Tickets? We ain't got no stinkin' tickets

Well, we had to change plans again, as all the places we intended to go today issue same day, time specific tickets. Like we can get our whole family to the ticket booth by 8am! We can't even get them out of bed by then! So, after taking Jason to a high school in Bethesda for the PSAT test (which was part of the plan), Mike and I spent a few hours at the LDS temple while Mike's parents watched the kids (which also was part of the plan). Before you gasp and wonder what kind of foster parents would make their child take a test while on vacation, let me just say that this was ALL Jason's doing! He even suggested he stay home to take the test at our own HS, but I reminded him of his obligation to travel as a family (I believe my exact words were, "Not a chance, Buster! We already paid for your ticket - there's no way you're getting out of this one!"). It was a lovely morning at the temple, and very restful - so restful that we both struggled to stay awake during the session. This temple has a lovely ordinance room where the line between men and women is just a different colored arm rest between seats, so we got to sit together, and not be separated by an aisle. This was very helpful today as we took turns jostling each other to stay awake. Beautiful, beautiful place though, and a nice chance to be alone together.

From here on out it was fly by the seat of our pants as we tried to figure out what to do. We ended up traveling downtown and eating lunch at the food court in the bottom of the Old Post Office, where I found a Greek food counter with an actual Greek person working there. So I got to chat a little with the owner, and she complemented me on how well I spoke, considering how long it has been since I lived there. I think she was just being nice.

We wandered down towards the Tidal Basin where many of the presidential and war memorials are located, but just ran out of steam before we got too far. We stopped at the White House visitor's center and found out all the places to stamp our National Parks passports. Josh was very happy about that.

We also stopped long enough at the Boy Scout memorial to take the photos of our two potential Boy Scouts, and then made it as far as the actual basin to find that the paddle boats (our REAL destination) closed up for the season on

Monday. Rats.

We could see the Jefferson Memorial off across the Tidal Basin, but couldn't drum up enough enthusiasm to walk to it, until I mentioned the possibility of finding an ice cream stand along the way, and then it was a trick to keep up with the boys. Jason especially was zombie-like, and I was starting to worry that he was getting sick until the mention of ice cream was like putting the Energizer bunny in his back pocket. At least I now know what motivates the boy!

It is always inspiring to read the words of the great men who shaped our nation, and Thomas Jefferson really did have a way with quill and ink.

While we were there, three presidential helicopters flew by toward the White House, then two (decoys, we presume) flew off and one landed on the lawn. It was too far to see if the big man himself got off, but we assume it was the Prez being dropped off after a play date. I thought this would be a nice opportunity for a family photo, but Caleb and Jason were not quite in the right frame of mind, and Esther just spilled her Skittles on the step. Still looking for that perfect Christmas card setup.

We never did find ice cream on the way, but as we wearily trudged back to the metro stop, lo and behold a tent arose out of the middle of the National Mall and there it was, just like the promised land, a cooler with ice cream. It was like manna from heaven, and just the thing to get us back to the metro stop and plop exhausted into the seats.

Except for Esther, who danced around a pole for most of the ride, tempting fate and the train driver, daring them to throw her off balance. This girl has style, I'll give her that. What she doesn't seem to have is an off switch!