No one except the oldest and myself wanted to go to DC today! Everyone was super tired after a long, long week, but the person who kept us home for much longer than we anticipated was the little one. I had to call one of my mom’s best friends for back up because he made a huge scene and indicated publicly that today was not the day to mess with him.

However, after a talk with her and with me, there he was brushing his teeth, changing his shirt, and taking a shower. Finally, he was able to join us in the car, packed and ready to go. The middle child knew he wouldn’t be paid his chore money today if he didn’t get in the car, so he reluctantly agreed to join us. And the oldest got her phone back for the weekend, so she was very ready to go. Also, she genuinely likes DC, so she was ready to go since the early morning. There we all were, miraculously calm and in the car. Soon, cold drink in hand, we were off to Washington!!!

After several music-filled hours culminating with a good parking spot, we arrived not too far from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. We talked to the Park rep and learned more about the war. The oldest was really moved by the Memorial. Next, I took the boys to the Lincoln Memorial, and that turned out to be their favorite. I loved the view coming down the stairs – the Washington Monument and the US Capitol. It always strikes me as so cool, and I always think of MLK and his I Have a Dream speech. After that beautiful Memorial, we went to the Korean War Memorial, and that one always moves me. I don’t have a “favorite,” but for some reason that one is really powerful. We were all thinking about those soldiers. Then, we walked to Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial. The middle child lingered there, looking at MLK and the quotes, lost in thought. Then, we looked across the Tidal Basin to see the Jefferson Memorial from afar. We liked being by the water. Then, we walked across the bridge to the beautiful tulip-filled Floral Library, then walking to the Washington Monument and after what seemed an eternity punctuated by ice cream, we returned back to the car and finished our water bottles.

Finally, we drove to Das Ethiopian in Georgetown and ate a very satisfying and delicious meal. We walked to Free People and then back to the car. On the way back, we caught the sunset, which was really beautiful, Praise God. And we enjoyed some Dairy Queen. It was a wonderful day.

All is well that ends well!!!!!