Washington DC- Day 3

Saturday was our last day in DC.  We got up early, packed our bags and took them to the bell hop while we went on a few last adventures before we had to be at the airport.  After breakfast our first stop was the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle- (he is the patron saint of civil servants) - it is GORGEOUS!  And it's only one block from the hotel so it just made sense that we'd go. This is the church where they had President Kennedy's funeral mass.








A side chapel dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi-




They had the four gospel authors around the rotunda- here is our family's favorite- Sanctvs Marcvs- Saint Marc!





I love how they had a mosaic behind the Tabernacle that had a scene from the Road to Emmaus (found in Luke 24) and the words from the Bible- "they recognized Him in the breaking of the bread."


After visiting the cathedral we headed to the place I had hoped we'd have time to see- the Library of Congress.  This is hands-down, no question, the prettiest government building in Washington DC.








My favorite part- the many, many quotes written around the ceiling- Marc took the kids to see a civil war exhibit so I could literally walk and read every single quote!  He knows these things make Mommy so happy.  :)





Man raises, but time weighs....




This library is just a treasure.  We saw the original Gutenburg Bible (the first great book printed with movable type in Western Europe).  We saw the grand reading room (as seen in National Treasure 2), but a lot we couldn't take pictures of.  They had recreated Thomas Jefferson's original 6,000 volume library and it was neat to see what he read. 

After Mommy got her fill of the Library of Congress we walked across the street to the capital.  We hadn't planned on going there, but we were ahead of schedule so we walked on over.  They have a HUGE new underground visitor's center and cafeteria.  We looked at the statues and museum section and then had lunch there.  I have bragged that everything in DC is free- all the monuments, museums, etc. are free- but let me tell you- a mid to low quality lunch at the capital building's  equivalent of a Picadillys cost us $61.  Lesson learned- eat elsewhere. 





Alabama's Helen Keller statue-



First King of Hawaii and North Dakota's statue- Sacagawea (they spelled it Sakakawea)-



Washington state's Mother Joseph-



After our expensive lunch we headed to our last stop- the Ford Theater- how haunting that was.  Both Marc and Marky had just read "Killing Lincoln" (Marky read the kids' version) and knew all about the events surrounding his death.


We went in the house across the street that they took him to and saw the room where he died, which had the bed he died in.

 

After you walk through the house you go through an interactive museum on all that happened AFTER Lincoln's death- it was quite interesting.  Leaving Ford theater we hopped on the  metro back to our hotel and then took a cab to the airport.  A good little trip piggy backed onto Daddy's conference.  :)

MEANWHILE....back at home- BB kept the wittle guys while we were gone!  They had a big time!  She took them to the park-






Charlie telling her O and X-















Snack time!



Poppy came to mow and learned how Tucker walks EVERY SINGLE STEP when he helps someone mow.  Thank you Poppy!  Hope you enjoyed all the help!





Do I see a red sweatshirt and curly hair in those leaves?



Yes I do!  There's my happy, happy boy.  BB says he's effervescent.  :)   That's a good word for Mr. Joyful.





Thank you BB- what a wonderful trip we had!