Spring Break Trip to Washington, D.C. - Part I

Our trip to D.C. commenced early Tuesday morning as we loaded our family and belongings into the car for a six and a half hour drive.  Luckily, the drive is pretty easy on Interstates 85 and 95, and we didn't experience any major traffic delays.  We did hit heavy rain showers in Virginia about 40 miles from D.C. which slowed traffic a little.  We discovered that we had forgotten our coats so we stopped at a large indoor outlet mall, Potomac Mills, to find some for the trip since the weather was supposed to be pretty cool.  The rain stopped that night, and the rest of the week was dry but cool and windy.  We saw and did almost everything we planned to do.  Sadly, we didn't get to see the National Archives, Holocaust Museum, and Arlington Cemetery which were on our hope to be able to see list.  We knew our time might limit us a little, and since this was a very busy season in the capital, we just couldn't fit it all in.  We definitely walked a lot although we were thankful for the metro system which made getting around a lot easier.

One of our first stops the next day was the National Mall on the way to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum.  This is a view of the Washington Monument from the Mall. 

The boys and I on this sunny but chilly morning in D.C.

The Capitol building from the Mall. 

Just for fun, Evan tried to push the monument over. 

And Daddy and Brody tried to straighten it back up. 

The boys loved riding the "toot toot" as Brody calls it. 

My handsome hubby on the metro. 

So these signs were posted all over the metro stations.  I took it as a "sign" that my Canadian blog pal, Natasha, and I are meant to be friends!  Haha!  Apparently, Canada has been spending some advertising money in the States. 

A whole wall of Canadian advertisements. 

Brody loved riding Daddy's shoulders on many of our walks around town.  I could do a comparison of this picture with Evan at the same age on his Daddy's shoulders when we went to California and walked around Yosemite National Park!

Another view of the Washington Monument from the White House lawn. 

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue...the most famous address in America!

This is the back side of the White House.  The portico side (West Wing) is more commonly photographed although apparently in recent years heightened security has been added to that side so you can't walk right up to the fence. 

The fountain surrounded by tulips. 

That must have pose in front of the White House. 

Eddie and the boys

A pretty shot of the famous White House. 

This side may be more familiar. 

I think they were preparing for the annual White House Easter egg hunt.  I would have loved to get Evan and Brody in for that.  They aren't doing the hunt until Monday. 

Another shot of the Washington Monument.  It is everywhere in the capital.  I actually think it is a law that no buildings in the city can be taller than it. 

The old Department of the Treasury building next door to the White House. 

Another reminder of our Canadian friends. 

Brody playing on one of the memorial structures. 

Then he decided to try bird chasing. 

The Beautiful Tulips

Oh, the tulips!  They were planted all over the city around many of the buildings and memorials.  I loved these red tulips!

A great excuse for pictures. 

My sweet boys in the tulips. 

Love their faces. 

Sweet brother hugs. 

Trying to get Brody to hug his brother. 

Me and my boys. 

My handsome men

A special World War II Memorial although not the big one over at the Reflecting Pool. 

And one to the soldiers in Vietnam too. 

Ah, the tulips!  I will miss them!

And Daffodils too!

Happy Easter!

We pulled in our garage at almost midnight last night after an exhausting but fun Spring break week in Washington, D.C.  It will probably take me weeks to document our trip fully.  One of the to-do list things to accomplish was taking our traditional family Easter pictures together (see our previous Easter pictures here:  2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013) and also to hopefully capture the beauty of D.C.'s cherry blossoms in bloom.  When we arrived on Tuesday in the midst of a heavy rainstorm, our hopes of seeing any remaining cherry blossoms were pretty slim.  The weather for the week was calling for unseasonably cool temperatures in the 40s and 50s which gave us some pretty severe colds, dry skin, and chapped lips by the end of the week.  Every day, we walked from 5 to over 10 miles (that's with using the metro system to get everywhere) in the blustery cold wind.  Those were the low points of our trip.  There were still many high points.  We managed to accomplish nearly everything on our to-do list, including our family pictures with the cherry blossoms.  We actually found some still in full bloom, and they were gorgeous.  There was a little grove across the street from the Jefferson Memorial that was sheltered from most of the violent winds.  As full and vibrant as these trees were, I can only imagine how gorgeous this entire area along the Potomac River Tidal Basin was the preceding weekend during the Cherry Blossom Festival.  We are just so thankful we got to see a small sample of the beauty.  I had chosen our Easter outfits months earlier from one of my new favorite online boutiques, Lolly Wolly Doodle. There is much to love about this great business.  Besides their more reasonable prices, great and unique fabrics, and fast shipping and service, they also have a great story.  This business is a North Carolina business based in Lexington, NC.  This lady truly shows what hard work and determination can accomplish, and she has given back to her town by helping provide jobs for many people who were left unemployed when most of their textile and manufacturing jobs were moved out of the country.    So we proudly wore our Lolly Wolly Doodle ensembles all over our nation's capital, and I think we made quite a statement.  We heard many comments from folks we met around the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, the reflecting pool, and other memorials who thought we were dressed quite nicely.

The favorite

Another decent shot although I wasn't loving the pose as much.  

And just to show you that all of our pictures are not "picture perfect."  As you can see, Brody was not happy here and needed some coaxing to bring a smile to his face.

Full on meltdown cry!

A shot with the Jefferson Memorial behind us. 

My handsome hubby!

Yes, one of me too. I wish my necklace was showing in these pictures since I specifically searched for an aqua necklace to match.  Sigh. 

My very handsome big boy. 

We had to make a game of hiding an Easter egg in the tree to coax Brody out of hiding. Can you spot the pink egg? 

He just looks like he's admiring the flowers, right?  Ha!

Finding another egg. 

I thought this spot was lovely because of the pretty brick wall behind it which was actually a bridge.  It looks like a secluded secret garden here. 

See the pretty vine covered wall behind the blossoms.  

Can you imagine what this area looked like with these blossom covered trees everywhere along the river? 

Some ducks swimming in the river.  Later that day, we were walking beside one of the pools of water near the Lincoln Memorial, and Brody and Evan were giggling about duck butts as the ducks would dive under the water and have their butts sticking out of the water.  Yes, Brody was repeating that phrase!

Look one with my necklace showing!  

One of me and my boys with the Potomac River and Jefferson Memorial behind us. 

Sigh.  I just can't get one where both Evan and Brody are smiling pretty.  Brody was smiling pretty in this one, but Evan was doing his squinty cheese face.  

Most of our family pics were taken using the tripod and automatic timer.  This one was taken by a passerby. 

And yes, this would have been Mattie's little matching dress.