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.