DC Gridlock

Last month I vowed to get through my back log of photos waiting to edit. And I started with our beach trip to North Carolina in August which was a wonderful week full of sunshine, family and good waves. Our trip to Washington DC a few weeks earlier was the next up, but instead of reliving fond memories of a family vacation, I was remembering all the stress and emotional volatility of Elisa's mood swings that fine day. It was supposed to be a 24 hour layover in our nation's capital that turned into more than we bargained for when our flights the next afternoon cancelled. But the real silver lining was that we all got to fly on one of Nacho's last flights as a Captain with Shuttle America (operating the Delta Shuttles to DC). It was our first time taking the girls on one of their papa's actual flights and they loved seeing him at work in the cockpit. Checking into the hotel and having a dip in the pool before a stroll and dinner in Alexandria were other highlights. The girls both LOVED that pool and honestly I did too. The first evening went so well, I was sure our second day of sightseeing after a breakfast from Pain Quotidien would be equally stellar. It was not. First, there was the abundant sunshine which was apparently "too bright" to look at my camera in any direction. The following smiles and photos only happened because I threatened them and/or tempted them with ice cream if they behaved. 

This is where it all started to head south...After much cajoling, Elisa just wasn't having it anymore. She wanted to stop walking, go back to the hotel and swim. Problem was...we'd already checked out. 

Again, more promises of ice cream...if we ever found a push cart or truck selling it. What the fuck, DC? Where are your ice cream vendors? We never found one. She was not happy. And I was made to look like a liar. Oh well. Banner day.

At least someone loves her mama. Carolina was a champion that day despite the heat, the sun and her sister stealing her stroller for long periods. She even tried to cheer Elisa up. 

And there you have it...we managed to pull off the very short list of sights I wanted to see after a grueling few hours of prodding and manipulating our big girl. It was just not Elisa's day in DC and I wish I knew why. I think the happiest she was all day was when she found out at the airport that afternoon that we weren't going to be able to fly home and that I'd rebooked our hotel (thanks to Priceline) with the fabulous swimming pool. So back to Crystal City we went without Nacho who had to fly home somehow or other. Nothing like a little swimming and a pizza delivered to our room to make our girls only slumber party complete. And in truth, when we all stopped fighting the inevitable, it was a great evening. The next morning we caught the shuttle back to DCA and flew home without any problems. It was a nice reminder that sometimes travel home can be effortless. And just enough boost that I'll probably attempt another flying trip with the girls soon. How about Thanksgiving?

Capital City

Heading to Washington, D.C. for a quick and easy trip this week proved anything but, yet it still somehow seemed enjoyable. Weird, right? The travel part on the way there was a breeze, and we managed to take the girls for a swim and dinner in Old Town Alexandria, VA on the first night there. We ate at Eamonn's Dublin Chipper which is where I had another infamous meal (a stomach bug before and a delicate stomach after made that a meal I wished I hadn't eaten). But I wanted to try it again and I'm so glad we did. The girls raved about their breaded chicken bites (they were about 1000 times better than their latest slew of chicken nuggets) and Nacho and I had battered cod and curry fries which were absolutely divine. So good. I don't think I could have eaten anything better that night. It just fit the bill. And watching the girls wiggle and play in the big wooden booth as the sun set on our trip was awesome. Even bedtime came without fanfare. They watched some TV and then lights out. We slept right through Nacho leaving for work at 6 a.m. and by the time were were mobilizing the next morning it was 10:30 a.m. and he was just landing back in D.C. It was all working out so well....

....Until it didn't. We got Elisa up and ready and fed but she was determined to have a shitty day. Sometimes there's just no other way to say it. The kid likes to be angry and whiny. And I don't know why it happens when she is A) not tired B) not hungry and C) completely not sick, but that's life. We finished up our delicious breakfast at Pain Quotidien and then hiked over to the White House a few blocks away. The sun was out but it wasn't too warm yet and I was so full of optimism. Yet, still Elisa played on like a delicate bird. The sun was too bright she couldn't look up for photos. She didn't want to walk but ride in Carolina's stroller (oh God, child, you have FEET!). She didn't want to go towards that big monument...no she wanted to go home. Or back to the hotel to swim. "Can we go swimming again?  I want to go swimming?" The fact that we had already checked out of the hotel that morning meant that no, in fact, we can't go for a dip later. But she didn't care. We had just a few hours to see a few of the highlights of this massive town and Elisa was stalling. She was sucking up energy and driving me crazy. And I really hate being the crazy, screaming mom on the go. At home, okay outbursts happen. But when you are in the midst of an entire flock of people lining up for their photo in front of the White House and you're threatening your child with bodily harm...well, it doesn't sound so great. So I tried to suck it up. I really did. But still she wouldn't budge. She was just not having it that day. 

So we mostly walked ahead of her or just ignored her silent grudge match. I tried joking with her, promising things, but it was useless. I told her we really can't kow tow to one member of the family. This was our trip and she can't control it. But still somehow she did. Carolina kept up her cheerful smile and disposition throughout the long, slog of a day, even walking for long stretches while Elisa took a "turn" in the stroller. The stroller I didn't even want to bring (and probably won't again) because it just causes conflict like that. You would never guess the two year if you had to go just on behavior. She was stellar. Elisa only really perked up when she thought she might still be in the running for getting ice cream. I was just relieved we never actually found a vendor. Made it all the way back to the hotel to get our luggage and to the airport before I had to find another bribe. At least that worked for a while. And then we were at the airport, waiting to get on the 5 p.m. flight back to LGA when we found out that the 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. flights had both cancelled. There had been some kind of disruption in New York with another plane and now everything was a mess. Nacho and I both know from experience that you can always chance it and wait the mess out. But with kids, the options seem so much bleaker. We had 3 hours to wait for our next shot and it wasn't looking good. So with that, I decided to pack it in. We could find a cheap hotel for the night nearby and try again. Getting our same hotel for $80 (with a POOL! Did I mention that POOL??!!) was a wonderful consolation prize. So we kissed Nacho goodbye and turned around to enjoy yet another evening in our nation's capital. 

And from that point on, I was dealing with a new child. Elisa totally came through and delivered a great evening...after she found out she was going swimming again. She was an angel. She played and danced and kept Carolina totally occupied in the hotel room. We ordered a pizza and ate our Doubletree cookies all over the bed. It was a great end to an otherwise exhausting day. And getting up and ready the following morning on our own was fine too. We made it back to the airport, got on the flight and flew into Papa's arms shortly after he landed from work the same day. A day late, but we had time to improve our moods and that we did. Now I just need to gear up for a possible Boston overnight in August. Can I handle it?