So Curtis and I are always staying up late or going on long walks and most often the topic of conversation is our kids. Do they know just how much we love them and want them to be happy? It's so hard as a parent of teens. I really felt like I had the answers when they were younger but these teen years are tough to navigate. I just feel myself losing control and have come to realize that the main thing I can control is my love for them and my example. Of course we can also work to make our home a safe and healthy place and can provide appropriate boundaries. But sometimes it just feels overwhelming.
Anyway, we have noticed that our kids fight a lot but one on one they are amazing. Just really awesome people whose company I truly enjoy. So we have been trying to enjoy more one on one. I found an amazing deal on Kayak for tickets to Baltimore and knew Daniel and I had our trip. Daniel is my museum kid. He loves space and history so I've known for awhile that DC would be right up his ally. My sweet nephew and his family live right out side of DC (Michael works at Arlington National Cemetery) and so we asked if we could crash there. This trip was only going to work if it was almost free.
Anyway, we have noticed that our kids fight a lot but one on one they are amazing. Just really awesome people whose company I truly enjoy. So we have been trying to enjoy more one on one. I found an amazing deal on Kayak for tickets to Baltimore and knew Daniel and I had our trip. Daniel is my museum kid. He loves space and history so I've known for awhile that DC would be right up his ally. My sweet nephew and his family live right out side of DC (Michael works at Arlington National Cemetery) and so we asked if we could crash there. This trip was only going to work if it was almost free.
So I took Daniel out of school for 3 days in October and we flew to Baltimore. Then we hopped on a train that went right the Union Station in DC. It was so fun to be on an adventure together. We flew spirit airlines so we brought hardly any luggage and what we brought was stowed at Union Station while we walked over to the museum district. We ate at Steak 'n Shake and then headed to the Air and Space Museum. The weather was absolutely perfect and there were no crowds at all! We had views of the Capitol Building as well as the Washington Monument for much of our stroll. The museum was so interesting. We especially enjoyed learning about comets and space probes.
We really enjoyed our time with Mike and Shalyn and their darling children. What a great family! They were so generous with us and made us so comfortable. Shalyn made these delicious pumpkin pancakes and a chowder recipe that I'm actually making this week- so good! Daniel had a lot of fun playing with their children, Naomi, Kaytlin and Charles.
We also visited the Natural Science Museum, Ford Theater, Jefferson Memorial and the Holocaust Museum. All just incredible and inspiring and interesting. Ford Theater was actually my favorite. I did not know all those details about Lincoln's life and assassination. Boy it looks like opinionated actors are nothing new.
We stayed until Saturday morning, hit Duck Donuts on our way to the Union Station (A.mazing. Best warm, light, cake donut ever and they frost it right in front of you!) Then Daniel and I took the Amtrak to Baltimore and caught our flight home. The Amtrak was awesome- super comfy, wifi and plugs, a food car and plenty of restrooms. I'd love to take a longer trip on one someday. Ours traveled 60mph but there was another that goes 100mph. So cool.
Overall this was an excellent trip. I loved just chatting with Daniel as we walked along. He is such great company and just a very thoughtful person. I love to hear the ideas that come out of his head. He will be a great problem solver one day. Curtis was so sweet to hold down the fort while I was gone. And as always, it was nice to be back home.
