The Dahl Family: Last Trip to D.C.–for a while at least

With our departure from the east coast becoming more and more of a reality, we decided we wanted to do one last trip up to Washington D.C. We have been so fortunate to live so close to a place with such wonderful things to see and learn about. We were grateful to coordinate the trip with our friends, the Bishops, so that we could each attend the Washington D.C. temple as couples while the other couple watched the kids. It was so nice to not have to trade-off in the parking lot! Thanks Brad & Calli for making that happen! During our turn at babysitting, Tyler even braved the pool with 3 kids, ages 5 and under, who all wanted to hold on to him (wish the camera had been with me at this point), while I attended to the two babies poolside.

Cade was particularly excited on this trip because he has recently watched Night at the Museum – Battle of the Smithsonian, so he thought it was pretty cool to go in all the places that he saw come alive in his movie. Here are the highlights of our day in D.C.:

Washington Monument in the background

At the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum:

At the U.S. Capitol Building:

We decided we wanted to see some of the Smithsonian Art – note to self: try again when you don’t have a 3 year old in tow. Not the most pleasant part of the trip.

At the Smithsonian Museum of American History, Cade was happy again. His favorite part: trains – the history of transportation exhibit was a bit hit.

At the Lincoln Memorial:

Happy LydiaCan’t you just feel the sibling love here?

At the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

Cade picked out an airplane at the Air & Space Museum which he enjoyed flying around from his stroller.

We finished the day at the Marine Corps Memorial. In all of our trips, this was one we hadn’t made it to previously. Lydia didn’t get her picture here because, Mom was stuck with her at the car cleaning up her latest accident. (Honestly, I don’t know how my parents ever did all the trips they took us on and maintained their sanity! As a kid, I know I never fully appreciated or expressed thanks for how much work family vacations are for the parents!)