Before my engagement in the afternoon, we took the Metro out to Catholic Univ. of America to see the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, which I had never been to before. It was fun teaching the girls about the Metro and how to get around. We made it for morning Mass, then spent an hour or so walking around, praying the rosary, checking out the many chapels and statues. We hit the gift shop on our way out. Needless to say, this won't be my last time visiting! What a beautiful house of God.
We took the Metro and Uber to the work thing, which was in Maryland. The girls had a great time hanging out with my colleague's husband; he let them eat all the pastries and drink all the soda they wanted. It was good to catch up with the Cincinnati team and hang out with Jason. He came with us to the Spy Museum, in its new building. The girls slept the entire Uber ride there. They loved the Museum and how interactive it was. They embraced the "spy mission" concept. I thought several of the exhibits were very well done, especially the one on the Bin Laden raid. Unfortunately, it closed before we were able to see everything.
I had to go to Washington, DC, for work and decided to take the girls for a few days of sightseeing. We flew Southwest and were delayed for a couple of hours in Austin because of weather in the capital. We finally arrived and took an Uber to our hotel in SE, near L'Enflant Plaza. Our driver expertly navigated us through rush hour. Turned out the hotel was within walking distance of a beautiful Dominican church named St. Dominic. We would end going there for confession and adoration a couple times. The pastor knew my buddy Aaron from formation.
Was the front living room. They thought it was great but it killed Bobbins.
Part of the renovation was a new window for what would become the master bedroom, looking east.
Took the boys for an overnight camping trip north of Strawberry, off Hwy 260. It was a glorious day up there and got down to a chilly 60 at night. We drove down a forest road till we found a spot and just pitched a tent. Went for a couple walks and whittled a lot of sticks. Poppy joined us. No campfire because of restrictions.
We broke camp pretty early since we awoke at sunrise. We made it to the 8am Mass at St. Frances Cabrini Church in Camp Verde with perfect timing.
Bobbins' Dad hired a couple guys he knows to do the framing in one day. One of the guys, Tony, lost his leg in a motorcycle accident.
