May Vacay Pics #1

Actually, this post is the 2nd part of our trip back in May.  From NJ, we took a train ride down to DC...Liam loved the train!  Mainly just watching them come and go, as once we were actually ON the train, he more or less acted like it was a long car ride...which means the first hour or so was fine and then he became Mr. Cranky pants...Luckily since we only bought two seats, we had the bulkhead seats, and his carseat fit right at our feet.  So we strapped him in and he slept the rest of the way.

 

We finally arrived to DC!  We visited Dustin's sister Crystal and her husband Andrew.  That's me, Crystal and Liam just after they picked us up from the train station.  The weather most of the week we were there was overcast and on-off rain showers.  But we were determined to get out and see all the sights....So here we go!

Our first stop was Arlington Cemetery.  It is just breathtaking...makes you really think about the price we pay for freedom and the honorable men and women who risk their life everyday for us.

 This was interesting...this tombstone was getting eatin up by the tree...I guess it dates back to a very long time ago!

 When we were visiting the Tomb of the Unknown, they were having a wreath ceremony.  

 Here we are on day 2 of our trip.  On the Metro for the first time!

Dustin really got some great pictures of the trains coming and going, and of this Metro station...which he found this SAME picture in one of his photography magazines a couple weeks after we got home...so cool!

Here we are in Chinatown!  We stopped and had wonderful dim sum for lunch!

 This picture...Dustin is a journeyman electrician...from a whole family line of electricians...His dad, grandfather, uncles...His dad used to be in the union, but is not anymore.  Anyways..Dustin thought it was funny.

Here we are outside the Capitol from the Mall's perspective.  Liam was excited to get to run around for a little while after riding in the stroller most of the day!  

Please excuse my bad hair in this pic...It was VERY windy, and of course the wind was at our back...This was one of the few pics my hair wasn't covering up Liam's face!

 This picture just makes me laugh...We had no idea this giant truck had pulled up behind us, since we were posing and trying to keep Liam looking at the camera...no wonder he was trying to turn around!

 We took a "backstage" tour of the Capitol...including a walk on Boehner's private balcony, which is the view from this picture...Andrew is in the Air Force and works at the Pentagon, so he was awesome and got us into some areas of the Capitol not too many people get to see!

 Boehner's balcony...and gorgeous view of the mall...

 

 Here we are back at the Metro heading home...

 Next day we visited the White House from afar...

Gotta love the nice HUGE police vehicle posed right in front of the view of the White House...Really??  Security can be strange sometimes...

We decided to hit the museums that day due to the frequent rain showers we were experiencing...

Air and Space museum was first...what an amazing collection!!  They had a really neat play and discovery area for kids too, that Liam just loved!  And not to mention a giant scale...so you know, like a normal heart momma would do, I did a quick weight check!  Dustin had the camera though, so I missed the photo op...

 This was one of my favorite exhibitions at the A&S...Wright Brothers...This is THE original plane...very cool to see...

Then on to the Natural History museum...

 

This picture was pretty funny...but also very sad to see it in a national museum...Our Ape heritage...ya, whatever.  Sad that this is the norm for what is taught to our children...

Yikes!  Right above our heads...

Makes a lot more sense in context!

This was another favorite...The Berlin wall, which is history from my generation.  Very neat to see actual pieces from it...

I really had to limit (for time's sake) which pictures I chose...I hate I can't post them all...but there are SOO many!!  More to come tomorrow!!