We are just getting up from a much needed nap!  The kids slept great - they must have been exhausted from our fun filled morning!  We started the day with a little swim in the hotel pool.  Madeline has been talking about doing that since we got here! After breakfast, we had a radio conference call.  Tim, Aimee from NACHRI and I answered a few questions about Madeline and talked about our goals here tomorrow.  Tim did such a great job talking about wanting to put a family face on the issue of children's healthcare; it was really moving - he is very good at putting things just the right way.  Madeline got a chance to talk also.  

After the interview, we were off to the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum.  We got to see dinosaur bones, a huge elephant, the Hope Diamond, and a beautiful butterfly exhibit with live butterflies.  The kids really enjoyed seeing so many different things.  Eli's favorite was a huge flawless crystal ball, and Madeline said her favorite was watching a movie about oceans on a huge revolving "Earth" screen.

 Then, we had a great lunch with the other families here for FAD.  Madeline got to meet some of the other kids and exchange baseball cards.  All the kids got cards to give to the legislators and some extras to trade with each other.  She was especially excited about meeting Abbigail from the Indian Mound, TN - we had been reading her blog through Monroe Carrell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt's.  Tim then went to a training meeting while I took the kids back for a nap.

We are off to a sculpture park with fountains and then back to the hotel for tonight's big party!