Cherry blossoms, museums, and monuments (Washington, D.C.)

After five years, I made the trip back to DC. This time, there would be no government shutdown. This time, the cherry blossoms would be in bloom. This time, I would bring the family. But not the whole family. 

The boys HS soccer team made it into the playoffs and advanced. Unfortunately, the second round game would be on Thursday night (the day we leave for our trip). And if they were to win and advance to the third round, they would play on Monday (and we would still be in DC).

I had let the big boys decide if they still wanted to go to DC or stay home and play with their team. Jacob decided to continue on with the trip as planned and Andrew decided to stay home and play in what he said was possibly "a once in a lifetime" opportunity. So with that, we took a family trip (five nights) without Andrew.

Public tours were booked but (Lt. Col.) John got us a private tour of The Pentagon.

Secretary of Defense, Elliot Tran.

Walking around the Tidal Basin.

Cherry blossoms.

My big girl.

Exploring Union Station... and taking pictures of course.

US Capitol.

Library of Congress.

We discovered Rice Bar, Korean bowls Chipotle-style.

Washington Monument during the Blossom Kite Festival.

Just hanging out at the National Mall.

Up close and personal.

Easter mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
They were also celebrating the 100 year anniversary of the first public mass held inside the National Shrine.

Inside the largest Catholic church building in North America.

On our way to Union Market, we saw a swarm of bees in a dumpster.

Mi amor at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden.

Inside the National Archives.

The US Constitution.

My favorite presidential portrait at the National Portrait Gallery.

Chinatown.

Lincoln Memorial.

It was raining on and off during our last full day in DC.

Korean War Veterans Memorial.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Dorothy's ruby slippers at the National Museum of American History.

List of restaurants/foods (for my sake):

• Menomale - good Neapolitan pizza - certified by Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana
• Peet's coffee - obsessed with The Black Tie (cold brew, condensed milk, chicory infused syrup, half and half)
• Rice Bar - make your own Korean bowl - soooo good
• Parachute Pizza - thick Sicilian-style pizza by the slice
• Blue Bottle Coffee - sweet latte - good stuff
• Zumo Thai - drunken noodles and Thai fried rice were really good

Some of the food we ate.