Visiting DC

We saw a lot of really cool stuff this weekend! The main purpose of this trip was to see the Natural History and American History Museums. We spent about two hours in each and barely saw half of each one. They were both pretty crowded and we all know we can't take a picture of everything (even though we want to.) So we just took pictures of what we thought was really cool! Hope you all enjoy!

View of the Capitol Building from the Mall on the way back to the car.

The Smithsonian Castle

Some big head we thought was cool. Just outside The Museum of Natural History. All we remember is that it is from Central America, that it was big and we thought it was cool.

Out side of the Natural History Museum.

Of course completely zonked. . . but this only lasted for about an hour.

A real Mummy!! Ooooh Scary!

A REALLY BIG Butterfly!!

The Hope Diamond, one of the big reasons people come to this Museum.

A Whale Skeleton.

An ancient Coelecanth.

A Whale.

The Fam in front of a Big Elephant

Outside of The American History Museum

C3PO this costume was the one used in episode 6 (Return of the Jedi).

An actual portrait of Abraham Lincoln.

Andrew Jackson's Uniform.

George Washington's Uniform.

The Fonz's Jacket! How dreamy! ;)

Kermy

These are the actual shoes that Judy Garland wore in Wizard of OZ.

The Star Spangled Banner was one of the only things I really wanted to get a picture of, and was the only thing you could not take a picture of. It was in a dark oxygen free room.

This was the Flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the National Anthem. This was probably one of the coolest things I saw on this trip! I have always wondered how amazing it would have been for him see our flag still flying that night!

The first Light bulb ever.

Washington DC has a regulation that no other structure can be built higher than the Washington Monument.

Keira and Thomas walking up the stairs of the Jefferson Memorial and of course wanting to do it themselves!

All of us at the Jefferson Memorial had some pretty good cross action wind blowing there!

Thomas Jefferson.

Outside of the Jefferson Memorial.

James River

Our first little adventure in Richmond was to explore the James River, I thought it was quiet a swampy looking thing!! We only got four pictures but I think they turned out pretty cool. :)

Simply Keira

Here are some recent pictures of Keira that we thought ya'll would like!

I cut up some Strawberries and some Bananas and put some Chocolate on them for Lunch a couple of days ago. She loved it as you can see.

Playing Dress up

Lately Keira has been wanting to do things all by her self, here are some pictures of her doing them all by herself:

Dressing

Washing Hands

Dressing as you can see her shirt is on backwards.

Boston Part II

This trip we visited the JFK Library and Museum, The South Meeting House, and The Paul Revere House.

The South Meeting House:
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Joseph Warren, Benjamin Franklin, James Ottis, William Daws,and Phillis Wheatley all worshipped here. It was here that the Boston Tea Party was organized.

Pulpit

Phillis Wheatley who was Americas first African-American author.

The Paul Revere House:

Paul Revere bought this house when it was 90 years old.

One of the Bells made by Paul Revere's foundry.

The JFK Library and Museum: (Designed by famous architect I.M. Pei)

Saving the best for last! This by far was the most interesting part of our trip, I would recommend to anyone visiting the Boson Area to put some time aside to see this, and to set aside a good part of the day to see it.

This is overlooking the passage that JFK's ancestor's sailed across to complete their journey from Ireland into Boston.

For his courage and Leadership following the sinking of PT 109, Lieutenant Kennedy was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal and a Purple Heart. A decorated war veteran, Kennedy was often asked on the campaign trail how he became a war hero. His response never varied: "It was involuntary. They sank my boat."

"The Press tells me that I'm going to be beaten here in West Virginia. So do the politicians, and the polls and all the experts. . . I think the people of West Virginia have been underestimated. They may fool the experts next Tuesday." (JFK, Speech draft, May 1960)

Then he won West Virgina!

President Kennedy commissioned the Rock Island Arsenal in Illionois to create exact replicas of George Washington's battle sword as gifts for visiting heads of state.

This boat was presented to President Kennedy as a thank you from Rufiti Council.

Brass and wood sculpture of a boating party, a gift to President Kennedy from President Huburt Maga of Dahomey (present-day Benin) June, 1962.

"It will not be one man going to the moon. . . It will be an entire nation. For all of us must work to put him there." JFK , May 25th, 1961.

Each of the seven Mercury astronauts named their spacecraft and added "7" to honor the group. On February 20th, 1962, John Glenn, enclosed in a tiny capsule he named Friendship 7, became the first American to orbit the Earth, completing three orbits before splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean. The mission was celebrated in triumph throughout the country.

JFK and his brother Robert, had a very special relationship, and worked well together. Robert directed his older brothers upset over Henry Cobot Lodge in the Massachusetts senatorial contest and in the race for the White House in 1960, Robert served again as campaign manager. After the election, the president-elect appointed his 35 year old brother Attorney General of the United States. The president became to rely heavily on his brothers judgment and effectiveness as political advisor, foreign affairs counselor, and most trusted confident. After the Bay of Pigs debacle, Robert became an intimate advisor in intelligence matters and major international negations. His efforts during the Cuban Missile Crisis in Oct. 1962 were crucial in shaping a peaceful outcome.

This is a Moment on an acre of British land that was given the the United States of America in memory of John F. Kennedy. It states "Let every nation know weather it wishes us well or ill that we shall pay any price bear any burden meet any hardship support any friend or oppose any foe in order to assure the survival and success of liberty." From the Inaugural address of President Kennedy Jan. 20th, 1961.

Piece of a Moon rock.

A piece of the Berlin Wall.

Some quotes that we thought where cool by JFK:

"and so my fellow Americans: ask not what your country will do for you- - ask what you can do for your country."

"Its not what kind of church I believe in , for this should be only important to me, but what kind of America I believe in." Answer in response to weather one of the Catholic Church should be President.

"I don't want people to think I'm a windbag" said to Ted Sorenson.

"Make it the shortest since TR" JFK's instructions on the Inaugural Address.

"I want African and Latin Americans not to quote Roosevelt or Lincoln or Jefferson. I want them to quote the next President of the United States." Oct. 6th, 1960.

"Lets eliminate all the 'I's. Just say what 'we' will do." instructions on the Inaugural Address.

"There is an economy of style and a controlled power about this new president." said by Atlanta Constitution.

"The Energy, the faith, the devotion, which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it-and the glow from the fire can truly light the world" Inaugural Address Jan. 20th 1961.

"It was better then mine" Comparing Thomas Jefferson Inaugural Address to his own. Jan 19th, 1961.

"If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich" Inaugural Address Jan, 20th 1961.

"Give me mountains to match my mountains." "Says an old children's song. West Virginia already has the men to match her mountains-Men of vigor and courage and determination-men who have contributed to America's strength in the past who will contribute again in the future. This is a great human resource-a vital asset for the entire nation-must be kept strong and will if America herself is to remain strong." April 26th, 1960.

"In your hands my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure or our course" Inaugural Address Jan, 20th 1961.

"All of this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin." Inaugural Address.

The JFK Library and Museum was right on the water. As we ate lunch we watched sail boats, and kayak's go by. Keira also spotted a squirrel. It was very relaxing!

Well this draws and end to our stay here in Rhode Island, also our last blog about our stay here. We have enjoyed it here very much and are sad to be leaving, at the same time we are very excited to continue our journey to Richmond, Virginia and all of the cool stuff we will be able to do while there.