Trip to DC

Last week I drove with the kids to DC. I stopped in New York City to pick up my friend, Amy. Then we all drove down and stayed with our friend Cindy who lives in Virginia. It was a lot of fun, but not long enough. Here we are in D.C. seeing some sights. I've never been there before and now I know you need probably a week or more to see everything. Oh well.

Amy and the Washington Monument

We hit the Museum of Natural History thinking it would be good for the kids. I think they liked it. Here's Matthew with a rhino.

And some dinosaurs

We were there on free butterfly exhibit day, so we got to see the butterflies free of charge.
Matthew found a butterfly, but he didn't want to get too close. He walked around in the exhibit with his arms pinned to his chest after he saw a butterfly land on my finger. I guess he didn't want to have a close encounter.

Anna was interested in the butterflies, but mostly wanted to get down and walk.
Amy was happy to help her walk around in the museum and Anna LOVED it.

Matthew with Cindy's son Gavin, who is exactly a month older than Matthew. Matthew still looks a little nervous, even with a buddy nearby.

Cindy and her cute baby Andrew. He was a good little traveler.

We went to some play fountains one afternoon. It got mixed reviews from the kids, but I thought it was fun. Matthew and Gavin weren't sure about it at first, but they eventually gave it a try. Gavin loved it and got right in there.

Matthew played for a while until he got too wet...

...and then went and sat in the stroller and said he wanted to go.

And Anna had a great time!! She crawled over the jets, let them squirt her in the belly, in the face...and she even crawled into the inner circle of fountain jets (the big guns - see pictures above), from which I had to rescue her at great personal risk.

After wards we got ice cream at Ben & Jerry's and all was well.

These two look like they are hatching some kind of plan...uh oh.

Cindy, Amy and I. I've been friends with them since third grade. I wish we got to see each other more. We were all on the east coast this summer, so we got together. Amy's moving west and I'll be back in Japan soon enough, so I wanted to take the opportunity while I had it. :) It was a fun time.