Miss Maddie Goes to Washington/Columbia, SC

For the third consecutive year, Maddie has visited Aunt Doni and Uncle David in Columbia, SC during her summer vacation. Lenora drove from Delaware with Maddie to visit Heather, Johnnie, Allen, Crystal and the girls in Knoxville, TN and then she and Heather brought Maddie and Chloe to Columbia. Heather, Crystal and Kayla joined them that evening for dinner by candlelight when a summer storm blew out the electricity.

Chloe was only able to stay a couple of days since she was off to visit her grandparents in Alabama and Mississippi. Maddie stayed in Columbia for a week and then she and Aunt Doni headed to Alexander, VA to explore Washington, DC with Rhonda.

Day One: Metro to DC, National Sculpture Garden, Tour Mobile to monuments and memorials, National Museum of the American Indian (where we enjoyed a late lunch in the cafeteria and then viewed A Thousand Roads, in a theatre in the round shown on Indian textiles.

Rhonda + Maddie on the Metro to DC.

Maddie couldn't identify the object behind her, can you?

Doni + Maddie find a cool spot in the

National Sculpture Garden.

Rhonda + Maddie find the same spot!

Maddie ties her shoe before we move on.

Maddie studies the guide book on the Tour Mobile.

A view of the Washington Monument from the tidal basin.

A view of the Lincoln Memorial from the tidal basin.

Maddie joins the Depression sculpture at the Roosevelt Memorial.

We witnessed an officer's funeral procession while at

Arlington National Cemetery but weren't allowed to photograph it.

Rhonda captures the changing of the guard

at Arlington National Cemetery.

Last stop of the day: National Museum of The American Indian.

Day Two: The Washington National Cathedral! Rhonda took her car out of the parking garage and we headed to explore the mysterious streets of DC. While looking for the cathedral, we discovered Embassy Row, which Maddie, of course, thought was Embassy Suites!

We even had to pay to park at the Cathedral!

Welcome to the Cathedral!

It was an overcast, stormy day which made

the Cathedral appear so majestic!

Doni + Maddie are "blown away" by the

beauty of the Cathedral!

From every angle, the Cathedral is magnificent!

The inside of the Cathedral is equally majestic!

Rhonda + Maddie exit the Cathedral.

Welcome to the Bishops Garden!

Maddie + Doni find a spot to rest!

Maddie always finds the water!

Dinner and Dessert at the Chart House on the waterfront

in Alexandria, VA.

Day Three: Metro to DC then off to the Natural History Museum to see an IMAX movie and then to the National Gallery of Art (East Bldg) to see the Mark Rothko exhibition, have lunch in the cafeteria and to shop in the bookstore.

Maddie is really learning her way around the Metro.

Maddie + Doni wait for the blue line.

Rhonda waits with us!

Maddie + Rhonda inside the National Gallery of Art.

As we walk across the Mall, we see the Capital Bldg.

Maddie+ Rhonda at the IMAX!

Before our trip to Washington, we spent a few days in Columbia. Although short, we had a great time together!

Maddie + Chloe play catch on the back porch.

Maddie plays in the pool at George and Paula's

house on the 4th of July.

…while Uncle David naps.

The day ends with fireworks.

Maddie husks her first ears of corn.

Friends Kay and Kimmie stop by to say good bye.

No one loves corn like Maddie!

After beating Aunt Doni in three games of bowling

(Maddie's highest game: 148), they enjoy ice cream together.

It was a great summer vacation!

Cousins Maddie + Chloe/ Photo Shoot