Road Trip!

As if life isn't crazy enough,  Ryan and I thought we would have some family bonding time by taking a little road trip to our nation's capitol.  We've been studying the Declaration of Independence, George Washington, and the whole American Revolution bit, so it seemed like a great idea.   We haven't had much family time, so why not pack up 5 children ages 10 and under, pile them in a gas guzzling vehicle, and set out to explore our national treasures for 2 days that are forecasted to be rainy and in the upper 40s?  Yeah, obviously we didn't think that one through.  

Anyway, we did go.  And we did have fun.  Mostly.  And we did learn a few things about traveling in DC.  Like...

• where you can find a reasonable hotel for 7 people.
  
• how to navigate a stroller on the Metro escalators since the elevators are either full, broken, or non-existant.
• never to promise your 8 year old that you'll buy her a pretzel after you've seen the ruby slippers... because the pretzel carts will all be gone and then she'll cry the entire 7 blocks to the subway.
• homeschoolers shouldn't go to DC in April because that's when every public school system east of the Mississippi will have some team, troop, or club there and it will be very crowded.
• you should always pack at least 3 extra outfits for a day outing with a 18 month old child who hasn't had a solid stool in the 3 months since he entered the country.
• you can eat a nice steak dinner for what it will cost you to feed your children a slice of pizza at the Smithsonian.
• you need to know before you wait in line for 90 minutes to see the Declaration of Independence that it will be too faded to actually read anything except a few key words.  But, your kids will still be impressed.  Especially if they're nerds, like their mother.

That being said, we will return, in September, when everyone else is back to work and the weather is warmer and Abe's digestive system is in better working order.  In the meantime, here are a few photos of our time in DC.  

Our first morning on the Metro.

Abe, in the stroller, where he spent most of his DC trip.

They share their mother's fear of spiders.

Lily  is obviously riveted to be standing next to the ACTUAL Wright Brothers plane.

There it is, the real Declaration of Independence.

Behold, THE ruby slippers.  I have to say, they're much prettier than the ones they sell at Target!

The reflecting pool ducks enjoying some leftover Poptart crumbs.  Notice there is no reflection in the "reflecting" pool.  That would require a glimmer of sunlight!

The kiddos were very impressed with the size of Mr. Lincoln!