Washington D.C.

I am SOOOO far behind! The week of March 23 to March 27, Ethan and I flew to visit my sister and her family in Virginia. I am just now posting pics and telling the little diddy of our trip. It has been a crazy few weeks since then. So first off, this was Ethan's 1st time on an airplane. Let's just say, it will be the last for a while. We had a red eye flight, which I was expecting to be nice: he'd be tired from the long day, he could cuddle on my lap and wake up well rested and ready to play when we made it to our destination in the morning. WRONG!!!! Ethan SCREAMED bloody murder for the entire 5 1/2 hours, except when i stood in the aisle and let him sit alone and play games on my cell phone. Let me remind you, I had been up since 4 a.m. that morning and worked all day, so i was wiped and really wanted to sleep. So when i couldn't stand any longer, I plopped Ethan on my lap and tried to snooze. The screams started again and he started to kick the heck out of the poor sleeping mans seat in front of us. So i got up to let him stand in the back. As soon as we stood up, Ethan threw up ALL OVER ME and himself! We checked our bags so i had no change of clothes. Ethan and I had to strip down in the tiny little bathroom and i had to wash all our clothes in the sink. Then we spent the rest of the trip smelling like vomit and soaking wet. Sounds joyful, right? This is why it will be a while before he flys again. BUT we made it to Washing D.C. safe and sound (and early) and were picked up by my sister and brought back to her house for a warm shower and some much needed play time with my adorable little niece Sydney Lyn!



A) Sydney does NOT like things in her hair, but I think partly because I came to visit (Miss bows,headbands and all things shiny and frilled) my sister attempted to put a bow on little Sydney's head...and guess what?!?...she left it in there for hours! I can't believe she didn't rip it out. She must have been trying to make Auntie proud :) ha ha, honestly she probably didn't notice, but I like to think she did it for me. B) And see that lovely lady holding Miss Sydney Lyn? She was the one responsible for making this whole trip/weekend possible. She was kind enough to buy airfare for myself,Ethan, my sister Karlene and my brother Martin to all go out for the weekend to have a late birthday celebration for Karlene. Thank you Karen Barrett from the bottom of my heart!



Ethan and Sydney had a rough start (100% on Ethan's end) but they soon became great buddies! They liked to eat together...



Read books by the fire...play hide and go seek...and stack water bottles next to Lobo (my sisters dog)...



Guess who else made an appearance???? The hubby!! He was able to fly out for Saturday and part of Sunday. It was a really short visit but being that I won't get to see him again until the end of May, I was VERY thankful. I do have to admit a little bitterness here... as previously mentioned, i had a TERRIBLE flight. Yet, Price, being active duty military was upgraded to 1st class and got to spend his entire flight being served free booze and food. Lucky duck! I was pretty jealous, I'll admit it.



Saturday morning we were up at 6:30am and out the door by 8am almost on the dot. Mr. Jeff Brown planned an entire day out and about in Washing D.C. Check out some of the sight seeing we did...





Sydney made sure to stay nice and warm :)...











This is one of my favorite photographs from the whole day out...



Martin took a little break under the cherry blossoms, and i used it as a photo opp...



Here is our group getting ready to take a bus tour at the Arlington cemetery...






I was a little disappointed that we didn't get to see the Changing Of The Guards, but we got there just a few minutes after it happened and with two little babies, we were not able to hang around and keep them quite and happy long enough for the next switch. It was pretty emotional being there and hearing the history everyone buried there.









After a long day of sight seeing, we headed back to the Brown household where our Dad and his wife met us for dinner. There was steak, mashed potatoes, salad, veggies, bread, and the boys even made lobster (which was a pretty dramatic event).





Saturday was a LONG day of walking and touring and eating. After a little 'Say Yes to the Dress' and carrot cake, we all crashed. Our little brother was kind enough to snap a photo to document our sleeping sister all tuckered out. Thankfully i had gone downstairs so he couldn't get me in that photo :)



Oh, how I miss my family! It was hard enough to see everyone when we all lived in California, but now with my sister and her brood on the east coast, it makes it that much harder. I was very thankful to get to spend 4 long days with everyone and i cannot wait until the next time we are all together! I love all you Barrett's (and their additions :) )

Lots of Love and Bunches of Hugs,
XOXO Brogan Lee