Washington, DC, Part 2

We started off the day with a family photo at the beautiful DC temple. The grounds were beautiful! We loved the tulips and the kids loved the fountain.

Next we headed off to the Smithsonian National Zoo. By the time we got there it was 90+ degrees outside. We met up with ACE, Mari & D, ate our sack lunches, and started our trek through the zoo. Is there any other way to describe a trip to the zoo? We definitely got our workout. We saw pandas, birds, the making of the future elephant habitat, gorillas, zebras, monkeys, beavers, sea lions, & more, smelled the zoo smells and called it good..

Thomas thought the owls were pretty cool. There were several kinds there.

Grace loved the flamingos.

We all thought that the bald eagles were amazing, especially so close up.

Wesley really wanted to swim with the ducks. Did I mention it was in the 90's?

After a couple of hours of walking around in the heat, we were done. We walked back to the entrance with tots crying because their legs were tired and they just wanted to go back to ACE & Mari's. We let them vent, walked as fast as we could, traded piggy back rides for the little girls, took turns carrying Wes, and found the spirit to say "hi" to any animals we saw on the way out. What a sight.

We piled in the car and made a quick stop at 7-Eleven for Slurpee's. So perfect! The kids sipped away in silence as Wayne and I quietly plotted our next outing. Mean parents, I know, but in our defense our destination, the National Air and Space Museum over by Dulles Airport does have air conditioning. That, and the drive from the zoo was just long enough for us to get a bit of relief from the heat and long walk, up hill both ways at zoo. By the time we arrived at the Air and Space Museum (& parked for FREE since it was after 4pm) 1 of our 5 kids was ready to smile again for the camera. Thanks, Thomas! We walked in the museum and our jaws hit the floor. The girls seem to be timid about showing their excitement in these photos, but deep down they were just as impressed as the rest of us. Seriously....what a great museum! It doesn't trump the Air & Space Museum at the Nt'l Mall, but it definitely is worth seeing as well. I'm sure we'll be back to spend more time there.

Curtiss P-40 Warhawk - WWII

Under the Space Shuttle!

The space shuttle Enterprise...

The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird which was developed during the Cold War and is still holds the record for altitude and speed.

The Enola Gay- aircraft used to drop the first atomic bomb.

The kids are standing in front of the Concorde and under scores of all sorts of different planes.

One of Amelia Earhart's flight suits.

Reproduction of one of the Wright Brothers' planes

Here are the best airplane moves we could muster after two days of museums, monuments, a zoo, and a temple. Our pocket books didn't feel much of anything, but boy we were ready to call it a day.

Little do the kids know the surprise awaiting them in the morning....

Washington, DC, Part 1

We crammed quite a bit into 3 days in DC. Our budget is tight right now, so we chose to visit several of the Smithsonian museums and the Jefferson Memorial, which we hadn't walked through yet. I love that in DC there are so many free activities and sites (we even avoided parking fees for most of our outings). We took loads of photos, so I'm going to break them up into several blog posts over the next few days.

First off, we visited the National Building Museum with Aunt Mari, Uncle ACE, & cousin Des. The kids' "building zone" has a play house, giant soft Legos, plush tools, a reading corner, and more. There was a huge craft fair going on that took up space in the museum where the older kids can usually actually build a life-size arch. Mari & I walked through the Richard Ross photography exhibit and on our way out we did a quick walk through of the DC exhibit.

Caroline trying encourage fellow builder, Des to build...something, anything!

Caroline, showing cousin Des how to build a tower...to be knocked down, of course.

Grace & Caroline played dress-up....of course.

Wesley, peaking out of the window of the playhouse...

Wesley spent most of his time with this yellow truck. When he was done playing around he begged to leave....with the truck.

Between the indoor columns with intricate detailing at the top, and the carved trim around the perimeter of the building, the architecture of this museum is beautiful.

From there we headed over to the Tidal Basin to see the Jefferson Memorial and the cherry blossoms.

I love this picture of Wesley...this was a signature Wesley "No, I will not hold your hand" move, and the blur captures the photographer (moi) trying to keep up.

You can read all of the Thomas Jefferson quotes found at the Jefferson Memorial HERE.

Two handsomes...

Grace & Caroline had Wayne sandwiched for much of the walk back to the car.

Gotta love being a daddy!

...and I got to see some cherry blossoms. For a gorgeous photos of the cherry blossoms in full bloom during the DC cherry blossom festival, check out my friend, Macy's photographs HERE. We {heart} DC!

Mom & Mr. Nicely....a photo essay

I adore my little independent love.

Palmyra- Part 2

From the Sacred Grove we met up with friends of ours from Beantown. They headed to the Sacred Grove while we toured the Smith family log home; the definition of modest living space. Standing in the dining room/family room, it is easy for me to imagine Lucy Mack Smith, not 5 feet tall, among her husband and sons, all 6'+ in that small space. Regardless of square footage, there is a clear feeling of love and happiness in that space. We walked up the steps to the bedroom where Joseph shared a room with his brothers. They lived simply and humbly.

The sister missionary told of the Angel Moroni's visit to Joseph Smith and shared her testimony. She invited us to share our thoughts and testimonies. Again, being alone there as a family was a sweet experience. If you go to Palmyra in July during the Hill Cumorah Pageant there are long lines and large crowds, and the tours are rushed so all can get through the sites. I have decided that I'd rather visit Palmyra during the off-peak time when tours are less rushed, testimonies are shared in these intimate settings, and there is a relaxed, peaceful atmosphere....just my opinion. We've been to the pageant, thought it was nice, but the crowds were not so fun.

The following photo is a view of the Sacred Grove from the back door/porch of the log home. {I've got one more (without the family) to share later on as soon as I edit out a large trash can}

We caught up with our friends and walked down the dirt path that leads to the Smith family frame home. I forget the percentage, but the vast majority of the frame home is original to the Smiths, whereas the log home is a replica using the exact home perimeter as the Smith log home.

Heading back to the Visitors Center parking lot, off to the right there is a clear view of the Palmyra temple. I love that the temple was built on land owned by the Smith family. I love that you can see the temple from their homesteads. The significance of the beginning of the restoration being crowned with a temple for saving ordinances is no small thing. This temple looks perfectly at home on this humble hill.

Quick stop at the Hill Cumorah before the clouds burst....

The E.B. Grandin Printing Press has a very interesting tour about the first printing of the Book of Mormon....

Our final stop for the day was the Peter Whitmer Farm, where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized on April 6, 1830.

By 4pm the kids were DONE with tours and smiling for photographs. Wesley cried when I took him into the bathroom for a diaper change before we hit the road again. He just wanted to walk around and explore. We said good-bye to the Robisons (we LOVED spending the day with you guys in Palmyra!!!) and piled back in the car (SORRY kids!) to head off to our next destination.... Maryland!