Air Show

Last weekend was the Joint Services Open House at Andrews Air Force Base. As part of the festivities, there is an air show. We headed down to the show on Sunday. As there was no parking allowed on the base, everyone had to park at either FedEx Field or the Branch Avenue Metro Station. We decided to drive to FedEx Field and park there. We left home around 10:30. Peyton was very excited to "go see the airplanes." We were less than 5 minutes from our house when Kyle reminded me that I probably would need to have my ID, which I didn't grab from home. So we turned around and went back to the house to get it. When we pulled up outside of our house, Peyton was very sad and asked, "Where are the airplanes?" We explained that I just needed to get something and then we would we go see the airplanes.

Once we got to FedEx Field, we parked and then walked what seemed like a million miles to the security check point. There, we waited in line for close to 30 minutes before it was our turn to walk through the metal detector. There were at least 20 metal detectors, but the lines were still slow moving, because everyone's bags, chairs, etc. needed to be checked by hand. After we finally got through security, we waited another 10-15 minutes until we were loaded onto a bus. We were fortunate to draw a coach bus for our ride to the base. I think the bus ride may have been Peyton's favorite part of the day. The whole time we were waiting in the security line and the bus line, he couldn't stop pointing to the buses excitedly. He couldn't wait to get onto the bus. For the entire ride over to the AFB, he either looked out the window or turned to me and said, "Mommy, I like this!" (over and over and over) It was so cute.

It took about 15-20 minutes to get over to the base. They dropped us off right at the entrance to the show. When we first arrived, we strolled around a little bit and looked at some of the planes that were ground displays. I don't know what types of planes they were, but here is one.

As we were walking around, a group of helicopters began a routine. I think it is amazing how close together they can fly. They did several different formations.

Here is another plane that was on display. You could walk into the plane, but the line was so long that Kyle and Peyton didn't feel like standing in it, so we just checked it out from the outside.

Peyton had a great time. His expression in this picture pretty much sums up the whole day for him.

We had lunch while we watched the show. We enjoyed a yummy hot dog and some potato chips. Everyone around us was eating ice cream, so when he was finished with his lunch, Peyton begged for ice cream too. I got a M&M cookie ice cream sandwich and Kyle got a Snickers cone. Peyton liked Kyle's better which was fine with me, so I didn't have to share!

The next group of planes to do a routine were old WWII planes, I think. They had narrators talking about what the planes were doing, but it was so hard to hear because the planes were loud and there were so many people.

After those planes, another set of helicopters flew around for a while.

Finally, there was some modern-day fighter jet. It performed alone and was incredibly loud. It was so fast compared to the WWII planes and helicopters. One maneuver that it did that was pretty cool was a 360 degree turn while hovering in the same spot. That's what these pictures are of it doing. It was too fast to catch as it was flying by!

It was a gorgeous day - very sunny and about 75 degrees. I got pretty sunburned. But it was worth it because Peyton had fun. Here's Peyton and I.

And Peyton and Kyle.

This is how Peyton spent much of the day because the planes were loud.

We ended up leaving around 2:00 because Peyton was getting sleepy. I wanted to say because the Blue Angels were scheduled to perform at 3:00, but Peyton actually asked to go home because he was tired. We took another bus back to FedEx Field. This time it was just a school bus, but Peyton was still impressed. He was almost asleep by the time we got back to the parking lot though. We walked the million miles back to our car and then drove home. It was a fun day.