Our Second Day in DC

Today, our second day in DC, was an early one. We were up at 0430 so we could be ready, eat, and get out of the house by 0530. We made excellent time though, getting up into DC, and so were a bit early for our White House tour. So glad we weren't rushed though.

In the car, a bit after 0530!

We were in line before 0700, looking at the General Sherman Memorial.

Just waiting in line.

Our White House invitation and information pamphlet.

One of the first portraits we saw going in to the White House was of Nancy Reagan. I didn't take pictures of all of the paintings, but several of them. This is one of the classics!

Children's first picture in the White House...who knows...maybe in another 20-30 years we can do this again?!

My newly 12 year old!

My 14 year old.

There were collages like this throughout the hallways. Princess Di visiting and dancing with John Travolta, the Obamas, they were even updated with new photos of the Trumps.

They also had some amazing art work and sculptures, like this one from Remington.

Samples of the different china patterns. We saw these again in the Smithsonian American History Museum. My favorite place setting, from these choices, was the Clinton place setting. Very classy.

Looking into the room, you can see the famous Jackie Kennedy portrait.

The Library!

More china patterns.

East room.

Famous painting of George Washington.

In the Green Room, you see a painting of Benjamin Franklin that the White House bought at an auction. Laid to rest in this room, years ago, was the Lincoln's son.

The Blue Room! Sissi remembered seeing some of these things when we were at Monroe's house, Highland. The Secret Service agent was impressed with all that she knew about what the Monroes had bought for the White House.

The boys in the Blue Room.

The Red Room...we spent quite some time here with a very chatty Secret Service agent who knew all about the history of the White House and the paintings and relationships in the rooms.

The ever famous Dolley Madison, she was related to the lady in the picture over the fire place, Angelica Singleton, and had a hand in setting her up with Martin Van Buren's son. They married and she acted as the White House hostess because Van Buren was a widower.

The pensive Abraham Lincoln pose in the dining room.

Looking at the Washington Monument through the windows in the Red Room.

A better angle on the Angelica Singleton Van Buren picture. This is the original, but there is a copy up in New York at the Van Buren home where she lived later.

More shots of the Green Room and the incredible orchids.

More views of the Monroe chairs.

The kids and Indy talking to the Secret Service agent.

Ronald Reagan

John F. Kennedy

Our family...just about to exit.

The famous Steinway that is in the White House. Lovely piece!

As you leave the White House, the last portrait in the hallway on the left is George W. Bush

Across from him, on the right, is William Jefferson Clinton.

Outside of the White House.

Then, we went to the Visitor's Center. I got a puzzle to keep us busy!

AND, the ornament...this year, it is commemorating FDR and is two sided. It is in the shape of an old radio and has his crest on the one side, like in his china pattern.

On the other side, the White House and the National Christmas Tree. I love it!

Across from the Visitor's Center is the General Pershing Monument.

We took some time in Pershing Park and Sissi did some statue drawing practice.

My sweet 12 year old.

In the Visitor's Center, Sissi worked on her Jr. Ranger badge.

Woohoo, finished it!

And, took the oath.

Flowers as we walked down Pennsylvania Avenue.

And passed the Old Post Office and the Trump International Hotel.

We arrived at Ford's Theatre and Sissi started another Jr. Ranger badge.

This is Krypto's new favorite Super Hero!

Sissi's pensive Abraham Lincoln look.

After you spend time in the museum, we were able to watch a 30 minute play in the theatre that Lincoln was shot in.

Finishing up her Jr. Ranger badge.

Then, we walked to the Air and Space Museum.

Sissi loves Da Vinci.

So many wonderful displays that the kids loved.

The boys said this was their favorite museum.

Getting to design their own jets.

The plane that Krypto designed was just like a Messerschmitt. Maybe he has a future with Lockheed Martin!?

Indy's favorite airplane, Northrop Gamma Polar Star.

MY favorite ship...the Enterprise ;)!

Thanks to Southwest Airlines for the Welcome Center.

The hands on section was fun. Sissi got to make her own airplane.

Then they tested it to see if it will fly or not and made changes.

Oh, and we saw my old weather satellites. It's been a few years, but it made me feel nostalgic.

Look how small Gwangi looks?!

The last two hours of the day were spent at the American History Museum. We got to see the Star Spangled Banner from 1813...that flew over Ft. McHenry in 1814 and inspired our national anthem.

More information and the desk and maps of General Pershing.

The old Gunboat Philadelphia.

Spending some time with the fashionable First Ladies.

Looking at their amazing gowns, particularly those from the Inaugural Balls.

This was a favorite of Sissi's and mine.

A Lego Statue of Liberty.

Trains and vehicles from American History.

The flowers outside of the American History Museum made me stop for a few minutes to take some pictures. the combination of purple, pink, and green fully caught my eye.

These looked amazing!

Gwangi's 12th Birthday!

For Gwangi's 12th Special Day, we had our fun spread out over a few days. His sister decided to make his birthday brownie cake for his party with his friends...now, I'll be honest, I helped with the brownie part, but she did the frosting and decorating it to look like Mario from the Super Mario Bros. game all by herself!

Sissi, working hard in the kitchen.

Her finished product, Mario!

When the boys showed up to the house, we took them out for some mini golf.

They had a great time playing and it was a lovely day.

We also had several holes-in-one.

Sissi and Krypto played with Indy and I as a foursome.

We followed the boys and took lots of pictures of them.

Krypto and Indy.

After mini-golf they played Legos while I got dinner going.

We had pizza, brownies, and cake.

Then, we opened gifts...Legos!

Finally, the kids played some Wii, "Tron" and "Super Mario Bros."

Then, when we came up to DC, we got some more special time with old family friends. They played "Guitar Heroes."

We played some "Apples to Apples."

And, ate more brownies!

Then, on the ACTUAL day of his birthday, we were traveling between friends' houses, so went out to breakfast at IHOP and opened gifts.

I brought our chalk board so he could have the announcement.

He loved his storm trooper "Pew Pew" pin for his lanyard and the kids' pin game.

His favorite though, was getting the new Mario Maker game, so he can design and play his own levels in Super Mario Bros.

To do this, in 3D, he needed the new 3DS. He combined all of his birthday gift money and I found one on eBay from last fall that we purchased. He was super thrilled.

I had found this Super Mario Bros. t-shirt at JcPenney, and he was certainly surprised by it.

His final gift...a Gwangi t-shirt!

He was thrilled and we're so excited to have a new 12 year old in the house.

First Day in DC

Our first day in DC we started off in the Fine Arts Museum and then we went over to Natural History and ended the day in the Holocaust Museum.

It was a full one, to be sure!

Sissi loves Degas and in particular, this statue. She knew that this was one of his "rough drafts" as we've seen the final version in Paris, in the Musee d'Orsay. 

Lots and lots of Italian and church art in the Art Museum.

Sitting and enjoying all the art around us.

The one and only DaVinci portrait in America...Sissi was ecstatic as he is her favorite.

This is the back of the piece of art.

The front!

Lounging and enjoying what we're seeing.

Napoleon, by David, a favorite of Indy's.

We all enjoy the Cole series. I actually took pictures of all four of the pieces, but just posted two of them here.

They each picked their favorite one to stand next to for the pictures.

While in the museum, Sissi found an artist working. They had a great chat about things she can do to be more serious about her art work!

We all enjoy the Impressionists. This is one of Krypto's favorites.

One of my personal favorites, I used to have a poster copy that decorated our homes for years.

Heading over to Natural History...we spent some time in the Ocean section and got to see a Giant Squid, Krypto's favorite.

I really enjoyed the photography section. I would love to learn to take pictures like these some day!

Another one of my favorite photos, but honestly, I could have photographed all the photos.

Krypto really enjoyed this collage of some of the animal photograph winners.

Next up was the gem exhibit. The kids really enjoyed seeing the Hope Diamond.

Krypto's favorites were the blue-green stones. The Beryl here was one he really enjoyed.

Looking around at more gems.

Our day ended with a 2pm tour at the Holocaust Museum. We were there until after 4:30, but I didn't take any photos, it just seemed too serious and somber and wasn't a time that I felt comfortable photographing. If you get the chance, you should check it out. All of our children went with us, and were fine, though shocked at the atrocities that occurred. We had discussed this time period with them in school before, and they said they thought they knew what happened, but in truth, they had not realized how truly tragic it was. There are a few areas that show details of some of the barbaric acts of the Nazis, and those exhibits are put behind half walls, with warning signs, so that younger children cannot see them. I pray we never forget!