Four Pasty White Women Conquer the White House

Yesterday was the White House Easter Egg Roll and I was fortunate enough to get 10 tickets!! I brought along three very special friends and their kids and we set off to conquer DC. Our time slot was from 11:30-1:30 so we hit the metro at 9:30 and hopped on the train. We got into our station about 10:15 and proceeded to ride up and down elevators and escalators for 15 minutes trying to figure out which way to go.

We finally emerged from the underground and realized it was 10:30, exactly when we were supposed to be in line to enter the White House lawn. We raced through the streets of DC with two very full bladdered pregnant woman, darting in and out of people only to find out that a GINORMOUS line awaited us at security. At first we got into a line and found out it was the "VIP" line and we had to walk three blocks farther South for our line.

Becky, Anie, and Madi waiting in the security line

Melissa and Lexi waiting in the Security line

Tyler waiting in the Security line.

By the time we finally got through the bag search and metal detectors it was about 11:40. We figured Hey we are almost there, all we have to do is go onto the lawn now. But NO, we had to wait in a mass crowd for the White House GATES to open, which finally happened at 12:15!

Madi and Anie looking happy despite the long lines

Anie and Madi waiting for the White House gates to open

Once the gates were finally opened, we had to wait in a long line to get onto the lawn. I saw the "Welcome to the Easter Egg Roll" sign and sighed a little sigh of relief and was ready for some fun, but was greeted by even MORE lines!! Becky and I headed for the Egg Roll, which was the whole reason I came in the first place, (or so I assumed) and Madi, Anie, Lexi, and Melissa stayed behind to chill at the music stage.

The Egg Roll welcome banner

Before we parted directions, I snapped some pictures of Melissa with two of her favorite people: Smurfette and Mrs. Maryland. We had seen Mrs. Maryland in the cue line before security earlier that day and were wondering where her tiara was. Right before I took the picture, she popped the sucker out of her bag. I could barely contain my laughter and squeaked out a "Sweeeeet" instead. Melissa was ecstatic.

Melissa with Smurfette

Melissa and Mrs. Maryland. Can you see her tiara?

Once we went our separate ways, we ran into some friends, like a knock off Winnie the Pooh that Tyler refused to go near, but stared at longingly.

Winnie the Pooh???

We got our picture taken in front of the White House...a MUST.

Tyler and Me


The White House - up close and semi personal

Tyler, Becky, Jake, Tess, and I waited in line for another 20 minutes to do the actual egg roll. Josh called me while we were in line and said he could see us on live webcam feed, so he got to watch the whole thing. That made it a litte more worthwhile.

Waiting in the Egg Roll line

Tyler was a natural at the egg roll. He whacked the crap outta that egg and an "official volunteer" switched his wooden spoon to a plastic one in fear that he would break it. He couldn't keep the egg in his "lane" but finished pretty quickly and pleased with himself.

Right in on the egg roll action. I only wish it wasn't done SO fast or I might have been able to get a pic of him with the White House in the back.

We also ran into the Easter Bunny, and a nice volunteer offered to take our picture.

The Easter Bunny, Tyler and me

After we saw the Easter Bunny, we headed over to Tyler's favorite party - the soccer demonstration area. We missed the actual demonstration, but Tyler got to kick a ball around and score a goal on a nice soccer player who dove wide for the ball.

Tyler not wanting to put the ball down, in fear some other kid would take it

Look Mommy! Soccer guys!!

The nice goalie who let Tyler score - it made his day.

After the soccer demonstration, we headed over to do the Easter Egg Hunt where I thought we might score some goodies. Thus far our bag of "Stuff" only contained a poster and a sticker. I saw people walking around with bags full of fun free stuff and I was envious. However, when we got to the Egg Hunt we were told it was closed and we needed to leave to make room for the next group of people.

WHAT??

Leave when we had just barely gotten into the lawn at 12:30?? Are you kidding me? So we left. We got our stupid souvenir egg and left with empty bags, empty stomachs, and feeling royally robbed.

Becky and I and the kids stopped for lunch on the way home and filled our empty stomachs, but nothing could feel our lack of fulfillment (just kidding, but I thought the post needed some drama).

Eating BBQ chips for lunch

It was a good experience, but too short, too many lines, and too little stuff. Next year can only be better, right?