(Written by Adam.)

We have just returned from a week-long driving trip to Washington D.C.

It is an easy two-day journey from Atlanta. We drove up with my folks last weekend and spent 4 days in the city. Mom & Dad flew home from D.C. while the 5 of us returned by car.

I didn’t send out photos each day of our happenings because I forgot to bring a small computer adapter that allows me to save my photos on my laptop – so it had to wait until we were home to look at the photos.

First visit was to the Smithsonian American History museum. This is a room full of generators and magnets, all developed in the late 19th century. City in a real Chicago Transit Authority bus from the 1940s. Lots of hair in front of the White House. Walking along the National Mall – for those who have been here, you know that it is about 5 miles between each building and/or monument. Everyone wore out their feet this visit, but we had fantastic weather to enjoy the long strolls. At the new World War II memorial. Construction going on at the Washington Monument, construction and maintenance going on along the Reflecting Pool – getting ready for the summer crowds. Running up the steps to the Lincoln Memorial. (Others walking a bit more slowly, behind…) Isabella getting her photo taken with the Gettysburg Address for her History class. Holden noted that it sure seems like we have been in a lot of wars.  This is the Korean War Memorial. Vietnam War Memorial Arlington National Cemetery There are now more than 400,000 people buried here, and from 27-30 additional burials take place each day. Robert E. Lee’s house – which was taken over to make the cemetery. The table on the left is where Lee signed his resignation letter from the U.S. Army, three days before taking up command of the Virginia state forces. Mast of the USS Maine, which exploded and sunk under mysterious circumstances in Havana harbor, 1898. It now serves as a memorial and gravemarker for 166 soldiers who died that day. They were moved and reinterred beneath the monument. Isabella standing in front of the Judith Henry house on the site of the First Battle of Bull Run. This was a special visit for Isabella, because she has been studying this battle in her History class. She has an assignment to write a report of the battle, and she knew she would get extra special credit for actually going there and providing picture proof. Isabella knew about Judith Henry (the first civilian to die in the Civil War) and she got a kick out of seeing the house and the surrounding grounds where both sides fought at such close quarters. Confederate graveyard near Manassas. Looking up inside the US Capitol Rotunda – “The Apotheosis of George Washington” Hanging out on the Capitol Hill steps.  (♬ “I’m just a bill; Yes, I’m only a bill; And I’m sitting here on Capitol Hill” ♪♪) Walking through a sculpture park on our way to the National Archives to see the “big 3” – the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. Waiting in line at the National Archives. Brenda pulled up a video from her childhood – Schoolhouse Rock “The Preamble” (this video, in fact..) so that the kids would have a better concept of what they were looking at. Smithsonian Natural History Museum Creepy-crawley exhibit.  Touch real bugs!  This is a giant grasshopper.  Josie enjoying the Smithsonian Human Origins exhibit. Get out your nickels. Walking across Jefferson’s back yard at Monticello. After mom and dad flew home from DC on Thursday, we started our 2-day drive back. On the way, we stopped in Charlottesville, VA to spend the afternoon at Monticello and surrounding area.