I requested tickets to tour the U.S. Capitol and the White House via my parents' congressman in California several months ago. We found out just a week or two ago that we'd been denied a White House tour because too many other people are also trying to get tickets, but our request for Capitol tickets was approved and we toured it Friday (8/27) afternoon.
We rode the Metro into the city. Little Guy sat with Grandpa for part of the ride.
I'd never seen the Library of Congress before because it's hidden behind the Capitol.
Pictures of the outside of the Capitol (before and after our tour).
Inside the Capitol we viewed the museum part (and I started wondering when my kids are supposed to learn about the branches of the government, etc. as I quickly tried to explain stuff to them). Our tour was the last tour of the day, so we donned our headphones and followed some guy around. I've toured a lot of the state capitols, this wasn't much different, but way more crowded. After the tour, we had about 3 minutes in the gift shop before it closed for the day. Why don't they keep the gift shop open a bit longer after the last tour of the day ends so we actually have time to browse and possibly buy something? My dad bought me a spoon for my spoon collection I inherited from his mom (and one for his own part of the collection) and a U.S. Capitol pencil for B's pencil collection.
After our tour ended (about 4:30), we walked down the Mall figuring we'd find somewhere to eat rather than cramming ourselves onto a rush hour Metro train. As far as I can tell, there aren't a lot of restaurants on the Mall (other than the cafes in the museums, which close at 5 when the museums do, or the hot dog carts). I figured our best bet was L'Enfant Plaza which I believe is a Mall on top of a Metro stop. We didn't quite make it there, but made it to another mall-ish place with a French restaurant that we ate at. Then we walked to the Washington Monument. The original goal was the Lincoln Memorial but everyone wimped out. So then we thought maybe the World War II Memorial, which is new since last time my parents were in DC. But everyone wimped out on that one too. So we walked around the Washington Monument, and headed back up the Mall to the Smithsonian stop and boarded a train for home. The plan is to head into the city at least one more time, the day after Labor Day, when school here will be back in session and it shouldn't be too crowded (I especially want to try to go to the top of the Washington Monument).
Grandma and Grandpa L are in town for two weeks for Princess Sparkley's baptism. This is a special treat because they live in California and we only get to see them about once a year.
On Thursday, (8/26), we took them to Manassas Battlefield, which, according to the locals, was a pretty important battle (actually two battles happened here) of the Civil War.
You know we've spent a lot of time at the pool this summer when one of Buddy's favorite things to do at home is sit on our two drawer filing cabinet with a red bat/life saving device across his lap, in his lifeguard costume with a whistle. Periodically he blows the whistle and yells "break," which is more than our lifeguards do, they just blow their whistle and leave us wondering if it's break time or if someone got in trouble.
I took the kids to the county fair today. Buddy and Princess Sparkley earned free tickets through the library's reading program and kids under three were free so I just had to pay for me to get in.
Princess Sparkley I know has been to the Ventura County Fair in California. And maybe Buddy. But she was three when we moved, and he wasn't yet 1 1/2, so neither remember it. A few days ago I asked Buddy what he expected to see there and he answered, "elephants." PS corrected him, "You're thinking of a circus." So they might have had high expectations going in, but they still had fun.
I think the most enjoyable part was walking through all the animals stalls. We started off with the petting farm area. I asked PS if she wanted to go in. Maybe. I asked Buddy. He said maybe. I asked Little Guy, he said yes. So we all went in. Little guy refused to touch any animal and was a little freaked out by the experience. The big kids and I all pet a sheep, a goat, a pig, a cow, a weird chicken and a bunny. Little Guy pet the bunny. Then we toured through the miniature animals (our favorite part*), sheep, goats, pigs and cows. Then we moved onto rabbits and chickens (our other favorite part). PS would like a pet bunny. We also got to see some chicks, baby ducks, and baby turkeys (as well as grown turkeys).
*The top two middle pictures are a Miniature Zebu... the cutest thing ever. It's a cow, basically, but the size of a small sheep. You can get a better idea of its size when you see Buddy in the picture with it. Little Guy liked all of the smaller animals. He'd yell out "there's a little goat!" He told B when we got home that his favorite part was the "animals" and when I was taking him up to bed he said his favorite part was the piggies with their noses sticking out. The top left hand picture. Their noses are sticking out of their pen onto the walking by area.
We made our way through the displays of flowers, produce, artwork, photographs and baked goods. PS has great plans to decorate a cupcake and bake something for next year. Buddy would like to draw a picture (although there were some great Lego creations on display as well). This part was perfect timing because it started pouring rain just as we left the rabbit exhibit.
Then we battled our way through more rain and bought a funnel cake to share at a picnic table under an awning. The food there all smelled SO good. I kept walking around saying, "Mmm... that smells like a really good burger." Or, "Mmm... onion rings." But we settled on a funnel cake to share. I asked them to pick between a funnel cake or elephant ears (neither of which have they ever seen, had or heard of).
Our last stop, after seeing the rabbits and chickens again, was the 4-H tent where they did a bunch of crafts, many involving paint, so I was glad it was last and I didn't have to carry around wet paint for too long.
We skipped the rides because as much as they wanted to ride them, they aren't brave enough to go without me and Little Guy isn't tall enough to ride any (plus I'm not sure if he can with his heart... all the rides have little signs about medical conditions). We just walked around and looked at them (all mostly empty due to the weather).
As we loaded everyone into the car, the load speaker announced that the fair was closing early today due to rain and weather. Overall, not the "best in the state" fair I'd seen advertised, but for $8 plus a funnel cake, a fun few hours. And it was empty because of the weather, so I'm much happier to have come today than yesterday when it was $2 day.
I drove the kids down to see a play that our Richmond cousins were in at the end of their week of drama camp. We left B at home to study for his two big exams he has coming up this month for grad school.
Little Guy, "playing" Wii right along with the big kids. They were ALL lined up but by the time I got my camera, the line had disintegrated somewhat.
Uncle G was nice and gave Little Guy his own controls (that weren't plugged in or doing anything). He tucked one under each arm and waved it at the tv just like the big kids.
The county was having a kid pirate day at the park, so we got everyone dressed up and headed over. There was face painting, a "walk the plank" dunking booth, face paint, air brush tattoos, a pirate ship slide/jump, and treasure hunts.
You had to do the first three treasure hunts (letterbox style) in order to get the clues for the final treasure hunt. We did the first three and got lost trying to do the final one. "Lost" turned out to be the playground right where we parked so Aunt H promised them all a treasure of ice cream from Ray's and we went on our way.
cousin G
Princess Sparkley and Little Guy teeter-tottering
At Ray's, cousin G and PS both decided to get Death by Chocolate. PS made a bit of a mess!
Buddy gave a talk in Primary a few weeks ago. He's never actually said anything when he's been assigned a prayer, scripture or talk... B and I say everything he quietly stands next to us freaking out. This time, we promised him TWO different types of milkshakes/smoothies if he'd say it. And HE DID! There was an entire story to go along with it, but we only had him say the last paragraph.
There can be no greater example of a good shepherd than Jesus Christ. He knows each of us by name. He suffered for us because He wanted to provide a way for us to return to Him and Heavenly Father. In return, we can be good shepherds.
We told Princess Sparkley last night that we'd open family presents in the morning rather than the evening. This led to Christmas morning like excitement before breakfast. But I still made everyone eat breakfast first. I made PS a fried egg sandwich (one of her favorites) with a candle in it. Then scriptures and prayers and on to presents.
Buddy got her a Tinkerbell game for her Leapster. Little Guy got her a pack of all the Tinkerbell Fairies from the Disney Store. We got her a Tinkerbell book, a Candy Fairies book, a Clarice Bean book, the new Nancy Drew movie ($5 at Target), a Mark-My-Time bookmark ... and I think that's all.
Here are some birthday party pictures I didn't use with the birthday party post:
After the party we went to the pool where PS swam about two arms length... the best she's ever done and the first time she's ever actually swam/swum/swimmed. Then home for dinner. Then off to Barnes and Noble, Target and an awesome used bookstore to see if there was anything she wanted to spend some birthday money on. Talked to some family on the phone calling with birthday wishes. Then home to left over treats and more birthday songs and blowing out candles.
We had to be in Fairfax Monday, knew there'd be some down time when we were just waiting, and that it would be hot, so the kids wore their swimsuits and we went back to Fairfax Corner Fountains. Princess Sparkley and Little Guy were much braver this time (although, you can see from the pictures that Little Guy spent most of the time skirting the perimeter). Buddy loved it, again!
