Washington, DC Day ONE

For Spring Break, Bo and I took the kids to Washington, D.C. We met up with two other families that we knew back in Medical School, both families having kids right around the ages of ours. We had been planning this trip since back in July, and it was so much fun to have it finally happen. We did lots of searching and studying, finally coming up with the best hotel, what places we wanted to see, and where we wanted to eat. :) For the hotel we all had rooms right next to each other, in our own little hallway, and it was the best. We stayed in Arlington, VA at a Marriott that had a complimentary shuttle to the Metro. Loved that. Bo and I only got one room, and I think we can pretty much say we're pro's at handling how to get 5 people, one of them a 13 month old, to sleep in the same room at about the same time. It's called exhaustion, lack of naps, and the power of a little crying it out and putting a blanket OVER the pack n' play to make it look pitch black for Derrick. Oh yeah, and a sound machine (a MUST) to make background noise to drown out all other noises. :)

We all drove in Wednesday night, said a couple hellos at 10 pm, hit the beds, and were up and out to the Metro, and adventure in itself, by about 10:30 the next morning.

Thursday was the Smithsonian day.

First we went to The Natural History museum. We saw dinosaurs, mammal fossils, oceanic things, the Hope diamond, paintings, and the Titanaboa, which was a new exhibit and totally awesome. The Titanaboa was an exhibit of a giant snake that scientists have discovered that lived way long ago (don't ask me to remember how long ago--google it). They made a model of how big it was, complete with it swallowing an alligator (crocodile?) whole. RAD.

After that much touring, the kids were tired and hungry, so we headed down to the cafeteria and got food. I love any food I don't have to make. Okay not any, but pretty close... :)

After The Natural History Museum we crossed the National Mall grass and headed over to The Air and Space Museum. In this museum the kids got to look at rockets, airplanes, and do lots of hands on science project sort of stuff. Megs and Carter liked the old Wright Brothers' airplanes the best, mostly because they recognized them from The Night at the Museum, Battle of the Smithsonian. They LOVE that movie, and I have used that movie to really get the kids excited about our trip. It worked.

After leaving that museum we headed back out onto the lawns and just sat around and relaxed while the kids ran crazy and got all the jiggles out. We then took the Metro back to the hotel, ordered Chinese take-out, swam, and then crashed in bed.

Warning: picture overload. :)

Our big group of kids, minus Derrick (in Bo's arms) waiting for the Metro and the day to begin!

L to R: Elie Katz(age 3), Ben Heiner(5), Megan(3), Ashley Heiner(3), Carter (6), Jamie Heiner(6), and Ava Katz (age 6)

Carter, trying to make it look like he is holding The Washington Monument in his hands.
Tri-Ceritops!

Megan and Ashley Heiner, both girls are about 3 months apart.

The Bums! From L to R: Carter, Jaime Heiner (she's like 15 days older than Carter), Ashley Heiner, and Megs.

Carter and the Titanaboa. Notice the alligator in the mouth. This thing was massive.

Serena Heiner and me. Serena was awesome. She's 20 weeks pregnant and it didn't wipe her at all. She had so much energy. I would've been wiped out if that were me. I was anyways. wiped out, not pregnant. NO.

The men folk. Doug Heiner with Jamie, Bo, and Ben Katz is back there on the phone. Where is Jana?

Carter and the Titanaboa again.

LUNCH!

I love this picture.

The Capital!!!

Carter and Ben Heiner at Air and Space.

More bums! Ava Katz (she's 6 days younger then Carter, so all 6 year olds are about 20 days apart. awesome!), Megan, and Elie Katz (she's about 3 months older then Megs, making it 3 - 3 year old girls all within 6 months of each other. loving it more.)

Carter, Megan, Me, and Ben Heiner That double stroller was a life saver. Thanks Lindsay D!

The famous Wright Brothers airplane, or as my kids called it, "Amelia Earhart's plane!"

Jamie Heiner and Carter taking pictures of each other. Carter and Megan LOVED having their friends back and playing with them.

The gang on the lawn. Doug Heiner, Elie Katz, Jana Katz, Ava Katz, Ben Katz, and Bo.

Derrick. Yes, he was there too. He fell over on the lawn and couldn't/wouldn't get himself to stand back up because he HATES touching grass, or any ground that isn't carpet or similar floors found INSIDE. Funny kid. As you can see below, he will sit in it, he just doesn't like having his hands full on the ground.

Derrick and Ben Heiner having a deep conversation. I'm pretty sure they are discussing something significant, like the laws of physics and it's importance in aeronautical engineering. Yes, definitely that.