Friday, Andrew had to work so Landon & I took the boys into DC to see the Monuments & get them acquainted with the metro system & get them oriented with as much of DC as I could. We started the tour, as we normally do with our out of town guests. We arrive at the Smithsonian Metro which brings us right to the National Mall.
We headed first to the Washington Monument. The boys wanted to go inside, & I hadn't been in since I was a little kid, but all the tickets were gone for the day. Apparently the line starts to form at 7-7:30 in the morning & the tickets are handed out (their free) at 8-8:30. By 10:30 they are all usually gone. After hearing that, it wasn't too important to them to go inside!
After the Washington Monument, we headed for the WWII Memorial, where they posed for a picture.
Directly from there is the Lincoln Memorial, but we headed left to see the Vietnam Memorial then we headed to the Lincoln Memorial. Landon was napping & I had been up the steps, so we opted to stay behind while the boys went up to see Lincoln.
Directly from there is the Lincoln Memorial, but we headed left to see the Vietnam Memorial then we headed to the Lincoln Memorial. Landon was napping & I had been up the steps, so we opted to stay behind while the boys went up to see Lincoln.
After the Lincoln, we headed to the Korean War Memorial.
Normally we take our guests to the Korean, then Lincoln, then Vietnam, then to the White House, but this time we did it opposite but opted not for the White House but for the Tidal Basin where the FDR Memorial & Jefferson Memorial are located. Both of which I had never been to. It was quite a walk but well worth it. I know I really liked the FDR Memorial & Danny said it was is favorite, so don't pass this one up if you are in the area.
The FDR Memorial is divided into 4 sections, one for each term of his Presidency. We walked through the first part, & weren't impressed, then we saw that there was more! This is apparently the thing to do at the first or second portion of the Memorial.
I think this was at either the third or fourth portion. The entire Memorial was lined with stone fountains & rocks with famous quotes throughout.
I think this was at either the third or fourth portion. The entire Memorial was lined with stone fountains & rocks with famous quotes throughout. 
We then continued around the Tidal Basin to the Jefferson Memorial. I was pretty beat by now so Landon & I stayed at the bottom. Here is a picture of the Washington Monument from the Jefferson Memorial.
Here is the Jefferson Memorial. Inside is a statue of Jefferson.
Here is the Jefferson Memorial. Inside is a statue of Jefferson.
We wanted to miss the metro traffic, so we headed home after this. Andrew came home, we ate dinner, then headed out that evening to the 9-11 Memorial at the Pentagon. This time we drove & parked at the Pentagon (which you aren't supposed to do). We had never been so I was really glad that the boys wanted to go to. This Memorial is open to the public every day, all day.
As with every Memorial, there is a significance to everything. This Memorial is arranged to be a place where people can come and reflect on the benches below. It is situated right outsde where the Pentagon was hit. There are 184 benches, 1 for each person (on the plane & in the Pentagon) that died that morning. The benches facing to the left are those that died in the plane & the benches facing to the right are for those who died in the Pentagon. The benches are arranged in a time line of birth dates, starting from the youngest, a two year old.
After the 9-11 Memorial, we headed home but stopped in the neighborhood we lived for 2 1/2 years.
Saturday, we all went back into DC to go to two of the Smithsonian Museums, the Museum of American History & the Museum of Natural History. The Museum of Natural History was their favorite.
Sunday, Andrew, Landon & I stayed home. At 33 weeks pregnant and carting a 22 month old around, I was beat. It was probably a good thing we didn't go in, we would have slowed them down & they wouldn't have got as much in. They drove themselves to the Metro station & navigated themselves around just fine. Here's what they got done:
1. a short walk around Old Town Alexandria
2. a walk around China Town
3. an outside view of Ford's Theatre & the house where Lincoln died
4. The Spy Museum
5. Air & Space Museum
6. A walk through the Holocaust Museum (they weren't too impressed, but that's because they forgot that I told them they have to get a ticket with a time frame on it, them come back at that time to view the entire museum..oh well)
7. a stop at Arlington Cemetery & watched the Changing of the Guard
They were exhausted after that day!! We all went for pizza dinner at a childhood favorite, Generous George's.
the boys were a little slow moving Monday, but that was fine, their flight didn't leave until 5:30. Once they were ready, we all headed to lunch (thanks Aaron!) then into DC for one last stop, The White House. We got as close as we could in car, then I pulled over & they walked to The White House. Once they had a good look, I picked them up & we were of to the airport.
We had a great time! Thanks for coming Danny & Aaron!!!
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