Washington D.C. Day One - Air & Space Museum and visiting Grammie

Today was a good day.  The boys woke up early (of course!) and were so excited to be in D.C. that they were bouncing off the walls.  And once they saw their cousins there was no containing them.  Most of my (Bethany's) family are late sleepers but I'm afraid that it was difficult today.  But after a little while Faith and Danny took the girls sightseeing and James, Papa, and David took a couple kids to the store so things quieted down.

Cousins playing in the morning

Will working on his blog

Jacob is still very sick so around eleven Papa tried to take him to the doctor while the rest of us went to meet Faith and Danny at the Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum.  The museum was awesome!  Very cool, huge and filled with planes!  The boys even got to climb in a real plane and work the controls.

At the Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum

The museum is full of planes!

Colin practices to be a pilot

Will and Jon fly a plane

The boys enjoyed all the exhibits.

Colin

One of the boys favorite things in the museum was the space shuttle Discovery.  We met up with Faith and Danny there and all the kids were fascinated by the shuttle.  A couple of them drew some great pictures in the little field journals that James had brought.  

The space shuttle from above

All the kids in front of the shuttle

Discovery

Jon, Will, and Delilah

Jon and Colin pretending to be astronauts

Selfie!

Watching a movie of the space shuttle's last launch

 After seeing the shuttle we wandered the museum for a while but the boys started to get antsy.  It became impossible for them not to run!  Though it was frustrating for us, in their defense it was a huge building with wide open spaces which does scream "run!" to a little boy.  And once one starts the chase begins!

Charlie was so excited to find a "Charlie sized plane"

Colin in front of the Wright Brothers' plane

Jon and Dakota playing a game

Working on their journal entries

Jon worked really hard on his pictures. 

After the museum we all left to meet Mom and Papa at Grammie's nursing home out in Leesburg.  While we were at the Air and Space Museum Papa had tried to take Jacob to the doctor.  But unfortunately although they went to two separate walk in clinics they were unable to find anyone who could see him.  But we had an appointment to see Grammie so Jacob stayed home while Mom and Papa came to meet the rest of us.  

My grandmother has alzheimers.  James and I have been able to see her at least once a year and sometimes twice since we travel frequently.  But it has been two to five years since the rest of the family has seen her.  It was both wonderful and heartbreaking to see Grammie.  She sat next to my dad and said over and over "you look familiar to me" and "you look like someone I know".  I was used to her not remembering my name but it broke my heart that she didn't couldn't fully remember her youngest son. 

Grammie and Papa

Will and his Great Grammie

Showing off the flowers that the kids gave to her

But despite her memory, Grammie has retained so much of her personality.  She still worried about everyone being comfortable and kept encouraging those who were standing to have a seat.  (She was never able to sit down herself when he was hosting, she had to make sure everyone had everything!)  And she smiled and was happy, praising God for us even though she did not know exactly who we were.  

Talking to Grammie

Faith and Grammie

Laughing together

Grammie, Papa and David

At one point Grammie as Grammie was talking to us she turned to Joe and said "You are all such pretty young men"  Josiah was quick to correct her as we all laughed and she compromised by calling him a "pretty handsome man".

Joe and Grammie

Grammie and Papa

Grammie says goodbye to Daniel

Gathered around Grammie

Grammie has been an incredible influence on all of us.  When I was young I wanted to grow up to be just like her.  She has a warmth and joy that shines on everyone and she has the most loving heart of anyone I have ever known.  And for each of my siblings too she has had a unique and close relationship as we were growing up.  Even James loves her, she was the first person to make him feel fully welcomed into the family (back when we were dating).  I am so glad that we were all (almost all!) able to see her today.  

Me and my beautiful Grammie

Four generations

After leaving Grammie we all went down the street to have dinner with my Uncle John, Papa's brother, and Aunt Alice.  I was a little worried about how the kids would do but there was a trampoline in the backyard and a great playroom.  They had so much fun!  We all had a wonderful time, and a very delicious meal.  

Daddy and daughter time

Dakota

Uncle Daniel

Four boys on a trampoline

Joe and Elisa make a good team

A serious game

Grandpa watches the fun

Cute cousins on the trampoline

With all the running around the kids crashed pretty hard by the time we got home.  As we drove home we saw the most amazing thunderstorm!  We had didn't have any rain on the drive but we were all in awe of the giant streaks of lightening that flashed across the sky.  

When we arrived home we found that Jacob had gotten worse.  Papa and Daniel took him the E.R. and we are still waiting to hear how he is doing.  Please pray for him!

Tomorrow is an early day so I am off to bed.
Goodnight!