Carlson Corner: Happy Birthday in DC

Jesper turned one on Easter weekend (April 6). Happy Birthday, my sweet baby boy!

We flew to Washington D.C. to celebrate the weekend with Jodi, Paul, Stacie, John, Elise, Ariana, Grandma June, Grandpa Ron, Curtis, and Robbe. What a fun trip!

Wednesday

Josh and I both worked half-days on Wednesday because we were scheduled to fly out Wednesday evening. At about 11am Wednesday morning, I got a call from Jesper’s teacher because she had just taken Jesper’s temperature and it was 103 degrees. They suspected he had Hand Foot and Mouth Disease. Yikes! We had 4+ hours of travel time ahead of us that night.

However, despite his fever, Jesper was in a relatively good mood. It actually seemed to work to our advantage on the flights because he was tired and mellow. He even fell asleep right at take-off from Milwaukee to DC and slept for a good portion of the flight.

Thursday
On Thursday, Grandpa and Grandma Ratzlaff arrived from Charlotte right after Jesper went down for his nap. Once he woke up, we decided to visit the city of DC and do some sightseeing. We took the metro to the Air and Space Museum and then walked down the Mall to the Washington Monument and World War II monument. We could see some of the cracks in the Washington Monument from the earthquake last fall.

Grandpa and Grandma Arriving

Side note: Air travel is a luxury I take for granted, but the Air and Space museum reminded me that it’s a relatively new science. I asked my parents about their first flight, and was surprised that they did not go on an airplane until they took Jodi and Stacie to visit our relatives in Oregon for Christmas 1981. They did not even purchase tickets before they drove up to the airport – they just bought the tickets at the gate!

On the metro

Jesper does not sleep while moving anymore (too much to see!), but the sight-seeing really wore him out. By the time we got to the World War II monument, he was absolutely cashed. I picked him up out of the stroller and he fell asleep in my arms after only a few minutes. For a moment, I bravely thought I could carry my 25 lb. child back to the metro station that was 30 minutes away, but I was obviously wrong (a little behind on my strength-training, apparently). We got a cab back to Paul and Jodi’s house instead and my little man slept the whole way.

Josh and Jesper in front of the Washington Monument

Grandpa, Grandma, and Jodi at the WWII Memorial

World War II Memorial

The Gopher hockey team played in the Frozen Four later that evening against Boston College. We ordered pizza and watched the gophers lose a heart-breaking game. Oh, so sad to see the season end that close to the prize!

Friday
The guys (John, Paul, Dad, and Josh) headed to Andrews to play a round of golf. Stacie and Mom went shopping for a couple hours in the morning while Ariana and Jesper slept. Jodi and I hung out with Elise and sidewalk chalk until the babies woke up. Then we went for a little walk – Elise and Bailey skipping ahead, Jesper in the stroller, and Jodi trailing behind with Ariana in her walker. We must have made quite the sight!

One gift on Friday morning

Birthday Boy

Jesper and Ariana playing

Curtis and Robbe arrived later that afternoon just in time to tag along on our trip to the White House. Paul had organized a tour for the whole family with the VP’s presidential aide. We saw the Vice President’s official office first and Elise and I both used the secret bathroom attached to the room.
Then we headed to Vice President Joe Biden’s actual office (the one he uses vs. the one that is shown on tours). We waited around for a little while until President Obama left the oval office. At one point, Jesper dropped his pacifier and I was afraid that we were going to lose it in the office. He also had his diaper changed on the VP’s floor. In summary, he was kind of a big deal on his birthday. :)

Waiting in the VP's office

The girls in the Press Room

White House

We also saw the Oval Office, press room and rose garden.

The man who made the tour happen - Thanks, Paul!

Later that night, people without babies went out to eat at the Wharf. Those of us with children drove back to Jodi and Paul’s house for Thai take-out. The children had a pool party in the bathtub that night and LOVED it. I wish we were closer so they could see each other more often!

Saturday
Josh and I walked around Old Towne Alexandria on Saturday morning. We were looking for a little brunch place, but unfortunately, nothing opened until 11:30am. To pass the time, we walked up and down the street, through the Farmer’s Market, and down by the water. It was a beautiful spring day and really nice to spend some time together sans child.

Playing

When we got back to Jodi and Paul’s house, we officially celebrated Jesper’s birthday (a day late). He is generally very tentative with new food or situations, but didn’t seem to hesitate with the cake. He seemed to like it a lot! I’m pretty sure he would’ve made it his lunch if we had let him.

The boys watching the celebration

Birthday cake

Jesper received money from both sets of grandparents and Bruce and Marnee Brandenburg and a giant blowup ball pit from John and Stacie and his cousins. We gave him a “lawn mower” with popping balls when we got home.

The party included clowns

Mom and Jodi

Later, we all went down to Olde Towne Alexandria to take family pictures and go out to eat. Thanks to our photographers, John and Robbe, we got some great pictures!

The grandparents with their grandbabies

Grandma and Grandpa

Cousins

How many adults does it take to coordinate 3 children in a photo?

Sunday
Curtis and Robbe left on Sunday morning and I went to church with the family on Sunday morning while Josh stayed back with Jesper while he napped. After a barbeque lunch, the kids (Elise and Jesper) went on an Easter egg hunt in the backyard. Jesper wasn’t really sure what was going on, but I think he enjoyed the walk with Grandpa and Mom holding his hands. Elise was very generous with her Easter eggs and “helped” Jesper find many of them.