On Day 2 of our trip to DC, we hit the Air and Space Museum and the Museum of Natural History.
Real Man’s aunt and uncle live in Maryland, just outside of DC, so we took the Metro.
The monkeys are big fan of anything train related, so you can imagine the excitement at taking the metro.
Monkey Girl and Monkey in the Middle both wanted to sit with Aunt Beth. In fact, they probably would have been perfectly happy if Real Man and I weren’t even there. They loved being with Aunt Beth. In fact, by the end of the day, I’m surprised that Beth’s eardrums weren’t bursting from the constant chatter in her ears all day at the museum. It was very cute.
When we came out of the metro station, we were in the mall and the kids thought it was one of the best things they had ever seen. All of the buildings lined up on either side, the Washington Monument and the Capitol Building on the two ends. I have to agree…it’s a sight.
We decided to have a nice, family shot in front of the Capitol Building. However, in our true family style, we accidentally stood right in front of it. Still, not a bad shot.
The monkeys were thrilled by the prospect of the museums. They are big fans of Night at the Museum and Night at the Museum II. Both of the museums were were going to see that day were in the second movie, and they loved the idea of seeing the things they had seen in the film.
Air and Space was our first visit. Our first stop?
The cafeteria.
We had made our own lunches and so we headed into the cafeteria and found a table and ate. Baby Monkey was very upset that Real Man had cut his sandwich in half, and was refusing to eat it until Beth suggested that Real Man and I take the big monkeys to the museum and she’d wait with Baby Monkey. You’ve never seen a sandwich disappear so fast. He loves his Aunt Beth, but he wasn’t letting us leave.
The monkeys really wanted to see the Wright Brothers exhibit, so in we went.
Baby Monkey took a turn steering an airplane that was hanging from the ceiling.
If I thought it would have held me, I would have climbed right in after him. Have I mentioned how badly I wanted to be a pilot when I was a kid? It was my big dream. However, my Mom looked into it for me, and it turned out that even as a kid, my eyesight was too bad. They told her that no one would ever let me fly. Dream #1, crushed.
But, I digress…
Monkey Girl and Monkey in the Middle really enjoyed this exhibit. They loved the Wright house and wanted their picture taken with the Wright Brothers.
Listening to Monkey in the Middle trying to remember Orville and Wilbur’s name was a hoot.
Along with my love of flying in general, I, too have always been fascinated by the Wright brothers. When Real Man and I were dating, we took a trip down to Kitty Hawk for a long weekend. I’m just in amazement at people who don’t just think the impossible, but make it happen.
Seriously, think about airplanes. These things are massive and so heavy! And yet, they fly through the air with the greatest of ease…okay, they aren’t trapeze artists, but you know what I mean. It’s just an incredible thing, and these two guys thought they could do it. Impressive, to say the least.
We walked around the rest of Air and Space, and then decided to run over to Natural History.
My favorite museum in DC is the National Gallery. However, I didn’t think the kids would love it at thi age, so rather than subject them to the art this time around, Real Man ran them over to the fountain next to the Gallery and gave them a snack, while I ran into the gift shop to buy some stationery. I am a stationery girl, though and through. Yes, I still write handwritten letters and use my stationery on a regular basis. I also love the journals that they sell there. They are absolutely gorgeous.
Natural History was AWESOME.
Monkey in the Middle was enamored with the dinosaurs.
I was angered by the leash kids. I’ve got a real problem with kids on leashes. A real problem. I’ve got three…I can keep track of them. Yes, I have to work a little harder, but I do it.
These are children, not dogs. Trying to “cute it up” with the monkey backpack doesn’t work, either. I’d love to see someone put a leash on these parents and see how they liked being jerked around by a string. Not too much, I imagine.
After the first floor of Natural History, Baby Monkey had had enough.
So, I found a bench in a quiet corner and sat with him while Beth and Real Man took the big monkeys to the second floor to the reptile and insect exhibit. More reptiles. Darn. So sorry I missed them.
After that, we headed back to the metro and headed back to Beth’s.
It was another wonderful day, full of things for the monkeys to learn and do. DC is really a fantastic place to bring kids. There is just so much!
Tomorrow…the National Aquarium!
