Spring Break 2013: DC style

you are never more anxious to get going with life when there is a wonderful road trip ahead of you.  I've said it before and I will say it again:  I love traveling with my family.  Whether we fly or hit the road driving; traveling is the one thing we always do well together.

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This trip was no different.

Up and out the door before 4am, we hit the turnpikes of Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania racking up a $40 toll and $200+ in gas in just over 11 hours.  We endured the darkness of Indiana farmlands, the desolate fields in Ohio, and the Appalachia of the Steelers in PA.  Most of mountains in PA were full of snow, leaving us confused as to which break we were on.  Maryland opened up to blue skies and led us right into our Capitol city...

I'm very thankful that we left when we did on Friday; just enough to enjoy the bright blue 50* skies all day on Saturday.  We were in search of rosebuds and cherry blossoms. With our beautiful townhome just a couple of blocks behind Capitol Hill, we walked everywhere.

We made circles up and down the streets, from the Supreme Court building to Lincoln's Monument, with 5 camera phones and my DSLR, racking up somewhere between 350-500 photos a day.

When we weren't walking, we were covering ground via double decker bus.

 

 Still, we were very disappointed that we were unable to tour the White House and Obama was out of town visiting Israel.

   

 Spring break crowds were out in full force, but we edged our way in for photo opts...

  I'd beg to say that the streets and buildings in Washington are some of the easiest to travel on foot, and some of the most pleasing to the eye...

 Nearly every day we paused shortly for a DC dog for a snack...

 ...which were a lot less expensive that I remember them when I was a college kid with no money in my pocket!

 Sunday morning took us to Arlington.

 

 

 One of the MOST pristine places of tranquility one will ever find.  With respect, dignity, and honor,  the blossoms seem to bloom here first.  We took in the gravesites of Presidents Kennedy and Taft, paid tribute to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and found a few unfounded relatives.

 

 (photo bombed above ^)

Sunday evening, we had every intention of enjoying DC at Night, with its lit up monuments.

It wasn't long into our trip, that evening, that a cold sleet began to fall.  Our guide was the best, but our hops on and off the bus were very chilly and a bit wet.  Some of the monuments, including the newest, MLKjr one, had strikingly different appearances in this weather.

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Our feet were definitely tired by the end of this second day.

As am I attempting to sort through 4 more non-stop days of site seeing in our darling little historical spot.  There is more to come, and I pray to get to it soon!

Spring forward

 There's always this emotion of split decision over the changing of seasons, and spring is usually the most difficult.  It brings on public school testing, losing an hour to daylight savings time, and a gazillion birthday parties.  It also is the coming of tons of art, warmer weather, and spring vacations.

 This season was extra special with the announcement of Aly's need for braces...

...the EXACT same issue as her brother before her, Aly has one difficult eye tooth that refuses to play nice with the other teeth.

Hence clear braces with bright pink and green rubber bands to start her off.

We also discovered a 14 year old now lives in this house...

 ...and we celebrated him with lots of candles...

 ...and just before that he joined the ranks of old people and got his first pair of contacts.

  The typical fare of Art Week in my classroom cover some Van Gogh self portraits...

 ...a bit of Matisse paperwork...

 ...and some abstract Picasso.

 Enough art to fill the entire hallway.

 

 

 But our most very happiest news was welcoming little Natalia Valentina, a new March birthday cousin to love.  And she is the sweetest...

 ...baby ever...

 ...we are infatuated.

B & A's basketball season came to an end...

 ...with new championship hoodies to boot.

 We are all wondering what the year ahead will bring.

 BUT for now, we are counting down the days to hit the road East...

 ...even though a slight disappointment changed our agenda.

DC or BUST.

(await the picture explosion!)

vulnerable

Chato and I are pretty good at dreaming big dreams and striking goals off our list, one by one.  We number off trips, big ideas, prayers for our kids' futures.  There's no end to it and we add to it all the time.  Doesn't everyone have these lists?  Everyone, whether they write them down or not, still believes they can be successful, move forward, achieve goals, right?  But somewhere, while January hopped right over us, our reelected President stated:

"Together, we resolved that a great nation must care for the vulnerable, and protect its people from life’s worst hazards and misfortune."

Collectively, our lists are doomed --if we continue to ignore that our lists are not built on one another. Our own awareness, uniqueness, and individuality are colliding.  Those of us that are parents to ME generation kids must be alert to the lack of empathy and compassion that has fallen by the way side.  Schools across the country, half heartedly teach Social Studies because it is not a means of making gains on a school report card, and we, as parents, are not valuing these growing minds enough to give them their lineage.  

We are not, ever, going to fit into the same predetermined hole or slot.  Nor, should we fabricate our lives as such.  See those two kids up there? Daylight and dark.  Sun and moon.  Raised in the same household by the same parents, their lives are structured and consistent, yet worlds apart.  I can't predict for them what this world might one day be, but I can try my best.  And when I try my best, I tell them to take care of themselves and show responsibility, and then move it forward and watch out for what those around you need, too.  We all have weaknesses.  We all struggle with a myriad of backwards steps and eventful slip ups.  But even so, if our lists don't include items for anyone but ourselves, we are not doing our job to ensure society has a promising horizon. 

As an educator, I see the failings of our system - ignoring the social emotional factors and calling out for monetary solutions.  A revolution needs to occur, where mass groves of human potential must be called to action - not recessive measures, because we can't.  We have to.  There is no leeway.  No time to put it off.  

 My son cries out that no one hears him.  My daughter wants to open her arms to the world.  But we live in a world where individuals only want to embrace the easy.  And that 50-50 chance is not an option here.  I don't gamble on maybes.  Our battle lessens only when our focus is narrowed, and must afford this now.  

How can we all step up, pay it forward, call ourselves to action and kill the politics to become a democracy again? 

wrappin' it up

 2012 in the books.

It's amazing how fast this world turns.  But my monkeys had their spirit in check and we enjoyed a nice Christmas once again.

 The kids played games while the elder elf napped.

It is sweet.old-fashioned time spent at mom & dad's.

My new Polaroid came out to enjoy some instant printing.

And the kids were, typical, up at the crack of dawn Christmas morning.

Oh, how the time changes things, too...so happy to receive clothing in place of toys, cologne in place of video games, baskeball books in place of board games...

...while somethings remain the same - good old-fashioned Kennedy assassination conspiracy theory books are always a winner.

We've been so fortunate.

Never a Christmas to disappoint.

Always time to relax and be with family.

Christmas Day evening was back at home, where cousins ran wild and little smiles are easily enchanted with lights and sounds.

Griselda helped me to learn the ins and outs of Pozole-making.

Sweet treats were abound.

 Noah's merry christmas grin...

...was infectious...

...as it should be when dreaming of peace on earth and goodwill to men...

For some reason, I can't stop thinking about how we have arrived at where we are.  I can never express how lucky we are to be a part of this life, where opportunities are around every corner.  But I think, through hard work and optimism we've made gains where we choose to make them.  We are looking forward to a very busy, but fun 2013.  May you be blessed and enjoy this new start for another wonderful year!