July 4th

Well, there is nothing like July 4th in the nation's capital. And this year we got to share it with my brother Ryan and his wife Becca ( I still can't get used to saying my brother's wife). It was great hanging out with the newlyweds, but now we wish we just lived closer to do it more often. Hopefully, July 4th in DC can become a tradition alongside a nice game of Clue on the front porch. What do you think Mrs. Scarlet and Professor Plum? Ok, back to the July 4th in DC part. We first started our day with a "quick" tour of Iwo Jima and Arlington Cemetery for the Changing of the Guard. What a way to start a day! It is still humbling to watch this ceremony even after seeing it time and time again. Then it was home for burgers with all the trimmins! I wish I could make some good ole homemade ice cream. That was the only thing missing. We then headed downtown to watch the fireworks around 7:00 which is normally the time we start having "wind down" time with Jackson. Yes, this definitely had potential to be a very bad decision on the parents' part also considering that Jackson had only a 30 minute nap. However, Jackson had a fabulous time right along with the rest of us! We strolled right up next to Lincoln and could not have asked for better seats. They shot the fireworks right in between the WWII Monument and Lincoln, so it literally looked like they were falling right on top of us. Jackson just stared up in awe the entire 20 minutes. Like I said before, there is nothing like watching fireworks with Lincoln to your right and the Washington Monument in the background! What a day! Here is our 4th in pictures:

The newlyweds, Jackson, and me at Iwo Jima.


After Jackson went up and down the stairs fifty times, Uncle Ryan gave him a high five!


Stopping for a little McDonald's lunch at Iwo Jima. Is it wrong to let your child eat cheeseburgers and fries two days in a row? If so, I promise he didn't do it.

The Changing of the Guard.


And of course I forgot my camera when we went to view the fireworks, but here is what it would have looked like. Yea right, like I would have ever taken that good of a picture!


Oh and by the way, just in case you are interested Jackson did pass out on the way home while riding the metro. So, that does mean we are off the bad parent list for now, right?