We had scheduled with the Milgard window company to come and check a window. We had hoped to have them come in the morning, but the guy showed up at 1 pm, exactly when we were supposed to be leaving. We delayed for a bit, but couldn't wait too long before leaving for the airport. We called Dave, the general contractor on the street, and asked if he could wait with the Milgard guy while we left. Not really what was ideal, but we needed to leave and the Milgard guy wasn't finished. Dave sent up Matt who waited with the window guy and then locked up after they were done. Chris was then able to activate the alarm remotely after they had both left the house.
Kristen printed off a sheet to start the license plate game and was able to fill in a few plates even on the way to the airport.
For some reason, all of my family gets TSA pre-check except for me. So while I had to wait in line and remove my shoes, they just zoomed right through security. Fortunately I was able to send my backpack with them to speed up my time. Chris waited for me while the girls rode the train to the B gate and boarded the plane. Misha and I would enjoy first class while the rest of the family sat two rows back in Economy Plus. Misha and I were served a meal and snacks and treated wonderfully while the others got snacks. I could get used to the first class flying experience.
We arrived in Dulles, Virginia around 9:30 pm (local) on Wednesday evening. The airport had these Star Wars looking people movers that we boarded to transfer from our gate to the baggage pick up. Our baggage took a lot longer to arrive than we did.
Chris had prearranged for a ride share van to take us from the airport to our hotel. Apparently they had construction everywhere as well. It took about 45 minutes to reach our hotel after first dropping off another passenger in the van. We arrived at the Residence Inn in Washington, DC where we would stay for the next five days. Chris and Amy stopped at the CVS drug store next door to get a few snacks. My peeps like their snacks. We ordered extra blankets and towels.
Our room was on the 10th floor looking out over a lovely roundabout. We got the girls settled in to their pull out bed with Misha on the floor on couch cushions and a Cabela's blow up mattress pad that we brought with us. She was happy to sleep by herself. Kristen and Amy shared the pullout. Chris and I had a separate room with a lovely bed. The room was great for spreading out and being comfortable. Since it was a Residence Inn, it had a small kitchenette with a fridge, microwave, and sink.
Our room was freezing when we arrived. I turned the air from 68* to 72* then 74*. By the middle of the night, I had to turn it back down to 72*, but the air was pretty finicky to get just right. Sometimes it was perfect at 70* and other days we were freezing at 72*.
Chris set an alarm for 6 am the next morning so that we could get tickets for the Holocaust Museum.