Great Expectations
Day 14--Washington, DC
Last night, I sat down and wrote down the places I really wanted to visit on this trip to Washington DC. I knew I was going to have to be realistic and not push the kids too hard. It's going to be hot and there will be a lot of walking, so I tried to map out over the two days we'll be in town places *near* each other. Today's list had 6 items with an optional 7th if everyone was doing well.
It was a joke.
I'm not sure why I decided to run 3 miles on the hotel treadmill ahead of walking all of Washington DC, but I did. And when I returned at 8:30 am, the whole room was still asleep. I finally got them going around 9:30 and we got to DC around 11:00. We had tickets to the Holocaust Museum for 11:15 so we headed over there first.
This is the one museum that I was really excited about. But, it was SO crowded and it was hard to see anything and there was A LOT to see. Plus, the subject matter is so sombering.
Oh...and it's not fun for a 6 year old who can't read. Lila tried really hard to be good but she was done about 15 minutes in.
I lost my cool because I was hot and stressed out with the crowds and mad that I had looked forward to this for so long and it was being ruined. All Lila wanted to do was hang on me and I just couldn't take it any more. I'm sure I earned a few raised eyebrows when I told her (for the record, at least 10 times in a nice voice) to PLEASE JUST STOP TOUCHING ME. I finally just had to let it go and leave with Lila. We sat outside while Wade and the older kids finished up and I was pretty mad.
We ate some lunch we had packed in a backpack and then I told them basically we were on a mission to see these 5 other items (number 7 wasn't going to happen) and we were off. We walked to Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and then the Vietnam War memorial. I was surprised at how emotional I was at the Vietnam Memorial. There were all those names and flowers and cards that people have left for Father's Day. It was very touching.
From there we had to walk all the way back to the White House. The secret service was out and some of the roads and sidewalks were blocked off and then in flew Air Force One! We couldn't get any closer than across the street from the White House.
Number six on my list was Ford Theater, where Lincoln was shot, but I couldn't get anyone to go. Lila spent the entire afternoon whining behind me as I led the brigade. It was so hot and humid and my family was dropping. I have to remember that I am an elite athlete and they are not. :) My only consolation is that Heather and Shanon are experiencing about the same thing with their families too.
I gave up on the idea of the perfect Washington DC visit about 20 minutes into the Holocaust museum. I know I'm going to have to come back and I'm going to have to be picky about who I come back with.
Last night, I sat down and wrote down the places I really wanted to visit on this trip to Washington DC. I knew I was going to have to be realistic and not push the kids too hard. It's going to be hot and there will be a lot of walking, so I tried to map out over the two days we'll be in town places *near* each other. Today's list had 6 items with an optional 7th if everyone was doing well.
It was a joke.
I'm not sure why I decided to run 3 miles on the hotel treadmill ahead of walking all of Washington DC, but I did. And when I returned at 8:30 am, the whole room was still asleep. I finally got them going around 9:30 and we got to DC around 11:00. We had tickets to the Holocaust Museum for 11:15 so we headed over there first.
This is the one museum that I was really excited about. But, it was SO crowded and it was hard to see anything and there was A LOT to see. Plus, the subject matter is so sombering.
Oh...and it's not fun for a 6 year old who can't read. Lila tried really hard to be good but she was done about 15 minutes in.
I lost my cool because I was hot and stressed out with the crowds and mad that I had looked forward to this for so long and it was being ruined. All Lila wanted to do was hang on me and I just couldn't take it any more. I'm sure I earned a few raised eyebrows when I told her (for the record, at least 10 times in a nice voice) to PLEASE JUST STOP TOUCHING ME. I finally just had to let it go and leave with Lila. We sat outside while Wade and the older kids finished up and I was pretty mad.
We ate some lunch we had packed in a backpack and then I told them basically we were on a mission to see these 5 other items (number 7 wasn't going to happen) and we were off. We walked to Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and then the Vietnam War memorial. I was surprised at how emotional I was at the Vietnam Memorial. There were all those names and flowers and cards that people have left for Father's Day. It was very touching.
From there we had to walk all the way back to the White House. The secret service was out and some of the roads and sidewalks were blocked off and then in flew Air Force One! We couldn't get any closer than across the street from the White House.
Number six on my list was Ford Theater, where Lincoln was shot, but I couldn't get anyone to go. Lila spent the entire afternoon whining behind me as I led the brigade. It was so hot and humid and my family was dropping. I have to remember that I am an elite athlete and they are not. :) My only consolation is that Heather and Shanon are experiencing about the same thing with their families too.
I gave up on the idea of the perfect Washington DC visit about 20 minutes into the Holocaust museum. I know I'm going to have to come back and I'm going to have to be picky about who I come back with.
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