Well, we finally made it to Washington D.C. two weekends ago! Such a fun trip! Andy had a conference there, so the kids and I tagged along to hang out with an old friend. We played and toured and, of course, ate! First, we saw (accidentally) Iwo Jima. Love this. Of course, I started crying and couldn't tell the kids anything about it. Remember this from 8th grade history class and Coach McCalpin. Across the street from the Arlington Cemetary.
The Capitol! We were on the side with the construction. It was cold and windy and we were hustling (after finding a parking spot) because dinner reservations were quickly approaching!
Beautiful. Beautiful! This is my friend, Hollie, who lives in Virginia and was our hostess and our guide for the weekend! This is me 37 weeks pregnant.
Visiting the Jefferson Memorial. Again, more tears from Lindsey. So beautiful and such a peaceful, spiritual atmosphere! This cutie baby is Sadie, who was very entertained by my three kiddos. I think she was only over-stimulated 3 or 4 times!
FDR's site. This was a cool hidden area that wasn't very well publicized, but was on the way back to the car. I loved this! Think it was my favorite part - filled with waterfalls and brass people. The kids loved running around (still amazed by how child-friendly DC is) and I cried (again) at all the beautiful quotes. In 8th grade, I had to do a research report in English for the teacher that only wore purple (what was her name???). I knew so little about history and just randomly picked FDR. I think the information I learned about him was the only thing I learned in class that year...
Lunch at a little garden across the street from the Museum of Natural Science.
Loved the museum! LOVED the rocks. The kids had so much fun picking out their favorites! However, my feet were so incredibly swollen, Emily was done walking, so we made this the end of the city stuff.
Yummy restaurants! I told Hollie I wanted to eat at DC type restaurants. (Like living in Texas and we take people to get BBQ from a gas station) Thursday night we went to the Founding Farmers. Fabulous! I want to go back there and order grilled cheese; it was simply amazing. Everything was good, but some things were incredible! I also had my first fried green tomatoes, which Ben loved! Friday we stopped at The Dairy Godmother for rich creamy custard and atmosphere. Saturday we had lunch at the 5 Guys, a hamburger place where you get to throw peanuts on the floor. Seriously - so much fun!!
Friday afternoon the kids tried to catch tadpoles in the pond near Hollie's house. No success, but I got some fabulous pictures!
Again, Sweet Sadie never lacking for entertainment. She has a huge smile that the kids loved to get from her!
Saturday Ben got to play with Jozsef, Hollie's husband. Ben now thinks he has a new best friend! They played chess.
And Lego Batman on the XBox 360 (with Andy until he left for another part of his conference).
The girls entertained (tormented) Sadie and dressed her up.
Then we had a short guitar show before heading to lunch and the National Pier.
We had a little car trouble as we were leaving lunch; for some reason the car door wouldn't close! We called patient Jozsef to come and fix it for us. While we were working on that, Andy finished up and came to meet us. Again, Sadie with her biggest fans in the girl car!
Ben and Jozsef in the boy car.
Saturday was the most beautiful day!!! The boys played football on the grass while Annie and Emily climbed on another statue and Hollie and I sat and talked. Such a relaxing afternoon!
We took a water taxi ride from where ever we were to the National Pier (I think?). This is just better documentation that Andy was actually with us.
The boys kept the kids busy climbing on statues while Hollie and I walked around for a few minutes to look in the shops.
Waiting for our water taxi (after almost boarding the incorrect taxi for an anniversary party, complete with a buffet).
Enjoying the wind rushing through their hair. What a peaceful way to travel...
Our last few minutes playing - more football, per Ben's request. Sadie got to join in the game this time - with cute Emily right next to her!
Super fun 3 days away from the real world! Thanks Hollie and Jozsef for being such wonderful hosts! The kids would like to come back 'next weekend!'
The Capitol! We were on the side with the construction. It was cold and windy and we were hustling (after finding a parking spot) because dinner reservations were quickly approaching!
Beautiful. Beautiful! This is my friend, Hollie, who lives in Virginia and was our hostess and our guide for the weekend! This is me 37 weeks pregnant. 
Visiting the Jefferson Memorial. Again, more tears from Lindsey. So beautiful and such a peaceful, spiritual atmosphere! This cutie baby is Sadie, who was very entertained by my three kiddos. I think she was only over-stimulated 3 or 4 times!
FDR's site. This was a cool hidden area that wasn't very well publicized, but was on the way back to the car. I loved this! Think it was my favorite part - filled with waterfalls and brass people. The kids loved running around (still amazed by how child-friendly DC is) and I cried (again) at all the beautiful quotes. In 8th grade, I had to do a research report in English for the teacher that only wore purple (what was her name???). I knew so little about history and just randomly picked FDR. I think the information I learned about him was the only thing I learned in class that year... 
Lunch at a little garden across the street from the Museum of Natural Science. 
Loved the museum! LOVED the rocks. The kids had so much fun picking out their favorites! However, my feet were so incredibly swollen, Emily was done walking, so we made this the end of the city stuff.
Yummy restaurants! I told Hollie I wanted to eat at DC type restaurants. (Like living in Texas and we take people to get BBQ from a gas station) Thursday night we went to the Founding Farmers. Fabulous! I want to go back there and order grilled cheese; it was simply amazing. Everything was good, but some things were incredible! I also had my first fried green tomatoes, which Ben loved! Friday we stopped at The Dairy Godmother for rich creamy custard and atmosphere. Saturday we had lunch at the 5 Guys, a hamburger place where you get to throw peanuts on the floor. Seriously - so much fun!! 
Friday afternoon the kids tried to catch tadpoles in the pond near Hollie's house. No success, but I got some fabulous pictures!
Again, Sweet Sadie never lacking for entertainment. She has a huge smile that the kids loved to get from her!
Saturday Ben got to play with Jozsef, Hollie's husband. Ben now thinks he has a new best friend! They played chess.
And Lego Batman on the XBox 360 (with Andy until he left for another part of his conference).
The girls entertained (tormented) Sadie and dressed her up. 
Then we had a short guitar show before heading to lunch and the National Pier.
We had a little car trouble as we were leaving lunch; for some reason the car door wouldn't close! We called patient Jozsef to come and fix it for us. While we were working on that, Andy finished up and came to meet us. Again, Sadie with her biggest fans in the girl car! 
Ben and Jozsef in the boy car.
Saturday was the most beautiful day!!! The boys played football on the grass while Annie and Emily climbed on another statue and Hollie and I sat and talked. Such a relaxing afternoon!
We took a water taxi ride from where ever we were to the National Pier (I think?). This is just better documentation that Andy was actually with us. 
The boys kept the kids busy climbing on statues while Hollie and I walked around for a few minutes to look in the shops.
Waiting for our water taxi (after almost boarding the incorrect taxi for an anniversary party, complete with a buffet).
Enjoying the wind rushing through their hair. What a peaceful way to travel...
Our last few minutes playing - more football, per Ben's request. Sadie got to join in the game this time - with cute Emily right next to her!
Super fun 3 days away from the real world! Thanks Hollie and Jozsef for being such wonderful hosts! The kids would like to come back 'next weekend!'