Justin and I had intended to take the girls to see the Cherry Blossoms during their week of Spring Break. However, a cold front that swiped the East Coast shifted the peak bloom a few weeks later. Not wanting to take the girls out of school, Saturday April 7 was the only day that we could go during the short peak window. As we approached April 7, the forecast was not looking good. There was a wide range of forecasts but they all had very cold tempurates and some amounts of snow. Thankfully, the snow amounted to a few flurries at best. The temperatures though….very cold! I think the high was around 40 but with the clouds, no sight of the sun, and being close to the water, it was downright cold! We bundled up though and while we decided to forgo our picnic on the Tidal Basin, we still went.
We opted for lunch in Vienna at Pot Belly’s before we drove into the city. We parked in a garage on K Street and walked down 18th towards the mall. When we approached Pennsylvania, we decided to walk by The White House.
We then walked by The Washington Monument.
And finally we made our way to The Tidal Basin.
With the bitter cold, my goal was really to have made it there to see The Cherry Blossoms. I wasn’t trying to get “extra credit” and walk the entire path of The Tidal Basin to The Lincoln Memorial.
We let the girls take turns and take pictures of Justin and myself. It was so funny as each of them had a turn because they would mimic as Justin and I do when we take pictures. Emerson had a turn with Justin’s camera. She looked so small holding such a big camera that I couldn’t help but to smile with pure joy.
Avery had the next turn. 
Her little hands couldn’t find the click button so Justin attempted to go show her. She kept snapping away hysterically as he moved closer to try to help her.
Just as Harper was about to have her turn, a spot along the water opened up and I felt like we had to quickly take advantage. I sat down and told the girls to join me. 
Avery and Emerson came, and Harper became upset because she thought she wasn’t going to have the opportunity to take our picture and she started crying.I got her to join us finally…her expression is hilarious!
Then a nice lady offered to take a family picture!
And afterwards Harper had her turn to take a picture of me and Justin.
Her sisters were trying to help her out. Emerson was trying to guide Harper how to use the camera, although she already knew. Emerson thought Harper had her hand covering the camera so Emerson was saying “seriously”! And Avery was standing next to her telling Justin and I, “look at me, look at me….I have a monkey on my head.” It was so funny!!
Finally after pictures, the girls “earned” their Cherry Blossom Dunkin Donut that we had bought right after we parked. We wanted to use a bathroom so we popped into a Dunkin Donuts and I realized having the treat would be a great way to get them to keep from whining until we got there. It worked pretty well….oh, bribery….yes, there is sometimes and time and place for it!
And a few last picture before we turned around.
We decided to see if we could explore one of the history muesuems on the way back….largely in part to warm up as well! Apparently, everyone had the same idea and the lines to get in were very long. Standing outside in the cold for any longer when we already had number fingers and toes didn’t seem like the right thing when the muesuems were closing in an hour anyway. We ended up walking more and then sought some warmth (as well as a bathroom break) in Nordstrom’s Rack before heading back to the car. On the way home, we stopped at Mad Fox Brewing in Falls Church. We got there a few mintutes before 6:00 and didn’t have to wait. It was pretty good….would definitely try it again in the future…especially if in the mood to sample a few different beers! The night ended with some grocery shopping at Whole Foods, which I was able to convince Justin to do, by allowing him to order a beer at the bar, while I shopped! It was a cold but fun day and I’m glad that we were able to experience the Cherry Blossoms this year, even if it felt like winter.
Here the girls are at the World War II Memorial.
We headed towards the Tidal Basin where we walked until we were fairly close to the Jefferson Memorial (a strategic decision so to be sure that was the next stop) and then we stopped for a picnic lunch that we had brought from home. 
The Cherry Blossoms bloomed early this year and were long gone as were the crowds of people. The girls were having fun with the camera.
Up next was The Jefferson Memorial. It has been YEARS since I had been there. I walked up the stairs with Avery and Emerson while Justin took the long ramp for strollers with Harper. Avery was wearing her sunglasses and I think the darkness coupled with the white flooring, threw her depth perception off to the point she was crying and shaking and wanted to leave. We hung out for a few but were pretty quick to leave – making sure they knew some basic facts about Thomas Jefferson.
Poor Emerson…her allergies, especially her eyes, had been driving her crazy. The pollen was horrible and her eyes were so itchy:(
We relaxed for a few minutes at the MLK memorial. Where’s Waldo? 
Then we walked along the Reflection Pool and made our way to the vicinity of the Washington Monument where we took an ice cream sandwich break.
Justin wanted to head back home but the girls (and me) wanted to continue as they wanted to go on the carousel. It took some nudging and promising from the girls that they wouldn’t complain (they didn’t) and we walked for about another 20 minutes to the carousel. I was afraid to let Harper go on by herself so I bought a ticket and went on the ride. As soon as it started, she didn’t want me holding on to her so I decided I too would jump on a horse. I haven’t actually had my own seat at a carousel since I was a kid….I was grinning ear to ear and Harper and Avery thought it was hilarious. Emerson was in front of us so I think she knew I was on the horse, but couldn’t really watch without turning around….which I wouldn’t let her do! 
A much needed potty break was necessary after the carousel so we headed across Constitution Avenue and made our way to the Museum of Natural History where we briefly explored the marine mammal and mammal exhibits.
We’ve been trying to take the girls to DC more the past few years as there is so much history and sights to take advantage of visiting. So often when we go to DC, we go near the Washington Monument and stay within the general vicinity as the girls aren’t as enthused about walking mass distances as much as Justin and I are. The last time we went to DC, I knew that the next time I wanted to visit the Lincoln Memorial. I don’t know that I had ever seen first hand (at least from what I can remember) the famous view of the wading pool and the monument from the steps of The Lincoln Memorial (I know…slightly embarrassing being that I am 37 and have lived in Northern Virginia my entire life). Anyway, so we went today finally….we drove and parked with ease. I didn’t give any thought to the upcoming inauguration and how the view that I had been longing to see would be obstructed by massive amounts of scaffolding in preparation for this coming weekend’s inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States. 
A different angle allowed for a slightly less obstructed view. 
Despite the obstructed view, it was really cool to see all the preparation going into the inauguration. Avery and Emerson are starting to learn about Presidents and U.S. history at school and they both were adamant that they wanted to come to the city again Friday to participate in the inauguration. Avery was very excited to get her picture taken with Abraham Lincoln so that she could show her teacher. 
Avery also wanted her picture with Mommy to show her teacher.
Emerson was moody off and on and if she was going to participate in any pictures, it was going to be on her own terms.
Although once Avery wanted her picture with me, she suddenly felt like she might just not want to miss out….although, she still clearly wanted to get her point across.
Meanwhile, Harper was sitting in the stroller where she refused to get out for much of our time in D.C. (If you look real closely above Avery’s head in the above picture, you can see her sitting in the stroller….our only picture of her today). I also only captured one photo of Justin.
Our next stop was The Martin Luther King Junior Memorial. The girls learned about MLK at school this week since tomorrow is MLK Day. It amazes me to hear them explain who he was and what he represented. Clearing they are taking everything in that they learn at school and it amazes me and makes me so happy to hear them explain U.S. history and all the other things they are learning at school. Anyway, the MLK Memorial is about a 12 minute walk from the Lincoln Memorial; however, Justin and I are both directionally challenged so we managed to turn it into about a 35 to 40 minute walk. Emerson wasn’t impressed and she kept track of how many times Justin and I took a wrong turn. While the day was enjoyable, this was a weak moment for me as I let my frustration get the best of me and I was taking it on Justin and the girls. I realized it though and was able to snap out of it pretty quickly but I shouldn’t have even let it get to that point. Forty minutes later we finally found the MLK Memorial where again Avery wanted her picture with MLK by herself so she could show her teacher. 
We ate a late lunch (close to 2:30) afterwards at Potbelly’s, where the girls even got to have dessert as a special treat. We took our time eating and were home by 4:00 AND Justin, Emerson, and I took a nap for an hour after we got home while Avery and Harper quietly played together! It was a great day and I can’t wait to go back to DC again soon.
