Washington DC

Our last weekend. we only had 2 days b/c we had to be home Monday for Katelyn to start Dive Team practices. We knew we were not going to see everything, but DC is one place we plan on going back to, so I didn't worry too much. Garrett is very interested in Space/Astronauts since he did his school report on Neil Armstrong, so we made some time for the Air and Space Smithsonian. I wanted to see 'Old Glory' the American flag that was flying that inspired the Star Spangled Banner -Museum of American History. All the must see list included the Museum of Natural History so we made it there too. We made sure to visit all of the War Memorials on the National Mall. Each one beautiful and magnificent. The 100 gold stars of casualties at the WWII memorial. The faces of the men in the Korean War memorial. The wall of Veterans names who where either killed or still missing in the Vietnam War. All stirred feeling of pride and profound pratiotism in me.

We made reservations for tours of the Capital building. Jamie thought we could walk the national mall in an hour so we walked a few more blocks to walk past the White House. Garrett found a gold Secret Service pin in the street, and as far as he is concerned it is authentic! LOL About half way there Garrett ran out of gas and just sat. We waited up ahead for him 20 minutes and only made it to the reflecting pool by the time our tour was suppose to start. oh well. Now that it was after 1 pm, and our tour of the Washington Monument was at 4 pm we thought it best to get started walking, notice that they are on the opposite ends of the Mall. As yo can imagine that went over real well with the kids when we told them we were going to walk all the way back. :) I know not great planning, but there were only certain times available. We actually made this walk in time, only to be turned away do to lightning in the area the monument was being closed. Dang it! It was raining pretty hard now so we headed back to the subway to go to the hotel. I realized we had put off Arlington Cemetery so we diverted there. The kids were so exhausted from walking around ALL say we opted for the tram tour in the cemetery that stopped at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and JFK gravesite. The reverence at the Tomb was sure. It was certainly one of my most favorite visits.

From Ocean to Ocean

Our time was running out. We played hard and visited a lot of places. Since we were so close to the Atlantic Ocean I wanted to make sure we got to dip our toes. So another day trip. This time we stayed in Delaware, trying to avoid the toll roads that seem to trap you everywhere out East, but I didn't. LOL It took an hour to get to Lewes, DE. we had stopped at the Dollar store and sent the kids in with $5 to buy plastic buckets and shovel. I packed a styrofoam cooler with drinks, lunch, and snacks. We were able to rent chairs and an umbrella on the beach thanks to the local Kiwanas Club, paid for parking and finally just sat on the beach and read my book, Train to Potevka. Garrett rented a boogie board, made a few friends, and found a jellyfish, and a bucket full of hermit crabs. He was so excited I suppose b/c we use to have a couple of pet hermie crabs. He was familiar with them. The jellyfish discovery scared the girls and Savanah refused to go in the water; so she played in the sand and pools of ocean left by the low tide. Katelyn pretended to be afraid, and even caught the jellyfish in the bucket.

Aquarium Day Trip

After two big weekends and lots of hours in the car, WE (I mean, I) needed a break. we spent another day at the pool and planned a quick day trip to Camden, NJ to Adventure Aquarium; only about 30 minutes from Newark, DE where we were staying. The hightlight was the Tough a Shark exhibit, which also house stingrays and jellyfish - all for petting. Another exhibit that we enjoyed was the shark tunnel. I tried to get a good picture but I am not to great with the camera and the tricks of the trade; it was dark, the glass reflects the flash, and I have 2 subjects, one on the move.

Palmyra/ Niagara Falls

WEEKEND # 2:

THIS was the trip for me. I was so looking forward to this one. I had been here before and always wanted to bring the family back here. But as you might not know, Palmyra isn't near anything else. It is really in the middle of corn fields, but since we were already on the East Coast we took the opportunity to drive the 6 hours north. It has changed a lot since I was there some 20 years ago. A nice hotel, a temple, a visitor center on Hill Cumorah, and Smith Farm is restored with another visitor's center, and the Grandin Print Shop fully restored. Everything is with in a mile so we got all the sight-seeing done on Saturday.

Jamie and I got sick this weekend, so we took it easy Sunday morning. I just couldn't bare to waste a minute. In the back of my mind I had thought about going another 2 hours to Niagara Falls, but didn't think we could do it or have the time. So I made last minute plans to go to the Falls. Turns out it was only 1.5 hours and SOOOO worth it. We took the ferry at the bottom of Falls and walked up the boardwalk to feel the blowing wind propelled by the force of the waterfall. It was nice to get soaked, b/c again it was so hot and humid back east.

On Monday, we headed out of town towards Harmony, Pa where Joseph retreated to finish translating the Book of Mormon and visit the Whitmore Farmhouse where the Church of Jesus Christ was officially organized in the eyes of the United States Law. We drove back to Delaware through Omish Country and stopped for lunch lakside, at a local State Park near Ithaca, NY.

New York City - once is enough

Okay we arrived in PA late Tuesday, so we took a couple days to just play in the hotel pool. Friday afternoon we headed for our First Big Weekend NEW YORK CITY!!! Jamie is the only one that has even visited here, and that was over 20 years ago. There is a lot to do in NYC, and we knew we weren't going to get to it all. So everyone got to have input on what they really wanted to see/do.

*Garrett was easy: Statue of Liberty and ride the subway.

*Savanah: Carlo's Bakery! (TLC's Cake Boss) Broadway, Time Square and ride the subway

*Katelyn: shopping

*Leighann: Central Park

*Jamie: Little Italy for some Gnocchi Pasta

We charged up a Metro Card and got a subway map. Surprisingly the everyone was very helpful in the big city. We obviously looked like tourists and when we got that dazed look and were holding up the people traffic someone would always quickly come to our aid. Big thanks to NY!

Some other places we got to Ellis Island -doors of separation; Battery Park -kids got to be part of street performance act; FAO Schwartz -giant floor piano; Bubba Gump Restraunt in Time Square.

Katelyn would love to live in NY, Savanah wants to come to Broadway, Jamie promises to bring her back to see a show, Garrett hates all the walking, and I don't EVER need to go back. I have been there done that. I thought it was filthy and disgusting, crowded, hot, sweaty, I felt like a city rat in the subway tunnels, and thought about a terror attack every time we crossed undernearth the Hudson River in the subway. Everything is right in your face in NY. the good and the bad, and the vile in life. I would just assume be happy in my little happy valley, believing in the gospel and rainbows. :)

Visiting the East Coast -Philly

We got the opportunity to travel to the east coast this summer. we had planned on sticking around our home and do lots of camping. And it was a wonderful and busy July.

Jamie is a computer consultant and usually works locally, in fact we had that written into the new hire contract. However, this job was worth the long travel hours. We were even more willing when we got permission to tag along with him for a couple weeks. Jamie works a week and comes home on the weekends, so we flew into Philadelphia, PA on the 6th of Aug. we stayed 2 full weeks and 3 weekends. Jamie was still going to have to work, so we planned on playing hard on the weekends an I would take the kids to some more local attractions during the week. Our first day trip was off to historic area of Philidelphia to Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.

Check out the guy plucked straight out of a 1970's Sears catalog pages. Complete right down to the hair cut, plaid pants, polyester polo shirt.

Seattle Seafair

Last week the kids and I made a day trip to the pier to tour a Navy ship.  We had to get out the door before 10 am because the bridges across Lake Washington were going to be shut down for the Blue Angel practicing the airshow.  With Katelyn as my navigator, we headed out to find Pier 90, luckily once we got off the main roads it was clearly marked.  We parked in a lot near a wharehouse on the pier.  As we passed through security, soldiers were posted strategically with weapons ready.  Garrett asked, "are those real", with a doubtful voice. When I told him they were he was a bit surprised.  We got on a bus and we escorted to the shipyard.  Up front they had some amphibious vehichles.  Garrett and Savanah got up into them and tried on some gear.  I walked up into one and felt a little clostraphobic and promptly left and enjoyed the rest from the outside.  We spoke with a officer and the kids got to ask him about the different uniforms.  Cracker jacks are the enlisted men and they are wearing the traditional and commom naval uniform with black shoes.  Crew chiefs have an anchor on their hats, wear white dress whites, and white shoes, officers wear the same white uniform, white shoes, but have a spread eagle on their hats.  To my surprise the kids were engaged for a good 2 hours and it was a good day.  We even made it back across the bridge before rush hour.

There is no way on God's green earth, and over my dead body,

if you are EVER going to be needing combat equipment!!!!

Leave it to Savanah to make a quick phone call.

USS Princeton