D.C.: The Washington Monument & The Smithsonian!

^The Washington Monument^

After our first fun evening at Gravelly Point, we woke up the next morning ready to hit up all the major D.C. hot spots!

We promised the kids we would ride the metro into the city (we stayed just outside of it, near Arlington Cemetery), and they were PUMPED! Holland asked when we were going to ride the train probably fifty times before we left that morning. Haha. And honestly, it totally lived up to the hype. They still talk about riding the trains all the time!

I think Brighton was the most excited of all to ride the metro. He is OBSESSED with trains, so this was literally like a dream come true for him. He was a little nervous at first (especially when we went underground), but he warmed up after a bit and loved it!

^He was prepared with his blankie and his backpack full of toy trains. Haha^

^little crazies^

We hopped off the metro in the center of all the action at the Washington Monument. It's so iconic, and it was so fun to see it in person! We rented a bunch of books about D.C. from the library before we went on our trip, and it was so cute to see the boys identify stuff they had read about. 

^Not really sure what Camden is doing to my head here?^

These next pictures of Cam kill me. He's a nut!! haha

^me + four and a half babies^

After seeing the Washington Monument, we walked over to the Natural History Museum.

It was awesome! 

The boys all loved the dinosaur section, and Jord and I really liked the animal wing. It was pretty crowded, but it was awesome (and FREE! Which is amazing!), and there was so much to see.

^Brighton ran over and said "I picture with elephant, mom!"^

^"Look at this turtle, mom! It's 'normous!"

^They were very into this pose. Haha!^

^The temporary narwhal exhibit!^

The animal section really was so cool! They had so many different displays, and we loved seeing it all. Brighton was fascinated! 

^That moment when I snapped this photo and realized that my boys are actually wild animals. I was cracking up over how much they inadvertently mimicked the animals attacking each other behind them. Haha^

After the museum, we wandered over to some benches outside for a picnic lunch! (And I'm SO glad we packed lunches...because there wasn't much to eat in this area at all. Sandwiches were a lifesaver!)

^Cute little climbing boy^

^The boys getting some wiggles out, and the U.S. Capitol Building in the background^

After lunch, we walked over to the National Air and Space Museum! The boys loooooved this one. There were some really cool rockets and shuttles to see, and some fun interactive games and activities for the kiddos. They ate it up!

^"Look, mom! A real-life astronaut!"^

^experimenting^

It blew my mind how big the rockets were. We felt like ants standing next to some of them!

^Holland in this one. Haha!!^

^Reading space facts. He was in heaven!^

We really liked the part on the second floor with all of the airplane and hot air balloon stuff. It was crazy to see some of the first planes that ever left the ground! (How did people actually fly in those??)

^Testing out a hot air balloon basket^

So many things to see!! 

We loved both museums, and also did I mention how cool it is that they're free? Always? So awesome.

More photos of our day at The National Mall are coming up next!