Trip (Phase 2)

To give the kids a break before we flew home and also because we could fly home on frequent flyer tickets if we waited until Tuesday, Jan. 6 to fly, we spent some time in DC before we returned to the NW.

We were able to see Ben's godparents and family on Sunday night for dinner as we drove home. Unfortunately Ben didn't do well with the feline member of their family and had a rough night full of Benadryl and Albuterol. After we left their house we took a quick drive by our old Leesburg apartment and then drove in to Arlington.

I was able to get an amazing deal on a great family-friendly hotel across from Iwo Jima. The kids laughed and laughed when we arrived and they realized they each had a bed and there was no one to talk to them but their parents. Kyri immediately wanted to climb up in the crib. The place had a cute little kitchen, big closet, and beds for each of us (well, two of us slept together). And it was a few blocks from the Metro.

The next morning I headed out for some alone time and shopping. Mike and the kids took the Metro to meet me and our friends the Mehrens for lunch at the Union Station food court. Ben was truly happy to be in the City; we remarked that he is already a true urbanite. He made friends on the Metro whenever he rode and we had to keep him from jumping on the escalator before we were caught up to him.

We visited the DOL (Dept of Labor) and then walked to The Air and Space Museum. En route, Joe Biden passed us visible from his motorcade. Minutes later, the President-elect went by in a far bigger, louder, gun-laden motorcade. We had dinner with my aunt and uncle at Meskerem, our favorite Ethiopian restaurant.

On Tuesday we had lunch with a good friend who is ending her time at the Department of the Interior this week. We ate right by the White House amidst all the crazy parade route construction.

We had time to take Ben and Kyri to the Museum of Natural History before our flight left. They especially liked the Mammal Exhibits and the new Ocean Hall.

Our plane had to be de-iced before we could take off and it was a long flight home. When we landed Ben was asleep and so Kyri walked off the plane by herself with her little tiger backpack on (her thumbs in the straps) and the flight crew oohing and aahing over what a cute picture she made. She grinned from ear-to-ear at being able to walk off by herself as her brother was being carried and her mom had the three carry-ons.

The kids are good travelers. We are happy about that. And we hope to stay home for awhile now.