Over the River and Through the Woods....

Brian and I spent the Winter Holiday visiting Brians' folks in Washington, DC.

Ohio Turnpike

Pennsylvania Turnpike

Washington, DC

 

Brian and I got in on Christmas Day and had a fun day celebrating the day with his family

We went to the Air and Space Museum near Dulles Airport

We spent Sunday walking in downtown Washington DC.  It started with Chris (Brians' brother), Brian and I took the Metro to Washington DC.

First was the National Archives, which houses The Constitution, The Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights.

 Next, it was off to the National Mall and the Capital.

From the Capital, we talked to the United States Botanic Garden.  It was beautiful with lots of plants, trees and flowers, and included a holiday train set.  

Next up, a short walk to the Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle) which has information about the 18-different Smithsonian museums.  

Across the National Mall from the Castle was the National History Museum

Hope Diamond

  

Roudolphs' long lost brother, Randolph the Red Nose Tyrannosaurus Rex

Monday, Brians Mom and I went to different quilt shops in Virginia

The Quilters Studio

Jenny Beyers Studio

Brians Mom, Brian and I headed to Baltimore on Tuesday, and spent the day at the Baltimore Aquarium.

 

We finished up on the way back home stopping to see Washington DC at night t a couple of the monuments

Thomas Jefferson Memorial 

FDR Memorial 

Do you wanna build a snowman?????

Our first snow of the year here in Michigan.  It started snowing early Saturday morning.  At 5:30am when we let Buddy out, there the cars were already covered in snow.  The ground wasn't covered yet  Here is a picture outside of our balcony around 3pm.

Playing on some plowed snow after it stopped snowing.  Yes, that is a truck behind me.

 

The snow stopped around 8pm.  The estimates predicted that we received 8-14 inches of snow.  We guessed that we received 5-6 inches of snow when it was said in done.  Further west and north of us was harder hit.  Everything east of us received 1-4 inches.

Of course you make snow angles in the snow...DUH 

Posing for a picture before heading in for the night. 

Ringling Brother's & Barnum & Bailey Circus

Brian surprised me with tickets for the circus.  The idea came when we were in downtown St. Louis for the half-marathon a few weeks back.  The Scottrade Center, where we parked for the race, had circus trucks (see below).  Casually, it came up that I had never been to the circus before.

Of course we got to the circus a little early and was able to walk around on the event floor prior to the start.  It was pretty cool.  The different acts (jugglers, clowns, etc.) did little fan interactive pieces prior to the actual start of the circus.

Brian posing with one of the clowns prior to the start.  

One of the performers going through one of there acts.

An elephant and clown having a little fun shooting hoops prior to the start.

Clowns and some kids jumping rope.

Our seats for the GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH.  These are Asian Elephants.  They are one of the smartest animals on the planet.

The Globe of Steel had at one point 8 motorcycles in it.  Pretty cool!

Alexander Lacey the Lion Tamer

Alexander Lacey the Lion Tamer

Hans Klose and the Mixed Animal Show included different types of dogs as well as some pigs.

Hans Klose getting a,..paw push

The Solar Hawks the trapeze artists