It's Christmas Eve in Washington...

Well not quite, but for some reason that terrible, horrible, agonizing song is in my head. Seriously, I love my hometown, but that is the single worst Christmas song ever. Ever! "It's Christmas Eve in Washington - America's hometown - For it's here that freedom lives - And peace can stand her ground..." Tears her hair out....


But I do love Christmas traditions in Washington, and I'm glad to be able to discover some new ones with Leila. I'm actually just thrilled now that she's of an age where we can enjoy more of DC's cultural offerings together, because truthfully, in the midst of the daily grind, I often forget what treasures are in our backyard.


Saturday we rode the metro down to the Botanic Gardens for its annual holiday exhibit of model trains and DC's monuments in miniature flanked by foliage. The electric trains winding through tunnels and over suspension bridges were a huge hit! Though when I asked Leila that night what her favorite part of the day was, the response, without pause was "the train that we rode." Disgruntled daily metro commuter that I am, I really don't find much joy in the ride, but I do recall thinking it pretty darn swell as a kid.