Washington DC

One of our last trips of the summer was a roommate reunion for me in DC! We had so much fun with Carly and Megan who live there and Sarah who came up from Virginia. Sadly Jill and Jill couldn't make it from Ohio and Arizona but it was fun being with 4 of the 6 freshman roomies/high school buddies.

Carly had her first baby, Bennett on July 1st and she and her husband started law school the last week of August! So I wanted to see him but we tried to pick a time that was best for them. Tyler had contacts to visit in DC so he planned his appointments around the trip. He worked 2 days and then played with us at nights and took Friday off. Megan works in DC and was also in town that week and Sarah used a couple of her days off and brought baby Ellie up from Virgina. So we were all together but still even while there together it's hard to work around the schedules of babies and toddlers. :)

Even though it was a quick visit with all of our kids, it was still so fun to be with my friends. I had known all of these girls since Junior High and it just felt so great being back with all of them. They all know me so well and it's nice after being in a new place to have people you connect with so well.

We drove down on Tuesday and drove through NY, NJ, Delaware, Maryland, DC and finally made it to Carly's apartment in Alexandria, Virginia - right outside DC. The kids did pretty good on the drive. Jackson just watches his movies and loves seeing trucks, cars and bridges as we drive so he really is fine on road trips. Abbie is a bit trickier and this was our first trip with her in the bigger carseat. She luckily took a morning and afternoon nap but still had her moments... I am constantly handing her books, treats, drinks and binkys which will entertain her for a few minutes each and then she'll cry for something new.

But we finally arrived at Carly's cute new apartment and then headed across the street to a park for a BBQ. Carly and Dave made amazing food! Grilled burgers and pineapple, pasta salad, watermelon and and amazing cake to name a few :) I guess we were too busy eating to take pics though...

The next couple days we played while Tyler worked. We went to this cool splash pad, Cafe Rio, the National Zoo, and Georgetown.

Sarah was hesitant to press that "purchase" button!

Splash pad turned wading pool, Megan and Sarah made new friends

Abbie was a total momma's girl this trip except for a couple moments - here she reached for Carly and cuddled with her.

 We had fun getting blown away by the airplanes coming in for a landing at the DC airport. This park was pretty cool, lots of people running, biking and skating by and airplanes right over your heads. Jackson and Abbie were intrigued but I don't think they even realized how cool it really was!

The DC airport is just on the other side of the parking lot, Capitol behind us

Abbie Photo Bomb

Another Abbie miracle moment, let Megan hold her the whole time in the reptile house

It was a really hot day but the kids loved the zoo!

Thursday night - Georgetown fun for dinner and cupcakes!

Tyler took the day off and we had fun seeing some of the bigger destinations of DC. It was a rainy day so a perfect day to be spending our time inside. Megan hooked us up with an awesome personal tour of the Capital Building and Senator Flake's office. Here we learned what a big deal Megan really is. Her office is next to his and has a door connecting the two. She really is his right hand woman. They were in August recess which allowed her to play with us so much! We also went to the Library of Congress and three Smithsonian museums! Air and Space, Natural History and American History. The kids and parents enjoyed them all!

Future Senator?

We did a lot of walking that afternoon!

Abbie and I at Senator Flake's office

His favorites were the Smithsonian Museums!

Semi-planned Patriotic Family picture from the Capital Balcony

We started driving home that evening but stopped in Phillie for the night. Saturday was another special day and probably Jackson's highlight of the trip. We got to spend the day with our friends the Carters who also recently moved from Florida. We wish they would have moved to CT which almost happened but at least they are close enough to visit. Jackson and Maelie were good joy school buddies who also happen to share the same birthday and had the joint 3rd birthday party together. Her older brother Griffin is 5 and Jackson is just a little obsessed with him! Abbie and Reece are just a few months apart too.

It was fun seeing our friends who we connect so well with! Jackson was in heaven playing with them all day and they really play so well together. I still am looking for friends like that for him (well and me) in CT. This move really has been tough on him in that he still talks of and asks for his Florida friends, house and details of our life there but is too young to really understand that it's gone. He has a great new life in CT but still remembers Florida and I think he'll have memories of it his whole life. That makes it a little hard now, but I think he'll enjoy those early memories as he grows up.