The first night we got there it was dinner time so we decided to grab some room service and explore the hotel. We stayed at the Embassy Suites on 22nd Street in Dupont Circle. It was great in every way - rooms were all suites, free brunch and happy hour with food and drinks and walking distance to the Metro and lots of restaurants. I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone with families - it is literally perfect - and that includes the price!
Ready for bed!
Daddy getting some snuggles before we attempt bedtime.
Peter and Molly shared a bed but it became clear very quickly that we were going to need some type of boundary for them to be able to make it through the night. BTW - they made it until midnight and then MOlly moved to the floor!
Best brunch ever and it was FREE! They certaionly lost money on us!On Wednesday I had a brief meeting in the morning and then had the whole day with the kids and Bob. We strarted with brunch and then headed out to the American History Museum.
Peter alone ate enough to pay for the hotel room!
They had an indoor pond of fish and the kids were obsessed with them. Everyday at 9 and 6 they put out little containers of food and let the kids feed the fish. It was the three little kids favorite part of the trip by far!
Pete and Molly supervise feeding time.
Lizzie sneaking around the Christmas tree!
We got to the museum at around 11 after being kind of lazy at breakfast. We found a key parking space and headed into the museum for some fun. Peter and Molly were so excited. I am always in wonder of how much my kids love museums - they were brimming with excitement and so were Bob and I. Bob is a history buff so he was particularly excited that we chose this museum over the ones we typically visit.
They had many rooms in the museum but the kids loved the please touch room the best! We kept going back there because it had so much for the little girls to do!
Making green roadways!
Lizzie found the toddler play area - it had one entrance that was monitored which meant that Bob and I could go play with the 3 older kids while Lizzie and Ellie were having thier own fun.
Daddy and Molly building electrodes.
Annie announced that she was "Superhero Truck Driver"!
I kept trying for a Christmas card but Elizabeth just would not cooperate!
Ready for the flight simulator! Molly can't make it to DC without vomiting at least 3 times on the car ride but she LOVES rides like this one! Daddy and the big kids did this ride while the baby girls and I went for a potty/diaper break!
Molly loved Michelle Obama's Inauguration dress. Miss Molly and I spent ALOT of time in the "dress room" - just ask Daddy who was anxious to get to the Abe Lincoln section.
Annie leading Ellie to the next room. Annie was PERFECT in DC. She never complained - walked constantly and like a big girl and was in awe of everything! She was a joy to have on this trip.
Pete and "his boy" Abe!
Comparing hands to Abe Lincoln's. Bob on the left and Pete on then right!
Molly was shocked that they had preserved Abe Lincoln's real hat!
Future President of the USA!
And her running mate - or the other way around if you ask Pete!
Molly and her BFF - George W. Bush!
Lizzie was protesting so she laid down on the floor for a good 10 minutes and people just walked around or over here. They thought we were awful parents but evenutally she got up and was happy again!
We made them sit together - thus the pouts!
The Vietnam section. This year the kids really got that Papa was in the Vietnam war and lots of people died. They were very moved by many of the Vietnam things we saw.
Molly loved this one because it was a statue of a medic! Papa was a medic!
Peter read all about Vietnam and the POW's - he is very interested in learning more about JohnMcCain and his time as a POW!
I love this one - the Berlin Wall!
And, of course, Pete loved the section on 9/11!
Ellie had a case of the grumpies this day but she finally fell asleep in the stroller and was able to work it out of her system. We figured out that if we did not starp her in and allowed her to move to her tummy to fall asleep she would eventually fall asleep and then roll back over and be content. It was a long day with a cranky almmost 2 year old!
Happy girl playing on the floor at the hotel.
Chillin and getting ready for the next big adventure!
Put up your dukes - Annie and Peter were boxing!
Notice Lizzie staying out of the way!
The elevator was all glass - kind of creepy for me but the kids could see the fish down below so they loved it. Notice the lack of shoes and relaxation Annie got the elevator.
I tried to get a Christmas card but Lizzie and Ellie were IMPOSSIBLE!
Playing in the lobby. We are pretty sure that the hotel had a celebration when we left!
Ready for another restless night! We did figure out different sleeping arrangements and that made life a little easier the second night but the first night was awful!
Lizzie and Ellie entertaining themselves while I was at my conference on Thursday!
Lunch at the Front Page Deli - best veggie burger ever and a great atmosphere for the kids!
I can't help it but I think my kids are adorable so when I am am bored or they are being cute - I just keep snapping away!
Big sister!
Molly is so phtogenic and SUCH a good big sister!
Lizzie doing Daddy's hair during lunch!
Yes - we just happened to be in Union Station when they lit the Christmas tree and sang the National Anthem - so cool!
Lizzie and Ellie's 1st ever Moonlight Tour of DC! Bob and I were so excited and, as usual, we would always recommend this tour - it is unbeatable!
The Jefferson Memorial
Pete is being quietly respectful!
Molly Girl with Thomas Jeffereson
Ellie was annoyed with the cold and did not get the point of the monuments but as long as Bob or I were holding and loving on her she was fine!
Our little tourist - she is amazing!
Lizzie was SO excited about everything!
Annie collapsed on the huge stairs while trying to get up them!
The three kids being quietly respectful in the memorial.
Annie Bananie!
This picture is on our Christmas card so I wasn't going to post it but I really love it. I think we are the Iwo Jima memorial and the kids were so sweet!
You can't really see the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial in the background. This was a beautiful spot for pictures!
Peter and Molly are also really good tourists. We did this tour 2 years ago and I thought they might be bored but instead they just learned a new layer of knowledge. Last time everything was new to them but this time they knew what we were going to see so they read up on everything and told us all what they knew and learned from the tour guide. It was so much fun being with them.
Peter and Molly in front of the Washington Monument.
Looking at the book with the Vietnam Memorial! The kids were amazed by the number of names in the book. We found 18 Wheelers and 9 Hardings who died in Vietnam.
Apparently a few years ago there was some discussion about the fact the there were no actual depictions of soldiers at the Vietnam Memorial that gave a reflection of the war. This statue was erected a few years ago and has one man who is black, one hispanic and one white to depict the fact that they all served together side by side. It is a beautiful statue.
The kids were blown away by the names on the memorial. Peter was so amazed that he wanted to call my dad from there and talk to him. He started the coversation with "I'm glad that you didn't die in the war, Papa!" It is hard to truly talk to the kids and help them understand how lucky we are that Papa is here and healthy and safe after serving in Vietnam for over a year. When we got hom I showed them the pictures of my dad in Vietnam and the copies that I have of pictures he sent to my grandmother with notes on the back. One says, "The kids really love me here - it seems like everywhere we go the kids are drawn to me - can you believe it?" I love that one because how could any kid not be drawn to my Dad and who could have guessed that 40 years later he would have 8 grandchildren all fighting to sit on his lap.
The Lincoln Memorial!
Back on the trolly the baby girls are holding strong.
Molly's getting tired! It is almost 10 by the point.
Peter and Daddy are loving this tour - they could go all night!
Mommy and Molly sneak a cuddle to stay warm.
Everyone passed out pretty quickly this night - including Daddy!
Apparently Annie got into my makeup Friday morning while I was at my conference. I can't upload more pictures so I'll have to do the rest in another post! Stay tuned!
GNM - ILY!
