A Visit from Arizona

My dear friend Susan Haney and her son Nick came to visit us for his spring break week and we had a great time.  Susan gave Nick this trip for Christmas because he has always wanted to come to DC and it just so happened that we live here now, so it worked out perfect!  Our families have known each other for about 30 years.  Susan's and my parents were best friends.  Our dads were in the Navy and on the same ship together in the early 80s when we were stationed in San Diego, and of course our moms bonded over ice cream while they were deployed :)  Even after my mom passed, I have continued to stay in contact with them and have even gone to AZ to visit on several occasions.  They are my family.  Here are some snapshots of our time together this week:

The first night introduction to Jay's arsenal. 

Jay was pretty bummed he didn't get to hang out as much as he would've liked because he had to work most of their visit.  He would've taken Nick out shooting (per Nick's request) and dirt bike riding if he had more time. 

I accompanied them on their first trip into DC, but they actually went back two more times this week.  Here is Nick posing as African Art...

At the Museum of American History - we spent a good few hours in this museum and I still don't think we saw everything.  Nick pictured here practicing for when he's president.  

Susan tried to get us into the white house while they were here.  Put in the paperwork back in December, but they told her about a week before the trip that they could not accommodate our visit.  Turns out, this week the British Prime Minister was in town. Obama took the PM to Dayton OH for a basketball game and it just happened that they were leaving the White House as we were standing there.  We got shoo'ed a ways back from the main gate and then all this police activity blocked us off.  Minutes later, Marine One came right over our heads and landed in the field in front of us.  They blocked us from seeing Obama, but it was still pretty exciting for Nick.  Whether you are a fan of the president or not, he is still the President of the United States and I will admit, it was pretty cool to witness and it was good for Nick since he was pretty disappointed we didn't get into the WH.  We told him he could pass for Obama's son, so maybe worth a try to go up to the front door...

We did not see Obama, but I snapped a pic of the Marine saluting him as he came out of his motorcade car and headed toward Marine One.

In Nick's words: "my future home"

He seemingly leans conservative, so I told him he'd have my vote :)

Aside from the barricade, this is actually a pretty picture of "the People's house" (again, Nick's wording)

As we were admiring the WWII Memorial, this couple was having a little too much PDA and Nick thought it was so disrespectful, so he took it upon himself to make them feel uncomfortable.  He went right down and stood next to them.  Not even five minutes later, they walked away.  Mission accomplished.

Susan found the name of her dad's best friend, Douglas Lee, who was killed in Vietnam.  Nick's pointing to the name.  This was a somber experience...the wall goes on forever.

The 'Occupy DC' headquarters....oy...

Passed by the Capitol Bldg on our way back to the car.  Nick and Susan actually went here on one of their days back to DC.

It took Trev the whole week to warm up to Susan for some reason, and I am still not sure he ever really did.  Here she is trying to make friends and instead of screaming or fussing, he just slowly and quietly started building a barricade of books to block her view!

Zac and I joined them on their tour of Mount Vernon, George Washington's home.

An amazing piece of property overlooking the Potomac River

Washington's tomb

(Martha is the tomb next to his and the black door leads to other family members buried there as well)

The scaffolding kinda took away from our experience...

Washington loved farming and considered himself a farmer first before the title of general or president.  The property had cows, horses, sheep, hogs...the sheep and hogs had babies running around.  Zac was in animal euphoria.

Down on the wharf overlooking the Potomac, Zac just went up and held Nick's hand and I thought it was the sweetest picture.

Susan and Zac being silly

Nick mimicking his ancestors in the slave quarters (were it not for the graphic tee and his Ray Bans, maybe he would be believable...)

The boys adored Nick and unfortunately did not get to spend a lot of time with him, but Nick was a great sport and played with them whenever he got a chance.  I think Nick quite enjoyed Lego-time.

Last stop before they headed to the airport was the Georgetown University district for the Georgetown Cupcake Shop.  This is a popular little shop because of its now famous TLC reality show called "DC Cupcakes"...we waited probably half hour in line to get in, but it was worth it.  I have never had a better cupcake!!

It was a great visit, lots of laughing as always and I think they had a good time.  It has been awhile since Susan has gone on a vacation like this.  It dawned on me that she has not flown since pre-9/11 because she texted me when she got off the plane wondering where I was....she did not realize that non-travelers can't get past security to meet at the gate anymore! :)  I am sure they could've done a few more days in DC because they didn't get to see everything....it is impossible to see and do all there is in just four short days.  We are hoping they come back again sometime before we move from here.  Thanks for the fun memories guys - we love you both!