Gettysburg
Ground Zero - Battery Park -Manhattan
Times Square
Ellis Island - we tried to get in for free with our name but it didnt work!
Statue of Liberty We were able to go up to the base level.
Central Park
Etc - Pentagon, Iwo Jima Memorial, Temple, Spy Museum, Fords Theater, Presidential DeskTodd's brother Roger
Smithsonian Museums - Natural History, American History
More Smithsoneums - Air and Space, American History ( first Ladies Dresses, Modern Art and Art Museums
Memorials, White House, Union Station, My neice, Lenay and her family, Capitol, and copy of Liberty Bell
Arlington
So- Brandon and I have been planning this trip for a long time. We stayed with our awesome friends, the Ahlstroms. They live in Harpers Ferry, Virginia a quaint Civil War Historical town At the end of our trip Brandon and Andrew were able to do a camp out and reenactment of the battle of Antitem. They had a great time.
The day after we got there we were lucky enough to have the family drive us up to Gettysburg. It really was amazing to see these places where our history took place! Mark had some business in Pennsylvania so we all stayed in a hotel in Bethlehem - no kidding. The kids swam and we had pizza,swam and relaxed. The next day we drove to New York City!!! I had never been there and of course have always wanted to visit. I had though of Brandon and I taking a bus up there - but when they offered to go since they hadnt yet - I was thrilled! It is a crazy city and I dont think I would want to live right there - but it was great fun to visit! We took the subway a bit and went to Manhattan area first. We had too much that we wanted to see - but did the best we could with our time. We visited Ground Zero. It was very moving. It seems funny that there is not a permanent memorial there yet - but they did have several walls dedicated to 9 11. So sad.
Then we took a subway to Times Square. It was amazing! So fun to see where all of the action takes place! We walk towards Central Park taking in the sights. We got a hotdog in Battery Park and sat for awhile. Then on to Central Park. By then we were exhausted and it was too late to even try the zoo, but it was great to just be there - let the kids play on the big rock and people watch.
We stayed in a hotel in New Jersey and the next day it was on to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty!!!! Truly AMAZING! I was so thrilled to be there. Ellis Island was very interesting - I still have to check if there is a relative connection. We havent heard on anything. In 2nd grade each of my kids have learned about the immigrants and role plyed how they came to the island and went through the main hall, through all of the medical tests etc. I had helped the school kids and so it was neat for me to see the real thing!! Lady Liberty was huge!! So exciting to be there on Liberty Island. I just stood there and took it all in.
We drove home and the next day we just rested. It was thunderstorming as well-- Tuesday Brandon and I borrowed a car and drove to the closest Metro station in Gaithersburg MD. I havent really done the subway thing much - but we began the adventure! We took the Subway in for two days into DC. We stayed in a motel one night to get an earlier start Wed AM. We were able to see my niece Lenay and family as well as Todd's brother Roger, which was fun! The first day we went to all of the Smithsonians we could take in - listed above. Some highlights were - - the hope diamond, Dorithy's ruby slippers, kermit, first ladies dresses, art that I recognized from my BYU Humanities 101 class, and Julia Child's kitchen.
The next day we took a tour mobile - which was an excellent thing to do. We started at Union Station - the largest Railroad Station in the world. We saw all of the monuments. There was no way to do it on foot - for us at least! We also saw Arlington. Everything was amazing. It really was such a great experience taking it all in!!!! Roger took us to the Pentagon and memorial there. on that day - 9-11 he was actually less than a mile away. SO greatful that he was ok. Being there and NY really brought back so many feelings of that time. He also took us to the Iwo Jima memorial - MUCH bigger than I expected!
Thursday we went into the city with Lori and Andrew ( he was in school so he couldnt take too many days off) We dropped the boys off at the Spy Museum - which they LOVED!! Lori and I went to Ford's Theater. Very Interesting. We all went to the Archives building to see the Declaration of Independence ( much more faded than I thought - or than the National Treasure movie) By the way, I had to laught that we were always comparing our experiences to movies we had seen!- National Treasure, Night at the Museum, Sleepless in Seattle, Crocodille Dundee, etc etc. Also saw the Bill of Rights anf the Constitution. Brandon and I had tickets to the White House tour. So glad that we did that!! It was really cool! I think that I expected to see more actually - but they still do live and work there. We were actually were supposed to go on Tuesday but Obama was signing the Health Care bill so we got bumped to Thurs. Anyhow, we saw the red, blue and green room, the library, the state dining room, some amazing portraits including the one of George Washington that Dolly Madison saved during the fire. They would not let us take pics in there or ther Archives.
By then we were worn out . I think I could have done one more day in the city - but we were beat too. Lori did drive us by the DC temple. Awesome!! It was still amazing to see even though the trees were leafless. The magnolias in the city were blooming but we were a bit early for the cherry blossoms.
Friday we hung out and went to lunch - lots of eating out this week - but it was fun. It was really great to just hang with Lori and catch up. It was just like old times. I miss her and their family so much!! We agreed that Andrew would have to come out for the Pioneer trek in 2011. Like I said, the boys had a great time camping together and just hanging out too.
I am so thankful that we got to do this! I am grateful for Todd for enabling it to happen. Several people asked why we didnt all go --- for one we couldnt have afforded it and also we wanted it to be a special trip just for Brandon. And yes we will do the same sort of thing for the other two kids. Todd took the whole week off. They had TONS of snow so that was a bummer - but did go to the zoo, ice skating, to see Grandma and Grandpa, play with friends, paint Trevor's room, and aquire a pingpong table from a move they helped with. Trevor has started track too so he had several practices. They didnt get to aerate lawns because of the snow - but the boy scouts will be busy next Sat.
We had a great Easter and Conference weekend. I will write soon about that!
