A White House Memory

It was a normal Monday morning, lazing around the house, recovering from an Easter Eggstravaganza of a weekend, starting laundry, and making my grocery list. We were about to venture out to my all time favorite store the HT, when the phone rang. 

10:15---- Phone rings.
“We got an extra group ticket to the White House Easter Egg Roll.  Would you guys like to go?It is for the 12:00 group.”

I frantically start thinking about how we could make this work.  I mean the kids are dressed, but not appropriately dressed for the White House.   They are dressed for the Harris Teeter.
I tell the friend we’ll call them right back, and discuss it with Dave.   
          I mean surely we’ll get tickets another year.  
         And the ticket was only for 4 so he wouldn’t be able to go  
         And can I really get all of us ready to go in time??
         And what about our groceries?


We had tried to get tickets through Easter Egg Roll Lottery and didn’t get selected this year.  Did you know that anyone can enter the lottery for tickets to both the Easter Egg roll and the Christmas Tree Lighting?   Well, anyone can enter, which means a lot of people get declined tickets…. but you can also get them through a House/ Senate member.    So I am thinking that surely we’ll get a ticket next year or the next…. but what I have come to learn over the past couple days is that it is extremely hard to get tickets. 

So, I am SO thankful for my (usually not impulsive) husband, who realized in the moment that we should not pass this opportunity up. 
He quickly helped me to get the children re-dressed, packed us up, and dropped us off at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

~~~~

 

We waited in a LONG line to enter the gates into the White House lawn….It was hot and there were over 5,000 people all waiting for our 12:00 entrance time.

The children did great waiting, and the Parks and Rec staff had ample drinks and snacks available to appease antsy little people

After about an hour of waiting, we finally made it through the welcome gates, and up onto the grassy lawn we went.



A small private affair, it was not.  But it sure was fun!



We frolicked and played on the White House lawn,
in awe of the great masterpiece in the backdrop
and in awe of the great nation it represents.



We met another family with 3 children,
and we swapped cameras and took photos for each other.



I may or may not have bribed my children to smile nicely
for this picture… or else.



What sweet pictures capturing a special memory!



It was such a fun experience… and one we will remember forever!

Pictures were taken

Eggs were rolled
(well actually they weren’t… my kids were more interested in other activities than actually rolling an egg)

Games were played

Naps were missed

Much water was consumed

Cheeks and shoulders were burned
(yes, I am that mom who forgot to put sunscreen on her kids)

Souvenir Eggs Treasured

Long lost friends hugged
Yes, while standing in line we found out some of
our Greensboro friends were there too!  We thought we’d never run into them in the mass crowds, but we somehow we found them!

And most of all…
Hearts were thankful for a great opportunity to make a memory!

 

And as always, Mr. Jokester makes it lively for us all!
So thankful for this great city we live in and the fun memories our children will have of growing up here. 

Thanks for sharing in our White House Adventure!

If you want a great book
to introduce your kids to the White House, I highly recommend 
the book Woodrow, the White House Mouse

It is where our children first heard about the White House Easter Egg Roll, along with all sorts of facts about the White House

The book is a favorite around here!  There is also….

House Mouse, Senate Mouse
Courthouse Mouse
and Woodrow for President.

What great fun stories to help introduce our children to politics, government and the principles our great nation was founded on!
We may not always understand or agree with the way our government is run, or decisions that are made… but one thing we firmly desire is for our children to grow up with a healthy honor and respect for the government and authorities God has placed to lead our country.

And all that brought to you from the
cutest little press secretaries ever!

The view from up here

We have admired it from afar and often play “Who can spot it first” as we drive around.  Charlotte has asked for a while when she can go to the top of the Washington Monument.

So on her 5th Birthday last week, Daddy surprised her with a special Birthday Daddy/Daughter date.

She was so excited!
They took the elevator to the very top and were able to look over all of DC from the highest point in the city.
(there are no buildings in DC higher than the Washington Monument)
 

Charlotte loves dates with her Daddy, but this was extra special as it was something she had really wanted to do for a while.



Rubbing elbows with George himself!

What a great Birthday surprise from her Daddy!
And what a fabulous city we live in where these are the kinds of experiences and memories we can give our children!

~~~~
Thought you’d enjoy a little video of the great view and of Charlotte’s Love for DC!

Happy Birthday Charlotte!
We hope this will be a fun date you remember always!

~~~~~

While tours of the Washington Monument are free, you need a ticket/reservation.  You can either go up to the kiosk near the monument and hope for a good time, OR You can reserve your tickets online for only $1.50 handling fee

Have No Fear…

The South is Near….

There once was a mom…
who dreamed of Bo-Berry biscuits, and cajun fries, and chicken,
and sweet tea so sugary you could rot a tooth on one sip….

And then that mom took her kids on a trip to Union Station….

Where she saw this sign in the Union Station food court.

 

So, she paused for a moment listening to angels rejoicing in heaven, and she thanked the Good Lord for being so gracious as to bring a Bojangles to DC just seven blocks from her house. 

And then she prayed a little prayer reminding Him that she had also requested a Chick Fil A, a Krispy Kreme and also a Target to come to Capitol Hill.  You know, just in case He forgot.  
Because the prayers of a righteous man do availeth much.

So, dream with me tonight of Bo Berry biscuits and cajun fries…
And rest easy knowing that my dream will soon become a reality.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

--- of you have no idea what a Bojangles is, then I am so sorry.
I will pray for you tonight. 

--- if you think Carson was just wearing that shirt… he was. Wearing it yesterday, and the day before, and probably tomorrow.  Thanks mom… He loves the Frog Lake Shirt. 

-if you are concerned that I might die of a blocked artery from eating too much Bojangles, do not fear.  It’s all in moderation. 
I probably won’t even eat there once a month... but just knowing it is there will be a comfort. 

the dog days of summer…

Are almost gone.

 

  But thankfully we found a great way to beat the heat recently!

 

We visited the

Enid Haupt Garden

tucked right behind the Smithsonian Castle.

And just past the entry of this little treasure of a garden we came across some great splash fountains

 

The kids were hesitant at first…

 

Splashing and enjoying the water…while still staying nice and dry.

They started getting a little braver

  

And when Mommy finally said “Go for it!”…
They decided to let it all loose!

They ran and played, and splished and splashed

 

And this is what summer is all about…

Summer fun.

And wet clothes, and big happy grins. 
And Mommy who is okay putting wet kids in the van.

And a baby, who sweetly just watches it all from the confines of her stroller. She had just woken up and wasn’t sure what to think of this splashy fun. 

 

On our walk back to the van, we found sprinklers on in a nearby sculpture garden… so yes, I let them join the sculpture people
and enjoy the sprays on the lawn. 
Once wet, a little more water doesn’t matter much!

 

Then we passed the HUGE geyser fountain right in the middle of the Hirshhorn Museum

And while Carson had a hard time understanding why couldn’t splash in that fountain…

They still enjoyed the great site of that fountain
and all the splashing we did that day.

So the Dog Days of Summer are almost over for us… 
And while we have enjoyed our first summer in DC, we are eager for cooler days and long walk in the fall weather.

DC for Kids – Building Museum

I thought I would begin sharing with you some of our adventures in DC!  For some you (ahem, grandparents) you will be more interested in the pictures of the cute kids and not as much in the great sites and museums.  Or maybe you are planning a trip up to DC soon and wondering what to do with kids in Washington, DC. 

I hope to spotlight some of our new stomping grounds as we explore this Great Nation’s Capital!

So let’s start off with the….


One of the best little finds we have stumbled across in DC is the National Building Museum.


This beauty of a building houses a few exhibits that spotlight building and architecture in the city and country.  Currently they have a great Lego Exhibit up.

The inside of the building is spectacular… though this fountain was a little tempting for my Little Llamas.   You can play in the inside The great hall (which has wireless and handfuls of business people on their lunch breaks)   

 

There is an arch you can build (I recommend more than 1 adult) 
I got no pictures of this part of our trip because I was busy holding up the arch while my little ones handed me the pieces… it tumbled down on us about 8 times before we gave up.    Here is a picture of group of 4 doing it…

                                                                      Susana Raab for The New York Times

And their is a great playroom called The Building Zone (again no pictures from this part…too busy playing!) with blocks, a play house, and all kinds of “building” toys. 
              And the best part of all of this--- Free!

        
                                                        *Above Pics from http://www.nbm.org

Some helpful info:
*The Building Zone hours are 10:00 am-4:00 pm Monday through Saturday and 11:00 am-4:00 pm on Sundays.  They only let in so many people at a time, so getting there right at 11 is a good plan.  No snacks or drinks in The Building Zone.

*Metro—Red Line Judiciary Square, but metered parking around the building didn’t seem terrible.

*There is a Cafe and you can also bring snacks/drinks into the Great Hall.  Also a great gift shop with neat Building toys.

*Very kid and family friendly 
 

We had a great time at The Building Museum and think this is a much overlooked treasure!  It is definitely on our list of great mid-morning activities… 


So, if you are in DC with Kids, we highly recommend checking it out!  And let us know, and we might meet you up there for a little building adventure… and maybe one day, get that arch up!