Day O' DC

We woke the kids up just before 9AM this morning so we could have lunch with some family before they had to drive home. Both kids ate their weight in breakfast before playing some basketball on the hotel court. We then drove about thirty minute into the city to our next hotel. We stopped for lunch first, eating on a grassy patch right in front of the White House lawn. Eli thought it was cool that he got to play baseball in Barack Obama's front yard. From there, we walked to the Washington Memorial so Eli and Maddux could get a closer look at 'the big stick'. (Sidenote: We saw a boy about Eli's age throwing a monumental fit because his mother would not buy him a bomb-pop. She never gave in. Even though people were staring. She rocked. Eli asked why the boy was crying and I told him it was because he wasn't obeying. Eli told me "He sss-ould. I don't want to hear him crying.")

After naps, we drove the kids to Georgetown where we found a cool little fish taco restaurant. Sweet potato fries, broccoli, corn and fish tacos filled our bellies before we drove back to the capital. This time we walked along the Reflection Pool up to the Lincoln Memorial. Eli loved running up the steps. And both kids had a blast running along the pool. We even saw a few ducks in the water. Life is good.

A few new things for Maddux. She's in her 'independent' stage. She does not want to hold hands when crossing the street, she does not want to be picked up when she's walking, and she does not like the word 'no'. And she'll let you know by screaming and sitting down on the ground when you try to move her. It is rather cute, however, to see Maddux clasp her hands together when you tell her it's time to grab someone's hand to cross the street. She thinks holding her own hand counts. Maddux is still very animated in her 'thank you' gratitude also. She will yell, "Tank Ou!!" to express her thankfulness. Also, she will repeat numbers one through ten pretty well. Most of the alphabet too.