Washington, D.C. {2016} - Day 3

Today Hubby got up early and headed out to meet up with a few of his S.C. Army National Guard colleagues for the 8:00am Army Ten-Miler race.  The 3 little ones and I grabbed a quick breakfast in the room, and hopped on the Metro to meet up with Hubby at the Pentagon and race their own little race...

We looove Champ the Cheetah!

Fun, yet WINDY, times...

After the youth runs finished up, we headed back to the hotel to freshen up & made a couple more stops on our way out of town...

Congressional Cemetery...

where we viewed the public vault, temporary resting place of more that 4,000 individuals, including Presidents John Quincy Adams, William Henry Harrison, and Zachary Taylor, First Lady Dolley Madison, and sixteen congressmen who died while serving in office, including Vice President John C. Calhoun...

and grave of our 5th VP, Elbridge Gerry, who served under President James Madison...

VP Elbridge Gerry, originally from Massachusetts, is also notably the only signer of the Declaration of Independence buried in the nation's capital...

We also happened upon the grave of John Philip Sousa, the famous composer and conductor, who the girls just happened to have been studying in music class last month.  They were actually kind of excited to find him there, since they're usually tagging along as we seek out dead politicians for their brother...

From there, we made a quick stop at the infamous "Deep Throat Parking Garage" in the Rosslyn community, over the Potomac from Washington, D.C.

No, we haven't gotten into any specific details of the Watergate Scandal with the little ones, but knowing that this little piece of history is scheduled to be demolished as early as next year paired with B's interest in all things presidential, I knew we needed to make a stop.

He'll thank me later, right???

After grabbing an early dinner in Fredericksburg, we made one last stop.  Still a private residence, the former home of Judge Joseph Jones, an uncle of James Monroe, is where the would be president lived 1786-1790...

See ya later, Virginia!

Washington, D.C. {2016} - Day 2

What a day!

Yesterday, when stopping by the White House Visitor Center to get our park stamps and grab our Junior Ranger badges, we overheard a ranger telling someone about the White House Garden Tour...

So, we just toured the house yesterday, but..  Ummm, we can go back?  Yes, please!

Evidently, the grounds of the White House are opened up twice a year, in both April and October, for two days each over the weekend.  Tickets are FREE and are issued through the National Park Service beginning at 8:30am on the day of the tour.

Needless to say, my original plans for the day were scratched and we hightailed it to grab our tickets first thing this morning...

After brunch at the historic Old Ebbitt Grill... 

we got in line and made our way onto the South Lawn...

 

 {my little bird-loving girlie}

 

 {the sound of the Marine Band playing on the South Porch was just lovely}

Seriously, DO THIS!  If you happen to be in D.C. when these tours are held, TAKE THE TOUR!  Whether you are interested in the presidents like we are, just like all things historical, or even if not, it is really neat to be this close to the White House...  

 {Pssst...  That would be the Oval Office right behind his head!}

 {White House selfies in the rain}

 

 

 

 

 

 {entrance to the Children's Garden}

Wow...  Just, wow...  So very NEAT!

After grabbing lunch at our new favorite food court in the International Trade Center, we headed over to the National Postal Museum...

The littles loved exploring this free, hands-on museum driven by a fun, kid-centered scavenger hunt...

 

Turning in early to get the racers ready for the morning...