March madness

 We've realized that we live where a LOT of people want to visit. So--- we are going to take 1 weekend a month to visit those places in our backyard! 

The first Saturday in March was beautiful! Frosty sunbathed as we prepared to venture into D.C.

The Saxon Horde was on display at the National Geographic museum.

We were that close to real treasure!!



First though, we had to find change for parking in D.C. Luckily there was this place nearby... :)

(Real story - Mark walked 2 blocks and ended up with change and a Starbucks hot cocoa for parking.)

City sites are not to be missed. In the country you don't have protesters or Occupy movements to see. 

Nor Ping Pong Dim Sum restaurants.



Once safely parked and in the museum we got our explorer backpack, complete with questions, magnifying glass and HATS! After taking this picture we were told that we should not use a flash. :)

The intrepid explorers. Complete with hat and backpack.



 After our tour of the Horde, photos and the Big Cats exhibit we went to lunch!

This is one of my favorite places, Chopt.

 It's simliar to a Subway or Chipotle in that you can choose recipes already posted, or create your own salad. The boys thought the burritos were bigger and better than Chipotle!

If you have a salad (like mine shown above) after they put it in that pretty bowl, they then flip it out and chop it! Kinda like a Coldstone salad. :) The varieties of trimmings was enormous. Yum!

Chopt was right outside of Chinatown. Of course I had to go into a store! We found the special vinegar that we needed for jiaozi (dumplings) but were supprised to also see Xango and Noni juice! Leave it to the Chinese to diversify!



 Benjamin. Benjamin.

There's no question that it's Benjamin who leaves soaking wet jeans hanging out of the washer, the dryer door ajar, and shed pajama pants on the floor.

But - you can bet he had clean pants for school! (Albeit slightly damp.)



Our last adventure for this month was voting! Jordan was registered to vote at school. Because he'll be 18 at the time of the general elections, and he was already registered, he was allowed to vote in the primaries too! Dad proudly took him in to the local elementary school and Jordan became part of the process. Yay Jordan!