Sunday

We packed as many sites as possible into our day before leaving, beginning with the Library of Congress.

Then through a tunnel to the Capitol Building.

From there, some of our new friends, Oklahoma Christian Academy, left for the airport. We went on to the Holocaust Museum. It was a solemn atmosphere, so I didn't take any photos.  Then Trail Ridge, our friends from Colorado, took off. We finally visited a Smithsonian Air and Space Museum near the airport. The building holds the Enola Gay, which carried atomic bombs to Japan, ending WWII.

We also saw, there, the space shuttle, Discovery,  which launched the Hubble Space Telescope.

I love this photo of Gabriel without a jacket (it was in the 90's all week! and a smile!

Saturday

Since we're delayed at the airport, I'll try to catch up. I think you can view this video, now, without "signing on" to YouTube.  (Maybe you don't want to ask what David is eating... but it has some extra protein with a crunch!) Thursday we also viewed the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights at The National Archives.  Could sure spend more time there. Photography was not allowed.

Friday we saw the White House,  front and back, but not inside.

We asked to skip the Natural History museum in favor of the National History of Smithsonian, since it's a history trip... the other schools wanted to see where Night at the Museum

 was.... aren't we so academic? The boys have continually impressed us with their good decisions.

We were a little disappointed that Ford's Theatre, where Lincoln was assassinated was closed... however, the  museum  across the street (in the home where he died hours later) was very informative.

Arlington National Cemetery.

 

Friday

Sorry I didn't post yesterday; Mr. Friend decided to add a late night trip to the hospital to our itinerary. He's ok, just scraped-up from falling on stairs at the Iwo Jima memorial.

Thursday, is it Thursday?

Here's more from yesterday at Jamestown, and Williamsburg.

Today, according to "10,000 steps" app, we walked 10 miles, beginning at George Washington's

home, Mount Vernon, on the Patomic River.

We went to a mall by the Pentagon for lunch and some shopping, but it to so long to get lunch with 2,000 of our closest friends, we didn't get to shop. No worries, though, the boys found all the gift shops everywhere we stopped. Moms, you've taught them well.  ;p

This is the 9-11 memorial for those lost at the Pentagon. The structures moving toward the building represent those on the plane, and structures moving away perished inside.

Then on to memorials on the National Mall.

 

 

 

Thanks for following!

Wednesday

Whew, full, hot day.. We experienced a Powhatan village, and a British cargo ship that carried 54 settlers to the first permanent colony, Jamestown, Virginia. There is a beautiful visitor center with artifacts and displays that explain the relationship between those two groups, and later, Africans.

There was a bald eagle nest, but we didn't get cameras out quick enough when daddy brought a fish for the babies. Then we returned to colonial Williamsburg for a regular tour of the capital building, the court, and jail. This was not only the second capital of Virginian, but the location of beginnings of revolution against British rule.

Finally, back on the bus to a buffet, for dinner.

Back on the bus, and another hour to hotel in Washington DC.

Tuesday

Loooong flight, but we arrived right on time.  A Worldstrides rep. called Mrs. Elder right away to let us know the status of our bus.

We met up with the group from Oklahoma, for a 3 hour bus ride (also known as nap time), then quickly dropped off luggage at hotel. Dinner was pulled BBQ pork, mac-n-cheese, and brownies.

Finally, a preview of Colonial Williamsburg (where we will spend tomorrow), for historical ghost stories. We were joined by special visitors... fireflies!