Another Day in DC - Happy St. Patty's

This should probably be two posts because it was done over two days. However I am posting it in one, otherwise I will never catch up! 

Our friend Mike was in town for a business conference over our spring break. We got to show him around for a few days, visiting the sites in DC.  We visited the *Nat'l Archives and saw the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.  

Outside the National Archives on St. Patty's Day

Bill of Rights

The Constitution

*In the rotunda where the 3 main documents are on display, no flash photography is allowed so the pics are less than amazing. I didn't even bother posting the Declaration of Independence because it is so faded in the first place and the lighting was so low, I couldn't get a good image.

Museum of American History

How cool is that?! I can hardly believe someone - a man - actually fit inside the thing!

First elevator - really I just like the pic of my shorties. It's so telling.

The Puffy Shirt from Seinfeld

This guy kept hitting on me at the train depot.

Jon wasn't having much luck though.

If you have little girls you need to google this lady. 

This dollhouse is taller than me! It took 50 years to create.

After she donated it to the Smithsonian, she continued to "correspond" with the occupants of the little house via letters and Christmas cards. (A tad bit on the crazy side if you ask me.) 

The Nat'l Air and Space Museum (Dulles Airport)

Anyone know the significance of the Enola Gay? (I hope so. Otherwise you need to pay a visit to the library and do some reading:) The Enola Gay was the B-29 bomber that dropped the first atomic bomb "Little Boy" on Hiroshima in August 1945.
The night before the mission the pilot painted the name on the plane, after his mother. Later he admitted to being embarrassed at attaching his mothers' name to such a "fateful" mission.

This shuttle never went into orbit. It was used for testing in the atmosphere instead.

It is enormous!

Check out those engines. Pretty wild huh?

SR-71 Blackbird

This is an amazing thing to see. This aircraft was fast and flew high. 

I only post this pic because Et took it and he thought it was great. Nice hair huh? It was windy!

This was one of my favorite things to see. 

The Concorde is not as big as I had imagined but it was still pretty amazing. 

Did you know? It was only capable of holding 100 or fewer passengers at a time. Mind you they were all first-class seats.

They really packed the planes into this space. There are three walkway levels and there is something to see at every level. It was so interesting, definitely not the last time we will visit.

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

I love the whimsy these gazing balls add to the garden. 

Sis had to get a closer look. She thought they were giant bubbles.

Crouching Spider by Louise Bourgeois. 

It may not look too intimidating, but it was pretty creepy and beautiful at the same time. 

Twirling

One of the many magnolias in bloom in the Smithsonian Gardens. One of my favorites!

I just fell in love with this little beauty. She was so intent and hard at work. I was so close she kept bumping into my phone. Oh and the flowers are lovely too.

This is amazing!!

I absolutely love this clip!!!!
I am going to give it a permanent place on my blog (when I figure out how to do it :)
I have watched it multiple times and Sis especially loves it too.
When I watch it, my spirit is filled. I know Elder Uchtdorf is speaking truth.
What a wonderful tool for good from the Church.
Did I mention how much I love this video?!!

Six More Weeks of K&B

So I know I've mentioned before how much we love the Elders serving here in MD. They are part of our family, adopted uncles you might say. We thought we were going to lose one or both on the last transfer, but the groundhog must have seen his shadow because we have six more weeks of Elders K&B. Waahoo!

I had to include this from Sis' writing journal. 

I love this pic because she got all the Elders names right and Et is kicking the cake like a soccerball. She's is too much! Her artistic mind blows me away sometimes!

Spring Scavenger Hunt

Despite what I think most days, spring is actually on her way. To prove this to my contradictory brain, I took the kids on a scavenger hunt to see if we could discover any clues. 

I knew spring had made an appearance somewhere in Bolton Hill and I was determined to find it. We were blessed with such a beautiful day and spring seemed to be everywhere. Not only were my toes warmed but so was my heart. And now I can wait a bit longer for spring to make her appearance because I know she's on her way.One of the things I love most about early spring bulbs is their tenacity. They can be buried under inches of winter mulch and snow and still find a way to break through. Often they are the smallest flowers of spring but they are so determined. Makes me want to spend time with them - maybe some of that determination will rub off.

If I had stayed any longer in UT, I would have planted a witch hazel. 
This will be my mode of gardening this year - pots.
Look at what these snowdrops had to break through to see the sun. Serious determination there.

I think this is a flowering quince. I am going to walk by everyday to check its progress. Quince is one of my very springtime favorites.

The first daffodils of the year here in Bolton Hill. Yeah!!

Crown Imperial is one of my favorite springtime too. It look so out of place and yet so striking.

*I am still working on my garden blog, hoping to launch on Monday. My first post may have similar pics to this one, but I hope it will be interesting enough to check it out. I'll post the link on Sunday PM or Monday AM.

Big Love... No Big Shock, still Big Disappointment

A friend sent me this link. It's wonderful. Take a minute to watch and then send it on if you want.

I wrote this post yesterday and didn't quite finish it. I am so glad I didn't. This morning I was on LDS.org and I came across this wonderful article. It says better what I feel, but could not express and it helped me to feel a greater peace as well. The following is my original post that I included anyway.

So I am sad today to hear about the newest thing regarding the show "Big Love" on HBO. Apparently this month there is an episode where they recreate some of the LDS temple ceremonies using reproduction of the temple interior including temple clothes (all achieved with the help of an "ex-Mormon" set/costume designer). It makes me sad for the people who are creating it, those acting in it and anybody associated with it. Also, it makes me sad for those watching who may form an opinion of the LDS Church based on that show. Mostly its disheartening that the world has gotten to this point and the Church is starting to see the type of persecution we knew would come. However, as we talked about it last night Jon pointed out that when anything like this happens, and it has before now, often the result is a greater interest in the Church and an increase in missionary work. How's that for seeing the glass as half-full? He sure helps me keep my perspective sometimes. :)

Just remember...

Come what may, the Lord is in charge. He is mindful of each of us. He loves all of us. 

Good Friends and Federal Hill

Our friends, the Fugals, came into town this weekend. We were so happy to have them stay with us. The weather on Saturday was in the seventies, so we went down to the harbor and wandered about. I think everyone in Baltimore had the same idea. 
I love this pic of my two guys. They are so flippin' handsome and so similar.
A little exercise in balance and harmony - we didn't do so well. ;)

In front of the USS Contellation. It is such a beautiful ship! Part of it is currently under restoration hence the plastic windows were cannons should be.
Jon teased that this pic would make it on the blog. What a smart fella!

After strolling around we ended up at Federal Hill. What a view!! On the top of FH is a great little park. You can see the waterfront perfectly.

Sis waited so patiently for a swing to open up as there were only two "big-kid" swings at the park.
Peace, Love and Bananas - That about sums it up for Sis.
The park we normally walk to doesn't have swings, so the kids were in heaven.
To make you feel alive and young, there's nothing better than watching kids on the swings, except maybe for swinging on them yourself.

Ironically, none of these pics have our friends in them. They were usually on the other end of the lens or chasing their own short people around. J&C  thanks for coming -we love you guys!