Camera FOUND!!!

Finally found the camera.  There are quite a few things that have happened since the last real post, so I will break this up into a few different posts, so make sure you read a few back to catch it all.

Cherry Blossom Festival 2013

We headed downtown again this year to catch the Cherry Blossoms and, most importantly, do the paddle boats on the Tidal Basin.  Owen thought it was pretty neat and we got our leg workout for the day.

The Washington Monument is currently being repaired of the damages made during the earthquake last year.    

"Scary" Japanese drummer guy that performed while we ate lunch.

Showing off some art work that he drew for the children in Japan.  Not really sure what he was going for here.

Getting our Passport stamped.  We have a passport of the National Parks and we can get a stamp in our passport each time we visit a park.  We have been downtown a millions times, but kept forgetting our passport.  So this time around, we were on the hunt for stamps for all the memorials and parks in the DC area.  We almost got them all by the end of the day!!!

We ran into this very helpful Park Ranger that helped Owen understand all about the Cherry trees (us too) and gave Owen an activity book to complete, so he could become a Junior Park Ranger.

Finished the activity book - no to get his Junior Ranger badge! 

We discovered this AMAZING garden behind the Smithsonian Castle.  It was full of Magnolia tress in full bloom and lost of other really beautiful plants.

The ride home - at the front of the train watching the "Star Wars".  When you are in the tunnels, there are lights on the side and they speed past like the lights in Star Wars when you go to light speed. 

Recreating the original picture from one of the first times we went down to DC.

The reflecting pool is finally done and so this part of the Mall looks normal again.  They are still doing some construction at the far end by the WW II memorial, but it is nice that the majority of it is done.  Now they just need to get the Washington Memorial done and the Mall will be back to "normal".

Camera is missing....

So we can't find the camera to save our lives.  So, we have no pictures to share = LAME!!!  

Since our last post we have started  T-ball, Chris and Beki are coaching, Owen is attempting to play and not whine.  Chris finished his class to renew his teaching licence (YEAH!!!!!) and so Tuesdays don't suck as bad as they used to.  Beki just keeps plugging along at the research thing, not much head way being made.  We are keeping quite busy between the three of us.  Owen had his first t-ball game on Saturday and we don't have any pictures of it at all because Chris and Beki are both on the field coaching.  Hopefully we can con a parent into taking some pictures next time.  Owen has really taken to t-ball this year and he is getting quite good a catching, throwing, and batting - but he is still a silly 6-year-old and can drive us crazy when he wants to.  Hopefully we will find the camera this week and we can share the few photos we have managed to take.

Park Outings

During spring break we took some time to visit some parks and enjoy the weather.  

The day after Easter we found a LEGO Chima set on sale and Owen bought it for $1 - he put it together himself!!!!

We also did some kite flying.

A Day at Gettysburg

We have wanted to go to Gettysburg since we moved here.  Finally we made the trip.  Owen was a real trooper and didn't whine at all the whole time.  We did the audio driving tour = FANTASTIC.  Chris had plenty of time to geek out over lots of things.  It was a great day.

Visitor Center and Museum.

It was a blustery day....

Coolest memorial at the site.

We climbed all over rocks at Devil's Den and even used one as a slide.

Original cannon ball hole in the side of the barn from the battle.

Hiding from the Confederates behind the stone wall at "the angle".

The "confederates" storming the rock wall to attach the "union".

Family picture at "The Angle".

Inside the Visitor Center. 

We at a the Dobbin House - a really old house in Gettysburg that was converted to a restaurant. 

It was a great outing and we had a wonderful time.