About a month ago Mom and I started planning our annual trip out for her birthday. The tradition started a few years ago and we both look forward to the planning each year. This year we decided that a trip to Washington DC would be on our agenda. We’ve been wanting to go for years but just never seemed to find the right time. Upon hearing our plans Papa Smurf rudely invited himself and Jamie along…the nerve! And Mom and I were thrilled!!! And as the planning began the details keep growing. A day away turned into them staying the night at our place following our trip, which turned into Papa Smurf, again rudely, inviting himself to stay not only 1 night…but 2!! And again, we were thrilled…feel free to rudely invite yourself any time, Papa Smurf.
I think it’s safe to say that we were ALL looking forward to this event on the calendar. Our day in DC was planned for a Friday and the “rents” were planning on coming down the Thursday night before. Do you know Papa Smurf even rudely invited his dog, Toby?! Toby ran everywhere, peed on everything, and loved it!! I love this picture of him and PS. By Thursday night both the “rents” were exhausted so there wasn’t much happening at the Tumbleweed Inn. Papa Smurf kept hinting that he needed to “check out” my couch. And after the details of our day were finalized we took ourselves off to bed…us to the master suite and them off to their luxury suite at the Inn.
If we hadn’t planned on going to DC that morning, I think we would have all been completely content to just enjoy the day together. We all sat around the table eating breakfast and chatting. What fun! But seeing how we had the day planned, we got ready and off we went. We had planned to pick up the light rail in Hunt Valley, connect with the Marc train at Penn Station and travel the metro system once in DC. It was great that none of us needed to be watching for exit signs or heavy traffic. The train also provided a chance for a few photo op moments.
(I absolutely love this woman!)
Penn Station5
We had no idea that we could have taken the light rail a short distance to Penn Station, so we trudged the distance on foot…whew!
Transfers complete, we finally made it to the metro platform that would take us to our first destination. And everyone was still having a grand time. (Papa Smurf said he was going for the miserable look in the photo…thanks PS.)
We were all a tad hungry till we got off the train at our first metro stop and they just happened to be setting up for an outdoor farmer’s market. So while Mom went to find a bathroom, Papa Smurf went on the hunt for food. He returned with a bag full of sugary, warm mixed nuts. And after eating almost the entire bag, we decided to investigate the market a little further hoping to find something more the eat.
We didn’t find anything more to eat since most of the stands were just setting up, but we did happen upon a stand that was “close to home” for us…Gunpowder Bison and Trading Co.! Jamie works for Gunpowder and Papa Smurf is the butcher for Gunpowder…which is how Jamie found his new job. We had plans to go back to the stand on our way back through, but due to timing we didn’t make it. But what a coincidence!
The architecture was amazing and I had to wonder how old some these buildings were. (I’m sure with a little research I could find out…really I’m not that curious.)
Our first stop was planned for the Vietnam Veteran’s Wall Memorial, a place none of us had ever been. It’s amazing how quiet it is when you walk down through all of the names. It’s also a sad reality to think we lost so many good men during one war.
Next stop…the Lincoln Monument.
(I asked Papa Smurf to look like Abe Lincoln…hmmm, I think you almost have it, PS.)
The man my nephew is named after…Isaiah Lincoln Smucker…may you may grow up to be a strong godly man like the man you’ve been named for. 6
The Washington Monument 6
I love these 2 5 pictures of Papa Smurf by the “Glazing Pool”. He kept calling the Reflecting Pool, the “Glazing Pool”…looks like he’s trying to catch a few “glazes” in these 2.
The Korean War Memorial 5
Our trip to DC ended with a visit to the Holocaust Museum. (Here’s a tip…if your planning to see this museum, go online and buy your tickets ahead of time. If you wait until you get there most likely you won’t be getting in to see the permanent exhibit. They only allow so many people per day and it only costs $1/person and you can print them online.) It took us about 2 hours to get through the entire exhibit but it was worth going to see. I’m still appalled by the immense hatred one man had for so many people and the thousands of others who believed like he did. To think that any one of us is capable of such a horrific act is a humbling thought but also makes me thankful for the forgiving Father I know who can change hearts and open our world to one of love, instead of hate. Unfortunately we weren’t allowed to take pictures inside, but part of me is glad…it would have taken 4 hours instead of 2 to walk through!
This reads: The next time you witness hatred, The next time you see injustice, The next time you hear about genocide…THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU SAW
The Department of Agriculture (just for the ag-lovers in my family). 6 There are 2 pictures because the building continues across the street…I was continually blown away by the immense size of the buildings here! They seem to go on forever and it sure makes me grateful I live in my quiet house in the middle of nowhere…hours away from ALL these people!
The picture may be a little fuzzy but it shows just how exhausting walking…and walking….and walking some more…the streets of DC can be. Unfortunately this picture doesn’t capture the laughing we did following it…the story is too long to share and just doesn’t sound that funny when I have to explain it. Let’s just say that the end of the trip was just as much fun as the beginning.
We ended our trip with a late night meal at Carrabbas Restaurant and tried watching a movie…we made it through about 5 minutes before we were all watching nothing more than the back of our eyelids.
Saturday had everyone, except poor Jamie who had to work, lazing around for a little bit. After packing up I took Mom and Papa Smurf over to Twin Springs Farm, the latest addition to the Gunpowder Company. Jamie is not only feeds the bison kept there but also the animals in the petting zoo that Gunpowder “inherited” with Twin Springs. A store is also located at this new location and Jamie’s boss plans to open it in a few weeks. We enjoyed showing my parents the new place and they enjoyed the opportunity to see what Jamie does. I was certainly sad to see this “vacation” come to an end but I’m excited for the next trip…I think New York City was next on the agenda and you know, I LOVE NYC!!!!
What a surreal few days together. We all enjoyed the time spent together and I think we all feel like we need to pinch ourselves a little. A year ago I never envisioned being here, but here we are and we are so thankful to once again be near our family and close to the opportunities…that I can drive an hour to Mom’s house for a hug when I need one…I could see my newborn nephew the first week he was born rather than months later…my family can come and spend one night or 5 if they choose to…this is my surreal and wonderful life!
