Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Day 5

I forgot this day 3 picture - the one museum open a little later, so we could visit after my 2nd day at a conference. National Portrait Gallery...it was a struggle to get Zoe to stand there, but gosh darn it...she did


(Day 4 involved renting a car, moving to a new hotel and visiting Annapolis, MD in the afternoon) 


Art - how INTERESTING for 7 year olds.
See the enthusiasm?
National Gallery of Art.
I was impressed by seeing the Thinker in person. Or at least one version of it.



Show us the Monet, the Seine at Giverny


A bit more joy for Kermit at the Smithsonian History Museum
(and just now Zoe telling me she read a book about Kermit's creator at school).


America innovates...sometimes with Legos.



Gadgets. Indispensable.


And paper. Indispensable.
Hoping you two appreciate a good map. I find it still has a place.
And ready a metro map...a good skill.
A  quick stop at the Smithsonian History museum to show Mom the Hope Diamond. The trio spend some time here a few days before


.
And this guy in the entry. Wait a minute, why is this sitting in an American museum?
As far as the Hope Diamond...I was mostly impressed by the collection of other rocks in the nearby galleries. I guess I'm not a sparkly, shiny kind of girl.


At the Jefferson Memorial








The non-English speaking couple next to us asked Mike to take a picture of them via the international miming of "can you take my picture"? And then she wanted the kids and me in it. The woman then gave Zoe a big hug. So when I go over the Pacific I'll pluck a family at random so I can get a picture with the locals. Kind of funny. 



FDR Memorial


MLK at dusk


Lincoln Memorial - as impressive as I hoped it would be.



The Vietnam wall was also very moving. The list of names has an impact when you walk along the wall.


We ended up eating pizza and drinking very good beer (well some of us) at a pizza place in Georgetown. Roman impressed up by displaying the magnetic quality of his silverware. Only his silverware, mind you. And me, Ms. Mom's-not-a-Scientist was quite impressed. 


But also quite tired and enjoying the beer.



This doesn't happen very often, but we wiped you guys out with all that walking.And all that beer ;) 
Asleep on the Metro.

Friday, October 30, 2015

DC, day 2


I (mom) went to a conference while the rest of the family enjoyed the Air and Space Museum. I was able to take the Metro in and meet the family at the Washington Memorial.


Just around sunset


'merica



and uplighting.
There really isn't a good supply of brains in DC, so these zombies had no luck ;)

Thursday, October 29, 2015

DC, day one


This is how far Zoe's journal got the day after our visit to the Smithsonian National Zoo. 
Speechless I guess.


We did see the pandas.



And the baby only via camera - cuddling up with mama.
Awwww!

Saturday, October 3, 2015

The Rock





Happy Birthday Audrey!



2 sets of ears for the 2nd birthday.
Such a sweet little girl.

22 kids!


Plus a birthday boy and girl.





painting light sabers.


Getting instruction on the soup can robots.



Holy cow.
My plan was to send a picture with the thank you notes, but all the ones with boys have one or more boys pointing guns at the camera. Some parents may not appreciate that.
I'm not even sure how the guns got in the mix.


sweet girls



sweet (raucous) boys.


Grandma C gave Roman and Zoe Darth Vader outfits. I love Zoe's socks!She paired it nicely with sparkly shoes. Girls. 

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Road side attraction, Elk Horn IA

So the interstate billboards lured us with "Danish Windmill" signs. This is kind of like seeing the Wall Drug sign - after being stuck in the car for awhile you'll stop for anything.


But I think we enjoyed the Viking Hjem the most.


Built by reenactors and used once a year during Tivoli fest to demonstrate 'how it was' .
"Tivoli!" says Mom. "I've been there!" [waiting for oohs and aaahs]


And a friendly volunteer showed us around the dwelling and asked if we had a camera :)


The windmill that was purchased from Denmark.





And the Hans Christian Andersen Garden in Kmballton, the next town.
The Princess and the Pea is for Grandma Candy.


Replica of Copenhagen's Little Mermaid.
"You know kids, I saw the original one in Copenhagen"
[yawn]