Nature (+ Airplanes)

The plan was to take it easy on Sunday. C was flying back on a redeye mid-morning so I planned to take the boys to Gravelly Point.  For non-Washingtonians, this is a park about a mile from the airport that gives you an upclose underbelly view of airplanes as they take off.  If you ever have the occasion to pick up or drop off someone at National Airport, consider taking the kids.  In addition to its unique view of the airplanes, you have great views of the city and the Potomac.  There are open fields of grass, a path to run or bike, geese, and picnic tables.

In the end, we went twice - once before and once after we picked up C for time reasons.  Both BB and DD had a great time stretching their legs and seeing the "Rocket" (the Washington Monument) from this new vantage point.  But instead of being enthralled by the big loud airplanes, which was my whole reason for bringing them, they were singularly focused on nature.  BB told me he found clover, dandelions, and pinecones.  Their biggest excitement was spotting little mushrooms sprouting under a small grove of pine trees.  Incidentally, that set the menu for the evening - steak and sauteed baby portabellas.