Field trip: Air and Space

Last week I took the kids down to the Air and Space Museum for a few hours.  I'm trying to take greater advantage of having access to the amazing museums and parks in DC and Baltimore.

We braved DC morning traffic - I gave myself a pep talk beforehand and went in with the mindset that it was going to take some time and patience.  Thank goodness that O&E are good passengers.

We found a spot near the museum, paid our handful of quarters and were off!  

First: A pit-stop to pump up the leaky stroller tire beneath this spire.

Most museums will be much more interesting and engaging once the kids are a tad older.  Right now they are beneficial more as a change of scenery, for interactions with crowds, and for the occasional small teaching moments (even just learning to obey in a busy place).

Owen flying the Cessna.  Not the most comfortable chair for a cross country flight.

Ever takes a turn at the controls.  She did a few barrel rolls.

I tried to let Everly walk on her own, but it was almost as if she gained energy from the crowd.  Her speed increased in direct correlation to the number of people around.  At one point she was literally sprinting in circles through a packed exhibit while Owen (who was glued to my hand the whole time - God bless him) and I abandoned the stroller in a last ditch effort to keep up.  All three of us breathed a sigh of relief as I snapped her back in her seat and she was content to ride, point and squeal at the rockets the rest of the trip.

We walked up and down the main corridors, Owen asked the purpose of each and every plane, we rode the elevator twice and were done.  Two hours flew by.

Finally, a nice picnic lunch by the Mall.  We had a front row show to a giant excavator working on the Mall renovations.

It was maybe as awesome as the rocketships.

Everly didn't make it out of the city before she was snoozing.   All that sprinting really takes it out of a toddler.  

Hopefully we will build up a small amount of momentum and take at least one trip every week.  Stay tuned!