Daffodil Lane

We set off this morning at 8:15 to go to the BWI MARC station to take the train into Union Station in DC. We packed our lunches and went on our way. We arrived at the train station 20 minutes early, but the train ended up being 20 minutes late, but that's the way the trains work around here.

These are the pictures of our adventure...part of them were taken with my camera phone and part of them were taken with my Canon D20.

Let's go!

Alexis loves trains. And she was beside herself with glee as we sat waiting for the train to arrive. She stood on the pass over the tracks looking down at the trains headed toward Baltimore and the Amtrak train that was headed toward DC that arrived just before our Marc train.

"Dat's a long train!"

Our train was supposed to leave at 9:15, but it ended up leaving closer to 9:35 or so.

Riding on the train

When we arrived at Union Station we decided to purchase day passes for the Metro because they are easier than trying to figure out a fare when there are a ton of people waiting in line to purchase passes. Another reason we decided to purchase day passes was because the lady at the machine next to us was being unreasonable and bascially being a witch so we wanted to get out of there ASAP!! And it's a good thing we did, because I got Federal Triangle mixed up in my head with Judiciary Square and we got off there, but we actually needed to go to Judiciary Square. So we hopped back on the Metro and went to Metro Center, switched to the Blue/Orange line and made our way to Judiciary Square.

Waiting for the Metro

On the Metro

When we got off at Judiciary Square I got a bit turned around. Jamison thought it was funny in the "You've been here before right?" sort of way, but I stopped in the convention center and asked where to go and they pointed me in the right direction. Once we got out on the street I realized immediately where we were. I reminded Jamison that the last time I was at the Smithsonian was well before Alexis was born. It's been at least 4 years ago.

We walked over the the museum and Alexis immediately found a billboard she loved.

"It's a mask!"

By the time we got to the museum it was 11 and Alexis was very hungry after all the excitement and the walking. When we arrived at the museum they had changed their rules and you couldn't take outside food in to eat in the Atrium so we ended up eating outside in front of the museum on one of the stone benches. Let me tell you...that was a COLD picnic! But Alexis loved it even if Jamison was less than thrilled. She enjoyed looking at the birds who were gathering at our feet to see if we had any crumbs.

Lunch!

Pretzel!

After I finished eating lunch I walked across the street while Jamison sat with Alexis who was still eating and took a few pictures.

The Smithsonian Castle (I LOVE this building!!)

The Capital

The Washington Monument

Sprouting tree in front of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

When I came back we headed inside and spent about an hour and a half looking around before Alexis was just worn out. The first thing that caught Alexis' eye were the water creatures...that's my girl!

"There's fish in there!"

Then we moved on to other things, but surprisingly the big, big dinosaurs bored her. She liked the other things much more than the dinosaurs, although that was what we went to look at.

"Look Daddy!"

"Wizards!"

"They're so cuuuutttteeee!"

Mammals

And Alexis LOVED the lady who was working on the fossils!

"What's she doing?"

Then we went upstairs to see what we could find up there.

Trees

Primates

My favorite part of the Museum of Natural History is the jewel section. I tried to get a shot of the Hope Diamond, but it didn't come out so great, but I did get a good shot of some earrings worn by Marie Antoinette.

Honey...I'd like these for Mother's Day!!

Alexis was not impressed with the sparkly jewels and this was as far as we made it into that room so we headed off for the reptiles.

Turtles

After the reptiles we decided to head back to Union Station. Alexis was tired and it's best to get her out of the stimulation before she becomes screechy.

Riding the elevator down to the first floor.

When we came out of the museum it was snowing and Alexis loved walking in the snow! We walked back to the Judiciary Square Metro station and headed back to Union Station to catch the 2:20 train back to BWI. We arrived home around 3:25 and tried to put Alexis down for a nap, but it was a no go, but Jamison and Alexis did lay down on the couch. He actually took a little cat nap, but Alexis was having none of that!

Watching "T.B."

Alexis and I think we had a very good day...Jamison would tell you differently though! ;o)