We were there! 1-20-09

Yep.  We are that crazy.  We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be a part of history as Barak Obama was sworn in as the first African American President of the United States.  We landed tickets through the UT Senators office so off we went.  Here’s us picking up our tickets the day before…

We got flights into Richmond, VA  and stayed with our friend’s the Merkley’s on their 240 acre farm near Charlottesville.  We stayed with some other friends in McLean, VA for the actual Inauguration.  So, this is how our day went…

5:30 am Rise and Shine; get dress, feed baby; make sure we have all we need for a LONG day

6:30 am Leave for metro station

7:00 am board an already crowded train

These are some pics from on the train.  We took theses once some people had gotten off and we took their seats.  We spent most of the ride standing and getting more and more squished at every stop.  At one point people were yelling trying to get on and the people at the door were saying that there was no room and not letting them on.  CRAZY!  Somehow Ryan managed to fall asleep and slept for a while.  What a trooper.

 

These next ones are in the metro station in DC once we got off the train and were waiting to get out of the metro.

8:30 am make it almost out of the metro.  Find a spot to sit down and change Ryan’s diaper on Spencer’s lap and then try and feed Ryan as 1,000,000 people shuffle out of the station.

9:00 am find our way to the “Blue Gate” in the FREEZING COLD and wait with about 20,000 other people. 

10:00 am still waiting and NOT getting any closer to the gate

10:30 am barely moved, Ryan starting to have a melt down; car “tries” to drive down street and almost hits people

10:45 am desperation nursing while standing in huge crowd; some people start leaving and giving up trying to get in

11:00 am Oh so close to the gate; Ryan having major melt down

11:15 am Ryan doing better; still waiting

11:30 am Gates Closed; we’re still out in line with over 5,000 people

We decided to head the the UT Senators reception in the Senate building.  We were bummed not to get in, but felt that it worked out for the best.  At the reception it was warm and there was food and a bathroom.  So we watched on t.v. and saw Bush’s helicopter take off behind the capital.

The crowd

Bush’s helicopter

We pretty much hung out there at the Senate building for the rest of the afternoon.  Ryan got some much needed time out of the Bjorn and we were glad to be out of the cold.

3:30 pm We headed out in the cold again and went down to the Capital to see some of what we had missed.  We snuggled Ry into my coat and he fell right to sleep.  Here we are in front of the Capital where it all happened.

We went over to the area we would have been standing in if we’d been able to get in…this is what we would have seen.

Needless to say, we were convinced it all worked out for the best.  We heard from other’s who got in that getting out was the worst part.  I don’t even want to imagine the state Ryan would have been in by then.

5:00 pm Made it to the metro and on a train.  We even got seats!

6:00 pm Home to our friend’s house in McLean.  Safely away from the crowds and cold.

All in all it was awesome.  I would totally do it again.  The energy of the city was incredible.  Almost magical.  Everyone was so nice (except the people yelling on the metro) and Ryan was a hit.  Everyone loved seeing his little head peaking out of my coat.  It was pretty darn cute.  Ryan was a champ.  I couldn’t have asked him to do better.  I’m glad my little guy is such a trooper and up for the adventure.  He must be my son!