Monuments, Smithsonian and More

On Saturday, we drove to the National Mall. Benji requested that we visit the monuments because he did not remember having seen them before. This also gave us a chance to check out the new Martin Luther King, Jr., monument and to revisit some old favorites on the mall:

We found a street spot right near Einstein!

Rubbing his nose for good luck

Lincoln Memorial

Comparing it to the penny

Reading the literature

Vietnam veterans Memorial

More literature, outside the Korean War memorial

Looking out across the tidal basin at Jefferson Memorial

MLK Memorial

Yes, he really did solicit literature from a park ranger at every stop and then sit down to read it

FDR Memorial

Waiting in the bread line

Looking back from Jefferson on the Washington Monument

We made a quick stop at Air and Space to see the newly arrived Enterprise

This is the real model used for filming the show

 Kevin and Benji stayed at Air and Space while Abby and I went on to the Holocaust Museum.  We all reunited at dinner time for a relaxing meal at Clare and Don's in Falls Church. We walked more than 10 miles, so after that we were ready to relax for Sunday and the 4th!

Mt. Vernon

We took a 4th of July field trip to Washington, D.C. and had a blast. We spent the first two days playing tourist and the second two chilling with the Lamy-Peterson clan. We started out Friday at Mt. Vernon, which both kids thought would be interesting:

After we finished the estate and visitor center, we drove a few miles down the road to see the newly restored grain mill and distillery. Benji said this was the best part:

Spirit of Independence Day Past

We're up in Herndon for the holiday weekend and I'll hope to post those pics later this week.  In the meantime, here are some pictures of 4th of Julys gone by:

Harrisonburg Adventure

We've been trying to use this summer to see more Virginia sights. We set our compass for Harrisonburg last weekend, which was a surprisingly short -- and easy -- drive. Gammy joined us for the outing.

First stop, the White Oak lavender farm, which had farm animals and pick your own lavender, as well as a great gift shop where you could buy, among other things, both lavender chocolate and lavender ice cream (we did try some of both):

Benji, trying to pet the Turkey

Her name was Martha

After Benji said she was "so soft," Abby and Gammy wanted to pet her, too

Friendly chicken crossed our path

Fresh off his success with Martha, Benji wanted to pet the chickens

Nope, not having any of that

How about you?

No, thanks

Walking the labrynth

Benji's favorite were the hammock swings

Clipping lavender

 

 After the farm, we drove to the center of Harrisonburg to visit the Edith Carrier Arboretum:

That's a snapping turtle under the water

Our last stop was the planetarium, where I did not take any pictures, but where we all enjoyed the star show.