Alex and Rory: Inauguration weekend

Okay, so this is going to be an unusual posting- it's not just the kids and we've got some great videos from this weekend! What a time to be in DC! In anticipation of the crowds, Erin and I brought Noah and Alex to the Lincoln Memorial so they would have a frame of reference for all of the inauguration activities. We figured it would be too crowded and too cold for us to go down with the kids. So the day we went down there, it was nuts- port-a-potties all over the place, road closures etc. Turned out to be the day of the practice inauguration! Unfortunately, we missed it... but we did get to see a big crane making the stage for the concert- Alex thought this was AWESOME.

Lincoln Memorial

Alex!

Sunday of the concert, we decided that maybe we would go down after all. The crowds were not supposed to be too bad so we bundled up and headed down! The kids were super warm despite the 7degree weather. They were bundled and bundled some more, the plastic cover really keeps the heat in AND hot sweet potatoes under their seats AND Alex got to have the warm chocolate bear (a warming aromatherapy bear Shawn gave Angela a few years ago that you can toss in the microwave for long lasting warmth) to keep his feet warm.

Crowds heading down to the mall for the concert.

See? Not too crowded at the Washington Monument.

We had a pretty good spot- not close enough to see the concert, but we could hear it.

Rory enjoys bopping to music

And boy, she LOVED Hot Cocoa...!

Alex loves hot cocoa too!

snuggly kisses with the baby!!

On Martin Luther King Day we spent the morning at a friends house. Alex and Rory had a great time playing. In the evening we went with Ellen and Danny (came in from SF for the inaurguration) to a Unitarian church (right across the street from our place). We were able to stay for a part of the service- the kids enjoyed the music. The energy was INCREDIBLE.

Japanese peace drums

Rory loves the music

Alex loves his US-Obama flag.

Inauguration Day we went to Erin, Gary, Noah and Max's house to watch the festivities. Aliza, Chaya, Emmitt, Tomer, Amie, Evan, Zoe, Maya, Jerome and Amalia were there. Leora and Eitan showed up later on. They had gone out for milk in the morning and then an empty 42 bus came by, so they hopped into it and went downtown to the mall and watched down at the Washington Memorial until the were too cold and they hopped on the bus back uptown. Crazy! Anyway, the kids had fun playing. We had the kids pause their play to watch the historic events. It was great. Whenever they panned through the crowds we looked for people we knew- they actually did show a mom and kid from our neighborhod. We looked for Joiwind and Amit in the fancy schmany box seats but didn't see them (they were there though definitely check out her pics if you're friends with her on facebook).

We ate lunch, went home to watch the parade... then a little after 5pm Amie called and said they (Amie, Evan, Erin and Gary) had 1 ticket to the Southern Ball- one of the official balls Obama was going to attend and did one of us want to come. It was a black tie event and Peter doesn't own a tux so I lucked out and got to go! Dinner, getting the kids to bed, nursing the baby and then trying to find a dress I could squeeze into. Now, I've never been to a blacktie inaugural ball before so I wasn't sure what to expect, but totally psyched! Loads of security and crowded. I have no idea how people were there. There were people lined up to get their prom photos taken, a pay bar and some snacks. We hung out, listened to the music, Erin ran into an old friend of hers there. I went off to the bathroom and tried to make my way back before Biden came but didn't quite make it back tot he group. I tried to take pictures and videos, send video messages to Peter- but I'm short, so not the best.

getting ready to go to the ball! (yes, that's one of my wedding dresses)