Orchard

Other than the kids putting their hands on every fruit in the orchard's farmer’s market, the next best thing was riding the old tractors!!! (and I guess eating the fruit they put thiere hands all over.. very juicy!) We also took a trip with the beekeeper to his beehive.  And got to touch a little screened 5’x2’ cage that was holding 3 bees.  That was really exciting.  And the bee-keeper was calm even when Maliah and Magnus instinctively shook the cage.
 

National Arboretum

We decided to take a bike ride with the kids through the National Arboretum http://www.usna.usda.gov/  We had two destinations in mind.  The primary destinations was the Koi Fish Pond.  We didn’t find it… and we had talked it up a bit, so there was a little drama when we left without feeding the fish.  I have since done some more research and now know the Koi Fish Pond is at the ‘Moat Where Lilies Float‘ at the Administrative Building. So when we return next time we will get it right.  But the other destination was the Arboretum's National Capitol Columns. http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/collections/columns.html

The stately permanence of the Corinthian columns and careful siting on a natural knoll in the Ellipse Meadow makes them seem as if they have been there for a very long time. The columns began their life on the East Portico of the Capitol in 1828, but they did not stay at the Capital. It was not until the 1980s that Arboretum benefactor Ethel Garrett took up the cause of establishing a permanent home for them at the Arboretum. The grandeur of the columns would be in scale with the more than 20 acres of open meadow, a rarity in a built up city like Washington. The columns are set on a foundation of stones from the steps that were on the east side of the Capitol. Old identification marks from the quarry are still visible on some of the stones. A reflecting pool fed by a small rivulet of water that runs down a channel in the steps reflects the columns and provides sound and movement.

Needless to say the kids loved playing in the water.  It was a hot day so the water was a welcome relief.
  
     

Great Falls National Park

At Great Falls, the Potomac River builds up speed and force as it falls over a series of steep, jagged rocks and flows through the narrow Mather Gorge.  http://www.nps.gov/grfa/index.htm

It is a gorgeous site, and the kids seemed mesmerized by not only the magnitude, but the sounds and the spray and foam of the waterfalls.

    

Magnus

Not to be out-done by adorable photos of Maliah, Magnus posed for a Tough Mudder tough guy pose!

Maliah

I snapped a few adorable shots of Maliah as she played outside… but to be true to her personality, I added one of silly shots… that is still adorable nonetheless!

 

Box

After playing with water the kids next most enjoyable play activity revolves around boxes! 

WaterSlide for a weekend

We hosted a BBQ and one of the guest brought this over for the kids to play in.  Needless to say our kids loved it.  We were sad to see it have to go two days later!

National Portrait Gallery - Kogod Courtyard

The enclosed Kogod Courtyard of the National Portrait Gallery has an elegant glass canopy (designed by world–renowned architects Foster + Partners).  The roof is a wavy glass–and–steel structure that appears to float over the courtyard, letting in natural light. The double–glazed glass panels are set in a grid completely supported by eight aluminum–clad columns located around the perimeter of the courtyard so that the weight of the roof does not affect the National Historic Landmark building.  The courtyard's interior is designed with a variety of trees and plantings, as well as a unique water feature.
http://www.npg.si.edu/inform/courtyard.html
The water feature is shallow pool of water that is slowly draining across the floor.  One could easily walk through the fountain, enjoy splashing and pass a few feet beyond its borders only to find your feet completely dry. That was not the case with our visit.

At first the kids enjoyed walking over the water… but soon they were crawling and laying in the water.  Oh well.  By the end of the outing the kids were soaked and we changed them outside the museum front door in the warmth of the summer heat (and then proceeded to our car and found a $30 parking ticket for parking nose-end, versus parallel to the curb {the nose-end parking ends at 1400 on Sunday and turns into curbside parallel parking, we arrived prior to 1400 but left after1400, DOH!} ... so this trip to the museum was not free.)

Botanical Gardens

The kids got to enjoy the Savage Gardens summer exhibition at the National Botanical Gardens.  The exhibit explores plant adaptations, displays carnivorous plants and larger-than-life sculptures, as well as children's interactive exhibits, and carnivorous plant bog gardens.  As well the terrace garden beds are filled with hundreds more 'savage plants.'
 http://www.usbg.gov/savage-gardens-real-and-imaginary-world-carnivorous-plants


Magnus caught in the Venus flytrap



Maliah seriously is not happen about being caught

         

Inside a 10-ft tropical pitcher plant

Then we went outside to enjoy the Children’s garden.  They were facsinated by the fish shaped water pump.  But to my dismay they had no interest in planting a small flower in one of the flowerbeds provided. 
       

Back inside, in the West gallery, they explored the smells of the spice flowers in the sensory garden.  They were metal flowers with a center that all had a different spice (ginger, pepper, etc)

Giant Superheros

The local grocery store, Giant, had the avengers visiting. Magnus with his new found love of Spiderman (from where I don’t know as we have no book, no TV show, no nothing of Spiderman… apart from a Spiderman toothbrush… maybe that is what did it!) had to visit.  And he made it off with some nice Spidey booty… the Spiderman mask (shown in the picture), spider graham crackers and Spiderman fruity gummy treats.

Yards Park Canal

Nothing better than finding new watering holes to spend a hot summer day.  The Yards Park Canal is one of DC’s new waterfront destinations located on the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood, just south of Capitol Hill and to the east of Nationals Ballpark.  In addition to the waterfall and canal-like water feature, the elevated overlook has timed fountain spouts that are fun to play.  Yards Park has an iconic bridge and the rest of open grassy areas and riverfront boardwalk make this a great place to visit. http://www.yardspark.org/


Great spot to practice yoga



Chillin' in the shade of the bridge

Backyard pool

We had fun all summer playing in the water in the backyard (and if it weren’t for the unbelievable amount of mosquitos, we likely would have spent all day every day out back!)

Maliah says... WHAT.. don't throw the baby out with the bath water (aka Magnus out the pool)

Little Slugger

Magnus and Maliah are enthralled with a little slug they found on the back porch one early Saturday morning.