Staying Up With the Stansberrys: I'm Late! I'm Late! I'm Very Very Late!

We've had a few important dates since my last blog post. It has been B.U.S.Y., and Third Grade Algebra (yes, THIRD GRADE ALGEBRA) is about to do us all in. I am so behind on blogging that I have probably a hundred photos and just as many stories and quips. I spare you 5 hours and hit the highlights. The good news is, we are happy and healthy, working and running.

First things first - we hit up the Nation's capital late last month with the Third Grader.

We were able to tour the White House, and it was awesome. Much smaller inside in person than I envisioned from what you see on television and in print, but immaculate and very, very cool to see.

Our little musician with the Presidential Steinway. WOW, if he could play it someday...

I had the most handsome dates for our 5 day trip.

We brunched at a DC landmark - Old Ebbitt Grill - after our White House tour. Best breakfast I've ever had.

Next, we headed up to the convention for the 40th Annual Marine Corps Marathon to pick up Mike's race packet,

and then the Smithsonian Institution's Air & Space Museum.

Cole with Sputnik.

Mike killed it on Sunday morning for the marathon, finishing 26.2 miles (again) in less than 4 hours.

Marines parachuted into the race at the starting line carrying giant American flags.

I also got to cheer on a friend of mine from High School is Retired Navy, Mark Lassiter! He finished in less than 3 hours and 30 minutes. Rock Star!

The entire race was patriotic, not to mention just being in Washington, D.C. We are proud to be Americans, proud to be a part of this race, proud of our servicemen and women and veterans, and proud of Mike.

Cole and I toured the Memorials and the Smithsonian Institution's Natural History Museum the afternoon after the race while Mike rested.

How cool is this 4,000+ year-old Egyptian (unwrapped) mummy? It is perfectly preserved - so amazing.

We ate amazing meals the entire trip. Cole enjoyed a filet steak two nights in a row. Mike said he didn't have a filet until he was in college! #LuckyLittleBoy

And check out the virgin mojito Cole had when we grabbed after-dinner drinks one evening - doesn't that look like the best sno cone?!

Monday we went over to Georgetown. We walked around the GU campus, and it was beautiful. I hope I can return... to enroll Cole in 10 years.

We ate at a GU staple - the Tombs - before heading back across the river to tour three more museums.

We went to the Holocaust Museum, but didn't stay too long. Mike did a quick walk-through and Cole I went through one age-appropriate children's exhibit. I cried just going through that exhibit.

Cole wanted to go back to the Natural History Museum, so we spent another few hours exploring. This museum is right up our little scientist's alley. We spent an hour in the Geology section with him, and lots of time in the insect and mammal rooms. It is hands-down the best museum.

Finally, we walked over to the American History museum. We saw the original score for the Star Spangled banner, the largest glad made entirely of LEGOS (you know a certain someone loved that!),

pretended to be President Reagan and give a speech (Cole for President, anyone??),

and saw Abe Lincoln's top hat he was wearing the night he was assassinated.

Our last meal out, at Joe's Seafood, was incredible, and wrapped up one of the best vacations we have all had.

Cole's favorite part of the trip? The Washington Monument. He snapped this photo himself of the moonlit Monument when we walked over the first night in town to see it.

We came home to one happy little monster... wearing his new Marine Corps football jersey OVER his Dallas Cowboys football jersey, Cowboys helmet, soccer cleats, TCU basketball shorts, and his dad's marathon medal. #LOVE

In other, quick news, we enjoyed a trip to the pumpkin patch at Moore Farms with Tate's Pre-K class, Tate's class dressed up as Ten Pigs: An Epic Bath Adventure for the Brook Hill book parade (another mom and I made the costumes), the boys were football players (one for America's Team and one for the Zombie Team) for Halloween and I got in a fun chat with friends at the annual Halloween party, Braxton and Cole got to walk in with the football team for the Homecoming Pep Rally, and we have a new puppy - a Bullmastiff named Sammie. She's so great -- we love her!