Touring DC

So it's taken me a little too long to update the rest of the photos, so I'm just going to put a few up here (OK - 16). I want to update with some pictures of our trip to Alabama to ride on the Polar Express, too, so I'm going to do that right after this. Lots of pictures to catch up on!

Remember this photo?


Here he is, two years later!


Riding the Metro (aka: THE TRAIN, MAMA, WE RIDING THE TRAIN)


Anthony had the Metro map memorized by the time we had ridden it twice.


We got to go to the zoo, too! We saw lions (most important), elephants, tigers, orangutans, and found this adorable hat for my littlest lion!


After the zoo, we took the boys on a tour of the Capitol Building. Anthony recently finished a Social Studies unit on the US Government, so this was exciting (and boring) for him!


He did enjoy telling our tour guide that he knew all about the Capitol, though!


We went to the National Archives after the Capitol to let Anthony see the Constitution. We got a little bored waiting in line, so Anthony and I horsed around.




The next day, we went to the Natural History Museum to see the dinosaurs again. Here's another throw-back photo:


And two years later:


After seeing the dinosaurs, we got some popcorn and had some little friends who asked us to share.


That evening, we celebrated Mark's aunt and uncle's 50th Wedding Anniversary. It was such an honor to be there to congratulate them. They are truly a beautiful couple, and an inspiration for Mark and me on what true love is.


My mother-in-law (standing, on the right) with her sister, Carmen (standing on the left) and their sister-in-law, Ina (seated).


Mark, his brothers, and some of their cousins:


Pat and Ina, Charles and Carmen, Mike and Margaret:

Touring DC - November 24

I'm going to have to do this in multiple posts because I have SO many pictures to share!

This one is clearly not from the 24th, but I couldn't resist putting up this cute picture of Benjamin passed out on the plane. He slept the entire flight from Atlanta to DC!


Anthony at the Capitol. We walked all around the outside, taking pictures. We were able to tour the Capitol on Friday.


Nanny and Teeta (also known as Nana and Grandpa) with my boys.


This is the back side of the Capitol. The front is much the same...more steps!


Godfathers with their Godsons.


After walking around the Capitol, we wandered over to the Botanical Gardens. They had put up their Christmas Train display and we saw....THOMAS THE TRAIN, MAMA! Benjamin was very excited.


Benjamin spent a lot of that day on someone's back or shoulders. I got smart and bought a small stroller the next day. But on Thanksgiving Day, he kept telling Parrain to do silly things like, "Be a wall, Parrain!" And Parrain was very willing to oblige.


Anthony had tons of questions about the Vietnam War. Some were hard to answer. Benjamin just liked looking at the American flags put up here and there.


In front of the Lincoln Memorial.




Uncle Matt tossing Anthony around. I think Anthony had had enough of walking by that point, too!




Hi, guys!

Things to Remember

1. Anthony: "Mom, I'm sure glad you got to spend this summer with me and Ben. This was awesome."

2. Benjamin: making sure both of my arms are wrapped around him when we rock at nap time and bed time. I check, just to make sure he's paying attention, but he always puts my arms back where they belong if I move them.

3. Anthony: At dinner tonight at Casa Maria cleaning his plate and then eating what's left of Benjamin's (about half of all: hard taco, rice, beans) and then asking what's next. We think he might be going through a growth phase.

4. Benjamin: "Fwimming" in the "pooooo" with his floaties. "Look-a me, Mommmmmeeee!"

5. Anthony: "I used to like dinosaurs, but now I like Phineas and Ferb. But I'm still a dinosaur expert. I'll always be a dinosaur expert. And I think I still like dinosaurs."

6. Benjamin: "Come pway twains!" and so we do. Trains, over and over again.

7. Anthony: at the beach this past weekend, we went to The Track. Anthony, Grandpa and I got in the bumper boats and soaked each other. Anthony thought that was just the coolest thing ever: getting to shoot Mom and Grandpa with a water gun.

8. Benjamin: at the beach, at The Track. Anthony and I rode in one go cart, Mark and Benjamin in another. At one point, Benjamin reached over and took Mark's hand and held on for dear life through the rest of the ride.

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And now for some pictures from our trip to Orange Beach, AL:

Epcot, MGM*, and Animal Kingdom

Our last three days at Disney World were awesome! The whole family was there, and we all got to do everything we wanted to do.

Epcot was Thursday:









We had dinner at the Biergarten in Germany





L to R: Mark, Ben, Laurie, Matt, Anthony, Margaret, Mike, Marshall


Friday was Hollywood Studios (MGM)


Annie and Leo from the "Little Einsteins" Disney TV show





Benjamin really enjoyed the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse show!










On a Star Wars flying motorcycle thingy...


That night we saw "Fantasmic" at MGM, and it was AWESOME.


And then back to Animal Kingdom on Saturday (our last day)

With Parrain and Miko


Chillin' at lunch with Nana


Matt and Marshall braved the Medieval ride with me and Anthony





And Anthony and his Parrain got tattoos!


We had dinner at a luau that night at the Polynesian resort. Anthony learned how to hula dance (like a wet noodle, really)





It was an awesome trip, and we can't wait to go back (Anthony says, "For Ben's kindergarten graduation and MY fourth grade graduation!"