Years ago Alan and I decided that since we had never been to the Nation's Capitol, that we would like to take our kids on a family vacation there when they got old enough to be interested and be able to walk around for hours. So with our youngest being 9 years old, we decided it was time to go before a lot of the kids started leaving the nest (Loren is already gone and missed this trip which we felt bad about, but hopefully he will have an opportunity later in his life.)
So, after much planning, this last month we took the trip with five of our kids. It was a great trip and while we didn't have time to see everything, we sure did see a lot. Of course I took a bazillion pictures, and I thought rather than telling you about what we did here, and then sending you to look at the photos, that I would just put all the info in with the slide show pictures I've chosen to highlight our trip.
It is always fun to be able to visit family as well as see the sights, and we are grateful to Alan's cousins, Ann Barker, Louisa and Rachel Dalton, and my brother Matt and Elasha for having us into their homes to feed us and spend time with us and for their helpful hints in the sightseeing department.
Having never been there before, it was especially wonderful for Alan and me to finally be able to see these famous famous places that we have read and studied about and seen in movies, TV and pictures. For me they were at once both amazing and ordinary. They were bigger and neater than I had imagined, but at the same time, all these monument and buildings were just sitting there in the flow of everyday life for anyone at all to just walk by or spend time in -- for the most part, very available and accessible. I really had the feeling that they belong to the people -- that they are mine.
Gosh, I'm making myself cry....anyway, if you haven't had the opportunity to visit DC, I would highly recommend it. What a blessing this trip was for our family!