D.C. on the 4th of July!

So what do you do if someone asks, "Hey, want to go to D.C. for the 4th?"  You say, "Of course!"

Well, that was my response at least.  A friend that I work with was thinking of going with her family and asked if I wanted to tag along.  We were able to keep the expenses down as her husband works for Northwest.  We flew in on the 4th and back on the 6th.  It was a quick trip, but a great time!

Meet Amberly, Daniel and Orion (the little guy).  We got into Arlington around 3 and made our way to our hotel.  Gotta love the Doubletree and their warm chocolate chip cookies that are always available at the desk!  After a rain shower passed through, we made our way to the Mall and headed over to the Capitol to sit on the lawn and listen to "A Capitol Fourth", the concert that is broadcast every year on PBS.  Near the end of the concert, the fireworks started at the other end of the Mall and we were able to see them with Washington monument on the foreground and the National Symphony playing in the background.

The next day we spent quite a bit of time at the National History Museum and wandered through some outdoor sculpture gardens.

At night we went on a Twilight Tour of all of the monuments.  Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln,FDR, Vietnam, Korea, Nurse's, as well as a quick stop at the White House and the Marine Corps monument at Arlington National Cemetery.  I won't post pictures as you all know what all of those look like.

A leisurely breakfast the next day and back to Madison.  Oh, wait.  Check out the view from out hotel window.  Yep, that's the Pentagon.