At last a post!

Well if you haven't figured it out by now we made it home. It was and interesting trip home. On the final day we decided to get in a couple last minute sites before our plane left. One of the places that we had not gone to was the Library of Congress but it was closed on Sunday so we missed out on that. Maybe next time. We did go up the old bell tower at the old post office. That was pretty cool. Carson and I went back to Union Station to get us a Washington Nationals hat while Cindy and Crysti went to the art gallery. After getting all we could stand of D.C. we caught a cab to the airport. Seriously I think that I could pack up all of my belongings and move up there. It was so nice and even a week later I long for a street vendor and more monuments.

The plane of course was late getting to the airport so we waited an extra twenty minutes for it to arrive. Once we were on the plane and headed out to take off we got delayed again and set on the runway for another twenty minutes. After much delay we were in the air. When we landed in Dallas we had about 15 min before our next flight. We had to run from one terminal to another and barely made it. We lucked out because that was the last flight out of Dallas for the night and we almost had to sleep in the terminal...not cool. We did make our flight and arrived back in Oklahoma shortly after 11:00.

We are home and I can't wait to go back....

DC Day 8

To whom it may concern:
We have completed our 8th day in DC and we are not ready to come home. There is still a lot we haven't done and seen but we have come to a point in our trip that we must be packing our bags in preparation of heading home.
Today we rode the ducks, visited Ford's Theater, returned to National Portrait Gallery, ate cheaper steak, and visited the Jefferson Monument.
1. Rode the ducks: We traveled through the city learning many interesting facts about the city and those who built it. Along the way we traveled to Reagen International Airport where we set afloat in the Potomac River. There came a time in our journey down the Potomac that the captain required the assistance of a second mate in taking the helm and steering the vessel. Carson rose to the occasion and steered the vessel on its way.
2. Fords Theater: While at the Theater we listend to one of the best tour guides we have encountered on our trip. She was a storyteller for sure and really drew us into the story of the tragic evening events. We were also able to see several artifacts from the the tragic event.
3. National Portrait Gallery: We split up to visit some of our favorite portions of the museum. One of the things that I like most was a Andy Worhal of Michael Jackson.
4. Ate a steak: I finally found a steak place that wasn't near as expensive as the previous.
5. Jefferson Monument: Finished the night with a visit to the monument as the sun set for a beautiful evening.

Tomorrow...American Indian History and Culture Museum, Old Post Office Tower, West Wing of the National Gallery of Art, and Library of Congress if time permits, and catching a flight home.

It might be a couple of days before we post our final day blog so check back soon.

Day 8 Pictures

DC Day 7

Loooooooong Day!

We picked up our rental car this morning around 8:30 and headed to Philly. It was great trip with lots to see and we took several pictures. I don't think we would have made it without the tom tom....thanks dad. In Philly we saw the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and some crazy homeless guy. Seriously, that dude was crazy I mean he was wack! He walked by us and started yelling at this other guy, lets call him Mr. T (he had lots of "bling"). So he tells Mr. T., who happens to be setting in his minivan listening to booty shak'n music, you better get off my blankety property your blankety blank. Seriously he was swear'n up one side and down the other. He then proceeded down the block and started yelling at someone else. We were all subject to this as we enjoyed our WONDERFUL Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches!

We spent little time in Philly and weren't entirely impressed with what we saw. D.C. is much cleaner and nicer.


Our next stop on our journey was Gettysburg. Gettysburg is a really cool little town. We weren't able to see everything there because of the time of day but what we were able to see was very interesting. We saw battlefields, monuments, graves, and bikers. That's right I said bikers. They were hosting the 6th annual bike rally and there were a ton of motorcycles.

Look kids a deer!

After getting a bite to eat we decided to head back to the hotel. I must say the trip home was not as enjoyable as the trip up there. Things just aren't that pretty during the night time drive. The country side was just beautiful. We saw many rad bridges and even Amish villages along the road. All in all we had a great time and made memories that we will all treasure....oh yeah, get off of my blankety property! Now watch out for that bottom step.

Tomorrow...DC Ducks, Ford's Theater, back to the National Portrait Gallery, go see the White House, and maybe a monument or two.

Day 7 Pictures

Now I would like to take questions from the audience. Do you have any questions? If I don't know the answer I will be glad to make it up.

DC Day 6

Busy day again...

1. Bureau of Printing and Engraving. Watched them make money. Carson wasn't that impressed because he had already seen it on "How it's Made". We bought some sheets of $1.00 bills Of course thats all we could afford.
2. Went to the top of the Washington Monument. Made my nose bleed...nah not really.
3. Toured the Pentagon. We got to see a memorial they have in the place where the plane crashed and killed 125 people on Sept. 11.
4. Went to Dupont Circle to eat a "good" steak but found out a "good" steak was going to cost me $45. So we settled a sandwich.

We weren't able to take a lot of pictures today because most of the places didn't allow cameras inside so we left them at the hotel. We did come home and pick up our camera before we headed out for dinner and I am so glad we did....I got a picture of some guy playing Christmas songs on his guitar.

Fun times...

Tomorrow...Pick up a rental car and travel to Philadelphia to visit Independence Hall. We then plan on heading through the Amish communities and traveling on to Gettysburg. It will probably be a late night so I'm not sure I will get much blogging done. Tom Tom...lead the way!

Day 6 Pictures

DC Day 5

Trip is halfway over and we have seen a lot. We seem to have been everywhere but still haven't seen it all.
Activities of the Day:
1.Went to Mount Vernon via a narrated trolley ride:
a. First off we toured the House.
b. Got rained on...a lot of rain. Fortunate for us we had 3 umbrellas!
c. Ate at the food court.
d. Split up because of time constraints. Cindy, Crysti, and Carson (CCC) went to tour the grounds while I toured the "Reconstructing Washington" Exhibit. I found that exhibit to be amazing. There is no portrait or statue of what Washington looked like under the age of 45 so utilizing various forms of technology they have been able to create a image of what he would have looked like at the age of 19. There was a wax figure of him at the age of 19 surveying the land. The Mount Vernon museum also houses one of the four know pair of dentures that he wore. Washington began loosing his teeth in his 20's and contrary to popular belief none of them were wood. It was pretty facinating to see the teeth. This pair was formed from a mold poured from lead and animal/human teeth. I also say his sword that he carried through the French and Indian War. CCC met up with Martha Washington working on some of her needle point. She asked where they were from and responded "I have never heard of Oklahoma, is that in wilderness?" She said she had heard of Florida (Floreeda). She asked "what kind of crops do they grow, the general would like to know."
We spent four hours at Mount Vernon and still didn't get a chance to see everything there.

2. Traveled back to Union Station for some shopping, some wonderful pastries, and to reserve a rental car for our trip to Pennsylvania on Friday.

3. Returned early to the hotel for some relaxing and laundry.

Tomorrow...Try to get tickets for the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, Tour the Pentagon, visit the Pentagon City, and who know what else....

Stay tuned...

Day 4 Pictures
Day 5 Pictures

DC Day 4

Lots of stuff happened today but we got in kinda late so not much to report right now.

1. Breakfast at McDonald

2. Toured the our nations capital building
3. Started raining...ducked into the "America's Voice" building to get out of the rain and met Joseph, a security guard.
4. Ate lunch at Quizno's
5. Went back to the Air and Space Museum where Carson and I got fly in a flight simulator. Of course I got sick.
6. Went to the National Zoo and saw pandas and monkeys. We got a great video of Carson with a Gorilla. Check it out.
7. Went the Washington Monument, Lincoln Monument, Vietnam Wall, and the WWII Memorial.
8. McDonalds for supper...a late supper.
9. Arrived back at hotel for the night at 10:00 pm.

Tomorrow...Visit Mount Vernon and tour more monuments.

DC Day 3

Getting tired....must have Red Bull....

Day 3 started out with a trip to the National Archives. I just don't see how Nicholas Cage was able to steal the Declaration of Independence. I just thought that nothing could beat the spy museum but the National Archives has to rank right up there. It is so amazing to me that the values that we hold were what made us who we are. As time passes it saddens me to think that those values are slowly disappearing. I look forward to Friday when we travel to Philadelphia to see the very site in which the Declaration was signed.

Our travels then led us to the Holocaust Museum. We were asked not to take pictures there as well and we honored that request. The tour was very moving and eye-opening. There were many artifacts, pictures, and videos of some of the travesties.

As we continued with our day we found ourself at the Arlington National Cemetery. Freedom comes with a price as we are well aware of but to actually see the cost from this perspective was very moving.
"Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves" - Abraham Lincoln
As we traveled through the park I felt the need to say a prayer for those who have lost there lives and for those who are fighting for our freedoms and the freedoms of the many in this world who deserve it as much as me.
We are very fortunate to be living in such a time as this.
We also witnessed the changing of the guards. Carson found that to be really cool. Such an honor it must be to hold such a position as to guard the tomb.

I think that Dwight Schrute found himself a job working at the national park. This guy could have passed for him any day.

After many hotdogs, pretzels, and pizza from the street vendors it was time for us to find some real food. I had asked a gentleman earlier in the day where a good place to eat was and he said take the Metro down to China Town and eat at Fuddruckers. So that is the direction we headed. Nothing like eating a good ole hamburger in China Town.




Oh and nothing like seeing a GREAT mullet in China Town too!



Back at the hotel Carson went for another swim and we added up our receipts for the day and started making plans for tomorrow. We were unable to get into the Bureau of Printing and Engraving today so we will make plans to go at another time.

Tomorrow.... Visiting the Capital and meeting with Congressman Lucas then going to the National Zoo.

Day 3 Pictures
Stay tuned....