Star Spangled Banner ... cont.

Did I say that construction was winding down? Um ... not so much :) Which is a good thing, but sometimes a tough thing! The work has mostly moved inside now. We're working hard to get the front rooms finished so Bard's parents can enjoy staying out there. Of course, finished is a relative term. Mostly we're looking to keep the cold out, oh, and lights, too :) The electricity is almost finished, with several inspections coming up.

Continuing with the "Star Spangled" obsession of a young family member, we visited the Smithsonian Musuem last week on Bard's day off (yeah, Columbus Day!). The original flag that flew over Ft. McHenry is displayed there. We got a few, although somewhat unrelated, pictures that day.

Before those, a funny story .... Mathis is working hard to teach Kate the "Star Spangled Banner," and they're always practicing. We went to pick up my mom one day, and the kids stayed in the car, while I ran inside. Mom stepped out onto the front porch and then came back in the house to tell me that the national anthem was coming from our car. Yes, even with the windows rolled up, it was clearly heard :)

At the foot of the Washington Monument, overlooking the WWII Memorial, the Reflection Pool and the Lincoln Memorial.


We're so thankful that we're just a few minutes away from this amazing city. D.C. in the morning, and home for nap time, not bad!

The kids were about as interested in this excavation as they were anything else we saw that day :) People walking by were laughing at Bard and the kids (he's carrying Emerson in the front in the carrier ... pretty awesome, dad, huh?) so engrossed in this scene.While waiting in line to see the First Ladies' gowns, Jackson took to copying everything his big brother was doing.


We also visited the Flag House, where Mary Pickersgill sewed the original Star Spangled Banner. Thanks to the city of Baltimore, we got to enjoy it for free. They had a great kid's gallery with crafts, dress up, a replica of a period kitchen, toy soldiers, and more. The kids really enjoyed that. Sadly, we forgot to take the camera :(


To make up for it, here's the cutest story:

There was a little girl, who had a little curl ...
She loved playing with her babies more than anything else. One night after tucking her in, her weary parents trudged downstairs, exhausted from another day of excitement. At the bottom of the steps was the little girl's nursery where she keeps her cradle, doll clothes chest, frog rocking chair, and little treasures like purple mirrors. But alas, why was her rocking chair covered with a blanket?


Knowing the little girl with the little curl had been up to someting, her mama pulled back the blanket to find two little babies sweetly tucked in by their own mama, laid on a soft pillow and each with their own blanket. The tired parents exchanged smiles and felt that little tug in their hearts, a warm fuzzy feeling, but a little painful, too. Like when you love someone so much, it hurts.



"What??, you're not going to post with out putting my picture in, are you?" That Emerson, always has to have the last word!!