reviving the blog. 9 years later.

Well, we're taking another family trip, but we've gained some stellar family members. All girls. Day 1, Pleasant View to Harrisonburg, VA, and stayed over in a Hampton.

Cari, Rob, Louisa, Laura, Todd, Timothy, are in our van, and Thomas and Audrey are meeting us in Harrisonburg.

back seat is fun with Timothy along.

Todd and I colored pictures of Star Wars, and he read The Mysterious Benedict Society while I read The Hidden Wound. Timothy read How to Watch Baseball Smarter, or something like that.

Also, this beautiful children's book.

We ate at Whole Foods, then Cracker Barrel. 

so there.

The Toddler can skate

Inside jokes.

Heard on the trip:

“But Datty, I want a payah of those Black shoos…”

“Where do you want to go next?”

“I don’t care.”

“To wife, to wife, ya Chaim…be happy, be happy, to wife.”

“Can you lift the front of the stroller?”

“Oh deah, that IS upsetting.”

“It’s CLOBberin time!”

“Comb your hair.”

“My feet are killing me!”

“Do you have another water bottle?”

“I’ll carry that…”

“I didnotknowthat…”

“Why do I play this game with you. You always win.”

“Can you see the snipers on the roof?”

“Kyew! It’s written in the skies!”

“Chatter with the angels, soon in the mornin”

“Kye nuh one?”

“Kye nuh one fush?”

“Kye nuh one Woody?”

“Kye nuh one Buzz?”

“I see fruck. I see p’car!”

“Bess you, Daddy.”

Here's my friend, Emily, who lives in McLean, and met us for lunch on Thursday. She is a doll, and I'm so glad we were able to get together! It's time for her to move back to Nashville! Wouldn't it seem quiet after D.C.!!!

We loaded up and checked out on Sunday morning, then drove into town for one more quick jaunt. This is George Mason. Doesn't he look natural?

And Thomas Jefferson.

Together at last...

These guys were there...

Only family picture from the trip.

Then we headed home. It was long, and John drove all the way. It's actually more fun than sitting by this guy. Here he is listening to Number the Stars with Laura.

If you point that camera at me one...more...time...

...to the moon!

Well, we went from Mt. Vernon to the Metro, and got off at L'Enfant, which until I read it in a book about Benjamin Banneker on the way home I did not know was a man commissioned by Thomas Jefferson to execute drawings of some plans for laying out the new capital city.

Anyhoo, the guys wanted to go to the Air and Space Museum, but Laura really wanted to check out the site of D. C. Cupcakes, which we watched one night. So we took the Toddler and went to Georgetown, while Daddy and the guys went to the Smithsonian.

We stopped off at Subway and shared a 6-inch sub, some chips and a drink. Wanted to save some appetite for cupcakes, doncha know. Walked six blocks or so through terrific Georgetown crowds (it's a shopping district, you know? I didn't.) and I said, well, when we see the long line around the block, we'll know we're close. Sure enough, there was a line wrapped around the block of people waiting for a cup. cake.

We took a picture of the shop. We peered through the glass at the workers. We did not see the owners. We figured the line was over an hour and a half, and we'd told the guys we'd be back in two hours.

We went to Ben and Jerry's.

Nice thing was, when I stepped up to the counter at Ben and Jerry's, the guy says, "Next thuhty minits, we got tree for tree dollah."

Woo-hoo!!!!!! Ice cream for everyone. Laura got chocolate chip, I got mocha, and Todd got his own cone of strawberry. He did very well eating it in his stroller, as we pushed back to the Metro.

We hiked down the mall toward Air and Space. Passed a busker on the street, an old black gentleman playing a trumpet with a hymn book open on his lap and a huge paint bucket of bills at his feet. His cheeks puffed out like Dizzy Gillespie's and he was playing "I Serve a Risen Savior."

We contributed.

Met the guys, who love Air and Space. Thomas had my camera, and he took no fewer than 58 pictures of airplanes, but I will only share a couple.

I know these guys. Remember when Jim Lovell came in Draper Jewelers?

I know this...

I don't know what this is, but I like Thomas's Boston hat in the reflection.

The view across the mall from the Air and Space Museum.

back on the metro, then a hike up Capitol Hill...John wanted to have more of those burgers at Good Stuff.

And then back to the mall for a monumental sunset experience.

WWII Memorial.

Resting and remembering.

When someone takes a picture of his veteran granddad at the memorial, it's hard not to choke up.

looking across to Lincoln.

Korean War Memorial

Do you think he'll get it someday?

This one's for Mrs. Melody.

First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.

Give me your tired.

Todd gets a ride back to the train.

Mount Vernon!

Jay and Rob and I had been to Mount Vernon (and many other sites we revisited on this trip) once before, on a toure with the Nashville Children's Choir (they sang with the Centurymen), but the others never had. I remembered Washington's home as my favorite stop, and it was again.

We didn't do the museum before, so this was all new (some of it WAS rather new).

George and Martha greet you, with the grandchildren, whom they raised. Laura recently performed the "Mount Vernon Set" of four pieces for piano, by Alexander Reinagle, who came from England to teach Nellie Custis, Martha's young daughter. Sweet! or, Suite!

Timothy poses with Jacky.

This dollhouse is decorated and furnished to exactly match the house. It's amazing.

No pictures allowed in the real house, but his study was just like this!

Ah, there it is. Know what? Those two little windows above the doors? Fake fronts. Inside, it's just wall! (or portraits) We saw the first and second floors, but not the third. Laura and I were wondering if they would close it down for a few weeks so we could bring some friends and live there.

George Washington's backyard view: he commented "Mount Vernon is the most pleasantly situated plantation in all of Virginia."

Timothy checks out the kitchen.

Laura too, with her Mona Lisa smile.

Hey, somebody took Mama's picture! Outbuildings at Mount Vernon included the carriage house, the clerk's house, the smoke house, the paint cellar (G. W. wanted the house, roof, and fences to always have fresh paint, which was shipped from England, mixed with oil, and then stored in a cool place.), the wash house, and I don't know what all!

I want to sit on this porch and sip lemonade.

Guess what he's looking at.

Mama pig. She never opened her eyes, even when he snorted at her.

Just let me carry this umbrella.

The tomb. Martha's, too.

ok, now it's hot.

Washington is cool, but this place is hot!

Now here's something...

A real live blacksmith. G. W. had his own blacksmith.

I'll distract her by holding a photo shoot.

That's actually my hat.

So, in the museum, which was wonderful, there were these fascinating little miniatures...

Indians! George was a hero in the French and Indian War.

This is a phenomenal wax figure.

Washington at 26.

Taking the oath (after much persuasion). Check out the guy swearing him in--doesn't he look real!?

This window was so cool. First you see G.W. with a crown and robe on--"He could have been king..."

Then the king disappears, and General Washington appears, but I don't remember how it went...Thomas? anyone? anyone? Is this thing on?

I love the Pioneer Woman.