DC part one

We are BACK. And we have the pictures to prove it.

The following pictures are from my little p+s camera. I will be uploading the pictures from the Nikon later - check back for DC part two.

(picture descriptions are BELOW each picture - just so you don't get confused...)

We are on our way!! And already getting a little punchy. The girls were making hats with different things - pillows, babies, blankets, etc... They both did really well on the drive up. Paige slept for all of 40 minutes. Emily slept for about 10 minutes. We were armed with lots of snacks, movies and bathroom breaks.

Emily and Hailey REUNITED!!! This is at a park near the house we stayed at in Maryland.

Playing in DC.

Trouble button pusher - she was in her glory at the Natural History Museum. Lots to look at and LOTS of buttons to push.

Washington Monument.

Dipping our toes in the fountain at the WWII monument.

I think this was the highlight of Paige's trip! She was a little weary at first, but then we had to pry her away. She would have dove right in if she was allowed.

Taking a statue break at the FDIC building. Emily was pretending she was the Washington Monument.

A very funny street name that we saw on the ride each morning to the Metro station in Glenmont.

Getting a science lesson at the Museum of American History. They made water bottles that had a thingy (highly technical term) that would sink and rise when you would squeeze the bottle. Of course, if you tipped the bottle over, the straw would fill up with water, and no longer work - and this happened several times - and the Daddies had to fix it SEVERAL times.

Eric giving Emily a lesson on the Capitol Building.

Dinner at the America restaurant in Union Station.

At the Hands on Museum in Lancaster, PA. I found this in the AAA guide. The girls had a BLAST playing with all sorts of things: corn, cars, grocery shopping, face painting, gardening, recycling, dress-up, egg sorting, etc... I would have more pictures of this, but my p+s died, so the majority of the pictures are in the other camera. See PART TWO later.

Paige doing a giant Lite Brite.

We had quite the adventure on Thursday - part of the Metro was under investigation due to an accident a few weeks ago, so we had to get off in Silver Springs, take a bus transfer to Fort Totten. Doesn't sound too bad, but it was HOT and HUMID. And we were really trying to get to the Ford's Theater to see the tour. We had gotten an early start. We could not find a parking spot at out usual garage - went to another - didn't have enough money on our parking card, had to go to another place to get money - and we were all pretty crabby by the time we had even got to the Metro - so this whole bus transfer thing was the icing on the cake. AND we missed out on Ford's theater because they close for lunch from 12 - 2:30. Oh well.

Finally getting to DC after 3 hours of craziness. This is the escalator at Metro Center.

Doing some coloring at the Air and Space Museum.

Obviously, the Air and Space Museum.

Okay - so if you know me, you know I am a HUGE Democrat. And seeing this sign was a pretty cool thing. I actually got a little teary.

So after a day of being hot, and crowded and a multitude of other things that all went wrong, we got to see this, and it was all worth it. Michelle Obama walking the first dog - Bo. We were going to walk the pathway behind the White House, but it was temporarily closed RIGHT before we got to it. We were all totally bummed, so we went back to the spot behind the barricades. And then Terry saw the dog. So I zoomed in, and there she was. Okay, so it was just her behind that I got to see and take a picture of, but it was still VERY COOL.

And here's Bo. You could totally see Michelle, but the fence is kind of in the way. After she went in, they re-opened the pathway. 

So then we took a family picture. The Official White House vegetable garden is just to the left of Eric. And we did BARELY see the play-set. It wasn't really out in the open.

The girls posing with the president at a store right next to the White House.

Yesterday morning, right before we left. Emily and Hailey had such a good time together. I am sure they will be missing each other lots.

And THAT was our trip. We had such a good time. We will be missing our friends for sure. And, we are so grateful to Terry's sister for allowing us to stay at her house.

Now it's time to do lots of laundry, go to the store, and plan next year's adventure.....

oopsie...

I forgot to bring my card reader on our trip to DC/PA/MD. So if you are checking in to see my vacation pictures, you'll have to wait a bit.....

However-

We are having a lot of fun.

We have seen many things.

We learned that four water bottles on a hot day is not enough.

We have also learned that the shady side of the street is always the best.

We are not getting very much sleep.

We are eating dinner at 9pm most nights.

We have pretty much mastered the whole Metro Pass thing. Although, it has been quite the learning curve.

We will probably need another vacation after we get home.

But that's OK.

See you all soon!!

George George Memorial Park

A couple days ago, after we were chased away from the beach by yucky, thick clouds, and very cool un-summer like breezes, we went to the coolest park. If you look at the previous post, you'll see Paige going down a slide at this very park.

It's a hidden treasure - although I am sure that word has gotten around judging from the parking lot. I have probably driven by it at least five or six times, and never noticed it. The entrance to this community park is quite grand - rod iron gates, and a big, beautiful fountain. It looks like the entrance to either a pretty exclusive neighborhood or a really nice cemetery. 

But it's a park. George George Memorial Park to be exact. No, that's not a typo - it's really George George. Named after a prominent Clinton Township resident who used to golf on the very grounds that this park now sits on. He died a few years back, and I am not sure if he owned the land or what the exact story is, but the family built the park on the defunct golf course, and dedicated it to their beloved.

There's a HUGE play area, with so many climbing things, slides, and other things, it just boggles Paige's and Emily's minds.

There's a wetland area. A waterfall - which they can not play in, but is VERY tempting to all the little ones. And beautifully manicured lawns and gardens everywhere. When we went on Tuesday, I saw no less than four professional photogs there, taking family portraits, engagement pictures, etc...

Did I mention how BEAUTIFUL it is?

So, today, we had an hour of time to kill after we ran errands this morning....so guess where we went???

This wall starts out about a foot and a half off the ground, then gradually gets taller. Emily loves walking on it. And now, Paige does too. She refuses to hold my hand on the really high parts, so I just grit my teeth, and allow her to be the daredevil she is.

This is one part of the play area. Don't you wish you were six again? Why didn't we have stuff this cool? We had metal slides that burned our butts in the middle of summer. And, at the time, it was just fine with us.
There's all sorts of stuff like this - interactive things that you can spin, press or look through.

They even have swings.

Another part of the play area. Emily has no trouble making friends where ever we go. She got this whole group of kids to play Spy Kids with her. Don't ask - I have no idea what Spy Kids is...they just seems to run around and chase each other.

This is the waterfall area. So inviting, isn't it? But don't even think about it, you can't go in. They obviously, didn't consult anyone with children when they built this part.
Anyway - it's such a beautiful place. Can't wait to go back.

BUSY

We have been CRAZY BUSY around here. Lots to do. Not too much time in which to get it done. Not too much time for blog posts. Sorry - it's one of the first things that goes.

But here's a couple pictures from the last few days to hold you over-

Have a great week!

It's a SNAP

The BIG hit of this year's 4th of July - SNAPS. I bought them a few months ago when I saw them in the dollar aisle at Target. They are very hard to find around these parts when you get close to the fourth.

Anyway - Paige and Emily had a whole lot of fun after dinner with them - Paige especially. I was not quite sure how she would react - I thought she might like them, but sometimes she surprises me.

The SECOND after she would throw it on the ground she was right back asking Eric, "Can I have another one Daddy?" It was very cute.

Emily is an SNAP pro.

Paige's reaction after each "pop".

The SNAP dealer.


And then there were sparklers. Now, of course, I didn't let Paige hold one. But she LOVED those too. We had fun taking pictures of ourselves making sparkler circles. And the best part - mosquitoes apparently do not like sparkler smoke!




So much fun!!