Washington the District of Columbia

Lets start off with a couple of the normal DC things.


The Capital! It is huge and beautiful.




The Girls and the Lincoln Memorial in the background.




The Washington Monument is a perfect example of how to get a project done. If you a wondering why I say that, look into it.




We visited the World War II memorial, it was very well done. This was probably my favorite one, not because of the subject but because it makes you feel like you go through an experience there.




We had to visit the Marine Corps Memorial after Janessa and I read the book Flags of Our Fathers

Now lets talk about our time there, it was truly a different world. It was hotter and more humid then South Carolina and New Mexico... But it was cool too. It was like being, well I dont know how to describe it. SO lets get into some of the things we saw and did. Our two girls were more popular then the President and the Congress combined (yes I know that is not saying much). People kept playing with them and taking their pictures, like they had not seen kids before. These were not just foreigners but the locals particularly.

I love architecture and there was just so much to see there. Thats what most of our pictures are of, in part because we went to the tank museum with a dead battery. Janessa had to remind me at one point to get the girls in pictures too. With that in mind here are some of the cool things we saw.

The ONLY good picture that I got at the Army Ordinance Museum. Doh. There are some 35mm that we need to develop.




This was known to us as the "Castle Church".




Check out these curves!~




China Town, no Matt though. We did find some Elders on this corner, but no it was not Matt and they didn't speak Chinese either.


On the first day we where there, there was a tornado warning out. We didn't know but as Mike and I went in to check into the Hotel Janessa, Katie, and the kids got caught in a hail, rain, wind storm that soaked them in a matter of seconds and made this tree next to them fall over.

Here Jacob and Grace get to the root of the problem, the tree was dead at the center. Oh and this tree remained in this place untouched or cordoned off our entire stay.


This is what our convoy looked liked as we strolled about the Capital. We didn't mean to get the exact same stroller as Katie and Mike but hey you have to love the ability to get both of them in and going with minimal corral work required. Thanks for the idea.

Next stop is the Rocks. Mom and Dad wont be too surprised. I like rocks and gems.

Sapphires are the best. This is Dads Favorite.



I thought this silver nugget was awesome. I wouldn't minde having it as art in my house.



The square formations are cool , they just dont look natural but they are. And they say there is no order in nature... All things denote that there is a God.



Abby ran up to it and said pink is my favorite, so there you have it.



Janessa wants this kind of granite for her counter tops. I said it would cost an arm and a leg, we will have to see.



Here are some shots that I thought fit it well.

My Texas Girl.




Abby had to show this to me.



katie taking pictures... gotcha!



Our Car and the girls in front of the Pentagon. This building was huge too.



Self explanatory. Oh and a note, there are two Smithsonian airplane museums so plan accordingly.


I did meet with Senator Bingaman and that was interesting, ask me next time we talk.


There has to be hope when there are things like this written in stone in our Nations Capital.



To finish it all off.