Happy Birthday Ruby

Ruby had a birthday this week and we had a party on Saturday.

She wanted an island theme, Opal helped with the decorations ...

 with pizza

and games

and an ice cream cake

Mom and dad got her a 1/2 size guitar and some learning materials.  She is already bugging her mom about teaching her more.  Her Chei would be proud.

Dancers

Steph and the girl's decided to watch the Git-Hoan dancers perform at the last minute at the National Museum of the American Indian.  They were really glad they went.  Poor Opal was not a fan of the masks, neither was Coral.  They did a variety of dances, but  our favorites were with the masks, even if they were scary.

The Git-Hoan dancers are from Alaska and are comprised of members from the Tsimshian, Haida and Tlingit tribes.

Sunday Morning

Snow Day in Washington

We had snow on Friday night and it was pretty much a mess on Saturday morning.  We figured it was so nasty out that people would say in and we should go check out the museums early, while they aren't crowded.

We are about 10 minutes from the National Mall when there is no traffic.  We found a free parking spot right in front of the National Museum of American History.

We had the Mall to ourselves while we waited for the museum to open.

Awesome emptiness!

Enthroned Washington

They had an exhibit on Jewish peddlers that was pretty interesting

Eli Whitney's patent model for his cotton gin.

The original Muppets

A New Mexican santos

Thomas Edison's first lightbulbs

George Washington's saber

...and mess kit

George Washington's uniform

Custer's coat, we checked for bullet holes

The first American warship, The Philadelphia

A piece of the Berlin Wall

Sheridan's horse "Winchester"

Mary Todd Lincoln's dress