Cherry Blossoms+Kites=Pretty

We have been pretty busy these last few weeks, but since the weather has been getting warmer, I have really been wanting to go run downtown. I decided this Saturday would be perfect since it is the first day of the Cherry Blossom Festival and the Smithsonian Kite Festival. We went down a little early to get parking, and it was a little cooler than expected, so this is just the beginning of the kite festival, but it was still really cool!

We took a detour on our run to (finally) see the FDR Memorial. We also have a new foster dog, a fox terrier I named Roxy. Tim is walking her in this picture.

And last week, my friend Amelia and her husband drove here from Houston for their spring break. We had a great time with them and Michelle and Brian (who are in our ward). We have all been friends since middle school!

Mom and Ben's Visit Part III: The Road Trip!

We decided to go for the gold and finish Mom and Ben's trip with a road trip to Philadelphia. We started the day out at Reading Terminal Market for lunch. There were tonz of people and places to eat. It was a little overwhelming, but we settled on smoothies and whoopie pies while Tim got wings.Then we went back in history to see the liberty bell, independence hall, Benjamin Franklin's post office and grave site, and his grandsons printing room.

In the upstairs of the post office, there was a random postal museum. We saw this sign and thought Aubrey might want to use it to find a husband (minus the "not over 18")...And what's a trip to Philly without a visit to the Art Museum. We love looking at art and being cultured. Too bad it was closed!

We finished the night with Philly Cheese Steaks. Always delicious!

Saturday morning we went to Manassas (Bull Run Battlefield) and a visit to my work before the airport. I had a great time being a tourist. Thanks for coming Mom and Ben!

Mom and Ben's Visit Part II

Wednesday was the second day of our trolley tour, and we saw the northern part of DC meaning Georgetown, Embassy Row, and the National Cathedral (where Mom was the ultimate tour-er finding that we could go to the 7th floor!)
We also went to the old post office building--a great waste of good real estate, but a good view-- the outside of the White House (Senators are really bad at getting back to you about requests to visit the white house), and finished the day in Old Town Alexandria where we ate dinner at a chili parlor with friends Lauren and Andrew.
We learned all about the Senate on Thursday. My friend Katie works for Senator Lieberman and gave us a detailed tour of the Capitol. She took us in underground walkways and a little shuttle train to get there (they do exist!) and we sat for a (very few) minutes seeing the senate in session. ZZzzz.
We also caught the last of our good weather at Mount Vernon, where we saw cute baby sheep.
Mom just really wouldn't let us rest. Next stop: Philly!

Mom and Ben's Visit!

I have been looking forward to my mom and Ben's visit since...well, since Ben came last year! They came on Saturday the 6th and left this past Saturday and we did not stop going the entire time!

Sunday we went to Arlington National Cemetery where we saw the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We also walked through Robert E. Lee's house and saw the Kennedy's "eternal flame."
Then we drove to DC and saw the Lincoln, Vietnam, WWII monuments and Iwo Jima.
Monday we did a half day in the city after I got home from work. We saw Ford's Theater and the Spy Museum (which you are not allowed to take pictures in).

On Tuesday we took a Trolley Tour around the lower part of DC. It was a lot of fun to hear things about buildings we never knew before even living here. I think we set a record for most things seen in one day. Besides the trolley tour, we went to the Ntl. Archives, the Smithsonian Castle, Air and Space Smithsonian, American History Smithsonian (shown below) and...Up inside the Washington Monument!
A view from the top... That will have to do for now! Over 90 pictures taken and 16 collages created. There will be more...