Medieval Times

When planning our trip, we knew that DC was pretty much one of those trips that you can do without having to pay a whole lot for, besides your hotel/transportation and food.

So we decided that we were going to splurge and do one thing that we normally would not do.

We chose on Medieval Times, with some uncertainty. Will it be hokey? Will it be worth the money?

But, we found a special on tickets and decided to throw caution to the wind. Medieval Times became our last stop on our vacation.

It turned out to be an epic night.

The King came out and invited us to dine with him.

Waiting in line to find out which Knight we would be rooting for.

Everyone was issued these burger king type crowns, adults and children alike. It signified which Knight you would be cheering for during the show.

The Boy was enamored. This whole thing was right up his alley.

This year we did something different. We normally purchase the kids something while on vacation. This past year we started an allowance for the kids with the intention that when we go on vacation, any purchases made will be made with their own money.

Hence Caleb's outfit. He was able to use his money to purchase himself a knight costume, shield and dagger.

And when Lilly realized she spent all her money she earned at the zoo, and didn't have any money left over, he even decided that he was going to be a chivalrous Knight and purchase Lilly a headband that she so wanted.

Here we all are, hungry and waiting to get into the arena.

Our menu

The boy was really into eating without utensils.

The opening Ceremony

The knight's Entry

Our Knight was the Red and Gold Knight. Hard to tell from this picture, but he looked a little like Orlando Bloom from where we sat.

He spotted Lilly from the arena and threw her a flower after one of his victories.

She wants me to inform you that: "he is not my boyfriend!"

Don't be fooled- she was totally in love with him.

The kids on the way home. This was an epic. They talked about this dinner for weeks.

In fact, Caleb has decided that he wants to go back for his birthday- Every year. He is enamored.

Arlington Cemetery

As we get off the subway to Arlington, we realize the kids are on day three of our excursions and are getting tired and cranky.

There were several key points we wanted to see: The eternal flame and The changing of the guard.

When we realized how much walking that would entail, we decided to splurge and get tour passes. It was a very good decision.

We got to see more, and the drivers would point out tombs and give the history of cemetery that we would have never known if we didn't take the tour.

The Eternal Flame

Caleb got a really nice pair of Binoculars at the zoo, they were perfect for this trip.

The challenger monument

Outside the changing of the guard.

Watching the changing of the guard

The view of DC from the Robert E Lee Mansion

View from the Robert E Lee Mansion

While we were waiting for the shuttle bus to come and pick us up at the Robert E. Lee's Mansion we hung out in the Gardens that were built to commemorate the first Memorial Day

After our tour through Arlington, we decided that since we were so close to the Iwa Jima Statue that we should go over and see it in person.



Caleb and Lilly were not exactly on board with this decision. They complained the entire walk.

While I was taking the picture above, with the monument in sight, both Caleb and Lilly decided they had enough. The plopped their bums down on the path and refused to go any further, complaining of every ailment under the sun, as though if they used all the excuses they could think of, I just might let them stay.

To which I responded: "fine, stay there, I'm going"

Amazingly enough, the two little cripples, got up and came along with the rest of us.

They even looked semi-pleasant for the photo.

Sadly, this was the end of our DC adventure.

We will be going back again. Even though I had a lot less on the list than I did when we went in '08, we still didn't get to see everything we wanted to, like the Natural History Museum, and the butterfly garden.

We walked back to the subway, rode back to the car and headed out a dinner that we will never forget.
But, I'll save that adventure for another day.

A zoo Day

So, the zoo became part of our DC itinerary for several reasons:

1. Lilly has never been to the zoo- the last time we went I was pregnant with her and Caleb was so little he thought that Elephants Moo'.d
2. It was free- always a good motivator in our frugal family.
   
3. The pandas. We were all giddy with the thought of being able to see the pandas.
   

We were all ready to go. We had our Aqua packs on so we didn't have to sell our first born in order to afford park drinks for 5.

I had charged the camera in the hotel the night before so it should have been good to go.

Should have

Apparently the outlet I used in the hotel was an outlet that only worked when the light was on.

Can you see where this is going?

Yeah.

So anyway,

We caught the Panda's during their morning breakfast!

And then the battery died.

I don't have any further pictures of our day.

There was the creepy owl who was not happy with his new home and gave the creepiest looks as you walked by.

There were the elephants we were playing in the yard of their new home.

There were the apes that were not entirely thrilled with the crowds and so they hid and you had to play "where's waldo" to find them



And we can't forget those cute, cute, cute meercats that were playing games with us.


(not my picture, but one I found online)

I totally wanted to put one of them in my bag and bring it home with me.

Of course, I did not- but I wish I could have.

Can you imagine?

Oh, Gimli- meet your new little brother. Try not to eat him dear....


All in all, our zoo trip was pretty fantastic.

America at War exhibit at the American History Museum

Americans at War exhibit at the American History Museum was definitely a highlight of our vacation! Our entire family are history buffs and it was so neat to go through American History and see how life has progressed in the 200+ years since America became a nation.

We spent the majority of our day wondering throughout the exhibit. It was very interactive and perfect for kids and adults. I would highly recommend going if you get a chance!

A red cross ambulance from 1898

Gunboat Philadelphia. Apparently this ship was sunk 200 + years ago and they were able to Unsink her (I had to wonder if they used ping pong balls a 'la mythbusters!) and restore her and now she is an exhibit at the Smithsonian.

The cannon ball at the bottom right of this ship is the hole that sunk the ship.

Lilly looking into the Gunship Philadelphia.

"taxation without representation" puppet show exhibit.

The Red Coats are coming! The Red coats are coming!

General Washington's uniform

Another interactive portion of the exhibit, this one teaching about how the soldiers lived during the Revolutionary War. They were not impressed with the sardines ration...

Civil War cannon

Checking out Civil war weaponry.

This was at tree that stood at Gettsburg and you can see what all the flying bullets did to it.

One of the first cameras.

They had a portrait area set up so you sit for a portrait. In our case we used our digital camera, much easier that that old camera I would gather.

A stuffed general's horse ( I don't remember who's though?)

Lilly playing with the "Rosie the Riveter" exhibit

Don't ask me why, but Lilly had to have her picture taken in front of the WWII era underwear.

There were tons and tons of WWII Posters- we think the guy up top looked a little like Darth Vader.

News coverage of WWII

Watching old videos of Bob Hope's Visits to the Troops

The boy freaking out at a picture of an atomic bomb

A chopper and soldier in Vietnam.

A piece of the twisted steel from the Twin Towers

Dog Tags- each of the kids had them made after we were done.