DC trip

My three oldest and I went to visit my folks in DC for 4 days last week. Spence stayed home with the two youngest, and a friend watched them for two days when he was at work (thanks, Emily!!)  My Mom and Dad are on a mission back there right now teaching Institute. What a crazy trip! Exhausting, but we loved every minute of it. The following are not in order, but I didn't think you'd care.

Spent an evening with my kids, Mom, Dad, sister Amy and her husband Colin (who is stationed at Andrew's Air Force Base for a few years), my sister Emily and her husband Josh (who were there for two days at the same time as us to dance with the BYU folk dancer group), and my beautiful cousin, Susi (below), who lives in DC.

Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe.  Our table was right by a display from Peter Gabriel.  Spence and I have an "our song" by him, so I had to text a pic to him during dinner.  He texted a pic back of the two little ones eating dinner at McDonald's.  I win.

Elder and Sister Carpenter in front of their temporary townhouse. <3

Arlington National cemetery on Sunday.  Sobering.  So grateful for this country and all those who have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice so much .

Changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier.

Went on a DC Ducks tour.  This awkward looking vehicle took us for a 90 minute tour of downtown, including driving down into and boating around in the Potomac River for a while.  :)

Sister Amy went with us.  Quack.

Pass and Stow.  The three Caballeros trying to look bored while their mama snaps a pic.

OK, so we managed to snag 4 tickets to tour the White House, a great feat in itself.  We walk up to the entrance right when it is time to go in and are told that there was a last minute schedule change so all tours are cancelled for the rest of the day.  Booooo!  Hisssss!  Ah, well.  What ya gonna do? 

They've got a country to run and all.

This is the inside of the dome of the US Capitol building.  At the bottom of the center group you can see George Washington (with the pink blanket on his lap) being welcomed into heaven.  On one side of him is Liberty, and on the other is Victory.  Then forming the rest of the circle is 13 angels representing the 13 colonies.  At one point, the man who was painting this had not been paid for some time by congress.  He got revenge by painting as the angels' faces the likenesses of some of the congressmen's current mistresses at the time.  Sticking to the budget and paying bills on time is always a good idea.  Especially as a government.  Ahem.

First taste of sushi!

Yes, I've developed a crush.  It's OK, Spence knows.  I kinda like George.  The more I learn about him the more I like him.  He's pretty much awesome.  More than awesome.

Maybe someday...

Lots of Metro time.  Pretty great system. 

So glad we never got lost!

I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to take these kids to see our nation's capitol.  We saw and did so much in the short time we had.  I hope they were able to grasp some of the magnificance that is our country, especially how important and miraculous our nation's birth was and all the sacrifices that have been made to secure and maintain our freedom.   

We had the privilege of viewing the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights

with our own eyes. 

If that doesn't make one patriotic I don't know what would.

J. is taking US History in his High School right now.  Posing for extra credit at the Library of Congress.  Great tour, by the way!  J. spends a lot of time at our local library and was a bit bugged that he was able to go through the world's biggest library and couldn't crack a single book!

At the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History they have a Butterfly room. 

M. and I went in.  Tween girl heaven!

Yes sir, Mr. President!

Yeah, me and Beyonce', we go way back.  I think J-Lo behind us looks a bit bugged. 

She's just jealous of our moves.

Couldn't resist.

...and...Mt. Vernon.  What a beautiful place.  Sigh.

We toured where they print money, the International Spy Museum, and saw and did so much more,  just too much to share.  Wish we'd had a lot more time. 

Two thumbs up.  Way up. 

Thanks Mom and Dad!