DC 2010

Remember that crazy flight back we had? Well we decided to make the best of it and venture into DC for the day. Fist stop, National Museum of American History. Issy was in heaven to see Judy Garland's ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz.

Thanks to the movie Night at the Museum, the kids were eager to see the Natural History Museum. We're here!

Excited to see the dinosaur in the foyer (like in the movie):

Um, no dinosaur in the lobby. That's in the back. There's a giant elephant instead. I think the kids were a bit disillusioned (as was I) that it wasn't set up like the movie. Or should I say that the movie didn't set it up like the real thing. It was still cool, though.

Giant whale hanging from the ceiling:

The Hope Diamond:

Looking down onto the lobby of the museum

Grrrrrrrr

There was some sort of service appreciation week going on...honoring careers that serve. The military was one of them and they had all these tanks and helicopters to climb on.

A future Marine?

Ahhhhh....back in good ol' Japan. Care for a smork anyone? They try, really they do.

Again I have to point out how freakin' AWESOME our friends are. We got in late at night and had a good friend pick up at the airport with no complaints. Then we can home to this:

A welcome home note along with a kokeshi doll with sympathy from my friends written on it. So sweet! We also had fresh fruit and bread. There was an oatmeal casserole for breakfast the next morning:

Two delicious dinners in the freezer:

And milk, eggs, cheese, and dessert in the fridge. Wow! It was soooo nice to not think about food the next day (which happened to be a Sunday).

We are so glad to be back and in the swing of our routine again. It was a nice trip home, but I hope to not make that trip again until it's a one way ticket home for good.