final sights from D.C.

i'm on my final victory lap around the D.C. trip. I can't believe its already come to an end, but so happy that i was able to go. a huge fist pump to Ondalynn who didn't kill me for living with her and her family for 11 days. thanks a million sis! 

On Saturday, as a fam we went to Mt. Vernon, George Washington's Estate! the grounds were beautiful! And as we drove in the car, my love for Virginia grew immensely. A crush wouldn't justify it. Mt. Vernon is a must see if you go to the East Coast. The museums were kid & adult friendly and the least overwhelming--you just enjoy everything!

{right: George Washington's tomb/coffin, with Martha W. on the left. Vance Co. and I in front of Mt. V}

Friday: the JIMMER FREDETTE BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR MR. B

of course, basketball, football, baseball brownie/cupcakes were on the menu, with alot of other sugar as well. 

it would be an understatement to say he was estatic about his new basketball hoop. Or...to prounce it as mr. b does it would be a "baketball hoop"

we love mr. b aka the next jimmer fredette.

the trip was so wonderful. and i realized vacation life is ten times better than reality life. but oh well. that will be my last vacation in a long time. and it was absolutely the best place i could have gone. all the sights were wonderful, but the best part was being with my family.

its cheese, i know. 

but true.

so go grab a kleenex now, or two.

the end.

adventures of the super tourist: days 3 & 4

everyday here is jammed packed with fun things. i mean come on...its D.C. and the Vance family. So put those two together and combined they make a great pair.
yesterday we went to the "fireworks art cafe" which is just a place to paint pottery or fuse glass. pretty legit and experience. but something everyone needs to do once in their life. its about the memories right!? and last night was, of course, spent watching the INCREDIBLE win of BYU over Gonzaga. Zags got Jimmered for sure. And you aren't into this Jimmer-mania stuff than....leave now.
Today we visited the Washington D.C. Temple. Magnificent doesn't give it justice. It was so incredible.

And at night time...it was so beautiful. People around here call it "emerald city". Okay, i really could go on and on about it. It is so much better in person than from the look of pictures. Truly!

and i love the one above because it looks like a painting....

Sorry for the overload on pictures of the temple. But really....it's been like one of the best sight i've seen since i've been here!

And it's been chilly here, so we fixed that with a delish cup of cocoa. of course. thats what girls do when their together. eat chocolate. 

so thats your day 3 & 4.

chow.

the adventures of a super tourist: day dos

Greetings from D.C.
first off, you need {yes, a necessity} to know that there aren't very many things cooler in this world than D.C. OK that doesn't say alot since I've been sheltered most of my life, but, from what i have experienced in this 18 year old self....is that D.C. is awesomespice.

the kiddos with their favorite auntie em on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial

We than visited the Korean War Memorial. Which was awesome. It was a series of life sized soldier statues of different nationalities who helped served. "Freedom is not Free."One of the coolest parts was the flag precessional they performed with sons of vietnam soldiers. They laid an honorary wreath and played "Taps" on a bugal. 

the gold stars behind us represent those died in WWII. Each star represents 100 soldiers lost. 

than we took a picnic and played a "rough" game of Vance Family Football.

And than we were craving some LOCAL FLAVOR. So we stopped for a burger. Correction. This was not ordinary burger.

it was a HELL burger. Literally. We stopped at "Rays Hell Burger." {you might be interested to know that President Obama took the prime minister from some country there too....} yeah. This place was a hole in the wall. No exaggeration. They shared the same entrance with a mexican restaurant! But holy smokes. I could feel my arteries clogging just by smelling the air from the outside. You get the idea. 

i've never ate a hearty burger before in my entire life.

the adventures of the super tourist: Day 1

Greetings! Today marks the first day on my 11 day journey on the east coast.
I've been in Maryland for nearly 2 hours now, and have already fallen in love with it! (Thanks to this cute family, aka my sister Ondalynn--they are showing me all the must see's of D.C.) So essentially if you have ever been here and want to suggest something...please do.

The run down of Day 1:
1:32 AM finish English paper (on a book I didn't even read...thank you SparkNotes!)
5:34 AM finish paking for the 3rd time (1. exceeded weight limit 2. zipper problems 3. switch suitcase)
7:46 AM wake up
10:48 AM Board plane for Kansas City
4:33 PM Arrive in Kansas City--hot, tiny airport (avoid at all costs....okay, it wasn't that bad...but next time airport...but more than 2 stalls in a girls bathroom, seriously, you should know better).
9:03 PM Final Destination...land in Baltimore!

tomorrow: ALL D.C. Monuments and White House and anything....because everything is magical in D.C.
(tomorrow i'll post pictures!)