More DC Pictures

 

Here’s just a sampling of a few things we saw at DC:

I was SO excited to go to George Washington’s house Mount Vernon because I had just finished reading a book about him.  I was a star student on the tour because I knew all about how the Marquette De Lafayette had sent George Washington the key to the Bastille after it had been stormed and it is still in his house today—we saw the key.   It was my moment to shine….and most of the people probably didn’t even care.:)

Here’s George Washington's tomb—right next to Martha’s

We also went to Ford’s theater where Lincoln was shot—I also read a book about him a while back as well—gosh, I guess I am sort of a history nerd—but it makes tours and museums lots more interesting I tell ya!  We even saw the pillow he laid on after being shot—it had blood!

This is the box where Lincoln got shot—and this is exactly how it looked that night.  We got in trouble for leaning over the banister to get this shot—but we still got it—heh, heh, heh.

My Mom and Lyle at the Smithsonian in front of the Capital.

The White House is waaaaaay back there….

Jack and Conner striking a dramatic pose in front of the Potomac River

 

Here we are in downtown Alexandria for dinner—one thing we learned about Conner is that he’s not big on sitting in high chairs at restaurants, especially when he’s all weirded out from traveling and tired…but we still love him lots and he’s pretty darn cute.  It was fun for our east coast fam to see him walking around and stuff. 

I think this is the suit that was worn by Neil Armstong or something—I can’t remember now.  The cool thing about the Smithsonian is that they have all the REAL stuff—sounds so cheesy, but it makes history “come to life” in a way it never has for me before—I got so many chills and got teary eyed a lot just seeing all the awesome history of America.  I love it!

It was a neat trip and the rally was superb—we definitely want to come back for a longer visit with all the kids some day.

Gilbert Constitution Fair

Tonight is the annual GILBERT CONSTITUTION FAIR in Gilbert's Civic Plaza and Town Square. I am not sure exactly where that is, but it sounds easy enough to find--probably just downtown Gilbert. Anyway, it is WAY fun, $10.00 for your entire family to go. They have games, food, performances, and fireworks if you stay till the end. It's a great way to celebrate and teach our children about our nation. Here's more information about it. These pics are from last year--Jack and I had a church event we had to go to, so my mom offered to take the kids to it for us--I was so glad they didn't have to miss it, and really glad we get to take them tonight. Hope you can make it too!

We Were There

 

Yes—we went to the 8-28 Glen Beck Rally.  If you have no idea what I am talking about, it was a HUGE rally with people from all over the country gathering together in DC to help RESTORE HONOR to our great nation.

 

It was awesome.  (Our great seats were courtesy of my sister-in-law and my nephew staying all day, and Jack and my brother staying all night.)

We only took the baby because, well, he was free on the airplane.  And, he’s our little baby.  The other kids stayed home with Grandma Whiting and Aunt Becky for a few days.

LOTS OF PEOPLE—At least 500, 000 gathered by the reflection pool on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.  I have never seen anything like it—ever. 

My Mom and Lyle came as well, and we met up with my brother and his family—I can’t find the pictures I took of them at the rally on this file for some reason.  My niece and her husband came as well.  So it was a nice reunion with great people at a really great event. 

 

Good ole Glen—what a great guy he is!  I’ve always liked him and agree with most of his views, but sometimes I sort of thought he went over the top.  However, after this rally, it sounds silly, but I feel like I “know him better” and I respect what he is trying to do for our nation.

 

Another crowd shot, but it doesn’t do it justice.

Afterwards Conner zonked out and we traveled to see Mr. Lincoln.

 

Here we are at the memorial.  We saw a lot of other stuff as well because we were there for a few days, but I’ll post about that later. 

 

The rally raised money for a great cause—helping families of soldiers who have died in the field go to college—and it also had a theme—If we want to improve our country—we must start with ourselves.  And we must improve in faith, hope and charity.  It was a simple, powerful message that made a difference for me, and I hope many others.  A great experience that I am proud to have been a part of. 

I Didn't Like It

So, I am the kind of person that reads a book, is way into it for a few days, and then I usually get over it and don't think about it as much--unless maybe I start talking to someone about it or something. Anyway, I hadn't thought TONS about the last book in The Hunger Games series, but when it did come out I was pretty excited. I then I realized something:

The first book was AMAZING and great.

The second book was okay, but since I was still loving the first book I didn't really notice.

The third book was, not very good. And that's when I realized that the second was pretty good, but not great.

So, I was sad for a day or so. I talked/complained to Jack about it, but I was nice and waited until he had finished it before I talked to him about it. He agreed that it was rather dissapointing.

Anyway, just warning anyone that has read or is reading those books...but it's okay though because there are lots of books to read.

Okay I'm done.

11, 9, 1

July 26th—Sunny turned eleven!  That sounds so very old, but she really doesn’t seem that old to me.  Sunny is still so…..Sunny.  She is such an individual, very creative and imaginative, and she marches to her own beat.  And I love it!  I love that she still believes in fairies (like, I think she really does) and unicorns and the like.  And she is a beautiful, talented girl to boot.  Very affectionate and giving—Sunny’s a keeper.

  

Let me share a little with you on what Sunny wrote on one of those “get to know you” pages in her 5th grade class:

At home what I like to do best is: READ

At home what I like to do least is :CHORES

I’m glad to be back at school because: I HAVE THE BEST TEACHER

In the future I would like to be: MOTHER

How do you spend your spare time at home?: READING

My favorite animal is(Sunny crossed out the last two words and wrote ANIMALS ARE): ANYTHING MAJESTIC

If I had three wishes, they would be:

1.I WOULD LIKE TO LIVE TILL THE MILLENIUM

2.  TO HAVE A GREAT ADVENTURE

3.  TO SEE A FAIRY OR SOMETHING ELSE LIKE IT

I like teachers who: I LIKE ANY TEACHER

I’m glad I’m in this classroom because: I HAVE THE BEST TEACHER.

 

There ya go—that’s our Sunny!

 

On August 6th Logan turned nine.  For quite a while Logan was the only boy in our family, and he now loves having a little bro.  He is a good big brother to both Ella and Conner most of the time, with occasional teasing of course, but he loves them very much.  One day he was playing with our neighbor and they were heading out back with some swords or something.  Ella comes along with her sword and she was like, “Hey guys!  Wait for me!”  Then Logan’s friend was like, “No way—you can’t come.”  Logan immediately turned and said, “Sure she can—she’s my sister—and she’s fun!”  My heart melted.  He’s a crazy little guy I tell ya, but he has a big heart.

 

 

And our little Conner turned ONE on August 11th!  Crazy to think he is one now—he is still my little baby boy for sure.  He is a super walker now and busy, busy busy.  He has started to dance with Ella and the two of them will just spin around together and scream and laugh.  In fact, when I took Conner for his one year old appointment Ella was there.  Our doctor sat and watched the two of them playing for a good five minutes just smiling away—then finally he was like, “Well, I guess we should start checking him out—they are just so entertaining!”  It cracked me up! 

Lots of pictures because we have lots of cute kids

 

Swimming with my old roomie Jocie at her parents’ house—Conner is like, “Don’t talk to me—I’m concentrating on staying up here people!”

 

Playing dress up with our cute friend Shelby

Dancing after church—it’s like our own Prom every week

 

 

These next pictures are from our little trip we took to California.  My mom and step dad were renting a house right by his daughter and her family for a few weeks so we came up and stayed with them for a few days—and they thought they could get away from us—ha ha ha!!

Really, my Mom is such a gracious hostess.  She always makes everyone feel so welcome and special when they come to see her, and she always goes out of her way to make us comfortable.  So it was really nice—oh, and the house they rented was in these beautiful mountains with a gorgeous lake down the road, so that made it nice as well!  We did swim at the lake, but I didn’t get ANY pictures!!  It was really nice.

 

We took a little trip to San Diego while we were there since we were pretty close to see the new Mormon Battalion Museum and the beach—Conner stayed with Grandma.

The museum was AWESOME—it has been all redone.

Logan became a soldier at the museum, but then got in some trouble or something at the schoolhouse later.

The pictures from the beach are on Jack’s phone—I obviously was not a great documenter. 

 

 

On Saturday we went to this campground place with Lyle’s daughter’s ward for the 24th of July.  They had a yummy breakfast, other activities, and a fun hike.

 

 

 

These are from the hike.  See the guy behind Angie?  He was our guide on the hike and taught us TONS about all the plants—even what we could EAT.

 

We hiked to this spot called “Heart Rock” and that is a natural formation in the rock below Sunny—pretty awesome—it’s bigger than it looks.

There were also pools there—and look, I was on this vacation as well.

So of course they had to swim—in their clothes because we had no suits. 

Angie taking the plunge from a tree branch

Does this look familiar?  We found out that this camp was the spot where Disney filmed “The Parent Trap” with Lindsey Lohan—and they also filmed by the lake where we swam.  So, I really feel bad about what happened to her now because it’s pretty much like we’re close friends now. 

Well, thanks for coming this far with me.  Hope everyone enjoys these last few weeks of summer.

LOVE THIS!

Check out THIS VIDEO. You will love it and giggle.