There is something absolutely magical about the East Coast in the fall. We’ve lived here for six years, are roughly 40 minutes outside of D.C. and realize far too often that we don’t take advantage of it enough. O and I decided earlier this year to make Saturday our “family days” full of exploring and last week I just had the itch to drive to the city to let the kids adventure. 

armed and ready for a day of exploring! (of course, not shown are the 23,400 other snacks.)

I knew it was going to be a great day when we found a parking spot one block from the museum. When i say that never happens, I mean that never happens. There’s no food allowed inside so we ate our lunches out front while letting the kids get all their wiggles out and once everyone was stuffed, in we went.

they take their shoveling-food-to-face very seriously, these two.

super daddy right there.

blueberries are the supermodels of the fruit world. Look at those stunners!

We’re tackling the Smithsonians with the kids one by one and chose the National Museum of Natural History to start. It’s the size of 18 football fields and the kids have a good two hours before they unravel before nap time so for our first visit, we stuck to the sections I thought Oshiolema would be most excited about. I can’t wait to come back again and again until we see the whole thing!

one…two…three…JUMP!

We went to the Mammals section (the enormous elephant was a hit with both babes), the dinosaur exhibit and the fossil exhibit since we’ve been learning about bones and skeletons.

I wish you could have seen the way K lit up seeing all the enormous animals she usually only sees on her little flashcards. She put on a show for anyone and everyone, roaring, singing and throwing herself on the ground like she was pretending to pass out from excitement. What a little ham!

this elephant is nothing short of majestic!

The highlight of the entire day for me was when O took K to run around while Oshiolema and I snagged tickets for the butterfly exhibit. You are given an exact time slot that they’ll open the door for you and once that door opens, it’s like stepping into the rainforest. I probably should have taken a hint when everyone else took their sweatshirts and coats off..but no, I went for the backsweat look instead.

We spent 20 minutes in that muggy greenhouse filled to the brim with butterflies and it.was.magical. I have always been weirdly obsessed with butterflies, and thanks to reading ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ an unfathomable amount of times, so is my kid. Some might call that brainwashing…but a mama’s gotta do what a mama’s gotta do.

my cape is old, but I’m linking similar ones below. my shoes Comme des Garcons x Converse.(i’ve had these for years and they’re still my favorite sneakers ever) jeans: Mother. keogena’s romper: H&M. (also in grey here.) oshiolema’s overalls: H&M.

I hunted down this exact cape for weeks and weeks before finding it on sale earlier this year and it is my go-to topper when I just want to wear a t-shirt and jeans but still look put together. Capes do that thing where they’re just warm enough without ever becoming stuffy and I rarely travel without this for the plane ride. You can’t ask for a better piece for Fall! Unless, that is, you’re in a butterfly exhibit at the museum.

Family day steals my heart every single time. Have you visited D.C? What are your favorite things to do here? I’m looking forward to becoming an expert tourist here in the months to come.

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