Faking It

Every Monday morning I start my day helping little people check out books from the school library.  A couple of weeks ago, Sam’s teacher pulled me aside and said, “Can I ask you a question? You seem to be doing remarkably well, and I wanted to know . . are you really doing that well, or are you just faking it?”  Without any hesitation the words, “Oh, I’m faking it” flew from my mouth. Honestly, despite it being perhaps one of my “most real” moments, I’ve felt badly about it ever since. (Well, I’ve felt badly about it whenever I’m not laughing about it.)  When it comes to really faking it, I should receive an Oscar for my “I am totally capable of flying across the country with my four children for a week in DC” and (here’s the clincher) “It’s fun!!”  

We had the most amazing trip to Washington DC. for Spring Break.  I took 85 pictures in 5 days, which is nothing compared to my sister’s 385, but a whole lot more than the pictures Kevin came home with in 1992.  We were newly married and Kevin went back to DC to interview for a medical school spot at George Washington University.  After a weekend in the city, he returned home with FOUR pictures - one of the couple allowing him to sleep on their couch, and three of “the biggest squirrels” (according to Kevin) he had ever seen. He claims he saw them on the grassy mall.  I told him that story would be much more convincing had he chosen to perhaps include one of the national monuments in the background.  

Well, now we have photos to include of all of the national monuments.  And we experienced so much more.  Here are a few of our highlights:

Witnessed a live action event at Colonial Williamsburg - runaway horses pulling a buggy with the driver yelling, “MOVE! MOVE! These horses aren’t stopping!!”

Rode insane roller coasters at Busch Gardens

Flew through space in the Hubble 3D movie at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.  Josh fell sound asleep, exhausted from our late nights, and woke up distraught that he had slept through the most interesting thing of the day

Was drawn to tears in Ford’s Theatre

By the 3rd Smithsonian, had the kids bored to tears

On Easter Sunday, attended Catholic mass, in Latin, in Chinatown

Illegally touched the Ronald Reagan statue in the US Capitol, only after the encouragement from our awesome tour guide, Michael - “You only live once”

Observed Monets from a distance after being told there was to be “NO PHYSICAL INTERACTION WITH THE ART”

Spent as much time in the National Gallery of Art gift shop as we spent in the museum

Took on secret identities at the International Spy Museum

Performed baptisms in the Washington DC temple

Devoured TLC famous “DC Cupcakes”

Observed the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with reverence.  Then spent the rest of the day trying to imitate the guard’s walk.

Saw the wonder of the Lincoln Monument at night (and the Vietnam wall, Korean War memorial, and WWII memorial), only to have them completely upstaged by 3 baby foxes frolicking in the grass. . . .Which brings me full circle.  Foxes.  Giant Squirrels.  I agree with Kevin - there is a lot more to DC than just the monuments.  

Best part of DC: Being with GG and cousins