We dubbed our second full day in D.C. as our "Disney World" day...meaning we were getting up early, doing all the things, and coming back late. Our agenda included a tour of the White House and the Capitol, dinner at Ryan's favorite D.C. spot and walking around all the memorials at sunset.
Before we could tour the White House, we had to figure out what to do with our bags. Since we had such a long day planned, we had a backpack full of snacks, water, the camera, etc... but NONE of those things are allowed in. You can bring yourself, a cell phone or a camera with a non-removable lens. Ryan saved the day by finding a shoe repair store nearby that doubled as a bag storage place for people visiting the White House.
So, all dressed in our "WE LOVE AMERICA" gear... we were off and ready to start the day!
They have definitely mastered the "wait, I want quick picture" stance. Even their smiles look real.
;)
Since the President was actually going to be at the White House later that day, security was amped way up which meant our short walk more than doubled but they were still all smiles when we finally made it through all five security check points (one they had to go in alone), we were more than ready to go inside.
We were all a little awestruck by simply walking inside THE White House, but honestly, with the heightened security and being pushed through like cattle... we felt more like were just waiting in a line for a really cool ride at Disney World than anything else. We paused and read all the info for each of the rooms, but there really wasn't a chance to soak it all in. SO... if you weren't able to get one of the coveted tours, you didn't miss too much.
The kids got a kick out of every person that told us, "Oh my goodness... y'all are SO cute all matching... you HAVE to take a picture today!"
#ifyouonlyknew #thanksdebbie #notourfirstrodeo
Regardless of how "fun and exciting" the tour was... there is clearly something special about standing in this space....thinking about our history and being grateful for our country. There is also something valuable about speaking the whole truth and not just looking at our highlight reel. Ryan and I try our best to keep our kiddos informed about the good and not-so-good parts of America. And most importantly, how we can do our part to make this country a place that we can all be proud to call home.
We had enough time in between our fancy lunch and Capitol tour time to pop into the Renwick. We would have never even had this space on our radar if it wasn't for a friend we made on the train the day before. She had the best conversation with Radley and gave us all sorts of insider tips and couldn't say enough glowing remarks about the current exhibit here, so we of course made time for a quick look around.
I can't bring justice to the beauty of their current exhibit, so I'm just going to cut and paste from their website:
Each year in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, a city of more than 70,000 people rises out of the dust for a single week. During that time, enormous experimental art installations are erected and many are ritually burned to the ground. The thriving temporary metropolis known as Burning Man is a hotbed of artistic ingenuity, driving innovation through its principles of radical self-expression, decommodification, communal participation, and reverence for the handmade. Both a cultural movement and an annual event, Burning Man remains one of the most influential phenomenons in contemporary American art and culture.
No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man brings the large-scale, participatory work from this desert gathering to the nation’s capital for the first time. The exhibition takes over the entire Renwick Gallery building and surrounding Golden Triangle neighborhood, bringing alive the maker culture and creative spirit of this cultural movement.
Each room was filled with such interesting, detailed and over-sized installations. This piece in particular was breathtaking. This space was a Temple carved out of recycled wood as a sacred space for people to reflect on loss - visitors are encouraged to leave messages to their loved ones so the kids wrote messages to Lola, PaPaw and Ryan's dad.
Here's a better photo of the entire space
David Best, Temple, 2018. Photo by Run Blunt.
The kids love any chance to write on a chalkboard so they all wrote down things they would add to their bucket list:
Emmy - be an actress
Emmy - be an actress
Landry - be a gymnast
Radley - be a marine biologist
This was my favorite piece - these giant mushrooms change color but also open and close when you step on the sensor. From the website:
The members of FoldHaus bring their experience in mechanical engineering and product design in creating their folded structures and sculptures. As a collective, they are able to participate in something larger than what they would be able to achieve as individuals. Two FoldHaus founding members discuss their design process, the strength of creative collaboration, and the history of designing projects for the Playa.
Y'ALL WATCH THAT VIDEO!!
One of my favorite parts of travel are the unexpected treasures we find along the way. I think we have mastered the delicate balance of a planned itinerary that includes the joy of wandering. Our best recommendations have always come from locals and this was no exception!
We snagged a quick uber and headed across town for our next stop of the day....
Pro tip: If your kids are learning another language and you need to use uber, you can choose drivers that speak the language they are learning. Radley and Emersyn were in charge of getting us places only speaking Spanish. :)
One of my former students works for Congressman Will Hurd (and Aggie) so we reserved a tour through his office. And while this was the first time I've ever gone on a Capitol tour, I'd recommend going through one of your congressmen/women rather than a public tour.
Once we walked under super secret tunnels and swiped top security access badges, we made our way to the Unite States Capitol.
Now is when I wish I had recapped this day a little bit sooner than a month from when we returned but I'll do my best to recap some of our favorite parts.
Starting far left and going clockwise:
1. Each state can select two statues that honor notable people in that state's history. Texas selected Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin and (surprisingly) we are the only state that commissioned life-sized replicas rather than the larger-than-life pieces more recognized throughout.
2. The first corner stone laid in the Capitol.
3. Washington's Tomb is an empty burial chamber that is two stories directly below the Rotunda (and closed off to public tours - we had "special congressional permission" to go view this space). The tomb was intended to the final resting place of George Washington who refused under the belief that the United States was not built around one man...rather for the people. The tomb was then offered to Jefferson who was to believed have said that "if it's not good enough for Washington, then it's surely not meant for me either." The tomb was never used until the space was refurbished in 2018. Reverend Billy Graham was the first person to lay in state in this space.
4. Just my man, looking at some old men.
I had to laugh at all the history I learned "for the first time" that day. My many apologies to my many many teachers that I didn't retain the valuable knowledge you tried to impart on me doing those tender years of "I already know everything".
The Rotunda was simply breathtaking. The entire space, the paintings, the stories, the history. The significance of the space - gives me chills.
We basically had to stop and take a picture at every patriotic looking space. We should have plenty of material for a Christmas card. Ha!
I maybe wish I would have pulled out the real camera for this snap (but honestly the freedom of just using my phone made this trip so enjoyable... more on that later)... but this... this historical painting filled with so much significance has been given a new life for anyone that has fallen hard for Hamilton.
You ever see a painting by John Trumbull?
Founding fathers in a line, looking all humble
Founding fathers in a line, looking all humble
Patiently waiting to sign a declaration, to start a nation
No sign of disagreement, not one grumble
The reality is messier and richer, kids
The reality is messier and richer, kids
The reality is not a pretty picture, kids
Every cabinet meeting full on rumble
What you 'bout to see is no John Trumbull...
Almost three hours later, we wrapped up the tour and I think all of us could have stayed longer. Thank you so much to the staff of Congressman Hurd for being such amazing hostesses. I am 1000% not surprised that our tour was planned by Aggies. ;)
I hope they always look back on these vacation days and reflect on where their feet have been and the endless possibilities of where they can go next.
We don't do it all, we don't see it all, we don't buy it all... but we do try to give them our all in creating a journey that fills them with wonder about the world. The possibilities of travel are endless and the learning that ensues from those journeys can be such a beautiful part of their story.
Also, we took 173 selfies in front of the Capitol and that was the best ones. Then we lucked out on the asking a stranger to a take a picture that was a devoted photographer who insisted on taking 173 more until he got one that was acceptable considering he was shooting into direct sunlight.
#Nottooshabby
And then we feasted. Ryan and I visited D.C. in 2013 for our dear friends' wedding and they hosted their wedding reception at Georgia Brown's. As soon as the kids picked D.C. as their destination of choice, the first thing Ryan said was, "We can eat at Georgia Browns!".
#priorities
Our last destination of the day was a sunset walk around the National Mall.
We couldn't have picked a better evening - the weather was perfect, the crowds were manageable and no one had complained about tired feet.
We took our time to sit and enjoy the sites instead of just checking items off a never-ending list. My favorite parts of these vacations are the smidges of moments that we steal with each kiddo. Sometimes it's riding their favorite ride, walking down a street, a quick restroom break, or even a stolen moment on the steps... no matter the moment, these are my favorite.
As we walked to each monument, we asked the kids what are some things we each can do so that one day, someone would want to memorialize us?
They talked about being brave and fighting on behalf of others...
they talked about trying new things that other people were scared to do...
they talked about being kind...
they talked about taking care of the world and standing up for what's right.
And that's why I spend my days talking about them. I hope I never take for granted the gift we've been given in these three. They are far from perfect (we all are) but they are that bright shining light called hope for our future. So I'll make them my priority for today.
As the last little bit of sun eased down the horizon, we all stopped and stared (and not just because by this time we had a grumpy pants among us) ... even the kids understood that we had just been given a near perfect day in D.C.
I'd say she earned every bit of that power nap.
Even if her sister wasn't tired...
yet.
Day 5 may have been our favorite so far... but we still had lots on the horizon.
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