Washington, DC

My bil got remarried to a really great woman. We are so lucky that she joined the family. So we went to Washington, DC for the wedding reception and we went a little early so we could wander around and do some site seeing. Go a few places we couldn't go to before.

We took the girls to Arlington National Cemetery for the first time. They really seemed to enjoy our time at cemetery. Previously, we had read about how the land for it was acquired and who had owned it prior to being a National Cemetery. So we made it a point of going all the way to the top of the hill and seeing the house of Robert E Lee.


We wandered all over the Cemetery. The girls got to go to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They learned that the men and women who guard it, stand guard through all kinds of weather and that this duty is considered an honor. I learned that passing through a building like the one you need to pass through to enter the cemetery, military do not need to remove their covers. I love how the cemetery lays out the plots. The place is a very peaceful, quiet place to visit.

Friday, we had to do some school work and so we went to a Burger King to get on the internet and work. Then we went shopping, we needed some things for the reception that night and then we checked into our hotel room. We stayed at Hyatt House. It is a very nice hotel room. We stayed there for 2 nights. The night of the reception and the next night. We rested a little and then got ready for the reception. The next day we took two of our nieces and our three girls and went into DC and walked around and went to some different places. We went to Jefferson Memorial. We went to the Washington Memorial. When we were in DC the previous year it was still being repaired. It was nice for the girls to see it without scaffolding around it. We did not get down early enough to get tickets to be able to go inside. We walked over to the WWII Memorial. Such a peaceful place. There were a lot of people down in DC on Saturday, but we were able to find a place to park and we had a good time walking around. I found out from a friend of my bil, that living so close, many people do not go down to DC. they don't wonder around the monuments or go to the museums. My newest niece told me that my husband and I are exciting and she likes spending time with us. I can't wait to get back to Maryland and take my nieces and girls back into DC for more exploration. Maybe get an earlier start so we can see more.

Vacation to the East Coast

We took our girls to Rockville, MD (a Metro ride to Washington, DC), to spend some time with their cousin (our niece) and my bil. The girls had the best time together. We stopped in Derry, PA where you can find the Hershey Chocolate Factory, the Hershey School (for under privileged children) and many other things.

Greetings from Hershey, PA, Chocolate WorldThe cow that greets on the ride to see how chocolate is made.

The Hershey Bar

This was in the swimming pool that has been filled in.

 
Milton Hershey Statue with one of "his boys." Then we went on to Gettysburg, PA. For those who may not know American History, it is one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War and after the North won, President Lincoln came out to this field to make a speech (Fourscore and 7 years ago).

 Did you know that you can take a car tour?

 You go to the gift shop and get the CDs and play them while you drive from stop to stop and let the kids get out and run. On the way they learn some very interesting history.

 For instance, this was originally only set up to remember the Northern troops that fought. But as years went past some of the Southern troops were remembered.

 This site is seen from the top of a very big hill with lots of rocks!

When we finished looking at all the things we could see at Gettysburg, we continued on our journey and went to Rockville, MD. We spent Easter with my BIL and his girlfriend, their children and my DH's family (aka sisters, brother, father). It was a good time. My DH and I went out and got a couple of games to play with the children (it was a bit rainy outside) and we had a great time visiting with my BIL and his girlfriend and their children.

 

The next day, we took the Metro in Washington, DC. It was the time of the Cherry Blossom Festival, the Egg Roll on the White House Lawn (only for a few children).

There were only 2 trees seen blooming that day. But that was okay. We went to one of the Smithsonian Museums (Natural History) and walked all around. The girls really enjoyed riding the Metro and they loved the museum. They had fun.

 

The next day, we took the girls (plus 2) to the National Zoo (again by Metro).

We saw the Panda bears and we saw cheetahs. We saw some other animals, but due to time constraints and tired children, we didn't see very much. So we went back the next day.

We rode the Metro again. I really like the Metro. Less frustration than trying to drive through madhouse traffic and get to reduce mileage on my car and use less gas.

We saw many more animals and went through the Reptile House. This place you have to stand in line and have to be let into the house. We saw Gorillas, but they kept their backs to us. We saw the elephant house (they have Asian elephants).

It was a short visit, but a nice one and the kids had a blast. It was nice for my niece to have her cousins come to her house for a change.