December 20 - December 28 2008
We took a family trip with the Bladh side of the family during Christmas to Washington D.C. and Virginia. We saw some awesome historical sites... things that are only in pictures, that you think
are only in stories. It really brings our countries history to an amazing light. Our founding fore fathers really were guided by God in order to bring a country full of future and freedom.
We had a great time with all of the family in the 4 bedroom condo we stayed at in Virginia. Tyler and Elle get so much attention being they are the only 2 grand children in the family thus far.
The hard thing about this trip is it isn't young child friendly, don't go to Washington in the middle of winter, found out I don't want to be away from home during Christmas, count on not getting any sleep as long as Elle is in the same room as us, and bring lots of meds just in case your children get colds, stomach flu and ear infections since Tyler and Elle did. On a positive note, we missed our adjoining flight in Chicago because of weather so we should have had to stay 4 extra days in Chicago if some awesome person didn't bump us up over 111 people for standby and we made it home the next day.
Overall, it was a positive experience. One everyone should try at least once.
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Mt. Vernon - Washington's Home
No picture policy but you can see the house in back of us.
This is Washington's backyard. If you saw National Treasure 2 at President's birthday party... this is it! Awesome view.
Elle did a pretty good job with the lack of sleep she got. The night before she was up to 3:30am (because of travel) and then got up at 9am and didn't take a nap that day.
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Pentagon, Arlington Cemetery, Lincoln Memorial
No picture policy in the Pentagon. Kind of a boring tour, but the memorial site for 9-11 was really tender.
This is what I mean by don't go with little children in the middle of winter
Arlington Cemetery was one of those places that just makes me feel good about our country.
Since it was so cold it was hard to really feel the reverence there, but it still had an impact on me. The rows and rows and rows and rows of tombstones. This is the unknown soldier site and the funeral services are held here.
The "Unknown Soldier" graves. Each tombstone represents a war and the unknown soldiers in that war. There is always (24/365) a soldier present to guard the tombs. He marches 21 steps in 21 seconds then stops and counts 21 seconds and resumes again. Amazing!
Lincoln Memorial was way different then I expected. Lincoln is way larger in person then you see in pictures.
Taken from Lincoln Memorial. Washington Monument in the background.
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Smithsonian, Capital Building and Library of Congress
This is the peak of the interior of the Capital Bldg. To give an idea of how high the peak is the people in the paintings are about 11 ft. in length. It is really cool in person.
In this room there is an individual statue for each state. Brigham Young represents Utah.
This is the original congress room. They of course wouldn't allow us to see the current room. But it looked really cool.
The exterior of the Library of Congress
Interior of the library. Amazing workmanship!
One of the Smithsonian Museums. Lots of fun stuff for kids.
History of Transportation. Tyler loved all the trains.
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Christmas in Virginia
We made it the best we could. Santa came! And we played a family game of out door volleyball. (crazy, it was 65 degrees on Christmas when it was 25 degrees 2 days before in DC) But I might add it was very different and a little hard, but we were with family and that's what really counts.
Christmas Dinner - we did a pretty good job!
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The day before we left we visited Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. It is 1 among the first towns settled in our country.
Below is the Governor's palace. Thomas Jefferson and other well known politicians lived here.
Tyler and Elle just loved running through this shrubbery maze behind the palace
Cute little orchard in the backyard of the palace.
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My favorite part of our vacation. We went to D.C. Temple and went inside for 45 min. while the older kids watched our kids. My parents were married there 33 years ago. Loved it!
Sorry to bore with everything but if I don't get to scrapbooking this will be my scrapbook!
