• Travel & Vacation: Smithsonian Institution – National Museum of Natural History

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    Standing at the banister looking down on the elephant and floors below.

    The girls were thrilled to go to the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History.  Brina especially loves anything associated to animals.  Since we did the Smithsonian Institution of National Air and Space Museum yesterday we thought this will be a great next adventure.  Thankful for some fun times together!

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     Touring the National Museum of Natural History

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    OOOOOOOUCH Karlie!  This one has a lot of teeth!

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    Brina and Jake checking out the armadillo shell!

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    Doing their names with stamp calligraphy

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     Having fun exploring with my Brina Bee

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    Brina reading the sign and soaking it all in

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    Learning more about animals

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    Wow!  Some cool looking animals!

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    One big giraffe

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    Checking out the fun displays

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    They had a huge elephant in the middle foyer of the building.

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    Touching a piece of rock from Mars…..fascinating!

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    Karlie thought this rock was so cool

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    Whoa….look at those rocks!

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    The Hope Diamond is a 45.52-carat dark blue diamond.  It has traveled from India to France to Britain and now the United States.  The Hope Diamond is also described as the “most famous diamond in the world.”

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    It looks like the elephant is coming toward them!

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    Super excited to visit the Smithsonian Institution – National Museum of Natural History

  • Travel & Vacation: Exploring Washington, DC – Trolley Ride, Sightseeing, and Iwo Jima Marine Corps Memorial

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    Brina all smiles and ready to go for the day.

    Our second day exploring Washington DC.  We were up early again so we can pack in a day full of fun.  Our first stop was the Union Station where we parked the van and caught a ride on the trolley.  We soaked up all the cool sights as we made our way through town.  Thankful for our time together!

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    Karlie all geared up with her camera ready to take some pictures while on Washington’s Old Town Trolley!

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    Washington and Jefferson Monuments reflecting on the calm and peaceful Potomac River.

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     Karlie thought it was hilarious that several USPS mail drop boxes were painted to look like Sponge Bob.  The reason the post office made the mail boxes to look like Sponge Bob was to encourage kids to write more letters.  I wonder if it is working?

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    Riding up the escalator so we can head to the next adventure!

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    Karlie walking around the Marine memorial and soaking in all the sights around her.

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    Our family at the Iwo Jima Marine Corps Memorial in Washington DC.  It was a super sunny day so all our family pictures were a little cloudy with a rainbow on the memorial.

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    The Iwo Jima Marine Corps Memorial in Washington DC is one of my favorite.  It shows great pride for our country and team spirit among the Marine soldiers.

     We were able to cover a lot of ground in Washington, D.C. thanks to the Old Town Trolley taking us around.  It was a well worth the cost because it was a fast and easy way to get through the city to all the major sights.  Plus we didn’t have to waste time finding parking at each place or walking everywhere.  On the second day we went further out in the morning to Arlington Cemetery than on to the Smithsonian Institution – National Museum of Natural History, Iwo Jima, and more!  We packed in a lot of fun, learning, and sight seeing on our second day in Washington D.C.  It is a great place to explore with the family!