The girls and I flew to Washington D.C. for Memorial Weekend and to meet up with their Daddy. Here the girls are at the airport after greeting Daddy.
Jordan and Katelyn at the metro stop on our way to the Lincoln Memorial.
Katelyn relaxing in the grass outside of the Smithsonian metro stop.
As we began our walk from the Smithsonian metro stop to the Lincoln Memorial, we passed at a distance the White House.
Jordan and Katelyn at the National World War II Memorial.
View of the Washington Monument while at the National World War II Memorial.
Jordan and Katelyn in front of the Lincoln Memorial - FINALLY. When we arrived in DC, Jordan told us immediately she wanted to go see the Lincoln Memorial because it was on the back of the penny (she learned about money in school this year). She was so excited until we began our LONG walk from the Smithsonian metro stop to the Lincoln Memorial -- walking by the World War II Memorial, Washington Monument, and across the National Mall. It was hot and the walk was long. Both of our girls complained so much about walking and were miserable by the time we arrived at the Lincoln Memorial. Jordan did enjoy seeing it though.
After viewing inside of the Lincoln Memorial, I thought Jordan was going to lose it when she realized we had to walk back to get our ride home. Big tears in her eyes. Daddy took pity on her (all of us) and hailed a taxi. The smile on Jordan's face was priceless. Of course right before this, she was walking on a wall along the street, tripped and couldn't catch herself. Both thighs hit the edge of the wall and one could see instantly the swelling. I knew bad bruises were to come. The funny thing is she held it together for a minute -- I was surprised because I knew it hurt. She limped forward for a moment and then broke down crying really hard. I felt so bad for her. It was a good thing when we got our taxi!
Happy to be back at the hotel. I took the girls swimming and then they had dinner in bed while watching TV. At home, we only eat at the kitchen table so they thought this was a really neat treat to be able to do this. In fact, they loved it so much their Daddy got Chinese take-out the next three nights so they could eat dinner in bed :)
Sunday, May 29th, we went to the National Zoo. This panda statue was on the way to the zoo.
Daddy and his girls outside the National Zoo.
Jordan has fallen in love with Webkinz (toy stuffed animal with a secret code that allows access to the webkinz website). Her Great-Uncle Lonnie introduced her to them. Anyhow she has a Red Panda webkinz and was thrilled to see a real Red Panda at the National Zoo.
Katelyn and Jordan looking at a real Panda at the National Zoo. Mei Xiang or Tian Tian - I don't know which one.
As we were walking around the zoo, Katelyn had to have Mommy buy her cotton candy. She absolutely loves the stuff and can never pass it up :)
Mommy and her girls in DC. Jordan is showing her new Panda bracelet. It is official -- she told me she is collecting pandas now.
After going to the zoo, we took the metro to National Park to meet up with some friends of CHH's. We attended the Washington Nationals baseball game. Katelyn was thrilled because kids were given a free plastic bat and ball when entering. She loved it.
Jordan in her new Washington Nationals cap.
Katelyn in her new Washington Nationals cap.
Watching the mascots - the Racing Presidents. How neat is that!
Katelyn and Tyler (our friends' son) at the game. The girls enjoyed getting stadium food to eat while watching the game. Jordan got bored pretty quickly though and wanted to watch my IPhone the rest of the time. Baseball is not her thing but anything with a ball -- Katelyn loves!
Picture with the Thomas Jefferson (3rd president, Declaration of Independence) mascot statue after the game.
Picture with Abraham Lincoln (16th President,Emancipation Proclamation/Thirteenth Amendment,Gettysburg Address)mascot statue after the game.
Picture with George Washington(1st President,Father of our Country)mascot statue after the game.
Picture with Theodore Roosevelt (26th President,Youngest president) mascot statue after the game.
Sisters loving each other.
After the game, Daddy took the girls swimming in the hotel pool. I took this picture from our balcony. Jordan is talking to her Dad while Katelyn is in the upper right corner.
Monday, May 30th, Happy Memorial Day! Katelyn is helping her Daddy get metro cards.
My girls with the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial in the background. When we asked Jordan if she wanted to go see the Lincoln Memorial again, she replied "NO"! It was hot and there was no way she wanted to walk that far again in the heat. My girls!
Mommy and her girls with the Capital in the background.
Jordan above.
Katelyn above.
My pretty girl, Katelyn.
What a cutie!
Visiting the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. One of the things the girls most enjoyed (Jordan went back in to see it again) was one of the Museum's most treasured icons-the Star-Spangled Banner, the flag that inspired our national anthem. I was so surprised to see how big the flag was. It was interesting to hear about Mary Pickergill, the maker of the Star-Spangled Banner. The website states "On September 14, 1814, U.S. soldiers at Baltimore’s Fort McHenry raised a huge American flag to celebrate a crucial victory over British forces during the War of 1812. The sight of those “broad stripes and bright stars” inspired Francis Scott Key to write a song that eventually became the United States national anthem." The flag was inspiring to see and I understood why Jordan was enthralled with it.
Jordan is in front of Martha Washington's dress in the museum’s “First Ladies at the Smithsonian” exhibition. Amazing. "Martha Washington wore this silk taffeta gown in the early 1780s. The silk is painted with a design of flowers, butterflies, and other insects".
"Jacqueline Kennedy wore this yellow silk evening gown with an overlay of crepe chiffon in 1961 for the Kennedy administration’s first state dinner, for Tunisian president Habib Bourguiba. Oleg Cassini designed the gown".
Of course we had to look at First Lady Laura Bush's, dress!
"Laura Bush wore this ruby-red gown of crystal-embroidered Chantilly lace over silk georgette to the 2001 inaugural balls".
Mrs. Obama, the first African American first lady.
"Michelle Obama wore this one-shouldered white silk chiffon gown embellished with organza flowers with Swarovski crystal centers to the 2009 inaugural balls. It was designed by Jason Wu. With the gown, Mrs. Obama wore shoes by Jimmy Choo and diamond earrings, bracelets, and a ring designed for her by Loree Rodkin".
Dorothy’s ruby slippers from the film “The Wizard of Oz”.
Jordan and Katelyn on the carousel on the National Mall near the Smithsonian Castle.
CHH and the girls with our Nation's Capital in the background.
CHH and I then took the girls to the Museum of Natural History.
We bought tickets to see The Butterfly Conservatory Exhibit in the American Museum of Natural History. It was an amazing exhibit. The girls and I had the best time looking for various kinds of butterflies. Truly beautiful.
Katelyn looking at these blue butterflies.
Jordan has a butterfly in her hair in this picture. It is stuck to her bow.
They gave Katelyn a paintbrush to hold with a butterfly on it. She sat so still staring at it. She loved doing this.
Katelyn and her Daddy in Fossil Halls at the museum.
Jordan in Fossil Halls.
Katelyn is pooped. She said "no more walking".
Katelyn hitching a ride on her Daddy's shoulders.
Our last day in DC, I took the girls back to the zoo. They love it so much. Jordan and Katelyn have t-shirts on made by my "sister-in-law", Kami. I had them made for our trip and love them. Her website is: http://www.etsy.com/shop/kalamitykids
The girls and I could stare at the pandas forever. I absolutely loved this position he was in. He reminded me of a live pillow pet!
We got great views on this zoo trip of both pandas. One was sound asleep and this one ate the whole time we were there watching!!We had the best trip!
