Welcome to our Wingert World: DC Day

Last week on spring break, 4 of us took a day trip to DC. Micah went to Cathy's (thank you, Cathy!!) and Claire went to Gma and Gpa's for her bday. :)

We really had a great day, in spite of the dreary weather that day. Plus, there was lots of construction, so our photos are definitely not calendar-worthy.

We had fun, and it was good for Katie and Jenna to really see those places. It makes us want to go back! We'd like to do the Air and Space Museum and a few other things-- maybe when Micah's a little older.

First time we had seen the World War II memorial-- really well done. However, we've heard that in nice weather, the fountain/pool is too inviting for kids. No one was wanting to play in it the day we were there, but the signs don't stop people on the hot days. They have to have veterans patrolling the area.

One great part of the day was enjoying the spring colors around us! The magnolias were blooming and the cherry trees were starting. Gorgeous!

Fun looking at Abe's pupils. Interesting how they do that on a sculpture. :)

The whole reflecting pool had been drained and was under construction. That definitely put a damper on the beauty. Not that there would have been many reflections that day, tho, anyway.

The new Martin Luther King Jr memorial. Very creatively done.

We walked past the Washington Monument, got a glimpse of the White House, saw the WWII memorial, saw the Vietnam Memorial, saw the Lincoln Memorial, saw the Korean War Memorial, saw the MLK Memorial. Then we did the American History museum and the Archives.

We did a LOT of walking. The girls and I wore pants and sweatshirts, but Chad was banking on the forecast that said it was supposed to be mid to upper 70's. One forecast had even said 80 in the afternoon. Well, it hardly hit 60. Foggy and damp in the morning; rainy and damp in the afternoon. Chad was cold. And Jenna thought she was about walked out.

A very pretty color arrangement that looked better in person.

Jefferson's "Bible"-- he cut and pasted (literally) Scripture verses into his own scrapbook. All verses from the life of Christ, but we couldn't really figure out an order to them. Not exactly sure what was going on in his head. I'd like to ask him!

Girls and I really enjoyed seeing the dresses of the first ladies. Chad wasn't so into that part. :) A little later, he browsed in the transportation section while we rested on a bench-- we weren't so into that part.

The dresses were very interesting. And interesting how they made the manikins to look so much like the person-- Michelle Obama's had the color of her skin; one first lady from many years ago (can't remember which one) was very tiny; and Barbara Bush was obviously bigger than all the others there.

National Archives. Waited in a fairly long line, but it didn't take as long as you'd think. We had recently watched National Treasure, so we figured the girls had better see the Declaration of Independence for real.

We rode the MARC train there from Brunswick. (about an hour from our house?) On the way home, we got a double-decker train. Chad took this pic from the upper level.