July

July was a blast!  We saw some of our best friends this month as well as spending a lot of time with our friends that we've gotten to know here.

The boys' best friend, Sam, came to visit us for 2 weeks.  We were all so happy to see him!! 

The boys are playing at the park by our condo.  I love this view because you can see our building as well as others in our city.

We went to the Newseum (a museum dedicated to what has made news, obviously) and saw part of the Berlin Wall there.

4th of July

We drove to Great Falls Park in Maryland and rode on the historic C & O Canal in the mule-drawn boat behind us.

After riding on the canal, we walked to see the falls.

Another view of the falls

The National Zoo with Sam

National Harbor

FBI tour

A Duck Boat tour took us past most of the major sights on the streets of D.C. as well as in the Potomac River.

View of the Capitol from the tour.

My childhood friends and twin sister came to D.C. this year.  We meet every summer for a long weekend together.

The Potomac River, behind Mount Vernon

Grant turned 11!!  He wanted to go to Sportrock, an indoor rock climbing gym, for his birthday!

Brock

Will

The boys and their friends went to Oxon Cove Park for a week-long Jr. Ranger Day Camp.  While they were at camp, my friend Cindy and I would shop, eat out, go to Georgetown or Old Town Alexandria...a really fabulous experience for us all!

We attended the Marine Corps Iwo Jima Sunset Parade, which included music by the Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and precision drill by the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon.

Iwo Jima Memorial

After the parade, the Marines came back out to talk to the crowd and let kids hold their weapons.  Nice guys! 

Brock holding a Marine's hand-polished, 10-and-one-half pound, M1 Garand rifle.