Seafair Parade

One of the things I LOVE about Alaska Airlines, is that they are community and family friendly.  For years they have supported the Seafair Parade in Seattle, and they have asked for families to come volunteer time to hand out free give-aways and to let people see the wonderful things Alaska does.  They even had a give-away for parade goers to win free tickets (sadly we weren’t eligible).

This year we helped out.  The airplane hats were by far the most popular item.  People who didn’t speak English (many Japanese) asked for multiples to take home since they liked them so much.

Happy flying!

First Hale Summer Fun Club

 

By the end of July, summer is halfway done and our care-free, running around selves are in full force.

Want a piggy back ride, Tabatha is ready.

Once the craziness ended, we did our very first Hale Family Fun Club since Virginia. We got a soap making kit a few years ago, and I never got around to having the kids make the soap.  Today we finally did it, and it wasn’t even that hard.

The girls have already decided that they want to give these away.  Some for special friends, some for birthday gifts, and some for Christmas presents.  I love seeing them thinking of others (and they wrapped them already too.)

Cousins & Summer Fun Club

On our last day in Virginia, Tabatha and Alicia got a change to do one last Summer Fun Club.  They made suncatchers with their cousins, something that they have never done before.  They had so much fun with the Summer Fun Club in Virginia, that now we are officially the newest club members.  Summer fun club from now on.   Olivia will be so excited to be part of it once we get back home.

Once the painting was done, the older kids and I played Pirate Fluxx.  A game that kept them saying Aargh, and Ahoy Matey until long after we finished.

We finished the puzzle that Michelle picked out for us.  It was hard, and mom threatened to stay later in Virginia if we didn’t finish it in the week we were here.  It was close, but together we finished it and we made our flight too.

Going to the Mall, and not to shop!

Today I took my dad, Tabatha and Alicia to the National Mall.  Hilde wanted to go to the mall with us, but she thought it was the shopping mall.  When she and Enoch learned where we were going Enoch said, “I don’t want to go to the mall, my feet hurt from all that walking.”
His words came true, our feet did hurt from all that walking, and it was hot and humid, but it was worth it.

The library of Congress.

An original Gutenberg Bible was here for us to see.  Very large and impressive, but couldn’t get a picture.

In front of the Congressional Building, here all the laws are hashed out.

We got to see the Supreme Court, and the courtroom where the Justices make their verdicts.  I got emotional realizing how America was changed for the better (and sometimes for the worse) by the decisions made here.  It was amazing.

Here is a replica of the entire courtroom.

Alicia taking a break from the “hot” and tiring walk from the Supreme Court to the metro.  The Congressional Building is behind her.


We saw where two branches of the government work, now onto the Executive Branch and the White House.


The Boy Scout Memorial was a bit hidden,

We only saw the Jefferson Memorial from afar.

The Smithsonian Castle

onto the Natural History Museum (just like Night at the Museum).

Running from T-Rex.



The 45.52 carat Hope Diamond was a definite highlight.  This would look so good on me.

The Blue Whale reminded me of one of my favorite “Night of the Museum” scenes.


The Kiss and Ride got me extra kisses from my girls (but they would never tell you that themselves).

The National Mall was just as amazing as I remember, but even more so that I was able to share it with these girls. 

After the mall we rode the metro for a few stops and made it to Ford’s Theatre, where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.  Here is the balcony he was in when he was shot.

The girls received their second Junior Ranger badge of the day (the first was at Presidential Park around the White House) for all they learned here at Ford’s Theatre.

We missed going to the house where Lincoln died.  It was nearby, across the street really, but they were closed for the day.  I had seen it before, but I am sad the girls missed it.  Just one more reason we will need to come back again.

Udvar Hazy Air & Space Museum

My daughters have had to learn to follow me around all sorts of museum.  One of their favorites is the Boeing Air & Space Museum near us.  I had heard that at the Udvar Hazy museum in Virginia there was an actual Space Shuttle.  Since all of my daughters have gone to Discovery Primary School, named for the Discovery Space shuttle, coming and seeing the actual shuttle that went into space was a highlight of this museum as well as our trip.

We saw this stealth fighter.

Another fun plane.

 

Then onto the Discovery shuttle.

The Enola Gay was the airplane that dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshimo.  I am glad it wasn’t armed today.

Alicia went with me to the top of the observation tower.

I now have a budding air traffic controller.

or an astronaut

going up with Hello Kitty

Since Olivia missed seeing the actual Discovery rocket, we bought her this miniature shuttle.  I am sure she will have it cruising all over when we get home.