My wonderful husband had to do some work out there so the rest of us went along for the ride! And some people wonder why we homeschool, this was one of those reasons why!!!
Before we went I was challenged by how much did we need to do to justify it being school site seeing, but the boys were amazing. We didn't follow curriculum, but they definitely learned a lot! Todd challenged the boys to come up with three questions to stump him with every night. That was a great challenge and they took it very seriously, especially when dad started offering a "Lego Buck" when they were able to stump him! (They usually even had more than three questions to ensure their stump.)
We are creating some lapbooks from our trip as suggested by my friend Jan Bloom. We've only done of these before, so I'll post pictures when we are done.
Wonderful stuff:
Going in January - NO lines, personal tours, not crowded
Hotel Staff that was amazing to us - rides to and from the Metro everyday, breakfast staff so friendly, lifeguards at the pool (life guards are required in VA at pools)
Free stuff all over D.C.
My highlights:
My boys were interested in most museums!
My boys had enough stamina to actually enjoy going to museums all of the time.
I was able to calm down and enjoy what we got to see and not stress (too much) about not seeing it all. (Hopefully we get to go back.)
We didn't get separated on the Metro which we rode every day!
Here's a quick rundown of what we did:
Day 2 - Smithsonian National Museum of American History (great hands on exhibits and the "Star Spangled Banner Exhibit" was very cool), U.S. Marine Memorial (Iwo Jima)
Day 3 - Smithsonian National Zoo
Day 4 - Capitol Tour, ran into John McCain at the capitol basement, Visiting with Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson, Library of Congress. Orsborn's arrive!
Day 5 - Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Lincoln Memorial, Old Post Office Pavilion – Look out across the city
Day 6 - (Just the girls and the baby) Smithsonian National Museum of American History - First Ladies Dresses and Julia Child's Kitchen
Day 7 - Bureau of Printing and Engraving, Washington Monument, CP-3O at National Museum of American History (just a photo op), National Archives
Day 8 - Arlington National Cemetery, Lego Store shopping
Day 9 - Smithsonian Museum of National History - ran into a homeschool group and joined their activity, IMAX Grand Canyon Adventure in 3D, Dinner with Todd's boss's family...veteran homeschoolers even!
Day 10 - National Building Museum (The boy's favorite - Lego Exhibit.)
Days 1 an 11 were travel days...
None of us were ready to come home. I need to evaluate what we so great about this trip so we can maybe replicate some of that at home. I of course loved not cooking or cleaning a kitchen for 10 years and not having to clean a house...not sure that it's realistic to have that be a part of our every day life!
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