Family Vacation to DC

After the boys got out of school, we took a trip to Northern VA and DC to visit family and sight see around the nation's capital. It took over 9 hours to get there with all the stops that we ended up taking. Getting 5 bladders all in sync just wasn't going to happen, haha. This was one of our many rest stops.

Mimi and the boys at the rest stop.

We played a game where we tried to be the first one to spot FedEx trucks and I was shocked by how many there were along the way. We added in UPS and Amazon Prime, but there were still way more FedEx trucks.

Our quaint little hotel with kitchen was just right.

Riding the metro into the city.

We finally got to see Union Station. What a cool place.

I was having trouble holding the selfie stick still enough for a sharp image.

Since both boys happened to be tired at the same time, the single stroller wasn't enough so I ended up carrying Brett on my back in the baby carrier quite a bit.

The national building museum ended up not being so great.

They did have some really cool trees outside though.

We got to show the boys around the National Archives. I think Blake would have appreciated it more if he had learned a little more about some of the documents in school beforehand.

We found a nice shady spot for our picnic lunch, then got kicked out a few mins after we sat down. Apparently no one wanted us to eat on the steps of their building.

It had a nice view for the few minutes we were able to sit there at least.

The metro stations have such cool walls.

Chris and I got to visit the place we got married while we were there. It all looked very familiar.

When Mimi is around we play a lot of card games. The boys are getting really good at Set. Everyone likes to team up against me, but they're getting much closer to beating me!

The next day we got together with my family and got all the boy cousins together. Here are the older 6. The baby wasn't feeling his best so he slept most of the time in the baby carrier. The boys had such a great time running around the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum together. It is so cool to see how well they all get along at this age! (Tristan 7, Blake 7, Vernon 6, Everette 3, Brett 5, Wesley 5)

Everette really liked this jet. He wanted a picture with it.

Blake and Tristan were so adorable with their hand holding. I think they were both happy to have each other to talk to because they could read a lot of the descriptions and have much more mature conversations. 

Then most of the kids went in the simulator, but there was a height minimum so Brett was told he couldn't go. After our group got off, they let him go in Mimi's lap and he had the best time.

Uncle Mike with the West VA airplane that he wouldn't pose with.

Since Mimi worked for FedEx for so long, she really wanted a picture next to the original delivery plane.

We had quite a crew getting on the elevator to go up to the observation tower.

TeeTee and 6 of her 7 grandsons watching the planes takeoff and land.

Overlooking Dulles Airport.

Me and my brother and sister (and baby Paxton).

Then we got on our bathing suits and went swimming for the afternoon. It was a little chilly, but the hot tub part was nice and warm.

Then we had to take a thunder break, and every time it was about time to get back in, there would be more thunder.

My dad with Paxton who finally woke up. =)

Then out to dinner at Anthony's in Purcellville. The boys worked on some puzzles while we waited on dinner.

Everette did such a great job with the puzzles! Sorry about that pic Chris.

Lindsay and I. <3

Then our last day we went to the Air and Space Museum in DC.

Then enjoyed the day on the mall.

We stumbled upon this cute sculpture garden with a beautiful fountain which we enjoyed while eating some snacks.

We tried to go to the Bureau of Printing and Engraving but we didn't realize you had to sign up for a tour, and we would've had to wait around for another couple hours, so sadly that didn't work out and everyone was tired of walking in the hot sun.

These are the states we drove through on our adventures. I still think the West Virginia sign is the prettiest.