Chaos in DC

No, nothing bad happened in our nation's capitol, nor is this a political post.  It is just a post about the fact that the Chaos Family visited DC last weekend.

We've been stationed in New Jersey for almost twelve years now- just hours from Washington DC- and we have never visited.  It was always something we would "get to later".  So here we are, "ELEVEN AND THREE QUARTERS YEARS LATER" with our move across the pond looming in the near future and we still had not been to our nation's capitol.

My cousin, whom I have been close to all my life due to the fact that we are only seven months apart in age, called a few months back to tell me she was in the process of planning her family's annual vacation.  This year, they would be visiting Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia.  She asked if there was any way we could meet up and visit with them as well as vacation together.  I knew that my kids would still be in school, but we made plans to meet up and spend the weekend together in DC.

This past Friday, we picked the kids up from school and headed south.  We stayed Friday night at Andrews Air Force Base and then just parked our car at a metro station just blocks from the base and rode the train into the heart of Washington.  We met up with my cousin and her family on Saturday morning and immediately proceeded to The Spy Museum.  I cannot tell you how cool that place was!  The kids really enjoyed it.

After grabbing a quick bite for lunch, we started our lengthy walk around Washington, seeing all the monuments.

 Washington Monument

 The White House (Zoe said she wants to live there)

 Lincoln Memorial

 Lincoln Memorial

 view of the National Mall and reflecting pool (which was drained) from Lincoln Memorial

 WWII Memorial

 WWII Memorial

 Jefferson Memorial

 Jefferson Memorial

 view of Washington Monument from the Jefferson Memorial

 Jefferson

 LOVE THIS!  (at the Jefferson Memorial)

while we were at the Jefferson Memorial, Marine One flew by

 The kids were real troopers- we estimated we walked at least fifteen miles.  When we had all hit the point of total exhaustion, we grabbed dinner and headed back to the hotel- but not before spotting an ice cream truck on the side of the road and nabbing dessert.

The hotel was another story altogether.  My cousin's family had a room on the 9th floor which was totally fine. When I reserved the room (only a week after my cousin reserved hers) I requested in the "special instructions" area a room near their family.  We were assigned to the 3rd floor.  Upon arrival in our room (at 8:15 pm), everyone was tired, needed a bath and had to go to the bathroom.  Noah used the restroom and the toilet wouldn't flush.  DJ, being the handy person he is, took a look at the toilet and said that it wasn't sealing and maintenance would have to be called.  The rest of us had to pee and were anxiously awaiting a resolution.  DJ went to the front desk and they said they would send maintenance to the room.  Maintenance arrived with a plunger- which I knew wasn't going to fix the problem.  He stayed a minute and then left to get more tools and came back.  He worked on the toilet for 45 minutes while we sat there, unable to bathe, go to the bathroom or go to bed.  During that time, we realized our room was backed up to the transit tracks.  Every five minutes or so, a loud siren would go off and the whole building would rumble as a train passed by.  I couldn't believe for the price we were paying for that hotel room, this was what we were putting up with. At 9:30, we were still waiting and DJ had enough and went down to the front desk again and they moved us to a room on the 8th floor.  We were still on the railroad track side of the hotel, but high enough up where the noise wasn't a big issue.

Sunday morning, we awakened, refreshed and met in the hotel cafe for a breakfast buffet.  We set out toward the Smithsonian- Museum of American History.  I think the adults enjoyed this more than the kids.  Zoe was only temporarily engaged when looking at the various ball gowns of the first ladies- and she promptly pointed to one velvet ensemble and proclaimed she would ask Santa for that for Christmas. The kids were bored and complaining and after only a few hours, we left.

LOVED the musical instruments!!

Stradivarius!

the dress Zoe will be requesting from Santa this year (along with a diamond ring she saw on a Helzberg Diamonds commercial the other day- I've taught her well)

 Hillary Clinton's china

We were told we must have lunch or dinner at the Old Ebbitt Grill, so we had reservations for 2:00.  After a short walk, we arrived and were not disappointed.  The detail in the place was amazing and the food was even better!  I had the steak frites made with hanger steak with chimichurri steak fries and sautéed spinach.  WOW! The dessert- butterscotch blondie sundae- was even more spectacular.  After such a rich meal, we needed to walk off some of those calories, so we walked to the train station and caught the metro out to Arlington National Cemetery. It was getting late when we got there, but we still managed to see the important things- John F. Kennedy's grave and eternal flame, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and changing of the guard there and quick glimpses of other famous graves as we passed through on the bus tour.  I would love to go back some day and spend a little more time at the cemetery.

 Changing of the Guard

 John F. Kennedy's grave and the eternal flame

guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier- (this tomb is guarded 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, regardless of weather and even during the terrorist attacks- it is a prestigious honor to be accepted to this duty and they are required to memorize pages of facts about the cemetery and where various people are buried. Another interesting fact is that, while guarding the tomb, the soldiers wear no rank on their uniform- this is to ensure that they never outrank the soldiers whose remains lie there.)

By this time, it was 6:30 and while my cousins were staying in the area for another week, DJ and I were suddenly very aware of the fact that we were two train rides away from our car and a three hour drive away from home.  We got home around 11:30pm Sunday night, but it was well worth the trip!

Exhaustion aside, I am so glad we took the time to see Washington DC before we move.