{Youth Trap Shoot}

Each fall there is a youth trap shoot and youth pheasant hunt in our community for local youth. This was the 2nd year our kids have attended and they love to shoot trap! It was really awesome that a college team that had won Nationals was there to teach and help them out!

Lenna & Abigayl on the stand with mentors...

 Nate getting pointers from one of the coaches...

 Eli's turn...

 Shooting from different heights and angles makes each shot a little different. The kids got to try each station several times.

 They came home with sore shoulders but had lots of fun! Each of the kids shot about 150 times we think! A huge thanks to the businesses and all the individuals who give their time each year to make this event a huge success!

{Heading westward... on the way home}

Our last day in DC, Shawn's meetings were done so he took the 4 older kids and headed to the Holocaust Museum. Clara, Wesley and I enjoyed a visit to the National Mall and rode the carousel.

We headed west out of DC for home with a planned stop in Dayton, Ohio to visit the National Museum of the Air Force.

We loved this stop! I wish I would have planned a few more hours here as we actually didn't make it through the whole museum in the time we had!

The rest of our trek home was uneventful. So thankful though for the time to get away and see so much together as a family and with friends!

{washington D.C. Day 2}

Saturday morning, we headed to Arlington Cemetery. I wanted the kids to experience the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier. The kids  have a great uncle buried there and my sister's father-in-law is as well. We were thankful for a beautiful morning again!

We also visited President Kennedy's grave site.

From Arlington, we took the metro and headed to the Library of Congress, this was on Eli's list to see. This is one of my favorite buildings in DC.

From here, we walked to the capitol.

We had to show our K-State Pride as well!

We ended our afternoon trying Peruvian food!

Then we headed back through the neighborhood, enjoying the row houses as we walked.

We then had some friends come to meet us. We met them in Guangzhou in 2015 when the girls and I were traveling to bring Wesley home. The kids spent time at the pool and we would go to eat together sometimes. It was fun to have the kids together again and meet the rest of our families. Thanks for traveling in to meet us even for a short time.

{Washington DC- Day 1}

Our time in Washington, D.C. was short but we packed it full of fun! This is a very picture heavy post, Lenna was our photographer unless she is in the picture.

We headed out the first morning with the list of places that the kids had chosen that they wanted to visit if possible. We did a ton of walking and I am SO THANKFUL for the "Sit -n-Stand" stroller I picked up last minute. I am not sure we would have made it without it!

The weather was beautiful, which made our few days there even better!

We made a quick stop in front of the White House.

Then headed to the World War II Memorial. This is one of my favorites, OK, most of the War memorials on the Mall I love!

The kids all thought the Star Pool was really cool.

Next up, the Korean War Memorial...

and the Lincoln Memorial.

Of course, we had to try a few "jump" pictures, a family tradition!

Looking toward the Washington Monument and the US Capitol.

From here, we walked to the Vietnam War Memorial. This one is dear to our hearts as Grandpa is a veteran.

Next stop was the Natural History Museum, we had lunch in the cafeteria there and then explored a bit.

We spent several hours here before we hit the Metro to head back to our place and meet up with Daddy after his meetings for supper.