Easter Weekend

We had quite a celebration for Easter.  On Friday, we went to DC.  I had bought a Groupon a couple of months ago for a Cherry Blossom cruise.  It was for the 5 of us to go on a cruise around the Potomac to enjoy the Springtime view of the cherry blossoms.  When I booked it I didn't anticipate that the blossoms would bloom so early.  So there wasn't much (any) pink to be seen but it was still a gorgeous day.  The kids had been asking us to take them on a boat for a while and they were thrilled.  We took the metro in, which is an adventure in and of itself, and then walked to the harbor.  We all enjoyed the boat ride.  The cruise lasted just under an hour and gave some good, touristy information.  The kids loved standing at the very front of the boat and peering over the sides, which made me a bit nervous but certainly kept them entertained.

On the train ride there

This was actually the way home, they loved holding on and moving with the train.

In the distance is the Washington Monument

After the cruise we decided to head over to the museums.  Thomas wanted to see an exhibit that we thought was at the National Gallery.  I was excited to go there because it was where Thomas and I had our first date.  We planned to eat at the museum cafeteria, the same place Thomas and I ate almost 11 years ago when we were just getting to know each other.  It was close to a mile away which is a long walk for little legs.  But, we all made it.  We had lunch and reminisced.   We have been to a lot of the other museums since then but this was our first trip back to the National Gallery (not the most interesting for our out of town guests, most of whom have small children).  Unfortunately, the exhibit we were looking for was at the American Art Museum.  I enjoyed seeing the Picasso sketches and the kids liked all the sculptures, but no one felt like going to another museum.  We just figure this means we'll have to go back soon.  

While we were enjoying lunch, a woman sat down across from us.  She had just a piece of cake and Anna said loudly, "I wish I could have some cake."  The woman then offered her a bite, which we politely declined.  But, her gesture of kindness was all that it took for the kids to label her a friend.  They proceeded to talk to her nonstop, telling her their real names and character names (Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman that day) and about going on the boat.  She asked Jack what his favorite thing at the museum was and he answered with a story about Buzz Lightyear.  I love those kids!  My husband also got us some interesting looks.  We were telling the kids about how we were there before they were born.  Anna said that they must have been in my tummy (their answer for anything that happened before they were born).  Then, she asked how they got out of my tummy.  In a very dramatic fashion Thomas said, "the doctors took a knife (he gestured as if holding a knife) and they cut open mommy's stomach and pulled you out (he acted it out with motions in the air)!"  There were three teenagers sitting at the next table, and they all quickly turned around to look at us.  It was hilarious!  (It is a story our bizarre kids like to hear they are used to it.)

Saturday, we took the kids to an Easter Eggstravaganza on the base.  It was okay.  I was a little irritated that it was $5/person.  I assumed it was $5/kid and I don't think the event was worth $25.  We stayed for about an hour, the kids got to tie-dye shirts, which was fun.  (Although after only one washing they have already greatly faded.)  They also had some games but the lines were really long.  The highlight was, of course, the egg hunt.  They had tons of eggs.  I can't imagine who stuffed them all.  They had fields of them (a different field for each age category, we were in 3-5).  We got lots of stickers and gum (which my kids can't have), some that had laffy taffy and sweet-tarts, and a few with prizes like little compasses, tiny erasers or bouncy balls.   

Dyeing t-shirts

Waiting patiently for the hunt to start (sorry Thomas)

Enjoying their spoils

When we got home we dyed Easter eggs and played outside.  Sunday, they had their own little hunt in our house.  We hid the eggs they had dyed and some more candy-filled ones.  They are all such loving kids; they had no problems helping each other and making sure everyone got the same number of eggs.  If one of them of them found an egg another had dyed, they were so excited to give it to their sibling.  It was very sweet to watch.

Before we added stickers and other decorations to our dyed eggs