Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Resort Pool Day
Bobbins took the older kids with Abby, Mikey, and Anna to a resort for the afternoon.
We also had a little celebration for someone's birthday.
We also had a little celebration for someone's birthday.
Saturday, August 3, 2019
Friday, August 2, 2019
Bobbins and Boys at the Priest-Seminarian Basketball Game
In our absence, Bobbins scored tickets to the Phoenix Diocese fundraiser game between seminarians ("Sons") and priests (Fathers) at XCP. Abby, Mikey, and Anna were in town for a visit. Schaefers were also there.
DC Day 3
After sleeping in a bit and a good ole-fashioned Residence Inn breakfast, we took the Metro to Arlington Cemetery. I wanted to visit my great uncle's grave as well as show the girls all the history there. I think the girls understood some of the gravity of the place, but it was also hot & muggy, and a lot of walking.
Our second stop was the Smithsonian Museum of American History. There was a lot to see which got overwhelming for the girls. I really enjoyed the exhibit on the Massachusetts house in which American patriots lived in the 1770s and which patriotic Americans lived in during WW2. They brought the whole house to the Museum and covered its entire history over that period. Very cool. The girls seemed to really enjoy the exhibit on First Ladies' fashions.
Last stop for the day was the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum. In hindsight, we should've spent more time here. As it was, we ate a late lunch, then were stymied by the early closing time. This is my favorite Smithsonian.
On our way out we ran into my DC-based buddy Nick and his family, who had been touring the Natural History Museum and were texting Joy about getting dinner somewhere. He couldn't go with her with his kids (they were going to an adult happy hour), so we decided to eat at Potbelly. It was nice to catch up with him and his wife.
We managed to get over to St. Dominic for confession.
Then we had our final tourist outing of the trip: a night-time bike tour of the Mall and Monuments. I figured this was the best and fastest way to see each of those, and it worked out. We all enjoyed riding around, even if it was stressful on the girls at first. (Probably didn't help that I kept yelling at them to go faster, but we had to keep up with the group.)
Last stop for the day was the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum. In hindsight, we should've spent more time here. As it was, we ate a late lunch, then were stymied by the early closing time. This is my favorite Smithsonian.
On our way out we ran into my DC-based buddy Nick and his family, who had been touring the Natural History Museum and were texting Joy about getting dinner somewhere. He couldn't go with her with his kids (they were going to an adult happy hour), so we decided to eat at Potbelly. It was nice to catch up with him and his wife.
We managed to get over to St. Dominic for confession.
Then we had our final tourist outing of the trip: a night-time bike tour of the Mall and Monuments. I figured this was the best and fastest way to see each of those, and it worked out. We all enjoyed riding around, even if it was stressful on the girls at first. (Probably didn't help that I kept yelling at them to go faster, but we had to keep up with the group.)
Thursday, August 1, 2019
Meanwhile, the House Reno
Work on the house continued, of course. The plumber came and installed the lines from the water heater and main line to the new bathroom. They run along the ceiling of the TV room. Bobbins got a guy to come re-lay the pavers over the trench dug for the sewer line. She moved most of that red lava rock over it herself.
DC Day 2
Our first full sightseeing day saw us ambling from the hotel to the Supreme Court. We got there before it opened and were the first ones in. Unfortunately, we couldn't see the chambers. There were some displays and statues in the hallways.
Next we walked over to the US Capitol. I had set up a tour with the office of our Congressman, David Schweikert. Our guide was a young gal from Scottsdale who went to Hillsdale College and was in DC for a summer internship. (Turned out she was good friends with my colleague's daughter.) It was crowded but we managed to see the main sights. Definitely recommend a personal tour like that.
We ate a very tasty but expensive lunch in the main Capitol cafeteria.
We waited in line to go in to the House of Representatives and the Senate chambers. Both were "in session," but hardly anyone was in there. The lines ate a fair amount of time and weren't really worth it.
We did enjoy talking to a blind guy in a suit who was an unofficial greeter/tour guide. He was a big fan of John McCain and had worked in his Senate office, apparently.
Our next stop was the National Portrait Gallery. The girls were not thrilled about it, being tired of all the walking and standing around. I talked them into going on a docent-led tour of 17th and 18th century French paintings, which I thoroughly enjoyed and which they begrudgingly me obliged me.
Our last stop was the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. The girls got their second wind and enjoyed this much more. They are some really cool exhibits.
This was the girls' favorite Smithsonian on the trip.
(The Spy Museum was their favorite overall.)
Next we walked over to the US Capitol. I had set up a tour with the office of our Congressman, David Schweikert. Our guide was a young gal from Scottsdale who went to Hillsdale College and was in DC for a summer internship. (Turned out she was good friends with my colleague's daughter.) It was crowded but we managed to see the main sights. Definitely recommend a personal tour like that.
We ate a very tasty but expensive lunch in the main Capitol cafeteria.
We waited in line to go in to the House of Representatives and the Senate chambers. Both were "in session," but hardly anyone was in there. The lines ate a fair amount of time and weren't really worth it.
We did enjoy talking to a blind guy in a suit who was an unofficial greeter/tour guide. He was a big fan of John McCain and had worked in his Senate office, apparently.
Our next stop was the National Portrait Gallery. The girls were not thrilled about it, being tired of all the walking and standing around. I talked them into going on a docent-led tour of 17th and 18th century French paintings, which I thoroughly enjoyed and which they begrudgingly me obliged me.
Our last stop was the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. The girls got their second wind and enjoyed this much more. They are some really cool exhibits.
This was the girls' favorite Smithsonian on the trip.
(The Spy Museum was their favorite overall.)
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