With what has now seemingly become a fun family tradition, we began our journey to Hubby's run in the Army Ten-Miler on Sunday with a trip up to D.C. for the weekend, much like years prior - 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017...
Since we now have a 3rd, a 4th, and a 7th grader, we try not to miss any school at all if we can manage it, so this year's trip was much more abbreviated than many of those in the past...
The kids attended a full day of school, and Hubby actually worked a full work day on Friday, as well. That being said, we left around 6:00pm and drove into the night. Not the best race prep, but alas, you do what you gotta do, I guess!
After checking into our hotel in the middle of the night, catching a little bit of sleep, grabbing breakfast, and picking up race packets...
we headed over to visit with one of Hubby's college friends who, also a member of the S.C. National Guard, but currently stationed in D.C., was hosting all of the S.C. runners that we could round up for a little get-together luncheon...
The kids loved spending some time playing on the neighborhood playground, too!
From there, we freshened up and headed out to meet up with one of my high school friends for a special tour of the WEST WING of the White House!
Now, a couple of years ago, we took a tour of the White House, visiting the public rooms, and it was SUPER COOL... We even came back the next day for the Fall Garden Tour and got to explore the grounds a bit more...
But...
But...
The one thing that had been missing was a tour of the West Wing. I've always heard that you just had to know someone who works at the White House AND has West Wing access, PLUS they have to be both willing and available to give you the tour...
Well, after years of trying to match up when we'd be in town and when my friend was both in town and not working, the stars FINALLY aligned!
I can't even explain how cool it was, and I am so thankful to this sweet friend for showing us around... She works there day in and day out, so as with most things that become routine, I'm sure the coolness has long since worn off for her, but seriously, I thought it was just THE neatest thing...
After going through not one, but two security checkpoints, we headed in first to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building...
It is basically just a really big and pretty office building with lots of offices and conference rooms.
The last room we toured was the beautiful and ornate, Indian Treaty Room...
It was in this room, in 1955, where President Eisenhower, held the first ever televised presidential press conference...
There's not a bad view from there either!
From there, we entered the West Wing!
We walked in the canopied side entrance most often used by the Vice President...
Though no photos are allowed inside, except in the Press Briefing Room, the tour included glimpses into the Navy Mess and (doors to) the Situation Room on the ground level, and the Cabinet Room, the West Colonnade and Rose Garden, the Oval Office, the Roosevelt Room and the West Wing Lobby on the 1st Floor.
From there, we headed into the Press Briefing Room, the room you often see on television when the President and Press Secretary, among others, give press conferences and field questions...
Fun Fact about the Press Briefing Room...
It is built directly on top of the indoor swimming pool that President Franklin D. Roosevelt had built in 1933, and the pool is incredibly still intact underneath the press room floor!
You can read more about the history of this room and see pictures from its very different phases here...
Oh, what a night!
After our tour concluded, we walked over to &pizza for a great dinner approved by all!
So proud of this one, his 7th annual Army Ten-Miler, and the community of soldiers he's encouraging and mentoring one by one...
Until next year...
