My DC Bucket List

Our summer is just swimming along...which would be a painfully horrible pun if I could figure out the video thing to show you exactly where we have spent 99.9% of our time thus far this summer.

We decided to do something slightly different yesterday.  We wanted a good, family together day doing something other than what we have been doing.  There are several things that I have been wanting to do, things that are typically touristy things that I just hadn't ever gotten around to doing and haven't seen since middle school.  So my family spent the day fulfilling my every wish and desire, including peaceful coexistence.

We started out at the National Cathedral.
 It is so incredible.  The girls had fun looking for certain things from the tour booklet.

This is the Space Window, in honor of the Apollo XI mission.  That little tiny circle thing in the middle of the redish part is a moon rock.
The rest of the windows are just breathtaking and so intricate.  Pictures on my little camera just can't do them justice.

We made sure to step outside and locate the Darth Vader gargoyle that was the winner of a design contest several years ago.  It is way the heck up there but we found it.

Then the girls and I may have slipped back inside to "get drinks at the water fountain" but really we were gawking at the wedding happening at the front chapel.  Nothing like a bunch of little girls watching a bride.

We may have also found a way to kill time while I fed the baby out in the shade.  Disturbing and really funny.  Also, probably really bad for the 10 year old's back.

Next stop was Arlington National Cemetery.  Clark and I felt that since their father has spent their entire lives in the military, it was an important and worthwhile thing for the girls to see and experience.  It is impossible to take in that view and not be in awe of the sheer numbers.  It is a beautiful place.  Clark and I may or may not have had a little discussion about where he would rather be buried, Texas or Arlington. The conversation was inconclusive except that I promised wherever he decides to be buried, I will plant a gardenia bush, and then make sure my new husband is willing to take care of it :)

We spent time at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  We were just in time to see the changing of the guards.

Very cool.  

Why end the day there?  I had also never been to Old Town Alexandria.  Why not? is exactly what we were asking ourselves as we walked around.  Lots of people have told us to go and we just never had.  So quaint.  So cool.  So full of neat buildings, yummy restaurants and treats.

Not a bad view either, if you could undo the blur.

It was one of those perfectly lovely days that I will always remember.  I thanked my family profusely for doing everything that I wanted and without bickering too (I swear that promises of ice cream had nothing to do with it.)

I wasn't expecting any smiles for a couple of weeks still, at least.  That's not to say we haven't tried.  I figure that the kid probably just spends the majority of his time being overstimulated and overwhelmed here at our house.  In any case, I witnessed a little surprise while at church today when he was in the midst of cute teenage girls.  I dove for my camera so as not to miss that amazingly adorable little grin.  And then congratulated them all on making it into his little book of remembrance.

Well hello there happy baby.