Zach & Hailey - March 14/15 - Air and Space

On Tuesday, March 14 I was suppose to work because of an event I needed to see. However, it was snowing. When it snows in DC the whole city shuts down and we haven't had any snow this year. I think we had just around an inch for the entire winter season so this snow storm was suppose to be a big deal at about 2 inches (I think). So, this we decided that I would work for half the morning from home. Zach and Hay were able to sleep and rest. We even enjoyed some of the amenities that my new apartment complex offers - like playing pool, which Hay loved!

Hay bug relaxing on the couch with Pup Pup holding her down :)

Dinner! Mac and Cheese and Velveeta and Cheese. Kind of funny, considering that Zach and I don't eat cheese.

On Wednesday, March 15 we headed out to Dulles Air and Space which is about an hour from my house. I really like this museum and had only been there one other time - when Barb and Paul were here 2 years ago. So, it was about time that I went back. Dulles Air and Space has the spaceship the Discovery.

Mars Rover:

 

 

Spy Plane: 

 

Concordia: 

Hay the Astronaut

Another busy day:

But to top of the day and probably the trip for Hay was going to Build A Bear and getting another cat, that she named Snowy. Zach also made a Redskin dinosaur for Eli.

This country girl loves escalators (more of them to come in the near future)

After the mall we had dinner at Bob Evans for some country cooking that we all love.

Zach & Hay - March 13 - Zoo

Back in DC! And Hailey's first ride on the metro.

Our adventure for today is the zoo! The zoo in DC is a Smithsonian so that means it is free! 

The weather in DC was not nearly as cold has we had experienced the last 3 days, so it was perfect day to wander the zoo.

While the weather was nicer, what we didn't know was that in the winter a lot of the animals are in their inside habitats that are not accessible to the general public. But we were determined to find some animals!

Even though Bao Bao left to go to China, there are still 3 pandas at the zoo. They are fun to watch.

After visiting the pandas we went over to the elephants exhibit and it was perfect timing as they were doing one of their shows.

Sloth

Squires

And this was the highlight of our trip to the zoo, this seal. When we came down to the exhibit there was a guy throwing his hat in the air and the seal would follow it and then do a trick. When the guy left, Hailey tried it and this seal loved her and so did the others that came down and watched her. She did this for about an hour and it was hard to take her away from her new friend.

The zoo requires a lot of walking! And someone was sure tired after our day at the zoo.

Zach & Hay - March 12 - NYC

After the Empire State Building, I hailed a NYC cab (gotta do it at least once while in NYC!) and we went to Rockefeller Center. 

 

Rockefeller Center:

 

As we were walking to our next destination, we passed this beautiful church.

As I have been on the east coast for two and a half years, I often times have to remind myself that when people come out to visit this is not my vacation, so I walk the National Mall for the 100th time or I go to the Statue of Liberty for the 4th time, or sometimes I do things that I wouldn't really want to do, and this was one of them - go to Trump Tower. It is a beautiful building.

Inside Trump Tower we took a break at ate lunch and just rested. Hailey and I switched hats for awhile :)

Trump Tower is right next to Central Park, so over to Central Park we go. They had these really cool cement living furniture display.

Love Central Park! One of my goals is to just came hang out in Central Park for a day - like a local. Hay, had such a fun time running around and playing on he rocks, she is a true outdoor kid.

I can't believe that I don't have a photo of this. But one of the highlights of our trip was watching Hailey play catch with frozen ice chunks in Central Park - now she is acting like a city kid. As I sat on the sidelines and watched her, I thought I would take a selfie with her hat - cause it is just so adorable!

It was cold in NYC, so after Central Park we walked to Time Square and did some shopping. Hailey and her 2 pounds of M&M's that came in at a whopping $28!

Our quick 2 day trip to NYC has ended. We did so much in 2 days. The weather was brutally cold and windy. But it was so amazing to show Hay and Zach the sites of NYC! 

Hay had white gloves when she started in NYC on Saturday morning and this is what they looked like on Sunday evening when we boarded the train. Mind you - Hailey wore 2 pairs of gloves at all time and these white ones were the bottom pair.

As anyone does when they go to NYC, you do a lot and you walk a lot. Hailey and her little legs did the best! She never cried, never melted down, she was amazing! And look at those poor tired eyes. She was a sleep within 10 minutes of being on the train. Love this girl!

And just because she is 7 does not mean that she was the only one that was tired. NYC can be rough on grown men as well :)