dc day by day: three

DC day three, Saturday, proved to be just as disappointing weather wise as the first two days. Only in the reverse. The forecast was cold and rain and it ended up being warm, sunny and oh so pleasant. Too bad I wasted what could have been a good hair day on a 5 second bun all because I was expecting rain. Life is so hard sometimes...

Back to day three: it didn't disappoint. We started out by driving to the National Air and Space Museum near Dulles Airport where we spent the entire morning. Ryan was in heaven and probably could have been there for the remainder of our vacation. It was pretty cool. There were thousands of aviation and space artifacts from various time periods. From planes, helicopters and shuttles {experimental ones included} to cameras, clothing, lights, engines and other memorabilia, there was plenty to keep us busy. 

As we walked through the Boeing Aviation Hangar, we saw aircraft from floor to ceiling...three levels up. We saw the fastest jet in the world, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, the Enola Gay bomber {think Hiroshima} and the space shuttle Discovery.

We also saw a P51 Mustang Fighter that would be similar to the one our temple sealer, a WWII Ace, flew.

Kate and I hit up the gift store. We got some books for the girls and a pilot hat for Ryan. Who wore it best!? 

Then Ryan and Leah went up to the Observation Tower for the best view. They spied on us playing in the grass and we spied on them up in the sky.

After Dulles, this happened. Yes, it did. 

After our bellies were more satisfied than they've been in a long time, we parted ways and the four Laytons headed back to the mall. We parked near the Tidal Basin and walked around to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and revisited the WWII Memorial and Washington Monument. 

We then made our way to the American History Museum where we saw the star spangled banner, {very cool, but no pictures allowed...} as well as excellent exhibits on the presidents, first ladies {the gowns! the jewelry!}, food {replica of Julia Childs' kitchen}, civil rights movements, war and transportation. It was in the transportation exhibit that I was taken back in time to my childhood. Ah, Hanz. And, ironically, in the food exhibit Kate learned how to hold her own food pouch. Hip hip hooray!

After the museum, we braved the rain {finally, the forecast was right...for about 5 seconds!} and headed back to our hotel to feed the girls and swim in the pool before bed to get ready for day four.