Washington, DC--April 22-25, 2016

So, this was a trip where Jayme got to meet up with some extended family members for a family wedding in DC. Cory, Scout & Ruby were supposed to go camping, and I wish I could upload those photos, but alas they do not exist because an unexpected bout of Strep put that trip on hold. So... Here are the photos of Jayme & fam.

We met at the airport--I flew in from Denver, and Mom, Auntie Jan, and my cousins (Jan's daughters) Becky & Lynn flew in from Milwaukee. I arranged for a car to pick us up and I asked if the sign could read "Wollersheim Girls" even though none of us have the last name Wollersheim. I thought it would be funny. The sign said "Girls Wollers" because that's all that would fit on the tablet. (Note to self: Don't bother trying to make a funny sign.)

So, our driver picked us up and we were on our way. It only took about 15 minutes to the Hyatt Regency.

Friday night in DC--we walked from the Hyatt Regency over to an Irish pub called The Dubliner.

Auntie Jan, Becky & me

Lynn & Mom

After we returned the hotel, we took an Uber (my first one!!) to Hotel Monaco where Joanna & Kevin were hosting a cocktail hour

Me, Lynn, Joe, Mom, Becky

Auntie Jan, Uncle Jerry and Auntie Sue

After we returned from the Hotel Monaco, we joined our other cousins Jessy, Jody & Joe for a drink

Saturday morning it was raining and crummy, so we took a taxi to the area where all the museums are. I think that everyone else had the same idea. Overall, we spent more time in lines that morning than we did actually inside the museum, but it was still fun! The rain ended around lunchtime, and by then we were ready to do some walking

At the Starbucks on Saturday morning

At the Air & Space Museum--Jody, Jessy, Mom, Becky, Lynn, Auntie Jan

Walking along the mall area 

Jody, Auntie Jan, Jessy, Becky, Mom, Lynn

Mom, in front of the Smithsonian castle

So, this is the photo that I took of my mom and sent to Jake... only she had her eyes closed, which I didn't realize until later. Oh well! Looooook! It's the Washington Monument!

On Saturday night, we walked around for a little while, and eventually made our way to a great restaurant called 6th Engine, located in a former fire station. (Also, worth noting, after all our walking, I had over 16,000 steps on my phone.) Afterwards, we returned to the hotel and again enjoyed some company in the hotel bar.

Jessy, me, Jody, Auntie Sue

I just love this photo!!!

Late on Saturday night, we had some visitors... the flat brim hat gang paid us a visit! One even wanted her photo taken in the shower. WEIRDOS.

They were dancing in the mirror, yes, they were.

Selfie at the "chapel" (which was really a hall now, but still looked like a chapel)

 The wedding was held at St. Francis Hall, a little chapel on the grounds of a Franciscan Abbey, I believe. It was very unique! We were interviewed by the New York Times who was "undercover" at the wedding. Joanna & Kevin's attendants each carried an object down the aisle, rather than flowers, and then later in the ceremony they shared why they picked that item and how it related to their relationship to the Bride or Groom.

Uncle Jerry, Joanna & Auntie Sue

Joanna and Kevin sitting on the stage listening to their attendants talk about their items

Not a great photo--but you can see Max, Evelyn (Julie's mom), Aunt Julie, Uncle Gene and Auntie Jan

Mom, Jessy & Jody

Mia and Joe

Ashley watches as Mia tears up the dance floor

Ashley, me, mom & Jessy

Me and mom beneath the occupancy limit sign

Then, before you know it, we were headed back to the hotel, followed by a questionable choice to continue the night at a bar named Kelly's Pub where we listened to Prince on the jukebox, RIP.

Doing the duckface with mom at the hotel bar

Dancing at Kelly's

 Then, on Monday, it was time to part ways. Mom & Auntie Jan & Becky and Lynn were heading back to Milwaukee and I was on a later flight to Denver. My sweet friend Amy picked me up with her kiddos in a sweet minivan and we headed to get some sandwiches and then on to the Botanic Gardens.

Tony, Elena, Amy and Mateo

And then it was over... But not before a 3.5 hour flight delay due to a medical emergency on the incoming flight. I hate to say it but someone DIED aboard the inbound flight, and evidently they needed to get the medical examiner involved and everything. How sad. Also, it made for a long day for me since I didn't arrive in Fort Collins until nearly midnight. Ahhh, what a great time.