The girls in flight...
@ the hotel...
Thursday while daddy was at work the girls and I enjoyed breakfast at the hotel before heading out. I thought we could enjoy the morning before it got too hot, but by 9:30AM it was already so stinkin' hot that we walked the three block up to the mall and went into the first Smithsonian museum we came to: the American Indian Museum. Oddly enough, we had never been in there before. We always walk past it--as it sits right between the Air and Space Museum and the Botanic Gardens--but we'd never gone in. The girls had fun because they got to weave their own little baskets (and it felt so good to be in the air conditioning)! After that we walked up towards the Hill and into the Botanic Gardens. Usually that's a favorite, but it was too hot to enjoy it. We walked along the Mall for a few blocks before deciding to grab some lunch, and get back to our nice, cool room. 102 degrees--way too hot for us--yikes!
Maren outside the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian...
Logan...
Carsyn...
Sweating yet, girls?
Basket weaving...
U.S. Capitol...
I just had to post this--look at Maren's hand ; )...
That's better...
After daddy returned home (actually, the hotel) we drove out to Springfield for dinner with friends. It was just like old times. The girls had such a blast dressing up, throwing water balloons, and just being silly. It was a great visit. Thanks, you guys!
Logan, Charlie, Sydney, Carsyn, & Maren...
With Friday's forecast calling for even warmer temps. than Thursday, the girls and I decided not to venture out. Instead we had breakfast, packed up our stuff, and waited for daddy to pick us up for our long drive down to Virginia Beach. We ended up leaving the hotel at one o'clock, and got out of town with relative ease. Because we were making such good time, I (in a temporary lapse of sanity) thought it would be okay to stop at Potomac Mills to run into just a couple of stores. Well, first of all, you canNOT just "run" anywhere in northern Virginia. Second of all, I forgot how absolutely enormous that mall is--holy cow. Anyway, six and a half hours later we arrived at Maren's Godparents' (sadly, Chad is currently deployed on the U.S.S. Truman)...did I mention that our rental was a car? So, the girls were three across, and NO DVD player...aaagh! (Now I remember why I didn't want to live in D.C. forever.) Were we ever glad to relax and enjoys Jill's cooking!
Waiting for dad...
The girls and their cute feet...
On Saturday we loaded up beach towels, blankets, coolers filled with snacks and drinks, sunscreen, beach chairs, sand toys, and six kids into two cars, and headed to the beach. Inland temperatures were nearing 108 degrees, so apparently we weren't the only ones who sought relief at the ocean--it was packed! But, the kids had a blast. Our girls had gotten used to the calm waves of Lake Michigan, so the waves in the Atlantic seemed huge. They were even knocked down a few times, but took it like champs. Fortunately daddy was willing to get in and stay out there with them so Jill and I could sit on the shore.
The whole gang ready for a day at the beach...
Maren soaking up some sun (and a bathing suit full of sand)...
The big kids playing in the waves...
The little kids watching...
What a fun day!
After we got back to Jill's, (and everyone got showered) we ordered pizza and went out for ice cream. Sunday everyone put on their best for mass. We had such a great time visiting--even though the girls missed Chad ; ). (However, not nearly as much as his wife and kids miss him!) Thank you guys so much for your hospitality and generosity!
Logan, Evan, Madison, Maren, Carsyn, & Morgan:
What great-looking bunch...
When we left Chesapeake, we took a different route back north so we could stop in Patuxent River, MD to see some old friends from VFA 146. It was so nice to finally meet Mike and Noelle's little girl Lily!
Look at those Blue Diamond beauties...
After dinner at Cheeseburger in Paradise, we finished our drive up to Baltimore. Monday morning daddy had to make an extra-long commute to work, so the girls and I just hung out by the pool. It was great because we had the whole pool to ourselves all day. When dad got back from work we all went out to dinner.
Carsyn...
Maren...
Logan...
Cleaned up for dinner...
Love my girls...
We had the first flight out of Baltimore (to Dayton) Tuesday morning. So we quickly ate breakfast at the hotel, and waited for the airport shuttle. We had such a great week out in D.C., VA, and MD! The girls were so sad saying goodbye to daddy at the airport because he had to stay in Washington for another week for work. I was a little anxious about flying back with three kids and no help (especially since our seat assignments were not at all together), but we did fine--we're practically pros now ; )!
Waiting for the shuttle...
The girls on the Harbour...
