Washington- Day 2- updated with pictures

The following 3 pics are of some of the best fireworks i've ever seen!!!

As they were herding as all like cattle down the street I saw this building and thought it looked so cool!
The Original "Death Car" archives from Bonnie and Clyde's car. Once again i'm sooo sorry about the pictures being completely out of order- i'm still learning about this whole blogging thing.
Me on a cop bike- loving it baby!!
It said that this is the actual live set of America's Most Wanted but I'm not so sure!
This was where I was standing to watch the fireworks but then Ben called and he was on the other side of the monument so I walked over to meet him and that's where we ended up!!
Ben at the Monument!
The Beautiful Hope Diamond.
The Easter Island Heads- Colben loved the one in Night at the Museum "Me no dum dum, you dum dum"
The Archive Building. The line was really long so I came back the next day.
Me in front of the Archive Building.
The Bonnie and Clyde death car. Not really sure if it was authentic or not.

Me at the 4th of July Parade.
The Hira Krishna float- I think it was by far the best one in the whole parade!!
I really like this picture because I think this confirms to me that the Museum is haunted- don't you see all the orbs?
The Mighty T-Rex!! Me with the Elephant- I totally felt like I was in the movie "Night at the Museum"

This was just emotional to watch. So cool to see them in formation.
They had a group dressed up in period clothing.
I think this was just about the only float in the whole parade!
Re-enactment of Iwo Jima.
The Phillipines had a bunch of people dressed in costume dancing in the street. They were laughing and having a great time.

I was sitting in front of this statue- thought it looked pretty cool!
The flags being carried by the different branches of the Armed Forces.
I don't know what it is about the bag pipe players that gets me all weepy.
I know the President was in Japan at the G8 summit but this flew right over us and headed straight for the White House and then about 10 min. later flew over us again. It said "United States of America" on the side of the helicopter so I wonder who was in it?
This was the first entry in the parade!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th!!!
Yesterday morning I once again hopped on the Bus and then the Metro and found myself on Constitution Ave. and the first people I see? The Mormon Missionaries!!! They were all huddled around a table of knock-off sunglasses! I started chatting with them and they were all so nervous to talk to me- it was kinda funny! It was just really nice to be around them and chat for a sec. I walked down the street trying to find a good seat for the parade and ended up sitting on the edge of a water fountain that is in front of the White House (the White House was actually a ways off in the distance but all I had to do is turn around and I could see it) I'm pretty sure i'm going to be in a lot of people's pictures so hopefully I looked good! I started talking to the women who were sitting next to me and they were all wearing matching shirts so I asked what group they were with-they told me they were part of the Catholic Church. I then noticed about 1,000 red shirts coming up the street- They stopped right in front of us on the other side of the street to sing some patriotic songs to some dignitaries that were sitting under a white tent. It was pretty powerful!! More and more red shirts started walking over to talk to the women next to me and I started feeling really awkward so I picked up my stuff and tried to find another place to sit- plus the fact that the granite water fountain wasn't exactly comfortable and every time a breeze would come up it would make the water spray my back. I found a nice shady spot in the grass and got my cameras ready! The beginning of the parade was really cool- all of the different branches of the armed forces holding flags and walking in formation- very cool!!! It then got kinda boring, marching band after marching band- they invite different marching bands from across the country to participate in the parade. They also had different cultures represented so I took pictures of the Philipines in costume dancing around and the Panamanians- very colorful costumes and very happy people!
I decided to make my way to the Smithsonian during the parade- so that when I was over I would be able to just walk into the Museum of Natural History. They only had about 3 floats and only 5 of those big blow up characters- in fact they only had 2 characters and about 3 smaller balloons- I was disappointed that there weren't more of those- I guess I have been spoiled by the Provo Parade. I really missed not hearing everyone yell "Spin, Spin" to the people that hold onto the blow up characters!! The very last entry in the parade was the Hira Krishna's (excuse the spelling) and that was awesome- I don't know how to explain it but you'll have to wait for the pictures to see how cool theirs was!
I then spent the next 2 hours in the Natural History Museum- when I first walked in I felt like I was in the movie "Night at the Museum" because that's exactly what it looked like. I went to the Dinosaur exhibit, the Mammal Exhibit, the Ocean, Mineral/Gems Exhibit and the Hope Diamond- very pretty!! I had a wonderul late lunch there, then left and walked up the street to work off what I just ate and found myself at the Crime & Punishment Museum- it just opened Memorial Weekend so it's brand new! I spent like 2 hours doing that because I did the guided tour with the fun little wand that tells you what things are. I didn't want to miss out on anything there!
While I was in the gift shop Ben called and said he was on his way over to watch the fireworks- I was so excited but then my happiness was somewhat halted when I looked out the window and saw rain!! I went outside and found myself under some type of awning with about 20 other people who like myself, didn't buy an umbrella when we should have! When it looked like the rain had let up a little I started making my way back down to where the fireworks were going to be- On my way I did find a lady who was selling umbrella's so I was able to stay somewhat dry. I met Ben and made our way to the Washington Memorial- after spending 15 min. in a line to use the Porta-Potty!!! We were facing the reflecting pool/WWII Monument and the Lincoln Memorial when the fireworks started-I hate to admit it, but it totally blew away "Stadium of Fire" it was amazing!!! I recorded all of it and it lasted 17 min. It was so awesome I can't stop thinking about it- I had to really sit there and soak it all in realizing where I was and how amazing this really is!! This whole vacation has seemed unreal to me!! I'm so happy that Ben made the trip to the city to watch them with me!
When the fireworks were over we, along with thousands of other people were herded like cattle down the street to then find whatever Metro station you needed to go to. I finally found a McDonald's and made Ben stop so we could get some real food!!!
We finally made our way to our Metro and got back to the hotel at around midnight but it was such a fun day- i'm now off to the National Archives Building where I wanted to go yesterday but there was a line around the building- i'm sure it'll be the same thing today but at least I don't have many other things to see today so i'm fine standing in a line!! I also would like to see the Ford Theatre and maybe the International Spy Museum.
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY EVERYONE I LOVE THIS COUNTRY!!!!

Washington, Day 1-updated with pictures

The water fountain outside our hotel looking out onto the Potomac- on the other side is Alexandria, VA. They did a fireworks show right after I took this pic. After we checked out of this hotel, we drove to Alexandria and from our hotel room we could see across the water to the Gaylord- kinda funny!

Me at the WWII Monument- on the Atlantic side.
Great saying by General Nimitz
Looking out from the WWII Monument to the Lincoln Memorial.
I wasn't actually very close to the Jefferson Memorial- I zoomed in as close as I could on the camera. I never did get to go to the monument so this the nearest I got!!
Me standing at the pier by our hotel.
The Washington Monument. There was a really pretty pond where you could feed the ducks. Lots of shade and trees.
The Atlantic side with the Pacific side peeking through the waterfall.
WWII Monument. Each of those concrete rectangle shaped things have one of the states on it and a cool greenish colored wreath hanging on it.
Had to take one of Texas

WWII Monument.
Hangin' with Honest Abe.

Lincoln Memorial

Statue at the beginning of the Vietnam Wall
Walking along the wall looking at all the names.
Somebody had left this here- boots with wood poles inside with dog tags hanging off. There was a letter saying how sorry he was for coming home without his buddies.
Korean War Memorial.
Other angle of Korean War Memorial- The wall in the back has images etched into the granite- made it look like there was more people- kinda played tricks with your eyes.
Korean War Memorial
View from the stairs of the Lincoln Memorial looking at the Washinton Monument. You almost didn't want to leave the view was so amazing!
Abraham Lincoln- what an amazing man!
Had to take one of my home state- UTAH!!

The famous "A date which will live in infamy" Pres. Roosevelt.
More of the WWII Monument. I couldn't get enough of this place.
The DC War Monument. I didn't really understand it but thought it was really pretty.
More of the Korean War- the granite wall with the etchings of images more in depth. I don't know why my pictures are so mixed up. Sorry.
My only picture of the Holocaust Museum. There really wasn't anywhere else they would let you take pictures. I took this while waiting to go into the permanent exhibit. When you show up they give you a ticket with a certain time on it. I got there at 12:15 and my ticket was for the 1:45 group.

My first time seeing the Washington Monument up close.
I walked around it to go see the other things instead of standing in line to go up it.

Loving the double chin!!!
As you walk around the monument you can see off in the distance the White House. This is zoomed in all the way.
These were on the ground on both sides of the WWII Monument.

Today I took a while getting out of the hotel room- I was very tired!

I got on the city bus for 30 min. then got onto the Metro for another 25 min. then emerged from the underground world to the most amazing site- the buildings of the Department of Agriculture!! (that was kind of a joke- I didn't know what buildings they were but they were big and the architecture was really cool) when I realized what it was I felt kinda dumb but nonetheless it was just really amazing to see what I was seeing!

I immediately went to the Holocaust Museum and proceeded to spend almost 3 hours there. I started out going through "Remember the Children, Daniel's Story" it takes you through the Holocaust through a child's eye- what their home life was like and then what happened when things started changing because they were Jewish. It's a good way to teach children about the Holocaust in a non-scary way and they can relate to a lot of the displays there. I then went downstairs to walk through a display about the Nazi Olympics. I then walked through The Wexler Learning Center where you can learn more about Genocide and they had a room devoted to what's going on in Darfur- very eye opening for me. It made me want to learn more about what's going on over there and try to help with whatever I can because there is another Holocaust going on and no one is doing anything about it (except for Ben Affleck)

I then went to the Hall of Remembrance and it was so quiet- it's a circular room and in the middle there was a flame that sits on top of a black stage and the words that are on the front say something about there being dirt from every concentration camp and death camp underneath (they wouldn't let you take pictures in the room so i'm going off what I can remember) around the perimeter of the room were the names of all the camps and underneath are votive candles and you can go around the room and light candles for the people that died from the camps. I lit about 5 candles and tried to keep my emotions under the surface but man, it was hard in that sort of setting. There were also different scriptures around the room that were so perfect about what happened. I then had my ticket for the permanent exhibit so I walked through and some of the things they have on exhibit were amazing, the pile of shoes, the train they were piled in to, the wood bunks they squeezed into. What really made the biggest impact on me is when I rounded a corner there was an exhibit about the experiments the Nazi's did on different groups of people, one of them being the handicapped. As I came upon the exhibit there was a woman in a motorized wheelchair reading it and it really hit me that she would have been one of those people and probably would have died! It made me question almost out loud WHY?

I left the Museum feeling a little glum but then raised my head up to decide where to go to next and saw the Washington Monument! I decided not to go up in it but to continue walking around it- I had too much I wanted to see and only a couple of more hours to do it in. I took pictures of the monument and off in the distance to the right was the White House. I then came to the WWII Monument which I've been wanting to see for years! I walked around and video taped and took pictures, then kept walking down to the DC War Monument, the Korean War Monument and then finally--- the Lincoln Monument! I walked up the stairs and was amazed at how big the statue is of Lincoln. On the left side is the Gettysburg Address and on the right side is his Presidential Address when he was re-elected. Reading both made me realize how much of a spiritually-minded man he was! I strongly suggest each of you to find those 2 speeches online and read them.

I sat down for a while and took some pictures and called my sister to let her know I was hanging out with Honest Abe- she was jealous! I then walked over to the Vietnam Wall and took some pictures and then walked back to the Monument from the other side of the Reflecting pool- it was shady and lots of trees and chipmunks and ducks everywhere. I then got back on the Metro then to the city bus and back to the hotel. My feet hurt and I was stinky and hot!

Ben and I got some yummy sandwiches and ate on a pier in front of our hotel. He had to go back to the convention hall in the hotel to work so I stayed on the lawn and all of a sudden fireworks started on the other side of the lake- it was really pretty!! all of a sudden about 30 yards in back of me fireworks started at our hotel and scared everyone- It was scary but kinda funny to watch everyone's reactions to the fireworks. They didn't last very long but it was still really cool! I stayed there just relaxing until the fireworks stopped. I came inside and now i'm just winding down and figuring out what time I need to be in DC for the parade tomorrow- I just found out it doesn't even start until 11:45- now that's the perfect time for a parade.

I think after the parade i'm going to try and conquer the Smithsonian, the International Spy Musuem, the National Archives and the Crime Musuem. I'm hoping Ben can get a taxi and come watch the fireworks with me- I would hate to watch them by myself!!

I'm sorry this is kinda long but I want you all to know everything i'm doing and feeling!!

Tune in tomorrow for my fabulous report from our Nation's Capitol on the 4th of July!!

Hope you all have a fun, safe holiday!!!

Our Vacation to Washington, DC- updated with pictures

This is what your room number looks like in the hallway- I have a cool setting on my camera that takes the picture in a neat scepia (sp) tone. I used it on quite a few pics during the trip. I like how they make the room numbers look like a document.

Our room from the 2nd- 6th of July- really nice room. The shower was bigger than the one we have at our house- I didn't want to leave!
View from our private balcony. This is the atrium and every night there was a water fountain show set to patriotic music. The fountian is the weird shaped object on the right hand side.
Looking straight down, this was a fancy, expensive restraunt.
Looking to the right of our balcony- these were other hotel rooms. This hotel was huge!

We landed last night at around 10:15 and I was pretty nauseous (sp) but after a while I felt okay. We got in the taxi that took us to our Hotel (the Gaylord) and it was so pretty!!
The coolest thing though was as we were coming in for our landing we were able to get the best view of the Lincoln Memorial, the reflecting pool and the White House- I always get a little sick during landings so I was mad that I didn't take pictures! I was afraid that if I moved my head I would throw up!
Ben and I walked around the atrium last night at around 11:30pm and had a light dinner and it was sooo cool- I admit, I miss the kids but man it's nice to be with Ben. I'll be posting pictures probably tonight but we're on our way out to sight see before Ben has to start working!