Washington DC

I went with Chad to D.C. October 21 and 22.  He had to work for a little bit on Thursday and then the rest of the time was ours.  We stayed at the BEAUTIFUL Gaylord National Hotel - incredible. We were upgraded to a suite (we are lucky!!) since our room wasn't ready and it was gorgeous!!  The hotel is made up mostly of a atrium that looks out to the Potomac River. 

Friday we got up early, crossed over the Potomac and headed towards our Nations Capital.  Amazing.  Amazing.  The architect and history kept giving us goose bumps.  We only had four hours to see what we could before we had to head to the airport.  (Boys have soccer on Saturday mornings and we can't miss that)  After about 40 minutes we finally found a parking spot by the National Mall.  We went and saw the White House first.  Breathtaking...just thinking of all the history that has happened inside its walls.  (We are going to take a tour next time!!) 

We walked towards the Washington Monument (1884) and couldn't stop looking at.  It is made up of granite, marble and sandstone and was gorgeous against the blue sky. 

Next we walked towards the Reflecting Pool and Lincoln Memorial.  The pool is undergoing a renovation ($30.5 millions dollar renovation) so the water was being drained and it was very dirty.  It was still gorgeous in the way the Washington Monument reflects off of it. The pool when full holds 6.7 million gallons of water. 
We couldn't wait to walk up the steps of the Lincoln Memorial (1922).  Chad has always wanted to sit on the steps - so of course we did!!  As you enter the Memorial there is a sign to "Please be quiet out of Respect".  Goosebumps, again!!  Lincoln changed the way we all live today...honor, I will!  Chad and I spent so much time looking at the statue and reading the  Gettysburg Address - we were in awe. 

We only had a little bit of time left before we had to leave for the airport ... so we stopped at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  It is humbling....58,267 names are etched into the black granite that is reflective. 

There is so much more we wanted to see - Jefferson Memorial, the Capital Building, Smithsonian and all the other Museums on the National Mall.  We could have spent a whole week there.  And we plan on it - with the kids next time.  Drew was so excited when we told him we were going to D.C....he started talking about all that he has learned in school.  Love it!!!  Chad and I were in such awe the whole time we were in D.C.  What an amazing city...we can't wait to go back!