Washington DC Day 6: April 16, 2008

We booked a late afternoon flight so we could still take advantage of the last day. It was a good day and we found the elevator access to the metro and got ourselves down toward the Smithsonian to hit the Museum of American History. As luck would have it, that museum is closed for renovation...hence the temporary and very abridged exhibit in the National Air and Space Museum from Day 3. So, what to do, what to do?


We then headed over to the National Aquarium, housed in the lower level of the Commerce Building. It is a cute little aquarium with probably 30 to 50 small displays. The kids enjoyed it. We checked out every display and Max squeaked each time a fish swam toward the glass. Cate especially enjoyed identifying all of the characters from Finding Nemo and the alligator sunning himself (or herself? I don't know).

After lunch, we still had time to kill and no souvenirs purchased. So we hopped the metro over to Union Station. There we quickly got a few items. It was brought to my attention last night that the shirt I purchased for myself was not just a large, but a child-size large. It still fits. Not flatterlingly well, though. Kyle picked up some cookies for a snack while we wait for our shuttle and back to the hotel we went for the final time.


Our shuttle came and it didn't take long for both children to pass out on the way to the airport. It had been a long, full week, plus it was really warm and cozy in the sun-filled van, so who can blame them for snoozing. We almost stiffed the driver as Kyle thought I had pre-paid, but we caught him before he left the curb. Phew! I would've felt really bad like I did when I left a written check for our Applebee's tab years ago.


The flight home went well. Kyle and the kids watched a movie while I sat across the aisle listening to my ipod. We left the Cities on a rainy slushy day. We returned to the Cities on a beautifully warm and sunny day as if it never snowed six days earlier. Whee! A great first family vacation. I think we're willing to do it again in July...