Washington National Cathedral

We finally got up to Northeast D.C. to visit the National Cathedral. Kyle, the lucky duck, has been to the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris but this was my first time to one of this size. It was breathtaking and I felt a lot of peace, being in an area where so many come to worship. There were times it reminded me of a castle and I pictured myself transported to a medieval period, thinking what it would of been like. And I thought a lot about Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast's castles. Just because Disney happens to be on the brain a little too much. It's fine. We love taking the time to explore these amazing sights!

Also we thought a lot about Hogwarts and Kyle prepping to go play Quidditch down on the field. 

A Day at Manassas Battlefield Park

We decided to spend Black Friday a little differently and 'Go Outside' like REI advertised. We had yet to visit the famous civil war battleground, Manassas. Kyle loves the civil war so he was my own little tour guide as we walked the beautiful grounds. None of these men thought the war would go on as long as it did nor be as devastating. This battle in particular was the first of the civil war and this was the main battle that really brought out what was to come. It's amazing to live in an area rich with American history. 

This is where Confederate General Jackson got the nickname of Stonewall Jackson by being seen by a soldier who exclaimed, "Look, men, there is a Jackson standing like a stone wall!" Stonewall indeed. Kyle even got his passport book stamped which is always a plus. 

"O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave..."

Two days after Thanksgiving, my history lover and I took a trip up to Baltimore to visit Fort McHenry, where the Star Spangled Banner was written. Kyle has a national parks stamp book and I LOVE it. He makes sure to bring it every time we visit a park. Inside the little museum, they do a presentation on how the song was written and why but afterwards, you are able to go outside and view the fort. It was a bit cold but a beautiful day when the sun came out and the wind wasn’t blowing. Afterwards, we went to an interesting modern museum. We ended our trip in their Little Italy district with pizza and gelato. I’m looking forward to the next time we can go visit Baltimore to see the National Aquarium (I thought I wanted to be a marine biologist until I found out it included the study of crustaceans....um, no thank you).

The stamp of approval

You can't tell by this photo by it was FREEEEZING because of the wind coming off of the harbor

An ode to the song

Random Modern Art Poodle Dog named Fifi

Cutest Little Italy (I spy a star being hung up for Christmas!)