Exploring

A few weekends ago, we got outside and went exploring at one of Paul's logging sites that was about to get started.  We hope to visit again when it's finished to compare the difference.  

Beautiful meadow with a view.

Birthday Celebrating

What a way to spend birthday - in quarantine - just what Paul always wanted!  At least he was with loved ones.

The boys made Paul homemade cards - they were perfect!

We had a friendly game of darts that the birthday boy won. 

Instead of darts, Lukas decided to row, row, row his boat. 

Life at home

You would think that I would have more time to update the blog, now that all extracurricular activities have been canceled, but we still seem to have busy, full days.  I am grateful that I am able to continue to work from home.

Last week was spring break, but prior to that we were doing worksheets that the school sent home and workbooks we already had.  This week, the online curriculum starts. Here we go...!

I don't think there is a more comfy place to do school work than laying in bed.

Freckles

Charlie grew a few more freckles while in DC. 💓

Capitol and White House

We didn't look like tourists during our visit to one of our State Representatives - Greg Walden.  

A suit and tie was what the majority of people here wear everyday.

Paul met with Greg to talk forest management policy.

One of his staffers led us through the underground walkways to get to the Capitol and took us on a tour of the building.  

Charlie was on the lookout for the statues that Oregon contributed to the collection.  

 Our final day we had a visit to the White House.  

It was quite the process to get inside and Secret Service were literally everywhere. 

More Exploring

The National Cathedral was breathtaking.  Just like the churches in Europe.

The inside was just as beautiful.  We got to participate in the Evening Choral and were a part of the evening praise service in the front.  The voices of the choir members were truly angelic and the acoustics were amazing.

We got to observe how money was made.  So cool!

This is not correct - Charlie is actually priceless!  

Alexandria, VA

International Spy Museum where he got to practice his espionage skills.

Hanging as long as he can.

Not sure how well he'll blend in with this get up...

Killing time with a visit to the US Forest Service office.  Smokey Bear greeted us on the way in.  

Exploring

We got to see an do so many things on the trip.  Another highlight (there are so many to list) was our trip to the top of the Washington Monument.

 View from the top 

(this view overlooks the Lincoln Memorial and the WWII Memorial)

Charlie got to be President for the day at the Museum of American History.

What were we thinking!?!  Slurpee treat.  

Metro

One of Charlie's favorite experiences of the trip was riding the subway.

This was the loooongest and steepest escalator EVER!  

It was the highlight of Charlie's day to race down it.  

 Underground balance challenge.

 He was a metro riding pro by the end of the trip.

 

DC at night

That evening, we went on an evening tour that took us to many of the sites we had seen earlier, and some new ones.  They looked beautiful lit up.

The sun set was gorgeous!

MLK memorial was a new one for me to visit.  

I took a zillion pictures of the Washington Monument during our trip.  This was one of my favorites with the reflection on the water.

Lincoln Memorial - this time all lit up.  

Someone also had a telescope set up here, and Charlie took a peak at the moon. 

The Korean War  (or rather "Conflict"  as we learned) was somber at night.  The low bushes represented the rice fields the soldiers would have trudged through.  

The capitol building at night.

Washington DC

Last week we traveled to Washington DC, for a mixture of fun and business.  It had been a few years for Paul, and about 10 years since I have gone.  Paul's dad also came with us.

As per usual, I love looking through the photos when we've returned, and posting some here.

The day after we arrived, we walked around the city to visit some of the sites.  The day had the coldest weather of our trip, but it was clear and dry.   

Iwo Jima is always an emotional memorial.

 The changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was a testament of the amount of training these soldiers have to go through.

From there, we walked to the Lincoln Memorial to see it in the day time.   

A view overlooking the Washington Monument, and the location where Mr. Luther King Jr. once stood.

 The Air and Space Museum had a major portion closed for renovation, but still plenty to look at.  The Wright Brothers airplane was a sight to be seen.  Such engineering!