Another full day in DC

Ok, we have mastered the Metrorail system- even Lara likes to swipe her own card. We started the day at the National Air and Space Museum then headed up to Capitol Hill. We spotted several ducks and duck babies in the reflecting pool- the kids were captivated. After some photos on the steps of the Capitol, we walked (and walked and walked) to Union Station for lunch. It looks like a pretty short distance on the National Park Service map, but it doesn't feel very short when you are walking in heat and humidity. There are trees everywhere here, and everywhere there are trees there are also squirrels. Now, I know that our children have seen squirrels at home. But here they are absolutely obsessed with the squirrels. And the squirrels here are extra jumpy- we saw one come straight off the ground when Eric startled it. Kelson is sure that one was throwing rocks at him when we were at Jamestown. Hmm, they're smart but I don't know if they're THAT smart.

We had an interesting experience at lunch. As we were finishing our burgers, a man who appeared to be homeless approached Troy and asked if he could have what we weren't going to eat. We told him to help himself, of course. He was very grateful and insisted on clearing our table for us. I couldn't help thinking about how much we have to be grateful for and the responsibility we have to help those less fortunate. It was a good opportunity to talk with the kids about King Benjamin and principles of charity.

After lunch, we went to the Museum of Natural History, where the highlight was a squirrel skeleton (obviously). We took a break for cold drinks and enjoyed watching two bus drivers who were apparently brothers (from New York it seems) try to hold a conversation with their Asian riders. Then we strolled down to the Washington Monument and over to the World War II Memorial. That memorial made me cry- I can't believe what that generation did to preserve our liberty. Now we're back at the hotel, resting and hoping our muscles won't be too sore for walking at the National Zoo tomorrow . . . :)