Washington D.C. - Drive Down

  

  We are off on another adventure.  This time we are vacationing in Washington D.C. with almost all of Bethany's family.  It has been 7 years since our last family vacation!  So I am really excited about this one.

Ready to start our trip!

  We got on the road a little later than intended, thirteen of us packed into three cars.  We traveled in convoy, stopping together to switch drivers or gas up and only occasionally losing each other.  At one point I was leading the pack and took us down the wrong road but we discovered early enough that it didn't cost us too much time.  We have made the trip from New England to (or through) Virginia/D.C fairly often, four or five times in the past three years, but James and I always manage to miss a road or take the wrong one on the way down.  And always somewhere between Hartford and New York City.  You'd think we would know the way by now!  But perhaps next time...  :-)

The boys were almost perfect on the ride down.  They played quietly or read most of the time.  As we were crossing the Tappan Zee Bridge Jon called out, "I can see New York City!  Look!  There's Stark Tower."  Immediately all the boys started calling out that they could see Iron Man, flying over the city.  Another time as we passed a gas station little Charlie cried, "There's a gas station!  It says 'Hess'!  It says 'Hess' just like my truck!"  He was so happy to recognize the name of his favorite truck.  

We had packed snacks, sandwiches and chicken (James made his delicious fried chicken for the trip) so we mostly ate as we drove.  But around three or four we stopped for a quick meal and so the kids could run around for a bit.  Fortutously there was a playground across the street from Burger King and the boys were able to run and climb for at least a half hour before we left.  It was badly needed!

Hanging out on the monkey bars

My superhero stayed in his suit for the whole drive

Uncle Daniel gets in on the fun.  He made the boys so happy!

 We were still an hour away when it began to get dark and just about the same time it started to rain!  That made the last part of our drive a little more stressful but thankfully we didn't have any problems and made it to our place safely.  Faith, Danny and the girls were already here and Delilah and Deanna were sleeping by the time we got in.  

We are renting a fantastic place that is just beautiful and seems to have enough room for our whole family!  I am very happy with it.  There are only five bedrooms so all four boys are on the floor of our room and the girls on the floor of Faith and Danny's room.  Daniel and David have to camp out on the floor but there are some nice air mattress and they are wonderfully good spirited.  The only downside is that poor Jacob is really sick.  He slept in the car the whole way down and has a terrible cough.  Please pray for him!  

The house is quiet, everyone has gone to bed and it is time for me to go too!  I am looking forward to a good day tomorrow!