The Smithsonian: Natural History Museum

On the wish list of things we wanted to do while in the D.C. area was The Smithsonian. That is good and all until you realize how many Smithsonians there are, so we had narrow our choice of Smithsonians down to two. The 1st choice was the Natural History Museum since my Oldest wanted to see dinosaur bones and my Youngest wanted to see Mummies.

To get there we decided naturally to ride the Metro-train again.

This is actually a display at one of the Museums. I thought it lent itself to our Metro-train pictures.
On the train...above ground.

On the train...below ground!

The view we had walking from the Metro-train to the Smithsonian.

The Smithsonian: Natural History Museum.

Live Butterfly Exhibit:

The Entrance!

The boys love the movie: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian and this view was everything you would see in the movie.

Greek Tiles

My Youngest's Mummies!

Middle Eastern Glass

Korean Marriage garments.

The Hall of Oceans.

The Hope Diamond:

Dream on Girls!

Dinosaurs

My Oldest was a bit disappointed in the dinosaur collection at the Smithsonian. The Sam Noble Natural History Museum, found in our own home town has a better dinosaur bone collection.

Hall of Bones:

And you cannot forget the Cavemen!

It was a great Museum! I'm glad we put it on our wish list.

Arlington Cemetery

One of the places on our must see list when we visited the D.C. area was Arlington Cemetery. It was easy to get to, just off one of the metro-rail stops and it was huge. I never realized how big it really was...pictures and media events do not do the place justice. It was also beautiful and reverent although the grounds were covered with tourists. It is a place to see.

This building is up by President Kennedy's tomb.

The amphitheatre behind The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier where they hold Memorial Day Services. All that marble glimmers in the sun.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

These plaques were every where. When a group donated a tree one of these plaques was placed in front of it. This one is special, because my Husband's Father was in the 82nd Airborne...although not during Vietnam. It's amazing to see these plaques in front of a huge tree and know that that plaque and tree was placed there in memory of someone decades before you were born.

These gravestones march on in every direction, often as far as the eye can see.

Dedicated to the Women who served and died for our Country.

Thank you.

4th of July Fireworks

In Virginia, unlike here, lighting fireworks in your neighborhood is okay! My Brother-in-Law picked up a pack and we all went out and had our own fireworks show. It was fun, and not near as crowded as the city fireworks held here...which I found out later was cancelled due to rain! :-(

Happy 4th of July!

"We want more!"

The Boys are gathered around the fireworks.

My Husband couldn't help himself...he had to get in on the action.

Little Bit found them a little too loud.

Lighting the Finale.

Whoosh!

The Finale!

The End.

East Coast Family

Most of my Husband's family either lives 2 days travel East of us or West of us, so we do not get to see them very often, it is always nice when we can get with them and spend some time. This was the main goal of our Vacation...to visit family. We stayed several days in Virginia with my Husband's sister and her family of 5. We were also fortunate that their Dad and his Wife were visiting from out West at the same time!
My Husband and his Brother-in-Law.

My 2 kids and my SIL's 3: Little Dude is 4 mnths, my Oldest is 12, my Youngest is 5, her Oldest is 5 and her Little Girl is 2. They are the Wild Bunch!

We were excited that we could coordinate our vacation with my Husband's Dad and his Wife.

After spending several days in Virginia, we traveled about 8 hours south and spent some time with my Husband's Mother and her Husband, his Brother and his Family, and his Dad's Parents and Sister. It was a VERY short visit, but I'm glad we went and spent time with them.

My Husband's Aunt and Uncle, Dad was there visiting his parents and my Boys.

My Husband's Grandparents...my boys' Great-Grandparents. We hadn't seen them in...5 yrs?

My Husband's BABY brother and his family. This is our 1st meeting of his 3 yr old daughter. Isn't she cute?

We left my Mother-in-Law's house early Saturday morning, got about an hour down the road and realized we hadn't taken any pictures of her or her husband! I was very upset with myself! So I stole the next 2 pictures off her Facebook.

My Husband's Mother.

Her Husband and my SIL's Oldest.

Thank you SIL and MIL for providing us a place to stay, several meals and much missed Family time.

Thank You and We Miss You!

WE'RE HOME!

Well we're home! We just spent 10 days on the East Coast in the D.C., Virginia, and North Carolina area visiting our state capitol and spending time with family (many of whom we haven't seen in several years!). It was our first "real" vacation in at least 7 years and we enjoyed every minute of it...it ended way too soon. :-(

"Are we there yet?"

Was actually a question we did not hear! Both boys were great travelers (Thank goodness).

I think the DVD player helped tremendously.

Virginia Welcome Center

My Husband and I have always hit the travel centers when we traveled before and we carried the tradition over here. Virginia has beautiful travel centers with well ordered visitor's pamphlets seperated by regions. I could have spent a month exploring the state.

To prove we were here!

Me too!

The other way to pass the time.

Virginia is a long 2 day drive from our house, but it was worth it. The weather was beautiful, but unfortunately the roads were full! I hated driving and my Husband actually did 90% of it on the trip. My job was reading to him in the car (when I wasn't napping!)

We make a great team and this trip showed us how well we work together as a family.

I am blessed.