DC Adventure Part 2~So many sacrifices...

Monday Carter and I are home, but the DC adventure lives on in blog land! The posts will continue...

So, from the Zoo we hopped back on the Metro (that thing is handy) and headed over to the Arlington National Cemetery. By this time is was late afternoon so the lighting was very "moody" and it made it that much more special. There are endless sacrifices in the form of white stones as far as the eye can see. It is really overwhelming if you actually stop and think about it. We also spent a little time at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and were able to see a changing of the guard which was really cool (Carter missed it due to exhaustion). The cemetery is a definite DC must see...



After our loooooooong day we were running on E! So, after a quick wardrobe change we were off to Old Ebbit's Grill. A long standing DC icon (or so we were told)!

Carter was recovering from her nap, but that didn't stop her from looking cute as a button...

Dinner was wonderful and the conversation with Clint and Jenny was great! It was the perfect way to end our very first day in the city!

Cheesecake is Sweet!

Roses are ReD

Violets are bLUe

Cheesecake is SWeEt

and I am tOo!!

Happy Valentine's Day XoXo Carter Brooke


P.S. There was this really nice piano playing man at Nordstroms and I just couldn't keep my feet from dancing to the music (the crowd that gathered was very entertained)!

Lucky in Love

Lucky to have you...

Lucky to be sharing a shake made for two...

Lucky to get Lucky from my Valentine...

Lucky his heart will always be mine...

Lucky that's me...

HaPpY vALeNtINe'S DaY from our family of three!

DC Adventure Part 1~There was this really cute Panda and the BIGGEST Hippo I've ever seen!

Well, we have crammed SO much into our trip so far I think I am going to have to do posts that cover a half a day just so they aren't forever long! It has been such a great vacation for us as a family. I know for a lot of people getting to actually travel with your husband wouldn't seem like such a novelty or a treat, but for me it is just that! I feel like Carter and I are usually making our day long plane trips without Nate and so his presence just made everything feel special! So, first things first, there was the actual "getting to" DC. It was a day long affair and except for the fact that we were hungry it was great! Three greedy little hands couldn't wait to dig into the snack pack the three of us finally agreed upon and bought on the first leg of our flight...

Having this guy along for the ride...

made these girls very happy!

We finally arrived in DC and headed straight for the Capital Hilton. After a great nights rest we were ready to hit the streets. There were lots of camera worthy moments. Old buildings...

Statues...

Pigeons...

A protester whose been living in front of the White House since the 60's (hey whatever floats your boat)...

And we caught our very first glimpse of...

The White House!

Yes in-deedy, it's the Obama's new digs...

I wouldn't mind if my back porch and yard looked a little like this one...

Their view isn't half bad either...

More on the Obama's new Home Sweet Home a little later. We were on our way to grab a quick sandwich at...

Just a quick side note to all you Oak Harbor folks out there...this is not even close to the same joint that is hiding out in our little town...it's a fake, an impostor! I'm still dreaming about their homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, melt in your mouth and put a smile on your face...

With full stomachs we made a beeline for the Metro. Clint had to show us the ropes...

and without him I know I would have been LOST!

It was just like I pictured it would be...

Yes it's cheesy, and yes I guess I am a small town girl, but I totally felt like I was in a movie!

Next stop the ZOO!

Up, up and away we go...

It was a beautiful day and all the animals seemed to be enjoying the sunshine as much as we were...

We were led by our very own adventurer Dora (aka Carter) and her trusty map...

she led us straight to the Panda (who was enjoying his lunch)...

and the BIGGEST Hippo we had ever seen...

he was definitely not on a diet!

And, as we all know, Dora would be lost without her trusty sidekick Boots (aka Daddio)...

It was a great way to spend the morning with Uncle Clint and his girlfriend Jenny...

Family fun at the zoo was a great way to kick things off with a bang...

and while there is much more to come, for now that's THE END...

Get it, the end, as in Carter's Rear End...HA HA...sometimes I crack myself up (no pun intended) ok, maybe a little bit', BUTT really I'm all done now!

Monday Carter Edition #15

Today Monday Carter toured our Nation's Capital!! It was a first for her (and for her mom I might add!) It was a beautiful day in Washington DC (we've been so blessed with lots of sunshine for the past couple of days). Here are a few snapshots from our tour this afternoon (thanks so much Jenny for setting everything up)!

We just arrived in PAX River tonight and are sittin' cozy in our room eating cookies and watching The Bachelor...life is simple and good. So, now that I've got free WIFI I'll be heading to get my photos developed tomorrow and am looking forward to sharing all of our DC highlights! Clint and his girlfriend Jenny have done so much to insure that we had a good time and it has been awesome! More soon!

Dinner with the Obama's!

Ok...not really. But, we are heading to D.C.! Never a dull moment, Nate found out about a week after getting home that he would be heading to D.C. for a couple of weeks to do some training. We've been meaning to make it to Washington ever since Clint started working there a couple of years ago and it just hasn't happened.

So, we are taking the opportunity to make it a work/vacation trip and are leaving Friday! Nate has already been twice but I have never had the opportunity. So, for all of you who have visited the Nations Capitol what are the "can't miss activities"?! Any suggestions are welcome! Of course we will have our favorite Marine as the "official" tour guide, but I just thought is might be fun to see what others recommend! Thanks for the help!

Monday Carter Edition #14

Poor little Monday Carter stayed home sick with a cold. It is so hard when your kid doesn't feel good...I hate watching her deal with the misery! So, because of the "sick day" I thought I would share a photo from the weekend instead! Nate and I had an amazing time on our get-a-way...it was fabulous and we were so caught up in it all that we didn't take one picture, so you'll just have to take my word for it! But, I will say this...if you ever have the opportunity to spend three hours at the spa take it and don't look back, it was that good. Carter got an A+ on her report from her weekend with Elli and Ava...apparently this is how Mindi found the girls Sunday morning (head lamps and flashlights, while reading in bed)...

We are so lucky to have such wonderful people in our lives! Carter's only complaint after the weekend was that she had to "sleep alone in her room" I think we are both hopeful she will have her own sister to share a room with one day!