Washington D.C.

I realized something when I went back to re-read my last post.  There are way more pictures of me than I am comfortable with.  This one will probably be just as bad because here's part 2 of the trip Nate and I took.  A grown-ups only vacation (actually, the verdicts still out on whether Nate and I are considered grown-ups yet) means no kids in the pics to take the attention off me.  My apologies if you get sick of seeing my face.  

So after our time in New York we jumped on a bus to head to D.C.  If I would have known beforehand that the bus goes under the freakin Hudson River I would have never set foot on it. Apparently when we got to New York we went under it too. I was too distracted by the thought of not having clean unders for a week I didn't even notice (remember lost baggage from last post?).  This is the kind of stuff my worst nightmares are made of (driving under water, not losing my suitcase with all my clothes for a week in it.  However, that is probably on my top 10 list of nightmares as well).  Seriously, the thought of being in a tunnel under water still about puts me in a panic. But no worries, I survived to tell this tale.

After we arrived Mike took us to see the Washington D.C. temple. We turned the corner on the freeway (or beltway as he called it. Don't know what those are but whatever.) and there it was in all its beautiful glory.  It really is on display, front and center, for all to see. The location is prime and that's a plus because more people need Jesus in their life.  Maybe that will help.

Here are our D.C. pics -- in no particular order because that would take too much effort right now and I'm being lazy. 

 Contrary to Nate's facial expression he really did like this car.  There was something cool or old or expensive about it to make it museum worthy but I have no idea what exactly it was.

One thing I learned while on this vacation is there are numerous Smithsonian's.  I thought there was one.  The one from Night of the Museum.  I was wrong.  Me being wrong is quite rare, just ask Nate. 

I am so awkward in photos.  What do I do with my arms?  Pose, fold them, jazz hands?  I don't know.

The wind was fun.  My hair loved it.

We struggled for a good 10 minutes trying to take a selfie.
 I wanted to buy a selfie stick, mike told me if I did he would disown me. 

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall was amazing and sad.
I had no idea how big it is. Too many names on it.

This ^^

 this is what I'm talking about when I say I need the kids in the pictures.  My eyes are squinty, my hair in the wind --yikes, I have about 4 chins. Cute on the kids, not so much on me.  I bet nobody even noticed the White House in the background because they couldn't get past the hot mess I am.

Have I mentioned it was windy?

 Jude was a trooper.  We drug him around to a bunch of museums.  That makes for a long day for a 3 year old.  However when we got to the Renwick he perked right up and told me all about what was in each room.  Smarty pants. He takes after his favorite aunt (that's me, just to clarify).

Old tires ^^
Bug art.  It was actually pretty awesome. 

This kind of art is cool.  The classic paintings from Warhol, Picasso, Pollock, Rembrandt, etc. were so cool to see in person.  I took an art class in college and studied these artists but wasn't really into it.  I would appreciate it so much more now.  

What I didn't get was the art display of cardboard pieces stapled together. It didn't look like anything to me.  I totally could have done it.  Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of it.  I was too distracted trying to figure out how it got into the museum in the first place. To each his own I guess.

Dorothy's ruby slippers

Sunstone from the Nauvoo temple

 Abe Lincoln's top hat he was assassinated in.
The National Museum of American History had the coolest stuff in it.  I could have spent the whole vacation there. 

Jude was super excited to show me Elmo.  Mike is showing off how much of a creeper he is.  Can you see him?

Ford's Theatre

The Pentagon Memorial.
The benches that faced one direction were for the people on the plane who died.  The ones facing the other direction were for those who were in the building that died. It is a beautiful memorial.

 Then there was Arlington National Cemetery.  So humbling and peaceful and spiritual.
I'm so glad we made it for the Changing of the Guard. 

We also stopped in to see the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights.  Absolutely no photography in there.  That was cool but crowded so I didn't get to sit and look at them too close.  I'll tell you one thing, the guards at those places are serious about their jobs.  I made a bit of a joke that I thought deserved at least a chuckle to the guard in the room with the Constitution and I got nothing. I wasn't being disrespectful.  I just threw a little light humor into the atmosphere. He just stared me down until I left the room.  Hint taken.  I'm not as funny as I think I am. Okay, I get it. It's serious stuff.  But you could at least crack a smile.

I think I've rambled on enough about D.C.  Overall I give it an A-.  If the guard would have given me a chuckle it would have been an A.
So much history in D.C. and so much to see.  There were a lot of things we didn't get to see but I made it to everything I wanted to so I'm good. I'm glad I got to experience it.
Thanks for being adventurous Mike and Mandy so we could benefit from it.