Everyday a New Adventure

This city is packed with things to do and we've been trying to fill our days with the sights while the weather is still manageable. Last Friday we "hiked" the azalea trail at the National Arboretum (and got soaked in the many fountains and ran screaming from gigantic bumble bees and stuffed our pockets full with rocks and collected sticks for dubious purposes) and endlessly watched the Koi fish swimming. The grounds were gorgeous - I especially loved the grape arbor. The green grapes were maybe 4x's the size of poppy seeds!

This week we headed to the US Marine Corps War Memorial (the famous Iwo Jima sculpture) and the Netherlands Carillon. The day was a bit hazy, but still so wonderful to sit on the shaded and grassy hills full of flowers to picnic and play. The photo is not aimed right for the view of the city, but that is the Lincoln Memorial in the far right and we could see the Capitol and Washington Monuments as well. Afterwards Jacob came home with us for a playdate and the kids decided to "grocery shop." They took turns wheeling Ellie's shopping cart into the kitchen and I loaded it with food from our cupboards. Without considering the consequences, I put an open box of pasta in the cart and a few moments later I hear, "Noodle Time!" They had (of course) dumped the pasta out all over the floor. Look at their faces; they are in heaven! Hard to be upset about that.