If you're playing 'Where in the world is Corinne', I'm back in Florida! It's warm, and sunny, and lovely, and I'm wearing shorts for the first time in two weeks! But, I am still dealing with a cough, and while everyone has been sick, some of the boys are doing better than others. I sort of wanted to go out and about today, but staying home is nice too. I have some catch up to do, so I'm starting with my blog. When I last left you, we were two days into our trip, so here we are on Day 3.
So lets rewind back to a week ago Saturday. (Even though it feels like much longer ago!) I present to you the 'waking up Peyton' sequence.
Before we left for the day, we made our way to the 14th floor to check out the pool and the view. We never actually used the pool though (I forgot to pack swimsuits!)
After all the walking we had done the day before, we decided to take the Metro over to the Smithsonian stop, to start our tour of the monuments.
The whole mall was PACKED. And security was pretty tight. You couldn't even walk up to the Washington monument, and there were several police walking around with machine guns. It was kind of crazy. But, it was the Saturday before Easter, and a lovely sunny day, plus the cherry blossoms were in bloom, so all of that added to the crowds.
We did the whole monument loop- starting with the Washington monument, and then past the World War II memorial.
Then we walked all along the reflecting pool to the Lincoln Memorial.
It was so crowded inside the Lincoln memorial, my boys decided just to sit off to the side and wait for Joanne and her crew to check it out. After all, they'd seen it all quite a few times before. It gave them a chance to rest their feet, and Asa a chance to slide down the side of the steps.
We did all squeeze in a picture on Martin Luther King Jr's 'I have a Dream' speech spot.
We hadn't ever made it to the MLK memorial, so we walked that way. It's right along the tidal basin, and it was especially pretty with all the cherry blossoms.
If you keep following to the right of the tidal basin, you come across the FDR memorial, another one we had never made it to. It's actually HUGE and awesome. It takes you through his whole presidency, and has some pretty awesome (and pertinent) quotes.
Plus, Fala has his own statue. He's the only presidential pet honored with a statue in D.C!
Following along the tidal basin to the Jefferson memorial, we got some pretty views. The pictures don't really do it justice.
By the time we got to the Jefferson memorial, it was lunch time, so we went to the little refreshment stand, and ate under the cherry blossoms.
After lunch we did a quick look at the Jefferson memorial.
Here's Joanne and I discussing John Adam's 'defects and imperfections' at TJ's memorial, and Joanne Facebook posting about it.
Making our way back around the tidal basin was tricky- it was like trying to make your way out of Disney after a parade at peak season. After that, we decided to make our way to the American history museum. I thought it'd be super crowded, almost unpleasant, inside. After all we had to wait in quite the security check line.
But once we got in, it wasn't busy at all. The American History museum is probably my favorite of all the Smithsonian museums. Our first stop was to see the Star Spangled Banner, which was super cool because we had just been to Fort McHenry a couple days earlier and had learned all about it.
They also have the room with the Ruby slippers and the muppets.
But mostly it's my favorite, because it has the president's section!
I know I get much more excited for president's anything than anyone else, but everyone was looking forward to seeing this after our project. Check me out with James Polk, he's one of my favorite's.
And they had all the White House china! I have the Benjamin Harrison one. But, I really want them all.
Plus they had Easter Egg Roll stuff, and a box of m&m's just like we got when we picked up our tickets!!
They have Grant's carriage...
...Teddy's chaps...
...key's to the White House...
...a file cabinet all banged up from Watergate...
...and even the desk TJ wrote the Declaration of Independence on...
...and the hat Lincoln wore to Ford's Theater.
They also have a whole wall full of street signs named after presidents. They even have a Hayes Avenue sign! (I grew up on Hayes Ave).
Asa was not impressed with the LBJ dart board.
But Peyton was pretty excited about the TR Bull Moose pennant.
They also had George Washington's chair.
And even guys who never quite made it to the presidency get a nod in the exhibit- this is Henry Clay's chair!
There's a whole list of people who have donated to the exhibit including the Hayes Library and Museum which is on the street I grew up on.
The museum also makes a nod to the election year.
The candidates still in the race have their signs being held up...
...and those who have called it quits are on the ground.
We stopped by the gift shop, and I found Asa a late birthday president, plus some books.
And then we made our way back to the metro.
For dinner Ray and Asa went out to get us Jumbo Slice. It took them an hour and a half to get over there and back (even thought it was less than 4 miles away), but it was worth it. You can't go to D.C. and not have Jumbo Slice.
I feel like the picture's don't even accurately show how big one piece is. They are HUGE.
I don't love the pizza, it's just pizza to me, but it's Asa's favorite. He ate two slices.
After dinner we did Facetime so grandma and everyone in Toledo could see us all together.
And then we spent our last night hanging out, watching Survivor, and keeping track of the basketball game.
(Here's Henry with his new German Shepherd and Hayden with his new stuffed Fala)
And Asa with his 'Drinkin with Lincoln' glass I got for him.
That's it for our time with Joanne, Ray and the boys- but hopefully we can do another trip with them again, it was SO much fun!
Next Up: We head out of D.C. and to Monticello!
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