Family Vacation Day 5

Our first full day in Washington D.C. was a busy one! We went a tour of the White House and visited 3 museums.

The morning began with an early drive from the Van Dyck home in Arlington, VA to downtown Washington D.C. where we parked below the Ronald Reagan building.
Hillary and Grady pose out front by the water fountain.

Then it was off to the White House for a self guided tour inside. Unfortunately they would not let us bring cameras inside.

Grady and Mommy outside 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

While on the tour Grady made a guard laugh when he decided the Blue Room was a good place to cut the cheese loudly! My son can always say he tooted in the White House.

Following the tour we walked to the Smithsonian museums. Grady took a nap on the way. The Washington Monument is in the background.

Museum #1, The National Museum of American History

The view from the cafe looking onto Constitution Ave.

Graddy and I check out some big wheels!

We checked out the train display, Grady loved the noises.

While in D.C. we thought we should teach Grady about the Presidents. Maybe he is a little too young?

Museum #2, The National Museum of Natural History
Grady gets a kick out of all the animals on display. Can you find the Lion?

Mommy teaching Grady about Primates.

Grady teaches Daddy about Dinosaurs.

Mom, how come he isn't smiling?

The Archives of the United States of America.

We wrapped up the downtown touring with our 3rd Museum. The Newseum.

The is engraved on the outside of the museum. I am sure my colleagues would tell you I have shared this message with them on a daily basis. Well, either this message or an update from Twitter.

My son wasn't quite as excited to see this museum as I was.

"Mr. Gorbachev, Tear down this wall." Ronald Reagan June 12, 1987

The John Dillinger Display

Geno (our host and a high school classmate) is an engineer. He helped design this elevator at the Newseum.

The view from atop the Newseum. Where is the capitol?

There is the Capitol!

The Washington D.C. Skyline.

On display, today's headlines from around the world.An antenna from the World Trade Center in New York. Behind it hang headlines from around the world after 9-11.A news chopper hangs in the atrium. A sat truck is in the basement.

Hillary and Grady check out the set for, This Week, With George Stephanolopous.

Each floor is dedicated to a different medium.

I guess I am kind of partial to the TV floor.

Later on that evening we went to some friends of Elinor and Geno's. For Grady this was may have been the highlight of the day.

Grady wanted to make sure both set of Grandparents have read this. He also suggested they print copies of these last 3 photos. He notes that his birthday is coming up in 3 months.

Tomorrow...more sites of D.C. and Daddy heads to a Brewers Game with Geno.