Last few days in DC

Mom left Wednesday morning.  We did not have too much planned other than hanging around and getting some homework done.  We did manage to get out for a few hours and head over to the American Girl and Lego store. 

Thursday Steve was able to come back to the hotel for a few hours during the day so we went to Target and out to lunch. After he went back to work, we hung around the hotel, did more homework and waited to both him to come back and Monica to come in for the night.  We just hung out, ordered pizza and enjoyed each others company.

Friday I took the kids to the zoo... and froze!!  It was a cold day today and we definitely did not plan for the weather.  We only went for a few hours which was perfect.  We got to see all that we wanted to and more. 

 They have a panda....

 He was not too happy to hear I wouldnt let him pick it up...

 They were staring each other down...

Steve was home by noon so we went to the mall to fix his computer and went to Mellow Mushroom again for dinner.  I think if Steve had his way, we would have had Mellow Mushroom every day of the week!!

Saturday came WAY too soon. 

I was not ready to say good-bye.  Fortunately, we were able to spend all day together.  Monica came back in for a late lunch.  We went to PF Chengs, Trader Joe's and then headed to the airport.  This was the worst ever!!  Saying good-bye all over again sucked! 

We were so grateful for the opportunity we had to spend the week together (even if it was only in the evenings). 

Now we are counting down for his two weeks off in February.

DC continued

Monday- Happy Halloween!!

Today we (all of us excluding Steve.  He had to work all week) played tourist...  we started at the Capitol Building where we took a tour.  It was amazing! 

We were even able to find two of my grandfathers statues and

take a few pictures.

From there, we headed to the Botanical Gardens.  It was beautiful! 

Walking down the hill... back of the Capitol Building

In the Gardens...

By this time... we were all starving. We headed to the American Indian Museum to eat and take a look around their first floor. The food was a little different but we were all able to find something we could enjoy. 

Walking to lunch...

Aydin had to get a picture in front of the Hawaiian canoe

We then took a walk over to the African American Museum. They had some amazing art in there but could not take any pictures because they did not own their art. 

Walking to a taxi... took a few more pictures...

We then came home and got ready for trick or treating in the mall.  Morgan was Frankie Stein from the Monster High (Barbie type dolls) and Aydin was 'too' cool for a costume this year and went as a GA Bulldog football player. 

Once we go to the shuttle, loaded in... Liam threw up.... Poor little guy missed his first time being able to enjoy walking and getting candy. As much as I felt bad for him... I was bummed because he looked so stinking cute in his bird costume!!

Mom stayed behind to bathe Liam and let him rest while I took the kids out for some candy. What a great idea it was to go to the mall. They got a ton of candy and didnt even have to freeze while doing it.

Tuesday we got up and went to check out the white house and walk around some more.  We started out at the National Archives Museum (no photography allowed there either) and then walked over to the White House. 

 In line at the National Archives...

 Walking toward the White House... in front of the US Navy Memorial

 Back of the White House

Walking to the front of the White House

Black squirrel for a black president....

We got home a bit earlier today and hung around until Steve got off work.  Gene and Kathy drove up for Richmond, VA and we all went out to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.

The kids were so tired at dinner: they fell asleep at the table:

It was so nice to have Gene and Kathy come up to say hello to Steve. 

Our week in DC

What a GREAT week!!

The kids and I left early Saturday morning from the Perez's and headed to Washington DC.... after weeks of counting down, we were finally going to see Steve- back on American soil!!  We arrived to the airport way too early... which made the wait that much more difficult.  It felt like he was never going to get through customs and walk around the corner! 

The wait was worse than waiting for Christmas to come...

After Steve got here, we went to breakfast and to the Air and Space Museum to kill time before Steve's mom came in. 

Air and Space Museum

 He could not believe how big Liam as gotten and how much of a climber he is...

 Flight simulator...  I  got sick just watching it go in circles.

Susan had no idea Steve beat her into DC so to say he surprised her would be an understatement. He hid around a wall while we all said our hellos and greeted her and all of the sudden he was tapping on her shoulder... I wish I had her reaction on camera!

We arrived to the hotel and hung around for the rest of the day... for the most part. We did leave for dinner... but that was about it!

Sunday- we hung around, walked around the mall, Steve went into work for a few hours, and then went to Steve's favorite restaurant; Mellow Mushroom! Ahhh... he was in heaven!