A Capitol Day.

@postaday 173; #postaday2011.

Today was one of those days that included so much. I dunno. Maybe it’s getting to motherhood late in the game. Both John and I have this sense of urgency when it comes to showing the world to the girls, to introducing them to new experiences, to be sure they learn what they need to know.

Earlier this week we were in New York City. It was the first time I had ever been to Times Square. Unfortunately, Times Square is loaded with every chain restaurant or chain store that is everywhere else in the world. Gosh! I don’t want that! I want new experiences and flavors! I think the landlord of Times Square should rethink the tenant mix.

Back to today. We woke early at our Silver Spring Hampton Inn and had a really good breakfast down in the dining room. Kid2 is a sleeper inner. That kid will sleep through a Mummers Parade. But this morning I whispered into her ear that we had to get down to the breakfast bar before those other kids did. She INSTANTLY was up and getting ready.

We had a 9 a.m. appointment at Sen. Daniel Akaka’s office, and we were prompt. Apparently, too prompt. Gee! Gladys in the Honolulu office emphasized we shouldn’t be late, and if we were, to call. Sigh.

Former TV reporter and former Honolulu City Councilman Jon Yoshimura took us back to the Senator’s office and we had some small talk before the Senator joined us and the McNamaras, a couple from Kailua-Kona. We had a nice conversation. He was briefed on who John and I worked for, and it was nice to find where our social connections are.

We were taken on a tour by staffers Elyse and Dan, and it was a better tour than anyone who was there with a little self-guided tour lanyard, or in big group, would have gotten. We got to see two representatives speak in the house chamber. I’m not real sure how much my daughters absorbed, but, hey, I got them in there! They enjoyed the subterranean mini wiki-like subway train that took us from the Senate buildings to the Capitol. The information about the paintings in the rotunda were the most interesting to us. We posed with many statues and enjoyed hearing the stories about the artwork and the building.

When we were through with the tour we had sandwiches at Union Station and then headed toward the Mall. More pictures, a family of baby ducks on the side of the reflecting pool, and a few rain drops in a relatively cool day for late June.

First stop, Nerdtopia, aka, The National Air and Space Museum. I only saw one Boy Scout, an adult. Last time I was there, the place was full of them. Kid1 and John took off to explore while Kid2 and I found solace in the museum’s art gallery. She even posed with her new drawing on the wall, and I could see her acknowledge her grand ambitions. Kinda fun.

Then we went to the National Museum of Natural History. This time John took off with Kid2. For more than two hours they were all over the place. We finally caught up with them in the tube filled with butterflies from around the world. Sophie join them there and when the three came out, they downloaded the low down.

By the time we got out of the museum, it was nearing 6 p.m. and we had to hike to Metro Center to catch a train back to Silver Spring. Kid2 fell asleep. That’s the kind of day they had. We like it when the sleep well at night.