Our Visit to Our Nation's Capitol

After Michael and I took our tour of Nationals Park on Monday, we joined up with the girls to see the sights in Washington DC.  First, we took a drive to Arlington National Cemetery to pay tribute to the great people who have served this country.  It's hard to tell how much the kids understand the importance of a visit to a place like that since they are so young.  I will say, however, that Michael seemed amazed at watching the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  We also managed to see multiple horse-drawn carriage ride past us containing a coffin of a soldier who had died in Afghanistan.  It was an amazing and moving experience.  It's puts a face on the war(s) that you can never get from just watching CNN.

Watching the changing of the guard is an unbelievable experience.

A fallen soldier being taken to his final resting place.

Michael and Andie in front of President Kennedy's grave site.  The kids thought the eternal flame was very cool.

Someone suggested to Helen that the after dark tour of the monuments was very cool.  We decided to do it, and we weren't disappointed.  The tour lasted about three hours and we got to hit all the main stops.  Here are some pictures we managed to get.

Just sittin' here on Capitol Hill... (well actually standing).

Dad, Michael, and Andie in front of the White House.  We got some great video of Malia and Sasha playing soccer on the White House lawn with their dog.  We'll have the video up soon.

Michael and Andie in front of one of our country's greatest thinkers - Thomas Jefferson - at his memorial.
If only he didn't have slaves.

Michael and Andie at the Jefferson Memorial with the Washington Monument in the background.

More from the Jefferson Memorial

Michael in front of the Lincoln Memorial at night.

Two score and four years after being born, I've got two great kids who I love dearly.

Michael and Andie reading the names at the Vietnam Memorial

Michael and I at the Iwo Jima Memorial.

On Tuesday the 28th, we spent the day touring the museums.  The coolest for me was visiting the National Archives Museum.  Helen and I got a big kick out of seeing the originals of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution.  The kids thought it was okay, but were much more impressed with the natural history museum and the Air and Space Museum.

Michael and Andie at the Air & Space Museum

Andie flying a plane

A mammoth mammoth

Michael demonstrating what he has in common with the hippo.

Couldn't take pictures in the National Archives, but seeing the originals of the
Declaration of Independence and the Constitution was awesome.

The kids cooling off on a hot and humid day in DC

Hey!  How do I back this thing up?

A great picture of the family in front of the Capitol.

We had a great time in DC and Baltimore.  It's definitely a place where you have to bring the kids back when they get older to fully appreciate it.  We will definitely be back at some point.  Next up - the longest drive of our trip.  Michael and I drop the girls off at the airport on Wednesday and we head down to Atlanta to stay with my niece and her family.  Michael will most certainly have a great time with his cousin and we will see the Braves play on Friday night with some good friends of mine.