A Week in DC

Dad's employee convention this year was in Washington DC. We took the oldest two on the trip and let them explore their nation's capitol. It was fun to see them enjoy the different things that interest them.

We stayed at the Marriott Wardman Park. It was an old hotel that had a new addition with a huge convention expansion. The best part was that it had an outdoor pool and an indoor Starbucks! Of course, we only ventured to both places twice while Dad was working...

Our first night in DC, we ate out with friends at a restaurant near the hotel, then hopped on the Metro (subway) to head to a Marine Jazz Band concert on the steps of the Capitol Building.

The Washington Monument as seen from the steps of the Capitol at sundown.

Dad & Bit on the Metro - this was obviously later in the week after everyone was a bit more comfortable with the mass transit system. (And after recovering from the frenzy that surrounded a fire in one of the tunnels on one of our transits...)

The Washington Monument from Bear and Bit's perspective looking up. Yes, the stones are two different colors. If you don't know why, you should - check it out here.

Such team work... They've been working out...

Bear and Bit in front of the White House... there's a story...

Long story short... (Really. This could be SO much longer...) On our way to an appointment tour at the Bureau of Printing and Engraving (just us girls), the fire incident occurred on the Metro, causing us to be dumped out two long stops from our hotel and 15 blocks from our appointment destination. We tried some alternate plans which included the White House (barricaded for several blocks around because of the Metro incident), Constitution Hall (closed because of a special event), Museum of History (closed due to renovation), National Archives (not open for another hour and already 200+ people in line), Ford Theatre (closed due to renovation) and even a department store (shopping's good for any ailment, right? - opening an hour late that morning for who knows what reason...!)

HOWEVER, we finally found ONE place open (besides the air conditioned souvenir shop with the restroom next door)...

The house where Lincoln died... Bear found it to be very interesting. She likes the old houses and museums like that. After that we even found a Starbucks. Life was good! AND the Metro was going again - at least half of it was. We waited over 30 minutes for a train going our way, but we finally got back to the hotel. And it was ONLY just before 11am by this time. We were so exhausted.

Dinner with the family down on the Potomac. Phillips Seafood Buffet was highly anticipated, but sorely disappointing...

Bear on her nightly phone call to her little sister and brother back at Mawmaw & Pawpaw's house.

Mom & Dad at the party at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum

Bit & Bear with Christian artist TobyMac

Family shot - Mom, Bit, Dad & Bear - on our way out to do more touring

Trying to learn how to take cool pics with the new camera - not quite there yet, but it's fun anyway - the dome of the Capitol Building

The big party the last night in DC. This was the Superman room. I think it was full of kryptonite, though. Didn't quite get that. There were several themed rooms with all kinds of different foods and impersonators. Dolly Parton, Tina Turner and Barry White were on stage. If you didn't know better, you'd think they really were.

Next convention is in Orlando. We told the older two that the younger two get to go next time. Yeah, that idea didn't go over so well...