East Coast Tour with the Baby Brigade

We just returned from a fantastic trip to visit my grandparents in Washington DC and we also hit NYC and Philly. Travelling with kids is crazy, but we managed to have a good time despite the crying children.

First stop, Jefferson Memorial:

Trying out the leash. It actually helped quite a bit!

Mayhem at the Natural History Smithsonian

Beautiful blossoms in front of the White House. The weather was fabulous.

Benny was happy as long as he had his stick. Lincoln looks like a caged animal.

Minnie having a good snooze in the stroller at the White House.

Laura taking Lincoln on a walk-jog. Lincoln and Benny both love their Autie Lala.

Cheese.

Blossoms and flowers everywhere. We loved it!

Lincoln and Lincoln.

Vietnam War Memorial

Peek.

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

Jefferson Memorial across the water from the MLK Memorial.

Washington Memorial again.

Benny just woke up to Minnie's harassment.

Ron, Kitten and kids came up from VA to visit us.

After church snuggle.

Grandma making another fabulous meal while Kathryn offers her moral support.

Kat the Kitten and Minnie Mouse.

Having a laugh with the great grandkids.

It's funny cause Lincoln has only met Great Grandpa and Grandma Mecham two or so times in his lifetime, but he sure latched on to them as his family and friends. He was full of hugs for "Papa". Very cute.

I forgot to mention one funny thing that happened. Sunday, while lunch was being made, Lincoln went down to the basement by himself. Matt went to check on him a while later and found him with both feet stuck to a sticky mouse trap in the corner by the TV. Lincoln couldn't move and wasn't sure what to do. When Matt came down, Lincoln announced, "I'm stuck". I think his socks are still on the trap. Sorry Grandma, we forgot to clean that up.

Benny playing on the Mall.

Lincoln "helping" Bennett.

Freedom!!!!

Snack time.

Rollin' in to NYC.

This is my favorite picture of the whole trip. A bunch of zombies. This illustrates well how we felt much of the time. BEAT!!

Curious Minnie, laughing Lincoln.

Terrified Lincoln, laughing Minnie.

Times Square

Rockefeller Plaza

St. Patrick's Cathedral. There were SO many amazing, old churches in Manhattan.

Inside the Cathedral.

The first night we were here, we wandered around a bit, saw where the Empire State Building, and then went to a "Chinese Fusion Restaurant" which was actually all Korean. Then we went back to our hotel. When we got back to our room, Lincoln burst into tears because as we were driving from DC to NYC, Laura kept telling Lincoln that we were going to see the "Big Apple", and he was very disappointed that we hadn't found it that evening. Day 2, we headed to FAO Schwarz and were relieved and delighted to finally find "The Big Apple" right next door to FAO Schwarz.

FAO Schwarz

The "Big" Piano

Lego Statue of Liberty

Hot Dogs at Central Park

We didn't get a photo of this, but Bennett loved having us chase all the pigeons with him in the stroller. He would call them "geese". You can tell he is not a native New Yorker. "Go get 'em.. geese!!".

Another funny tidbit about New York: many of the elevators going down to the subway are used as urinals by the homeless or crazies. It is so stuffy and rank in there, we all wanted to die. As a result of us expressing our displeasure, Lincoln got in the habit of saying, "Eww, stinky pee pee!!", no matter what the elevator smelled like. One time, we got in an elevator, and it actually, to our delight smelled like cleaner. The janitor, kind of a gruff black woman, followed us onto the elevator. As the doors closed behind her, Lincoln said, as usual, "Ew!!! Stinky pee pee!!!". We told him, "No, it actually smells good in here". The woman had a good laugh and said, "He's used to the elevators smellin' like piss!!". We all laughed. She was doing a good job at her station. I couldn't think of anything I'd like to do less than to be a janitor at a subway station in NYC, bless her heart!!

Dinner with the Arrington Ladies

View of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Financial District from atop the Empire State Building.

Chrysler Building on the right. Note: Benny spilled his milk on himself. It is not urine.

Beautiful garden dining in Little Italy.

Nap time in front of the World Trade Center.

WTC being rebuilt.

Trinity Church. Saw Alexander Hamilton's grave here.

NY Stock Exchange onWall Street. Matt seems very happy to be there.

As we walked up to where the Staten Island Ferry loads and unloads in Battery Park, this is what we saw:

Lady Liberty.

The ladies with Lady Liberty (the dot) in the background.

Shake Shack Time!!!

Waiting for our food at the Shake Shack with the Empire State Building in the background.

NYC Temple. 

Swings at Central Park

Grand Central.

Matt went swimming with Lincoln at our hotel in Philly in his shorts that he uses for pajamas, so he stole my sweats for PJs. NOT a good look. Laura and I about died of laughter.

They are going to love this photo when they get older.

The Second Bank of the USA in Philadelphia.

Independence Hall

Enjoying a Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich from Jim's Steaks (since 1937) in the car.

Tried to get a nice picture with Grandma before we left. This is the best we could do.