The Sykes visit the Nation's Capital for the 4th

Can you tell I am catching up on blogging? So earlier this year (I think before we even had Mack) some of my college friends came up with the idea of getting together. I was pretty pumped about it because I had proposed something like that years ago as I had seen other friends of mine do it with their college friends and it had really helped them to keep in touch. But as with every friend group, there were several hold-outs and those finally got their gums in gear as most of us are married - and really, after weddings , what reasons do you have to get together with old friends unless you make a reason?

So, we all agreed to get together in DC over the 4th of July. Two of the group live in the D.C. area and another lives in NYC and three of us are in Texas (although one of the Texans couldn't make it anyways due to work).

So this was Mack's first airplane trip (see picture)! He did so well. He was really a pretty great baby and whenever he would get fussy, I would just feed him :-). Of course, I also realized another negative no one ever tells you about parenthood - say 'goodbye' to pleasure reading on a plane for the next 4 or 5 years :-). Small price to pay for such joy, eh?

In any case, it was so much fun to see everyone and to see the D.C. area over our nation's birthday. We spent the first day on the National Mall. We went to the spy museum which we have been wanting to do for quite a while and it was really good (top pic). It is private so it cost money, but it was worth it. We also visited the Air and Space museum which was great (and free!). We spent the actual 4th in Annapolis which was great. We saw the Navy band play, there was a parade, great fireworks and just a really cute town.

All in all, Mack's first airplane trip was very much a success. And it sounds like we are going to do something like this with my college friends a bit more frequently and so we are pretty doggone excited :-). I really love my college friends and love seeing them and catching up!