Family Staycation

For the last half of the kid's Spring Break, we decided to do a family staycation. It's where you stay in your own town and home but go out and do things around there that you haven't done before and eat out at lots of new places like you would if you were on vacation! We had a blast with ours, especially since we didn't tell the boys where we were going or what was going to be happening. Total surprises all along the way.

Our first day we woke up early and made the trek into DC to go to the National Zoo. 

We were worried we wouldn't be able to get parking because it was crowded, but our patience was rewarded with a parking space even though it was kinda far away. That was fine, as long as we got to see the animals. It was a lot of fun and both boys loved it. 

Spencer was a bit afraid to turn his back on this flat duck billed bird. 

Look at those smiles! 

When we came home we got to our next activity which was dyeing the Easter eggs!

Then we got visitors! Grandma and Grandpa came up to celebrate with us for a couple of days. 

The next morning we convinced Spencer on the way that we were going to a dairy farm, and he kept wondering if we really were, but didn't want to hurt our feelings and said he was happy to go. He was grateful to see that we actually ended up at the Air and Space Museum!

Very cool planes, helicopters, space shuttles and activities were there. 

Spencer and Grandpa landing a space shuttle on a runway.

Space Shuttle Discovery. 

Next on our agenda was a trip to eat and play....Chuck E Cheese it is then! Spencer was really excited about being here, but kept saying that this was more for Preston. 

Serious son and father racing going on.

Preston loved being able to run around everywhere. 

At home relaxing now, wondering what was going to happen next. 

We went out to eat at one of our favorite places, Sweetwater Tavern! The food is so good, but the dessert is amazing!! I love the flourless chocolate waffle with ice cream. It's melt in your mouth wonderful, and I meant to get a picture of it but Spencer and I ate it too fast. 

I love this picture of my dad and Spencer. 

The next day we went to IHOP for breakfast and then came home to a Nerf Gun war I had set up. I got all of our weapons ready with the ammo and the boys had to come in and choose their weapon and be ready in one minute. They had a blast and thought it was so fun. Preston couldn't figure out how to shoot the guns so he just ran around throwing bullets at us. 

The next morning was Easter and we had a big breakfast, complete with heart cinnamon rolls. Then we saw what the Easter Bunny had brought to us. 

The Easter loot.

The staycation was fabulous!!! Because we stayed home we saved money to be able to go out and do the fun things around here that we never got to do. We had so much fun that I think we'll be trying it again.