Another DC Outing...

Today we went downtown to meet Delilas (Troy's Aunt). She had orthodontist appointments for her kids, and I had to work around naptimes, so we didn't see each other for very long, but my kids were excited to see their cousins anyways! Today we went to the National Museum of Natural History. This time the parking wasn't so easy. We didn't get there as early, and I drove around for 40 minutes looking for a spot. I finally found one, but the parking meter had been knocked over, and the actual meter was not attached. So, I couldn't put money in, but after 40 minutes, I didn't care if I got a ticket. We walked through the Sculpture Garden to get to the Museum. I thought it was wierd. Nothing that impressed me...I guess I don't have an eye for abstract art.

This picture is of a huge stuff elelphant in the rotunda of the building. We got there, and I had the kids sit down to take the picture. Do you see those birds on the branches? They're stuffed too, and then they had sound effects like the birds were alive. Kristin sat still for only 2 seconds, and then ran toward me. She was sure that the birds were going to get her!

They had a huge Mammal Section where they had pretty much a stuffed animal of every type of mammal. The crazy thing is the positions that they put them in. They're not just standing there. They have a mountain lion grabbing a bird with one paw, and the bird has it's wings spread out. It's very life-like. Kristin and Jake thought the bear was the best!

We also went to the rock and mineral section and saw the Hope Diamond. Naturally, Kyle didn't believe me that it was the biggest and nicest diamond in the world. I don't know everything, didn't you know? I was surpised at how much the kids enjoyed the rocks. For all of you in Oregon, apparently there are tons of "column" rocks near Mt. St. Helens. They showed pictures of them and had a small sample, but they looked really cool. You should go check them out! They also had a lot of meteors too. I was saving the best for last...the dinosaurs. It was a mistake. By this time, the kids were hungry, tired, and bored of a museum. The kids are in front of a dinosaur fossil pretending that they're dinosaurs. Silly kids. So, we said goodbye to family, and headed to the car to eat our lunch on the way home...which, since we don't have a cooler, it was zuchini bread I made yesterday, grapes, and bottled water. It was good though!