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!!!

Field Trips

    Every week the boys and I go into the District to see a new museum, art gallery, or tourist attraction before the crowds hit the downtown area in March.  Last Thursday we went to see the Old Post Office Pavilion.  The views from the tower of the Old Post Office are amazing, and the building itself is beautiful.  From there we walked to the East Building of the National Gallery of Art.  Once again, we took the guided tour.  On a side note, I highly recommend taking guided tours of the Smithsonian buildings.  They are informative, interesting, and add so much to the experience.  The boys even enjoy them!  The docents give details that you would not get by just looking at the sign posted by the exhibit or piece of artwork.   Last week the boys and I learned about nonrepresentational styles of art such as abstract, cubism, and dada art.  It's a wonderful education for us all.   We also walked through the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden on our way to the East Building. 

Old Post Office

One of the views from the tower.  The FBI office is the tan building on the left. 

The docent is busy answering the boys' questions. 

We loved this!

Last of January In Review

Inauguration Day-We arrived to catch the last little bit of the big day, on a jumbotron.  I loved being there with so many people to celebrate such a historic event, even if I am not an Obama fan.  We opted to walk home rather than fight the HUGE crowd on the Metro.  It's a four mile walk, and we stopped by the Jefferson Memorial on the way home.  

Waiting for the train in Metro

Can you see Obama on the screen?  This is as close as we got! 

Jefferson Memorial

Looking back as we crossed the Potomac on the way home.

Brock found an Obama pin on the ground at the Inauguration!

As January wound down, we also went to the Museum of American History, the Air and Space Museum, it snowed (much to our delight), and Cory celebrated a birthday.  

Grant was chosen by our docent to demonstrate how a plane flies.

Touring

    Before we arrived in DC we knew that we would have great neighbors/friends just 2 floors down.  Cory and the husband already knew each other through work, and we actually have mutual friends.  Our kids are around the same ages, and they are home-schooled as well.  The 1st week we were here, Cindy, the mom, offered to show me and the boys how to use the Metro and to take us into the District.  I was so excited!  It was the boys' 1st time there, and it had been about 13 years since I had been. 

National Gallery of Art

In front of the National Gallery of Art

 Yesterday the boys and I went to the National Gallery of Art.  We all picked up our devices for the audio tour and set out.  Grant and Brock became bored fairly quickly, but then one of the security guards came around the corner and asked if he could show us something fun!  You bet!  He described a technique used by the artists to manipulate perspective in some of the artwork.  As you walk in front of a painting, it looks as if objects or faces follow you.  Amazing!  He also circled more artwork on my museum map that he thought the boys might like to see.  He gave us a lot of great information and totally changed the way our day was going.  The boys loved finding all the artwork he discussed, and they're excited to go back!