so hard they crashed after everyone left.

Andrew, Amy, Gracie, Sarah, and Katie at Mt. Vernon.

Namma, Katie, Gracie, and Andrew at home.

Part of the reason the kids love Amy is because she is a goof ball......

......a big goof ball......

......I mean an enormous goof ball.

Andrew's Birthday

Andrew's Birthday
June 2009

We went out to dinner for Andrew's Birthday and the restaurant had hired someone to do animal face painting. Andrew requested a giraffe......and that's what he got. We couldn't stop laughing!

Andrew Hugging Gracie after he found out that Gracie got him a "monster truck" for his Birthday. He also got a very large fire truck and a toy tool box and tools (his favorite is the measuring tape and hammer).

"Namma" got Andrew (and Gracie) a "slip-n-slide" for his Birthday. They tried it out right away...and loved it! They play for hours on end.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

This was Andrew's Monster Truck cake.

World War II Memorial

World War II Memorial
June 2009

The World War II Memorial was impressive. It had several water features, along with two towers representing the Pacific Coast and the Atlantic Coast, and each of the 50 states was represented by a wreath lining the outside of the fountain.

FDR Memorial

FDR Memorial
May 16, 2009

Each section of the memorial was meant to represent a different part of his presidency. He was in office for 12 years.
This was my favorite part of the memorial.

Aunt Julie and the kids being goof-balls.

A "fireside" chat from the President to all those listening to their radios.

Father and Son.

Andrew and Gracie having a blast. They were troopers, even in the hot, humid weather -- and they walked a long, long way.

Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln Memorial
May 16, 2009

Inside the Lincoln Memorial.

Outside the Lincoln Memorial.

Inside the Lincoln Memorial again.

"Four score and seven years ago..."

The Washington Monument from the top of the Lincoln Memorial.

Jefferson Memorial

Jefferson Memorial
May 16, 2009

Very refreshing thoughts and beliefs. Unfortunately I am not sure many people pay much attention to them anymore.


Inside the Jefferson Memorial.

"No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religeous worship or ministry or shall otherwise suffer on account of his religeous opinions..."

"We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal..."

"I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind."

"Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are a gift of God?"

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

Gracie and Andrew with Aunt Julie at the Tidal Basin in DC.

Uncle Smitty on the paddle-boats with the kids.

Gracie and Andrew overlooking the river.

Gracie is becoming part monkey - quite the tree climber.

Chickens on a visit to the farm.

Jamestown

Jamestown
May 2009

We went to Jamestown for the weekend. Lots of history there. There were replicas of everything. They had glass blowers, blacksmiths, indian cooks, ships, costumes, crafts, etc.

This was at a replica of one of the Jamestown forts. The cavalry...Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Captain's quarters of the ship below.

Replicas of the ships that sailed to America in the 1600s. We got to tour each of them.

Inidan huts. Even inside these replicas no details were spared. They had animal furs, tools, etc.

The workers, dressed as indians, cooked authentic indian food as they explained a day in the life of an indian family. They also showed how the fur was taken off animal skins to make clothes, how pouches were weaved, and how tools were made and used. The kids enjoyed all of this, but got a bit tired after a while (especially given the heat and the walking).

Great Wolf Lodge (Water Park)

Great Wolf Lodge
May 2009

We took the kids to Great Wolf Lodge for Reed's Birthday/Mothers Day. They had a blast. They had their own room within the room (the "wolf den"). In it was a set of bunk beds, their own TV with remote, and they loved the mini fridge. Most of all they loved the water park.

We think Gracie is part fish. We could not get her out of the water.

Andrew loved the water sprinklers. He just kept running back and forth through them.

Gracie loves high speeds, twists, and turns. While she liked the smaller water slides, like the one above, she preferred the adult ones. She would yell and scream and laugh at each and every turn -- you couldn't wipe the smile off of her face.

"The Girls." Just hangin out -- all smiles.

Natinal Arboretum

National Arboretum
May 2009

Our little flowers.

Goof Balls -- definately!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

There's a lot of love in this family!

I take after my brother......Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!