I was lucky enough to talk my Grandma Whitesides into getting on a plane and coming to Viriginia with me when I came home from my girls weekend in Utah. We trekked my 86-year-old grandma through tons of sightseeing in D.C. and enjoyed a wonderful week with her! Monday the kids were off school so we went to Manassas Battlefield to learn about the Battle of Bull Run. The kids enjoyed the battlefield and movie, but liked playing by Bull Run Creek even more.
The older kids climbed across some rocks out to an island and loved exploring on their own. It was HOT and we enjoyed relaxing in the shade of the beautiful fall trees while they played.
Tuesday we ventured down to Ford's Theater while the older kids were in school. We brought Evan, Natalie, Seth, and Lucy, and let's just say that Lucy was wonderful! The other three were kind of a nightmare in the museum and in the theater, so we didn't stay long and then altered our plans and decided to walk through the FDR memorial instead so the kids could run around and be free rather than try to behave in a museum. The day was beautiful and the kids loved it!
I think the best part of Grandma's trip was that she played games with the kids in the evenings, did puzzles with Evan, and took Natalie outside to play in the back yard. The kids loved having her here, and it was so nice to get some one-on-one time with the grandma who we drop in for visits with but haven't spent good, quality time with in a long time. The kids know her, feel close to her, and can't wait to go visit her again.
On Wednesday we got a babysitter for the little ones and went on a Tourmobile tour. We started at Arlington Cemetery, visited the eternal flame and the Kennedy gravesites, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The leaves were starting to change and the cemetery was stunning.
We rode the Tourmobile through downtown D.C. and stopped to enjoy the WWII memorial. Grandma and Grandpa served in the war, so this memorial was particularly moving for Grandma, and it is spectacular.
Thursday it poured rain and I think we are all grateful for a rest from our sightseeing anyway, so we stayed in and made Halloween ghosts and bats out of chocolate chips to hang on our Halloween tree.
Friday we went to Mt. Vernon and wished we had even more time to enjoy this beautiful historical site. Kara took all the pictures that day, so I only have this one of Natalie looking out at the Potomac, but I love Mt. Vernon and this time we visited the new museum there and had no idea it was so grand and well done. I can't wait to take the older kids back to enjoy it some time.
Friday night, Kara and Dave took Grandma to the D.C. Temple while Mike and I helped with a youth activity. Cousin Laura and Marty joined us late Friday night for the rest of the weekend, and we loved hanging out with them, some of them toured the Capitol, and then we watched BYU get crushed by TCU while enjoying some good pizza.
Such a fun week and we felt so lucky to have Grandma come for a long visit.
