Blossoms

The last time we went to DC in the spring for cherry blossoms, we were a little bit early. Flowers were blooming a little bit, and it was pretty, but a few days later would have been spectacular. Yesterday when we went we were a little bit late. And one day after a huge storm with ridiculous winds. So the whole way down I had a pit in my stomach - what if the blossoms were all gone? What if we went all the way down there for nothing? I worry too much, I know. Sure, we were a few days past peak. But it was still pretty. And Dexter didn't care one damn bit if there were blossoms on the trees or not. What mattered was that we were in DC having fun as a cute little family. Walking up monument steps as a cute little family. Chasing after a rotten child as a cute little family. Eating lunch on a blanket and watching airplanes fly by and tossing half a peanut butter and jelly sandwich off in the general direction of the birds (albeit about 300 feet short of them) as a cute little family. We had a nice day, and I won't really remember that a few days earlier would have been prettier.

I will remember, though, Dexter wheeling up to me in the stroller. Daddy saying "What were you going to say to Mama?" Dexter saying "I'm sorry." Me saying "Thank you, Dexter. That was very nice." Dexter saying "Mama HAPPY!" Me saying "Yes. Yes, that does make Mama happy. Thank you." Naughty child, running away from Mama. He'd damn well better be sorry.

Anyway - you can't go to DC without taking seventeen trillion pictures. So here's a sample:

There were still blossoms on trees right here, next to where we parked the car

One cracker for Dexter, one for the ducks. Repeat. John swears these ducks were stalking us at the end of the day as we walked back to the car. He got in the drivers seat, looked out the window, and there were two ducks, right outside the car, looking in the window. You could hear them thinking "Hey! People! You! With the crackers! FEED US!"

Running across a carpet of petals

Jefferson Memorial. Dexter likely being scolded - you DO NOT run away from Mama. That is very very BAD.

Picnic lunch. We looked out over the Tidal Basin, and behind us airplanes flew low, landing at Regan National Airport. It was a good spot.

Where's Daddy? Oh! There he is.

Sticks and monuments.

Thanks, nice random man walking by who offered to take a picture of all of us.

Thanks, nice husband who took lots of pictures of Mama and Dexter.

FDR Memorial. We got stuck here by the water for a long long time. Dex wanted to jump in.

We jumped off, instead.

We caught up with our friends, and Dex rode all three bikes. He pays zero attention to his own bike, but other kids' bikes are awesome.

Also fun to spin the wheels.

Child totally needs some sleep. No nap. Also, no sunscreen. Bad, bad mom.

Ended our day with yummy dinner at the Olive Tree in Aberdeen. I miss that place...

Dexter's new fave nursery rhyme, with his own twist. Grandma told him that Daddy's name was John, and it's been like this ever since: