The Craziest Summer Vacation...part 5

Over the next several days, DC became our home base. (In case you missed the previous post about this vacation you can find it here part 4 ).We were delighted to finally have made it here after talking about coming here for so many years.  We started this part of our venture by making a stop at Arlington National Cemetery.  So hard to believe how many people have signed up to protect our country.  We really are so thankful for our servicemen and women.

The changing of the guard ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier is really quite spectacular.  The dad of Ema's friend shared with us that the men who sign up to do this actually have a very strict lifestyle they must adhere to.  It is a very privileged position that many apply for but few get to do.  The way they seem to know each others moves without even seeing each other is phenomenal.

Craig's dad mentioned he saw this when he visited DC and tried to explain where it was.  I didn't really think we'd find it, so when I was walking along looking at all the tombstones and glanced up to see this one I was shocked.  While it was on the edge of the street, I really found that with all of those tombstones to be able to find this one was truly amazing!

JFK and Jackie

Of course we toured the National Mall and visited numerous museums, the botanical gardens, the Capitol, the White House, the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.  So much history in just a couple of miles.

 

On Saturday we spent the day at George Washington's estate, Mt. Vernon.  If only we had enough rain to provide us with the lush gardens that President Washington so enjoyed having!

Caleb looks thrilled to be going on another history tour!

 

 

On Father's Day the kids took their dad and I too the National Zoo, 

 

 

 The International Spy Museum,

This was a pretty fascinating museum but of course no cameras were allowed inside. I managed to sneak just this one!

 

 
and seeing where Lincoln was shot, as well as, the home where he died.

  
We ventured back to our hotel via the subway.  The kids really enjoyed taking the train in and out of downtown DC each day.  I am sure it is because they never get to ride on a train back home.

It's okay little boy...you don't need to be scared.  Your daddy will protect you!

Scared...I'm not scared, I'm just a little crazy!

Even with all the craziness happening back home, we are so glad that we were able to make some wonderful memories during our travels to the east coast.  We certainly were so glad we decided to stay and not head back home, but like all vacations, this one, too, needed to come to an end.