Amazing

After our short trip from our hotel to DC via the Metro, Lucy described the view in one word as we walked out onto Constitution Avenue, "Amazing."

After hearing so much hype about staying at home, one would not have thought that in just three days, the 56th Inauguration was going to take place. Now we know Tuesday is going to be a madhouse, but this Saturday before was very manageable. There was light traffic on the roads and sidewalks, and we got around everywhere with ease.

We were all triple layered in clothes and never really had an issue with the 15 degree weather as we walked around the National Mall today.

Our first stop was the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. And, yes, we saw dinosaur bones! We wondered all through the museum. We saw the Hope Diamond, all 46 carats of it. We saw all kinds of live bugs in the Bug Zoo, crawling in their natural habitat. We ventured through the Hall of Mammals various other animal areas.

After a quick lunch in the museum, one that featured pizza and a big, green dinosaur cookie, we layered back up in outerwear and headed back into the cold.

We walked to the National Archives and stood in line outside for about 10 minutes and then another 15 minutes inside to enter the Rotunda. What a memorable moment to have our kids with us viewing of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Not much you can do to keep the chill bumps away.

We strolled across the National Mall to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. But first, we stopped at a refreshment stand to enjoy hot chocolates and a beer for daddy. We spent a little over an hour in the Air and Space Museum, looking at airplanes, rockets, a lunar module and the real, authentic Wright Flyer.

As the sun began to fall, we made our way back to the Metro station, walking down the middle of the National Mall, enjoying the sights, sounds and buzz of what was to come. There were television crews setting up in strategic locations, massive jumbotrons along the perimeter and the voices of nations from all over the world.

What a great day. We look forward to Sunday, when the "We Are One" event takes place at the Lincoln Memorial, featuring Bruce Springsteen, Garth Brooks, Usher, James Taylor, U2, Stevie Wonder, Tom Hanks, Tiger Woods and many more!