Washington D.C.

We had a fun time exploring Washington D.C. in March and April.

The first decision was do we fly or ....

...drive to Washington. It takes 20 hours so we chose to fly. The kids loved the flight (once we finally took off - major delays).

We arrive in time for the Cherry Blossom Festival. The blossoms were beautiful.

Around the Potomac River Basin/Jefferson Memorial the blossoms were spectacular.

We loved walking around and looking at as many as we could. We also visited...

The National Arboretum

The White House

Air and Space Museum

The Museum of Nature and Science

We treasured getting together with our friends the Angell's. We love you guys.

F.D.R. Memorial

We rode around on the Metro.

Toured the capital - this is the view from the Washington Monument.

On the weekend Joe took us out to Gettysburg.

National Zoo was wonderful and extra fun since we went with our friends the Angells.

The Postal Museum

The kids love the Library of Congress, especially the children's book section.

Joe and George went with us the Bureau of Engraving - thank you for the tickets Joe.

National Museum of Art

Then we met up with Joe's cousin on the weekend. Do you see the family resemblance? We all went to Jamestown together. What a fun place for the kids to run around and explore.

Elli and Jarom manned the cannon.

Trent and Elli got some water.....

helped make a canoe, visited the blacksmith, saw the guns get shot, chased the chickens - oops....

and boarded the replica ships.

it is hard to believe so many men came on these three small ships. There were sailors and 51 men to settle the new land. Jamestown was the first successful settlement. Roanoke failed a few years prior. The original church still stands today. This was a great place to visit.

Trent tried out the sleeping quarter on the ship. Boy the bedding must have needed washed after 3-4 months at sea. I won't go into detail about the sanitation on the ship, but lets just say the voyage was anything but first class.

Trent helped grind the corn like the native people did in the area centuries ago.

Then Elli and MaKayla explored the native huts.

Finally we all boarded a ferry and sailed across the Chesapeake Bay (note there are 2 Chesapeake Bays in the US). What a great vacation!

Spike

Little spike. Joe combed Trent's hair this morning before church.

School days

Trent is really excited to start preschool in the fall. He has started wearing his backpack around the house, even when he is playing.

Bowling

On Springbreak we made a list of fun things to do, one for each day of the week. The kids really liked the day we went bowling. They bowled a few games. In the course of the time Elli released the ball behind her a few times - look out! Trent also managed to get his ball stuck 1/2 down the alley - it lodged between the bumper and the walking alley for the worker (that is because he happily threw his ball each time). Thankfully no one was bowling next to us.

Look at those similar scores.

Snow in Texas?

It is rare, or so they say. We have had snow every year since we moved here. It is great for all of us and makes us appreciate the warm sun.

Good grades

Elli good job on your school work. Keep-up the work.

Museum of Nature and Science

Trents special visit to the Museum of Nature and Science.

He had fun making the hot-air balloon fly, looking at animals, playing with toys, planting seeds at the farm and digging for fossils in the sand.