Hello Washington D.C.

Less than one week after my Girls weekend, Brian and I were off on another adventure. We took a trip to D.C. I had never been there and Brian was there when he was 12, so off we went. Thanks to everyone who gave us tips and ideas of what to do. Natalie, your email with your comments was awesome and a huge help. A big thanks to Joe and Jana Peterson and Bart and Shanna Stratton, our great family and friends, who welcomed us into their homes. We love you and want you to know you are awesome!

We did all the great historical site tours, Arlington Cemetery, Smithsonian museums, and the monuments. We even toured the White House and the Capitol building. I think in that one week, I learned more about the American history than I remember in school! Brian was able to get tickets to the David Letterman show off the internet, so we took a two day trip to NY. We were able to stop in Philadelphia and have Philly Cheese steaks and see the Liberty Bell and Independence Square and then off to NYC. We rode the subway, saw ground zero, grabbed some food on a corner stand and ate it on the Post Office steps across from Madison Square garden. Brian drove, which I think I freaked him out about driving there beforehand. He was a pro and handled it great! Thanks mom and dad for the GPS. It saved us; although Brian will tell you he is a walking navigation unit and didn’t need it. :) I think he might be convinced to get one now.

My favorite parts of the trip: Arlington Cemetery. There was such a reverence and respect there. In the changing of the guards, we saw firsthand just how much that reverence and respect means. The crowds voices were getting louder and louder and the guard, who did the exact same thing each and every time up and down the carpet, walked to the end and yelled something to the effect of this was a place of respect and to not talk. No one listened and so he yelled very loudly again (mind you he was holding a huge gun) to “BE QUIET” that got everyone’s attention and it went dead silent. It was so great!
We loved the D.C. Temple, it is so beautiful there and Brian and I were able to spend some time in the garden and visitor center. We loved Central Park, Times Square, and I loved the little shopping Brian let me do. Thanks honey. You can’t go to NYC and not shop! We also loved seeing our friends and family (Joe and Jana, Bart and Shanna, and Shum. Also we got to go see Cali, a friend of Brian’s from Centralia. It was fun to meet her and her family. They are darling! I can’t forget to mention that Brian loved the NY subway.
What a trip! We got to come home and then I went back to work the next morning. Nothing like living those vacations to the bitter end. Back to reality…… Brian still had four more days off…Hmmm I wonder what that would be like…..