Though I am sad to see summer break go, nothing compares to my total grief that August Recess ends next Tuesday. While every August Recess is wonderful, this one has been especially perfect, as we have recessed… aggressively. We made a list of all the relaxing and fun summer things we wanted to do during this month where James’ hours are a little bit more predictable and we have been blazing through it. We didn’t want to let this month slip by without us paying attention. And in general, we don’t want to let life in DC slip by without us soaking in every last thing that this city has to offer.
We really wanted to make it to some of the museums that we love around this city, and I have been itching to check out the indoor beach exhibit all summer. Massive ball pit? YES PLEASE. Beach without sand of sunscreen? YES PLEASE TIMES FIFTY. When I found out that the National Building Museum hosts a special free pre-opening morning visit for each DC ward, I made sure to mark my calendar, and we enjoyed a quick trip to the beach before work yesterday.
Only downside of an indoor beach? It can do nothing to help my wicked ballet flat tanlines that have stuck with me since France.
It might not appear that way, but those balls are really, really, hard to swim in. Like, at one point I thought I might drown and James had to haul me out. The best way to tackle the “waves” was in a float, and I considered stealing one from some of the super on-top-of-it moms there with troops of kids. I was also just a tad scared that you could genuinely lose a small child FOREVER in those pits, not to mention your cell phone, keys, wallet, etc. If the Washingtonian doesn’t have an article about all the things found when they take down the ball pit, I will be severely disappointed. 
THE STRUGGLE IS REAL. But it is also kind of awesome. Like being perfectly suspended in the world’s best mattress… that might also suffocate you. 
Selfie attempt with the big camera, without drowning mid-shot… 
….failure. 
….Success!
And just in case you were wondering, is this sanitary? How many children peed in there? Aren’t those balls covered in germs? THIS IS NOT CLEAN!
Just know, James was right there with you in all those thoughts. I might have had to use all my persuasive powers to get him to jump in. And he hit that Purell afterwards like his life depended on it. Thank you husband, for balancing out my utter disbelief in the existence of germs. 
What’s that you say? You wish you had a video? DONE.
You wanted one that really emphasized how the balls rise up to engulf you?
I live to please.
The Art in Life 
The look on the little kid’s face watching as you jump in is worth the whole video.
He was a little confused why some adult was all up in his ball pit. : )
AWESOME!!!
So cool!! I work a couple blocks away from the National Building Museum and keep wanting to check out the Beach, but it always sounds like the lines were so long. Wish I had known about the ward days, that is awesome!
You need to go! Slip out on a lunch break sometime before it closes! I only found out about the Ward day through an add in one of the Metro magazines… definitely going to be checking that for future exhibits!
This looks like my childhood dream come true!! So fun!
It was basically a kid paradise! So I was right at home. : )
Oh my goodness. Best. Post. Ever. I laughed so hard at James’ expressions when you were talking about germs. And those videos! The slooooow motion… I died. Just died with laughter. It looks like way too much fun. I took my kids to that museum last spring before we moved but they weren’t doing that exhibit. If I was still nannying in D.C., we’d totally be there tomorrow. I’m going to pass this info along to their new nanny. They would LOVE this!
They would love it!!! I think it closes next week so they need to act fast!
Can you tell I was catching up today? 😉
Your catch up days = my favorite.
Those videos were pretty much the best thing I’ve ever seen! haha
It was so fun! And if there’s one thing I love, it’s a slow motion jump shot. : )
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