Sanders Do DC. {Really Quickly}
I want to kick myself every time I wait to post a certain happening. Months go by and I forget the details-- not that anyone but us cares-- but I like details. Anyone can go to DC or look at pictures from DC but only my people can make it our trip. {I am writing this 7/2106 and back posting.} I had wanted to make this trip happen for a few years but I am glad we waited. The kids will remember it better I think. When I had dreamed of it, Williamsburg had been attached to the trip and my 5-10 year old Julia would have been in heaven there, but we missed it and that’s okay. She spent MANY a play date with the Cheek girls donned in prairie dresses and calico bonnets.... and barefoot. Those childhood memories are pretty sweet and will do just fine.
Jeff had a meeting in Washington D.C. so he went on for that. We let the kids get one more day of school in, flew out on a Wednesday evening and hit the ground touring. The National Mall was our first stop and at night, it was quite the sight.
I’ve seen this a few time before, but nothing can prepare you for how large he really is. The kids were a little in awe and you could tell it by how long they looked at him and how they wanted to read all the words. I was amazed at how quiet the whole memorial was. I think everyone is a little bit awestruck.
Brighton worked hard on his Junior Ranger books so he could earn the badge to go with his collection. Jeff has the “phone glow".
The Vietnam War Memorial wall was difficult to capture at night {for this amateur photographer} so I was only able to get this one. My daddy served in Vietnam and received a Purple Heart.
In a WHOLE different category, this was a favorite find of mine. I looked up food bloggers or Instagrammers in DC and found this. I’d go there tonight if I lived close by. This cute little shop, Salt and Sundry, would be enough just to see all the lovely things but the FOOD!! Oh my. The food is what took us back 3 nights in a row-- and I fought hard for a fourth night but Jeff said we really needed to eat in the city again.
I have always been a sucker for blue and white. I’ve been hanging blue and white plates on my walls since 1992 so displays like this always catch my eye. It reminded me of several stores along the coast of Maine.
Think Chipotle with a Korean twist. I had this twice. ; )
So back to the food. This is a dosa. Dosa is a kind of pancake made from a fermented batter. Its main ingredients are rice and urad beans. Dosa is part and parcel of the South Indian diet and popular all over the Indian subcontinent. Traditionally, Dosa is served hot along with Sambar and Chutney. {from the dictionary} It was DE-licious.
Brighton-- in his element. The souvenir store.
Our friend, Eric, who works in Counter-terrorism set up a tour of the FBI building with one of his friends and of course, I forget my driver’s license and couldn’t get in! So while they toured, I enjoyed a quiet cup of coffee across the street. {I did NOT leave my license at the hotel on purpose.}
Senator Kay Granger’s office gave us a tour of the Capitol.
This is what my little Julia would have wanted from the store at Mt. Vernon. She even knew it was true.
Jeff had a meeting in Washington D.C. so he went on for that. We let the kids get one more day of school in, flew out on a Wednesday evening and hit the ground touring. The National Mall was our first stop and at night, it was quite the sight.
I’ve seen this a few time before, but nothing can prepare you for how large he really is. The kids were a little in awe and you could tell it by how long they looked at him and how they wanted to read all the words. I was amazed at how quiet the whole memorial was. I think everyone is a little bit awestruck.
It was a beautiful night to walk the mall. If I did this before {middle and high school}, I didn’t understand the lay of the land that ALL of these memorials were scattered about. We were able to see SO much our first night there.
Brighton worked hard on his Junior Ranger books so he could earn the badge to go with his collection. Jeff has the “phone glow".
Again, the enormity struck them both.
Flags were at half mast to honor those dead from the terrorist attack in Paris.
The World War II Memorial
The Vietnam War Memorial wall was difficult to capture at night {for this amateur photographer} so I was only able to get this one. My daddy served in Vietnam and received a Purple Heart.
The Jefferson Memorial
In a WHOLE different category, this was a favorite find of mine. I looked up food bloggers or Instagrammers in DC and found this. I’d go there tonight if I lived close by. This cute little shop, Salt and Sundry, would be enough just to see all the lovely things but the FOOD!! Oh my. The food is what took us back 3 nights in a row-- and I fought hard for a fourth night but Jeff said we really needed to eat in the city again.
I have always been a sucker for blue and white. I’ve been hanging blue and white plates on my walls since 1992 so displays like this always catch my eye. It reminded me of several stores along the coast of Maine.
And HERE’S THE FOOD. There were little places to eat all throughout: Takorean, the Red Apron, DC Dosas, Mason Dixie Biscuit Company, Peregrine Espresso-- and so much more. They describe it as "the epicenter of culinary creativity in DC”. Everything was delicious.
Think Chipotle with a Korean twist. I had this twice. ; )
MUSEUMS!! MUSEUMS!! MUSEUMS!!
The Library of Congress was really just beautiful.
The Holocaust Museum was incredibly well done and very heavy. This is a split picture of the shoes of victims and all of the pictures sent in by loved ones of those who died.
Here is the poem by the Yiddish Poet Moses Schulstein above the shoes:
"We are the shoes, We are the last witnesses
We are shoes from grandchildren and grandfathers.
From Prague, Paris and Amsterdam
And because we are only made of fabric and leather
And not of blood and flesh,
Each one of us avoided the Hellfire"
So back to the food. This is a dosa. Dosa is a kind of pancake made from a fermented batter. Its main ingredients are rice and urad beans. Dosa is part and parcel of the South Indian diet and popular all over the Indian subcontinent. Traditionally, Dosa is served hot along with Sambar and Chutney. {from the dictionary} It was DE-licious.
Brighton-- in his element. The souvenir store.
Our friend, Eric, who works in Counter-terrorism set up a tour of the FBI building with one of his friends and of course, I forget my driver’s license and couldn’t get in! So while they toured, I enjoyed a quiet cup of coffee across the street. {I did NOT leave my license at the hotel on purpose.}
And then B was the proud new owner of an FBI hat.
Senator Kay Granger’s office gave us a tour of the Capitol.
Mt. Vernon.
It was a beautiful morning to see this place right on the Potomac.
This is what my little Julia would have wanted from the store at Mt. Vernon. She even knew it was true.
This was definitely a highlight-- getting to see the KELLS! We went to church at Del Ray Baptist Church where Garrett pastors. We got to see this growing, beautiful family of Carrie and Garrett’s! Carrie was the first girl who lived with us. We got to see this love story develop and in DC we got to see them in their home and in their church. It was a blessing indeed!
It’s fun to take trips as a family and get to experience so many new things together. I love seeing their reactions to different things, different foods. I hate to say it but I won’t forget the fact we found out that our kids can’t seem to sleep in the same bed together-- happily. I am hoping it’s just a phase but that was not pleasant after touring all day. We must not have worn them out enough! I’ll have to work on that next trip. Thankfully, we had a week off into Thanksgiving when we returned so that was nice. We stuffed those 3 1/2 days cram full. And we loved it.
Now, to get to Williamsburg.
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