Washington, DC

As I mentioned before, after two days in Jackson we took the kids to Cindy and DJs house to spend the day (thanks Cin, the kids had a ball with you!), then Mom and Dad picked them up and went back to Jackson for a couple of days and then back to Blackfoot for a few more while Brad and I traveled to Washington, DC. Brad had meetings there so I tagged along and explored the city. Thank you, thank you, thank you for watching the kids so I could enjoy this amazing opportunity. It was a truly incredible trip.

Although pictures never do justice to the actual experience I thought I'd include just a few snapshots of some interesting or beautiful things I saw. I had to take a picture of this R2 unit for Todd. It's one of the units used in the Star Wars movies, and it has been donated to the Smithsonian. They call it R2DC (hee, hee). They had it out on the floor doing a demo in the Museum of American History they day I was there.

The timing of our trip couldn't have been better as it coincided with the reopening (after 2 years of rennovations) of the Museum of American History. I was able to see Dorothy's original ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz, George Washinton's armchair, and the original US flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to pen The Star Spangled Banner. They have created a really beautiful display explaining the circumstances leading up to the War of 1812 and how Key ended up being uniquely positioned to see that flag flying after a night of battle. It is really beautiful.

This is a picture of the Washington Monument taken from the Jefferson Memorial. The Jefferson Memorial was one of my favorite sites. It is simple, striking, and very spiritual there. He was a remarkable man. I found myself continually in awe of the amazing men our founding fathers were. They were most definitely prepared and sent by Heavenly Father at a very pivotal point in history for a very specific reason. I am deeply grateful for their courage and fortitude. One of the best things that came of this trip was a much deeper love (on my part) of history. I can see now why people love it so much.

The weather was mostly overcast and chilly, but not too cold. A sweater, gloves, scarf and a hat were sufficient. Really the weather was beautiful and just perfect for me.

The Hope Diamond is on display at the Museum of Natural History. Really incredibly brilliant and beautiful.

The Capitol Building (we walked up near it, but couldn't get all the way up since preparations are already underway for Inauguration Day.


Another view of the Washington Monument. I wasn't able to get pictures of the White House or the Lincoln Memorial since you can't bring cameras with you when you visit the White House. We went to the Lincoln Mem. afterward and I still didn't have my camera. Oh well.

My most favorite of all the places I visited was the National Archives. The Magna Carta is on display right now along with the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the original Bill of Rights. It's really incredible to stand face to face with a document you know was held by Thomas Jefferson and so many other notable historical figures. I was, again, struck with the magnitude of what they accomplished on our behalf. My life would be vastly different if not for their sacrifices.

I've just scratched the surface of the amazing things I saw (and especially felt). Suffice it to say, it was a trip of a lifetime and I'm a better citizen and person for having gone.

Father's Day Weekend

We just spent a wonderful weekend in Wellington with Dad Wilson! Thanks for your wonderful hospitality, Dad. We all thoroughly enjoyed our stay. I overheard Todd and Kate talking in the playroom where they were raving about how cool Grandpa Wilson is and how awesome his house is! Todd even tried to talk us in to staying an extra day, which would have gladly done if only we didn't have work to come back to. Maybe next time! While in Wellington we had a great visit, went out for a Father's Day dinner, then took a tour of Price where Brad showed the kids all his old haunts. They LOVE to hear all his crazy stories about his youth, so it's fun for them to see the places where some of these "infamous" events took place! We capped off Saturday evening with a visit to a really neat new-ish dinosaur park in Price where we enjoyed watching the kids play and burn off some energy before bedtime. We enjoyed spending Sunday morning with Dad and attending church together before heading home. Can't wait for our next visit.