Recovering from our DC "Vacation"

James had to take a business trip to Washington DC so we decided that the family would tag along and make a vacation of it. Haha, a vacation! Let's just say the elements combined against us to make this one of the most least desirable trips of recent memory. James says we should rewrite history with these {almost}smiling pictures of our beautiful family, and maybe we should. Or maybe we should tell it how it was knowing that someday we'll look back at this vacation and laugh at how crazy it was. You never know, we might even wish we could all be miserable together in Washington DC again! Miserable is probably too strong a word, but let me tell you some of the not-so-highlights:

• Our first bus left at 7:30 am from Midtown (so we were all up in the 5 am hour), but 11 miles into New Jersey the bus service was cancelled due to freezing rain. The weather was so horrible that we were in the bus for 4 hours trying to get back to NYC. 11 miles, 4 hours, and two sobbing little boys who wanted to go on vacation! Luckily we caught a bus that left at 2:30 and we safely arrived in DC later that evening, but that was after 9 hours trying to be quiet in a little bus!
• Talmage spiked another fever on the way to DC. We've had a really sick winter so far, and his pneumonia/asthma/wheeze came back with a vengeance during this trip. We couldn't walk anywhere without him hacking and choking, that poor boy! We'd let him sit in the stroller with the wind guard but then Everett would flip out and T would say, "I'll be OK Mom, just let Everett ride." He was a champ.
• Everett threw tantrum after tantrum. That little boy lately, sheesh. There are so many stories I could tell you about his poor behavior on this trip, but let's just leave it at this: I was very tempted to leave him at the rest stop in Maryland ;)
• And that leaves Quinny, who wanted to experience DC nightlife to the fullest and so didn't sleep AT ALL. We haven't had nights that bad since she was a week old (thankfully) and it was ugly! We're all still trying to recover.

Basically, we cancelled almost all of our plans, ordered take-out instead of visiting restaurants, swam in the hotel pool (both boys said this was their favorite part of the trip) and watched lots of movies. Oh, and we changed our return tickets so that we could leave 3 hours earlier than we planned. Yup, true story.

Of course I'd feel ungrateful if I didn't also mention the good moments, because there are always good moments. Here are a few:

• DC has Café Rio. What! What! That grilled chicken burrito and sweet pork salad tasted like heaven and may have been the highlight of my trip!
• Quinny in a swimsuit for the first time.
• Watching the boys pick out special treats from the Air and Space Museum--T an airplane and Ev a teddy bear.
• Going to the top of the Washington Monument and touring the US Capitol, both things James and I had never done.  

Now I'm in full-on recovery mode. I'm doing laundry and cleaning, making doctors appointments and picking up new prescriptions, grocery shopping and planning our week, and of course I'm sorting through lots of pictures. Maybe James is right, looking at these I'd say our trip was a rousing success!

Lincoln Memorial from the top of the Washington Monument.

 

White House from the top of the Washington Monument.

 

DC has pretty buildings down to an art.

Carousel on the Hill for the coldy boys.

Cute old-fashioned popcorn truck.

Air & Space Museum.

My little boy and his bear named Teddy Beary.

T on the Capitol Tour. He LOVES learning.

Quinny in her swim suit. Everyone comments on her auburn hair. Sometimes I don't see it at all, but in the right light I see a little red. Do you? 

Little boys with a BIG statue.

Thank you T, for taking a picture of me and a screaming Quinn with half of big Linc!

 

T and Ever being crazy on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

Lincoln Memorial.

Astro Doughnuts and fried chicken in front of the White House was two thumbs up.

My little loves in front of the White House. Gosh I love those kids...even if they made this trip crazy!