Today we started at the Spy Museum.  We were all given another identity to begin with.  We had to memorize things about our identity and we were tested at different points throughout our visit.  This museum was full of all kinds of spy gear that had been used by spies throughout history.  We were able to read true stories of things that had happened to different spies or what they had accomplished.  It was pretty fun! After leaving the Spy Museum and grabbing some … [Read more...]

We started today at the Supreme Court Building, just south of the Capitol.  This was our view of the Capitol before entering the Supreme Court... and the Supreme Court building... Our tour guide brought us into the court room where we were able to sit and have her give us an overview of what the Supreme Court does.  She did it in a way that even our children could understand.  It was wonderful!  Then she opened it up for any questions people had.  There were some very … [Read more...]

Today we started at another Smithsonian - the National Gallery of Art.  I'm pretty sure I was the only one with any interest here.  I just thought it was so neat to see actual original paintings by the greatest artists ever.  The rest of my family was not as into it.  Mark did a great job of playing different games with our kids so I could walk through and enjoy the exhibits. It was so neat to see paintings I had only ever seen in history books...  Le … [Read more...]

Today we started at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.  It was fun to walk through and see our money being made!  At the end we bought a souvenir - a sheet of 32 real, uncut bills to frame and hang on our wall in remembrance of our trip to the Bureau. This was the first time our kids had seen a million dollars! After leaving the Bureau of Engraving and Printing we walked next door to the Holocaust Museum.  On the way we passed these drinking fountains where our kids had a … [Read more...]

Today started with a tour of the White House!  An hour before going on our tour we stopped at the museum for the White House (kiddie corner just to the southeast).  It allowed us to get a feel for what we would see inside and all the history involved with the White House.  Then we were ready for our tour.  This was really fun and something we had all looked forward to.  Getting to go inside and see where so many important decisions are made was amazing!  We also saw … [Read more...]

We spent the first half of our day today at Mount Vernon (not far from our hotel).  What a BEAUTIFUL piece of land!  It was so relaxing and peaceful there.  It was acres and acres of lush, green, very manicured and well kept land.   There were lots of gardens, forested area, and beautiful paths to walk along in the cool of the morning.  When you enter there are lots of people in period clothing giving tours or even working the fields. Our first stop here was at the … [Read more...]

We started our day today by attending church with the Alexandria 3rd ward.  It was right down the street from the home of George Washington at Mount Vernon here in Alexandria.  From there we went back to our hotel to visit the monument right across the street, the George Washington Masonic National Memorial.  Here we are on the steps... What is the significance of this memorial?  It is a memorial to honor and perpetuate the memory, character and virtues of the man who best … [Read more...]

This was one of the trips I dreamed we would be able to take with our kids someday.  I was so excited to go with my family to Washington DC!  Mark's sister had lived in Maryland, so Mark had been when he was in high school, but I had never been.  The history there is just so exciting!  It was so fun to actually be somewhere and see things I had only seen in history books or on the news before!  I feel even more blessed to live in this country after going on this trip. … [Read more...]