The Fortune's: A Beautiful Fall Day in DC

After a week of nonstop rain, God blessed us with a beautiful Sunday. Also to arrive, Shelly's new stroller (via the mail, not divinely). After waking up to the sun Sunday morning, the whole family voted to spend the day outside, overruling my suggestion we watch football, so we decided to take an adventure. I know what you are thinking: Shelly wanted to use her new stroller, but I don't think she cared if we took it or not. But Kate and Madison cared. They couldn't wait to try out the new stroller. Seriously, As I assembled the high speed stroller and additional buggy board, Madison and Kate took turns trying the different seat positions and riding board (testing my assembling skills).

After a lesson in stroller assembly, we ate lunch, loaded up in the car, and headed to DC. Unfortunately, Kate did not nap during the hour drive (NEWMAN). She actually fell asleep for about five minutes until we stopped to get Shelly lunch (Shelly would later say that she would have rather gone hungry and have Kate nap).

We finally made it into the city, and actually found a parking spot on the mall (perhaps the only fortuitous event of the day). We spent the next hour with Kate screaming and Madison waffling between wanting to ride in the stroller, stand on the the boogy board, and walk. By the time we walked a hundred yards, I questioned the wisdom in buying a new stroller and was pretty sure my day would have been better spent watching football .

Shelly keeps lollipops in her purse for emergency moments. When we gave one to Kate, M wanted one. When we gave one to M, Kate wanted that one. Madison then wanted the same color as Kate. Lollipops, the saving grace, quickly turned into Pandora's Box. Shelly and I decided to divide an conquer. As I took Kate, screaming, waving her sticky want of slime.. Shelly sat with Madison on a bench. After 45 minutes, we finally calmed Kate down and Madison down enough to continue our walk down the mall.

At Washington's monument, we let the girls go. Madison and Shelly raced to the base of the monument, while Kate seemed content sitting and watching all the tourists trudge from one monument to another. Later, Kate and Madison sat together, sharing a snack and doing little else than bask in each others fowl mood.

Finding the Westlands on the Mall saved the afternoon. Madison, Nathan, and Corey kicked the soccer ball, ran around, and rode the park's carousel. The adults, paired up by sex, took turns watching the kids and bemoaning about their spouse.

At the end of the carousel ride, we parted ways with the Westlands and started back home. Both Shelly and I vowed not to take the girls on another adventure anytime soon.