Should we get Gabriel his own little teepee? I think so!

We've been taking advantage of having our family around to be tourists in our "own city."  With all of the free admission to the Smithsonians in DC, you just HAVE to go! 

We were also prompted to find out where the "Smithsonian" name came from.  And it's actually an intriguing answer, so long as you trust the internet completely to give you truthful answers.  Some wealthy British guy gave the US a vast sum of money quite a while ago to create these research/museums for Americans.  And he had never even been to the US before!  Find out more here: John Smithson

Anyway, here are just a few snapshots from our day at the beautiful National Museum of the American Indian. Gabriel stayed awake through the whole thing, but we were trying to get him to nap in his stroller which is why he didn't make it to many of the pictures.  I think there was just too much for him to see! 

This was one of my favorites!  It's a twine ball with beads that represent events in a person's life, but only you know what they are and what they represent.  Women would make them for themselves and then they would be buried with it. 

This was Jordan's favorite.  The original snow mobile!

This is what I want to get for Gabriel--a little teepee for reading and hanging out in!  How fun!

We also had heard that the food at the museum in the Mitsitam Cafe was really good, so we came back the next day for lunch.  The line-ups were huge and it was very crowded.  I thought the food was delicious, but I think next time, I'd opt for the smaller selection from the cafe instead of fighting the crowds and wandering around aimlessly with a stroller trying to figure out all the different kinds of foods and what they are.  But if you are looking for an adventure in the food department, go there!  Things I've never heard of: Rabbit Escabeche, Feijoada, Hibiscus, Chocolates Marinated Pork Shank, Guava Chili Sauce.  Beautiful!