D.C.: Abe Lincoln, The White House, & the best cheeseburgers ever.

To see previous posts about this trip, go here: part I, part II

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^The McMurtrey fam + Abe^

One of the things the boys were most excited about seeing in person was the Lincoln Memorial. The older two had learned about it in school, and they couldn't wait to see how huge it was in real life! Holland was mostly excited that he could see "the guy on the penny, only bigger." Haha!

I think it was especially cool for all of us because we live right by Abraham Lincoln's birthplace monument in Kentucky! (See photos of that, here!) That was a fun connection to have.

So after our D.C. morning at the museums, we headed to the Lincoln Memorial. (...in a taxi. Because pregnant mama was tired. Haha)

^poor Jord--always toting someone up stairs. Haha^

^There he is!!^

^I love that Brighton is driving a car on Jordan's face here. Hashtag parenthood.^

We were blown away by the size of the monument. The Abraham Lincoln statue was massive, and the pillars out front were enormous!! The kids running around them and getting their wiggles out, and Jord and I loved sitting on the steps and looking out towards the Washington Monument. Such an amazing view! 

^Little Brighton bug^

^THE VIEW! So incredible.^

I think the boys' favorite part of this whole experience was sliding down the slanted marble at the monument. Maybe it wasn't the most appropriate/ reverent thing do to there...but hey. They're kids, and they loved it. Haha.

^They insisted on taking pictures with pennys, so they could 'match' the monument. Haha so cute^

Then I attempted to take a jumping picture of them in front of the Washington Monument, and they just started jumping up and down like crazy people.

So these photos were the result:

^so good haha^

They are such goofballs. And I really love it. 

^Not quite sure about the gun fingers...but those dimples!! Man I love him.^

^My crew of boys!^

^I don't know when he became a teenager, but it kind of makes me freak out.^

Jord snapped this next photo of me in all of my 24 week pregnant glory. You'd better believe I found every possible place to sit down on this trip...because holy cow! It was a lot of walking, and I was feeling it. Haha.

We just kind of hung out on the grass for a bit, and it was so fun. 

I seriously could not get over the view, and took approximately 400 photos while the boys played. 

I thought the boys were so cute looking into the water with their dad. I snapped a pic...

...and then two seconds later, Brighton tried to jump in and Jord caught him just in time.

Boys!! Haha. I was dying.

^Boston was snapping a photo for us when Brights ran in for a quick photobomb^

^The boy is an animal!! haha^

After the boys had ran around for a bit, Jord suggested that I head up to the Holocaust Museum while he treated the kids to some ice cream. He had already been through the museum, and I was dying to see it, so it worked out great! 

I hopped in an Uber and went to the museum, and he and the kids hung out for a bit eating ice cream while they waited for me.

I cannot even describe what a sobering experience the Holocaust Museum is to walk through. It is unbearably heart wrenching, but so moving. I think everyone needs to visit it at least once.

^As I walked in, they handed me an identification card with the story of the woman I would walk through for.^

^Faces of those who were lost.^

^This is an actual train car where people were forced to sit, crammed together for days or even weeks, and be transported to a concentration camp--and to an uncertain future.^

^Names of those lost. So, so many people.^

^The shoe room. This alone brought me to tears.^

The Holocaust Museum was one of the highlights of my day. I'm so glad I was able to go. It's one thing to read about history in a book--but its a completely different thing to see it in front of you. I was deeply moved by the whole experience.

Afterwards, I met up with the boys and we headed over to The White House. I will admit--after seeing so many amazing things that day, The White House was kind of underwhelming. Haha! But it was still cool to be there and to show the kiddos.

^Brights was hiding^

There was a man protesting out in front, and the boys were super confused. Camden asked,
"What's that guy yelling for?" and Boston said, "I think he's just selling stuff, Cam."
Haha! We were cracking up.

As we walked to the metro to head back to the hotel for the evening, we realized that we were all STARVING. There were no restaurants nearby, and we were all super hangry. 

But just then, we turned the corner and saw the most glorious sight: Five Guys Burgers. We could almost hear the angels singing!! 

We all scarfed our food down so fast-- you'd have thought we hadn't eaten for days. It was such a satisfying meal!!

Then after we ate (and weren't going to lose it on each other anymore--haha) we hopped on the metro and headed back to the hotel.

^Cam was the cutest. He entertained a very tired Brights the whole way home.^

What a great, PACKED day!! 

Hang tight for a few more photos of our D.C. adventures, coming up next!