Washington D.C.

I promist that Steve and I aren't totally elaborate vacation takers and spenders. Steve won another trip through work. This time it was to D.C. and I can tell you that I have found my niche in vacationing. I thought Puerto Vallarta was fun, but this was absolutely the most amazing place I have ever been! I have never seen more green in my life and I just wanted to climb the trees and bottle all of the green to take it home with me. Best of all, I absolutely love history! Especially American History. There were quite a few times when I had to fight back tears just because of how powerful it was to be where our Founding Fathers started it all. The only thing keeping me back from packing up my stuff and moving there tomorrow (except for a few obvious things, was that the humidity was beyond tolerable! I am not a fan! I will take dry heat anyday! The one place I don't mention on this post is the Holocaust Museum. I couldn't take pictures of any of it (not even the front) because halfway through I lost control and had to sob in the corner. I couldn't even finish looking at anything. I stared straight ahead and walked past. The most painful part was thinking of what those beautiful babies and children had to suffer. It was beyond what a could handle seeing. I just kept thinking of my own beautiful babies safe at home. (P.S. I didn't mean to underline this. Who knows how it happened and I couldn't figure out how to fix it, so here we are. This is how blogger retarded I am).

This is a picture of the "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier" for all of those who have died without being recognized. Every 30 minutes they do a changing of the guard. It was really neat to see.

On our last day in D.C. we went to Arlington Cemetary where they bury military men and women who have died in wars. Out of all of the amazing things we saw, Steve and I agree that this was our favorite place. I have never been anywhere more peaceful or beautiful. This picture is us on the front steps of General Lee's house (yes the general in the Civil War). Talk about history. This house is where George Washington had his last birthday party and it was definitely old. Steve and I decided that we belong back in Colonial times because the houses where much more suited to our height.

Another view of the Capital bldg. (can you tell we really liked that place). We were on our way to the Archives where they keep the Declaration of Independance and the Constitution. We had to wait in line for over an hour to see it, but it was worth it. It gave me chills to be able to see the original signatures of all of those amazing men. Unfortunately we couldn't take pictures, but I loved it.

We went to the Air and Space Museum while we were there because it was a "must see" on everyones list. It was definitely pretty cool. Steve was especially impressed with the astronaut stuff and so I took a picture with him and this old suit.

While we were there we got to a do a session in the Washington D.C. temple. It really is true that on the way there the temple looks like it's floating. I just wish we could have gone at night. I could have died and gone to heaven on the grounds. The only bummer is that mercy that humidity could kill you! It was so so so hot!!!!

Friday night Steve and I went to see the White House on our way back from the monuments. Just before coming around the bushes to the White House (but not quite in view) Steve lost a contact. This for some people wouldn't be too bad, but Steve wears hard contacts and they are very expensive to replace. Without contacts he is practically blind. It was dark outside and we were searching in a place with less potential for finding it than a needle in a haystack. The ground was granite and so shiny! After searching on our hands and knees with cell phone light for awhile some people came and helped us look, and then this Secret Service agent (pretty cool huh!) who had just gotten off duty (keep in mind he was off duty, they aren't supposed to take pictures with anyone while on duty) on his way home stopped and helped us look with his flashlight for about an hour. What a nice guy! After calling the search impossible, we got to talk with him for about another hour and he told us tons of super cool things. We were impressed. What a nice guy! Especially since by the time we left him it was almost midnight.

Try # 2 was successful and I was so glad we tried again. I have to say, it wasn't as big as I thought it would be but it was more beautiful than I thought and the grounds were amazing. I would definitely move in if given the offer.

What would a trip to D.C. be without this picture? They had the Gettysburg Address inscribed on the wall and it made you feel like you wanted to burst with patriotism.

This was another view of the Washington monument from the WWII memorial. Beautiful! You can't seem, but I walked barefoot that entire night because my shoes just weren't doin' it for me.

This was the WW II monument. It was so beautiful and it really made me want to go hug someone who has served in the military. It brought tears to my eyes to think of all the sacrifices that have been made for us.

Washington Monument was bigger than I thought it would be and very impressive. It gave me chills.

This was another view from the Capital Bldg. I can't get over how beautiful it is there! That magnolia tree was amazing!

Isn't this beautiful! It is a picture of the Capital Bldg. I am in love with D.C.

To get a tour of the Capital Bldg. we had to get tickets through our Congressmans office, which happened to be Congressman Flake. After the tour we got to go into his office for just a minute and of course we coudn't resist taking a picture.

This was a room where many of the old presidents had their desks. On the floor there were gold stars in random places with names of presidents. That was where their desk used to be. This room was beautiful!

Yet another blurry picture (we weren't having much luck with other people taking them, but it was better than nothing). This was a picture in a huge room that I thought was amazing! American History just gives me goose bumps!

This picture is kinda blurry, but it's a picture of me and Steve standing at the point in the very center of the capital building. That place was absolutely amazing!