Love, Roses, and Muchkins: April 2016

We had originally planned to spend a long weekend in Washington D.C. for Easter (last weekend) but due to a stomach bug we changed to this weekend. We had hoped to be able to see the cherry blossoms in bloom however due to the cold and windy weather the area has had this week, the flowers were scarce.

Luckily, the kids were there for the monuments and museums and didn't mind the lack of flowers on our travels.

We drove down on Friday right after school dismissal and spent the evening relaxing in our hotel room at Homewood Suites in Springfield, VA. We ordered pizza (Pizza & Gyros), planned our days, and watched tv before getting some sleep for our busy next day.

Saturday, we ate breakfast at the hotel and then drove to the metro station. The kids were very excited to ride the metro again although Pequeño ended up being a little nervous each time we went through a tunnel because it was dark. Our plan for the day was to visit the monuments and memorials which Papa and Little Bear had mapped out on Little Bear's map.

It was the Cherry Blossom Kite day so the kids loved watching the national mall throughout the day to see the different kites that were flying. Unfortunately, we had left ours in the van so they didn't get a chance to fly one.

(Little Bear brought his book (in which he has written a ton of historical information) and was able to get it stamped at some of the monuments.)

Pudge was being silly with the Washington monument

(Taking a break)

While walking around, we were able to see some dancers who were performing for the cherry blossom festival which Pudge and Pequeño really liked to watch.

Papa and Little Bear

Once the kids started getting tired out (around 6pm), we went back to the hotel and ate duck noodle soup (from Bankok Noodle) and leftover pizza at the hotel and then checked out the pool. It was quite a bit colder than we would have liked but the kids didn't seem to mind and splashed around until it was time to go up to bed.

Sunday, we slept in a little bit (because Pequeño had kept me awake until almost 2 am) and then ate our breakfast in the room.

Afterwards, we packed up and checked out. Before we headed to DC, we needed to stop at Dick's Sporting Goods to pick up soccer equipment that Little Bear and Pudge needed for the next day. Then we drove to the metro station and went on our way.

We had planned to get off close to the Smithsonisn museums but due to one of the kids needing to go potty *right now!*, we got off at Foggy Bottom instead. Since it was close to lunchtime, we decided to walk to Founding Farmers but there was a half hour wait so we decided to walk back and check out a different restaurant that we had noticed on our way.

We're so glad that we did. District Commons was so good! Papa and I both ended up ordering the same thing (skirt steak, sweet potato hash, and a fried egg), Little Bear and Pequeño ordered hamburgers and homemade mac and cheese, and Pequeño ordered fish and fries.

The kids were given wikki stix which kept them entertained and had us all laughing.

(Pequeño made me some flowers and put them in his napkin for a vase)

Little Bear made me a heart

Then we hopped back on the metro to head to the museum.

We found out that The Museum of Natural History was open late that day which was great because the kids could have stayed all day!

Pequeño took a great nap while the older kids checked out the butterfly exhibit. The museum had a live exhibit which meant that Papa, Little Bear, and Pudge got to walk through a greenhouse with butterflies and let them land on them. (Pictures by Little Bear:)