Today we had a free day off school and we were so excited! We slept in and had breakfast. Then we got to go get a car wash with Mama! We miss our car washes. We loved it!





Then it was off to DC to explore! Our first stop was parking by the Botanical Gardens. That's always a fun spot for us because we can see Daddy's work and walk along the water and the Botanical Gardens building and grounds with all of the lovely plants and flowers outside.



                                      

Next stop, the National Museum of the American Indian!! What a cool museum. The inside was beautiful and huge!



                                      

                                      

We checked out lots of exhibits and saw how the native americans and even Indians from South America lived. All of their hunting gear, untesils to eat and drink and prepare food, their moccasins and clothing that was beautifully adorned with beads and embroidery. And their furs and skins to keep warm. It was also really cool to see their homes and how they made them!

                                     

                                     

We got to watch movies about the stories of how the stars were formed according to the Indians and their folklore.

                                     

                                     

And we were also surprised by a real Native American man singing in his native language and playing a drum. It was so cool!





And we also go to learn a lot about the Checuan Indians that hale from Ecuador, Peru and other Andes Mountain regions in South America. It was super cool to see all of it!



                                      

                                      

We got about half way through the museum when we started getting hungry and missing Daddy! It was time to head to the Capitol for a little fun and some lunch! It was a beautiful afternoon for a little walk on the Capitol grounds!



                                     

It's always fun exploring the basement with Daddy. He knows all the twists and turns and all of the secret passage ways. It's a good thing we were with him or we'd be super lost!

                                     

Daddy took us to one of the Capitol carry-out's. The food looked amazing and we could order whatever we wanted!!

                                      

Then Jax had a monster truck race down the halls. It was awesome! I bet a lot of other kids can't say they race their monster trucks in the Capitol basement...

                                     

And the best part? We got to eat lunch with Daddy in his office! We were like real reporters on deadline!

                                     

                                     

                                     

Then we got to ride the train  back to the garage closest to our car. We love riding on the train! But next time Mama said she's making us walk the hallway so we can read all about the state quarters and what their images represent. It will be like a museum visit. And we do love those!



                                     

When we got home we lit up our pumpkins in preparation for Halloween. They look SO GOOD! And we had a fantastic day exploring our favorite city.

                                     

                                     

This morning we woke up in our ten fort and we just wanted to hang in there all day. We stayed in there for a really long time. Until Daddy and Mama made us get up and start cleaning up the house.






We played and cleaned in the house for a long time. Then we went running around outside. We played outside for a long time. Then we joined Joseph in his back yard. We had a blast. We didn't come home until it was dark and time for dinner. It was great.

Then Mama carved our pumpkins! I did a pirate pumpkin, Jax did Woodstock and Finn did Snoopy. Tomorrow when we get some better lights for inside our pumpkins we'll take a better picture of them outside on our front steps. But they all turned out really well. Mama is a great pumpkin carver!

This morning Mama woke up in New York to the yucky, windy rain that we had last night. But she and her friends made the best of it.



Mama also stopped in to Economy Candy across from her hotel. She said she wished we were with her because there was SO MUCH to choose from. She's never seen so much and so many varieties of candy. It looked really fun in there. They had everything from bulk candy to old school candy from when Mama was little. 

                                      

                                     

                                     

                                     

                                      

Mama promised us that next time we go to New York we are definitely going to this store and picking out whatever we want! Who needs a Dylon's Candy Bar when you can have this hidden gem!

                                    

                                     

                                     



Then Mama and her friends hit the train because they were excited to come home and see their kiddos!



While Mama was in the city, Daddy made us a cool fort in our room. It was the perfect way to spend a rainy, cold morning. We wanted to stay in there all day! And we almost did!



But then Daddy decided that we should hit Dave and Busters instead! And we were A-Okay with that decision! We got to play games and run around. We had so much fun. That Daddy, he is the best!

                                     

                                     



Then Mama got home and we were so happy to see her! And she gave us the goodies that she bought us at the candy store in New York!

                                     



And I got out the trumpet to do some practicing again. Oh and chased my brothers around blowing the horn at them. It was hilarious! And so much fun!

                                    

Then Daddy and Mama even let us sleep in our tent fort in our room. We were so excited to have a slumber party in our room!