It's Cherry Blossom time in Washington!
There are two spring events that I was really hoping to take part in while we are living in Virginia. One is going to see the cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin while they are in full bloom, the other is going to the White House Easter Egg Roll. Last weekend, I checked the first one off the list. Now, who can get me into the Easter Egg Roll? (I'm willing to wait until next year for that one since Emma will be mobile and might be able to participate a little more.)
Aunt Kate and Tim came with Emma and I on our day trip into the city. The weather was pretty variable that day. It went from overcast to rain to bright blue skies to hail and back to blue skies. We got off the metro at Smithsonian, walked down Independence Avenue to the Tidal Basin. We walked around the edge of the basin past the Jefferson Memorial and FDR Memorial and over to the Lincoln Memorial. Then we followed Constitution Avenue to The Ellipse for a peak at the White House before getting back on the metro and heading home.
As you can see, when we first got to the Tidal Basin, the weather couldn't really make up it's mind.
We got a few pictures in before this storm cloud started heading our way.
I had picked up a rain cover for Emma's stroller on the way to the metro and it was a good thing I did. She was perfectly happy inside her little bubble, warm and dry. She was very curious though when the water and petals started pooling up on the cover and kept reaching up to try and touch them.
We decided to stick it out and got out our umbrellas and headed off for the path around the Tidal Basin.
After a few minutes the rain let up and we were rewarded with some bright blue skies.
We continued on to the Jefferson Memorial with only one slight detour due to construction. (Most of the following pictures are ones that Kate took. She is a professional photographer, so if you see something you like from this post, you can order a print from her!)
As we were getting ready to leave the Jefferson Memorial it started to hail, so we retreated back into the underside of the memorial to the exhibit area and waited for about 15 or 20 minutes for the weather to clear up again. We continued around the edge of the Tidal Basin and stopped for the second time to take some pictures of Emma with the blossoms.
Every time Emma came away from exploring the blossoms she had fistfuls of petals... and I'm sure you can all guess where those were going if I hadn't cleaned out her hand.
As we continued on, we passed through the FDR Memorial, which is actually quite large and has numerous fountains.
I had my picture taken with Eleanor. For those who don't know, I was typecast as Eleanor Roosevelt in my kindergarten play. Yes, I said typecast, as a five-year-old, as Eleanor Roosevelt. That should explain a lot to both those who know me well and those who don't.
Next, we headed up the Lincoln Memorial. You can see again from this next photo how changeable the weather was that day.
And in case you ever wondered whether Lincoln was bald... he's not.
After the Lincoln Memorial, we headed back up Constitution Avenue and cut across the Ellipse to get to the White House.
"Mommy, why do they keep the President locked up?"
And, finally, we walked around the block to Pennsylvania Avenue to see the front of the White House.
And finally, here are a few more shots of the cherry blossoms, just because I like them.
Anyone want to go with me next year?
