Making History

I have toyed with the truth behind America History and the events that have led to our present. I have always questioned the reliability of the stories carried many years to answer the most darkest deepest inquiries of where we came before.

However this weekend I was astonished by the overwhelming artifacts,stories, and sights dedicated to many events throughout American history.

I still believe in conspiracy theories, false interpretations of oral stories and so on.  But I am now inspired to dig deep into the depth of those stories, faces, names  and  figures.

Our drive to Washington DC, a quick 4 hours away was amazing.  Really.  I didn’t drive either way.  Kudos to my future Sister in Law for that task.  We stayed at the Embassy Suites, Georgetown.  But it really wasn’t in Georgetown at the corner of M and 22nd Street, but only a short walk down M Street and you were in the activities of Georgetown.

Embassy Suites was wonderful.  Room 707.  Cooked to order eggs and a buffet with sausage, grits, bacon, waffles or pancakes, and potatoes on LONG lines.  Free cocktails and snacks in the evening which I was able to take advantage of twice!  For me, it was margarita, rum punch, and sangria.  There was soda available for the kiddies and non-drinkers.  And Dan was able to enjoy the pool after some long hot days!   

We were very close to the sights of DC.  We did take the subway to the Capitol and the Spy museum and by the third day we did take a cab to the monuments. But the subways were very accessible and easy to navigate.  And the staff in the Transit-SO VERY HELPFUL!  We bought a card for travel that saves money per trip through the machines in the subway station.  I was also able to bike to Arlington by renting a bike with Capital Bike Share.

International Spy Museum-fun museum.  We did two interactive activities that cost extra.  Spy in the City was the second one where we were given a GPS tablet and sent on a task.  We were given clues on the way that would take us to our next location.  Very fun and it kept us moving in the hot sun.

Fords Theater-One of my favorite stops.  The audio tour was well worth it and the sights were amazing.  I mean, a President was shot there.  Abraham Lincoln was shot there!  We were able to sit in the theater and look at the balcony suite that he was sitting in and imagined the whole scene.  And then we walked across the street to the Peterson house where he eventually died in the morning.

Abe’s suite that he was shot in

Across from the Fords theater

White House-photo opportunity outside

In front of the West lawn of the White House

Capitol Building-Had a reserved tour.  Was an interesting tour but we didn’t get to see the House or Senate rooms.  But the architecture and the statues and the history that took place there.  Oh my.  The Capitol is actually under some reconstruction so we were one of the last torus allowed into the main hall.  We ate here as well.  Good quality and good cost. Ask Daniel his favorite part of the Capitol and he will say the dining area where he got yummy pizza and a fudge brownie.  I got pulled pork-tasty and plentiful.

Construction scaffolding is up

National Archives- We got to see the original Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and Constitution.  A great opportunity for Daniel to see the actual papers with words that he has learned about, signatures he has learned about, and history that he has embraced. I too took a moment to realize the importance of these documents and how they affect us today.

Library of Congress-a short visit but so much as we took a picture or two.

I love to read.  And to learn.  I love the written word. This is a place on my next trip visit!

Lincoln Memorial-Saw this one in the morning, day, and evening.  I ran to the monument from our hotel one morning and it was empty.  A great time to see Lincoln up close and personal.  I came back with Daniel later in the day and it was very crowded and we tried to take in the presence of his legacy.  We did come back at night to see the structure and the statue lit up.  Daniel wasn’t impressed with at night.  Me neither.  But I was impressed with the Washington Monument reflection in the evening.

Washington Monument-The structure made out of two different colored stones due to the war interrupting the creation.  And the two “eyes” atop-I believe are windows-where Washington is always watching.  Big Brother much.  I would like to go to the top next time around.

Vietnam War Memorial-A wall full of those brave soldiers who died during the war.

World War II-Daniel taking a selfie in the memorial that was dedicated to WW II

Korean War- Most emotional memorial for me.  Seeing these men brought me to a time of war and hurt and loss.

Thomas Jefferson-Beautiful architecture

Franklin Delano Roosevelt- 7.4 ACRES dedicated to this man

George Mason- George Washington’s Mentor and most overlooked memorial in DC.

Martin Luther King Memorial-

Supreme Court- Talking about making history.  Now these two Gals can get married!  tehy are kind of jumping for joy.

Georgetown was a great little city, like SOHO in NYC.  We ate at Il Canale and the gnocchi there was on point!  We had leftovers for the next day so that worked out.  We also grabbed some Haagan Dsaz.

Old Ebbit Grill-near the White House-pork chops and cheese grits and a dessert that was decadent.  I ate it so fast there is not picture!

We frequented Shake Shack for our mid afternoon meals. Daniel’s request.

All in all a great trip shared with my sister Michele, her fiance Vicky, me, and my little man.

Visit National Parks website.  The memorials and many museums were free and open till 11PM!

Our Boy Scouting Adventure

Sometimes we are attracted to things because our friends like it. Maybe we attend a function only because we know somebody else that is attending. And sometimes we join things because we want to meet people. I have done all three.
I’ve joined the great joy of running because my friends had an interest in it and it seemed like a great way to interact with them outside of our mundane world. I usually go to something out of my comfort zone when I know I will be joined by a familiar face. And, in college I joined a sorority to make friends. I find that my son is the same way.

In first grade, he came home one day to let me know that someone from Boy Scouts of America (BSA) had come to his school to talk about what a great experience it would be if the students were to join. My little man told me that I must attend the orientation at the local church the following week. He added that his two friends, Cameron and Anthony, were going with their parents to register and we must too. For him, anything.
So I showed up, as did the other two families and I listened and discussed. Now, let me say that Daniel has a practice of joining things and then abandoning them when either his friends loose interest or he does. But I told him that sure I would sign him up. Which actually meant, I was signing myself up for Monday evening duty at Boy Scouts. Since parents are involved when our little ones are a tiger cub.  I signed him up, even though a Monday evening for an hour or so after a day of work, and dance class, meant missing my own workout.

Yummy breakfast on the Battleship New Jersey after our sleepover.

Getting a tour of the Battleship New Jersey.

So when we make a commitment, I have stressed, we stand by it. Each Monday evening at 7:00 PM until 8:30 PM since then, we have showed up at the church hall ready to put our efforts in.

Let me tell you about the outcome of the two families who were also at the orientation: One child stayed for most of the year however his sports’ activities, Ice hockey in particular, took precedence. And the other boy never came back after orientation as he didn’t feel like this was the activity for him. Instead he takes MMA.

So, the reason why Daniel signed up for Boy Scouts was to spend more time with his friends. However they didn’t stay; thus I was extremely worried as we made the decision to enter into the second year: A cub scout, Wolf.

Earned a badge and some great take-aways!

And I know we made the right decision.  The impact this has had on our family has been amazing.  Opportunities to sleep on a battleship, camp out in the wilderness, sleep on a ball field, partake in STEM activities, build, plant, learn, share, and grow are some highlights.  And most recently I saw the impact on his writing in school where he created an essay on his experience with Boy Scouts.

Dan’s essay about his experiences with Boy Scouts.

Over the summer, the fun doesn’t stop.  Our Pack communicates through Facebook, email, and Scoutlander, and I receive Scout News with updates about activities for summer and the ones to come in the Fall.

Blue and Gold Ceremony.

Bring on the Bears, next stop.

Do you belong to Boy Scouts?  Or did you when you were younger? Share your experiences in the comments section.

Do you children tend to choose activities based on their friend’s opinions? Have you done something solely because you’re friends were doing it?  And ended up enjoying it?  Let me know about it.

Note: This blog post is being compensated by Boy Scouts of America however opinions are always my own.

My date with little man

I had bought a living social 3 class voucher for Jumplife for me a couple of months back. I thought it would be a fun and less stress on my body alternative to spin, weight lifting, or running. However since the voucher is due to expire in December and because time has not been on my side, I decided to use a class for little man. 

I tried to register on-line however the system was not recognizing my voucher as payment so I called Jumplife.  After explaining the issue I was told somebody would call me back shortly.  And minutes later, they did!  Danny man was registered for his first trampoline class.  

Saturday morning we headed into the city by car, and because I hate being late to new places and I hate to circle blocks to find parking, I parked right across from the studio by Canal Street.  That being said, I should have circled. There is on the street metered parking that wold have worked. 

I arrived for the class about 15 minutes early and met the owner, the instructor and another instructor who would be joining.  I was told that I could join in the class, for free the first time.  I was assured parents  do partake in the class and it would be fun.  I paused.  Now, I love physical activity, I love interacting with my child, and I was very excited about this class so it was a bonus.  However, I have an injury, I was dressed in jeans, wore no socks and had no sneakers, and I really wanted little man to experience this with other kids, not me playing with him.  However they had sneakers for me to borrow, and a nice new pair of socks. There were several children signed up for class and at least one other parent so…well, no excuses here.  I was ready to join in the fun.

All of a sudden, after chatting and Dan the instructors getting acquainted, we realized it was 10:05-Class start time 10:00.  And then we realized no other children or adults were there.  Pro-we had the whole joint to ourselves. Con-We would miss the interaction with the other people for the activities planned.  Let me say that Dan needs coaxing. He loves other kids, he loves activities, but boy does he get “tired” easily.  EXCUSES.  I heard them all in 10 minutes after we began.  Oh how I wished for other kids so he can forget that he was actually moving but playing with the kids.  And finally in the middle of our jumping and ball throwing game, 15 minutes later, the kids arrived!!!  By that time though little man was done.  And the entrance of the kids really didn’t help.  Even the awesome techno and disco lighting didn’t help.  But I thought it was soo cool, until I had an unhappy flashback of running through the Hollywood Studios tunnel with the disco lights at the Wine and Dine Half Marathon. “Simon says” followed and Dan tried very hard to listen and not make a mistake.  He did an amazing job!  I could barely hear if Simon said to do something because the music was loud but I managed. Next “follow the leader” came on.  This is where a child gets to lead the class.  They choose the jumps and moves and everyone follows.  Dan had his turn and he was ecstatic!! Lively even!!! And when their time in front ended it was time for stretching.  Oh how I love you thy stretching.  Even here, little man complained.  Honey, I explained, we are cooling down, almost complete, stretch my dear, it helps you!  And you know what he said at the end?

This was FUN!  I want to come back!

Really?

You complained.  You stopped.  You complained more.  And you want to come back???

Yep, that’s what he said!

And this is what I said: Sure.  An impromptu date with my little man is always welcomed! And maybe he doesn’t love to always move.  But he moved!  Some kids don’t move at all, and their parents don’t encourage them. A reminder to me that he will find his interests one day but I need to expose him to things; and that is what I plan to do again and again and again with no pressure just understanding that I didn’t love to move either when I was his age.  I loved to talk!  Some things never change and some things do!

Jumplife Studio

And since I paid a million dollars to park we made a day of having access to NYC!  Onward via the subway to Toys R Us to complete a wish list and then to Wendy’s to eat.  Yes-we eat fancy! 

Little man and his Star Wars wish list

Happy Thanksgiving from me and mine to you and yours!!

  

Taking the subway