Washington DC

 I traveled with Amanda last weekend to Washington, DC for her Marathon.  We had to start our trip out right and start "carbo-loading" right away.

 The trip down went great, but we were a little late getting there because some outlet malls along the way were calling our names!
 So we got there and were starving and couldn't wait to get some food. I ordered nachos so couldn't wait to get these cheesy, supposed to be bean-y loaded nachos!

 Amanda's food was great, just what she expected.  Mine was missing beans!! Oh no, the one thing I was really looking forward to but the waitress assured me, they were on there...just very little since that is the new fad. Hmm, what? little beans is a new fad? Well can I please have some more on the side?

 

Sure, well here they are on the side. Still not beans, I give up!

 

The next morning we woke up and got ready to go to a memorial service for Monica. Amanda's soon to be sis-in-law's grandmother had passed away.  After getting ready we had very little time for breakfast so decide to quick order an egg from the restaurant in our hotel. Yes ONE egg as only one single egg no sides was $4.50! So the waitress asks if we want 2 eggs. Ok, were starving we will take two and just suck it up and pay $9 for two eggs, yikes! We eat our eggs quick grab the bill go to pay and the bill is $26!!! WHAT? For four eggs? So after getting that straightened out we head for the church service.

 After the service we are starving so we head downtown for some VERY very good Thai, finally a really good solid meal that didn't cost a fortune!

 Then we had to check out a local ice cream shop for dessert.  When we left there it started to rain.

 That didn't stop us from still checking out some local thrift stores and some other fun markets and even a toy store!

 Then we decided to head downtown to Georgetown to get Amanda's race packet. Amanda had read online it was from 12-3 but then on the race form it said 3-6. Well of course we got there and the race packets had already gone!! So no picking up race packets for us until the morning of the race...:(

 Downtown was just beautiful, very green, natural and super clean.  I love the garage pictured below!

 I found this cute little salad place and so I went in a ordered a salad for supper.  They had all different kinds of salad you could order then they would mix it up in a large metal bowl and stuff it all into this little container.  I figured I'd just bring it with me where ever Amanda wanted to eat for supper since it was the night before her big race and I knew she'd want something more than just salad.  So she decided on this pizza place.  We head in, she orders her pizza and we are sitting there waiting when this man walks by, then walks by again.  Finally he stops and asks me why did I bring food into the restaurant as its a health code violation etc etc and that he is going to have to get our pizza wrapped up and ask us to leave.  WHAT, oh man so we got kicked out of a restaurant too.  It makes sense but it was a total honest mistake. I'm from Amish country Ohio so didn't even think twice about bringing food in as we've been to chipotle several times with chicken nuggets for the kiddos and we just sit and enjoy our chipotle.

 Oh well, we try to stay positive, this is good because then we can go back to our room, get in our pj's and eat in bed, get to bed early etc. We start to enjoy our dinner in bed.

 The phone rings, Amanda's brother wants to know if we want to come to Monica's grandma's house to watch as they let off paper lanterns in her memory.  Ok, how can we refuse, that would be really special to see...so we change quick, jump in the car and head there.  We get there and call Aaron, they had just let them up and now we can't see them anymore. Bummer! Oh well, at least we have a little time with Aaron & Monica. 

 We wake up early the next morning, get to the race, get Amanda's packet, and off she goes!

 It's a very beautiful course on a towpath with views of the river and natural sites all along the way.

 Almost half way there...at the halfway point I jumped in with her as it was an out and back, then out and back again for the marathon!

 All smiles after her big race is over.  Next we take quick showers and head to where else, but another Thai restaurant with Aaron and Monica, it was absolutely delicious!

 On our way home we decide we want to eat at Panera Bread so we get off and of course the Panera bread we chose closed that day for maintenance at 6 and I think we got there at about 6:15. We settled for Starbucks for dinner instead.  Lots of fun memories were made this trip and I wouldn't change a thing:)