Family Time

Last week Cory's parents came for a visit.  Cory had to be out of town for most of their visit, so we worked to stay busy.  Time goes faster when you're busy, right?  We had a great time touring, some of it the boys and I had already seen, some we had not. We started the week with cherry blossoms and ended it with an awesome tour of the Capitol Building with Betty and Mickey's congressman.  It was actually with his intern, but he did a super job showing us all around.  How amazing to have a private tour of such a beautiful, historic building!  And a shout-out to Betty for getting the last-minute tour...way to go!!  During the week we went the American History Museum, did walking tours of the National Monuments, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Pentagon Memorial.  Betty and Mickey actually did a couple of other tours on their own while the boys and I did school at home.  

Cherry Blossoms at Tidal Basin

Arlington National Cemetery

Awesome view from a balcony at the Capitol

Antietam Battlefield

Last Saturday we went to Antietam Battlefield in Sharpsburg, Maryland.  Antietam was the bloodiest single-day battle of the Civil War.  We spent all day touring the sites and enjoying the scenic area.  The drive there was beautiful as well.

Part of the battlefield behind us

The Sunken Road 

Picnic on the battlefield

Cory and Brock discussing facts we had learned so far.

In the observation tower built in 1896

Cherry Blossoms

Today the boys and I went to the District to catch the cherry blossoms again.  The whole family went on Sunday after church, but I had heard they were even prettier now.  And with the rain that is coming tomorrow, I was a bit nervous that the blossoms would be gone if we waited until the weekend.  They were amazingly beautiful!  What a blessing to get to see them!!  There is actually a week-long Cherry Blossom Festival, starting with fireworks last Friday night.  We could see them from Long Bridge Park right across the street from us.  Here are pictures from Sunday and then from today.  

Fireworks on Friday night

Cherry blossoms on Sunday

Pretty blossoms, but not spectacular.

Cherry blossoms today...so much prettier!

Beautiful!!!