Hydrangeas & Tombstones

I took this photo at St. Paul's Chapel in New York City--very close to Ground Zero. The weathered mossy tombstones in the background are almost as beautiful to me as the fresh purple hydrangeas.

Never Enough Air and Space

I just knew no visit to the D.C. area would be complete without a trip to an a Air and Space Museum. As Brian promised, we skipped the one on the National Mall, but the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington Dulles International Airport could not be resisted.

This is a pretty impressive museum with lots of very cool aircraft.

You may recognize that Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was partially filmed here. This famous SR-71 Blackbird transformed into Jetfire in the movie.

My sister and her kids met us at the museum. It was so good to see her!

My sister, Charlene, and I

We're standing in front of the whole reason we HAD to come here--the Space Shuttle Discovery.

It was massive and very impressive.

Cousin Darcie, Travis, Kellie, Brian, and Abby

Already my kids were making faces at the camera, and we had just started our "Education Vacation".

In the morning we were off to New York City!

An Evacuation

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum was a priority during our two-day stop in Washington D.C. We actually slept in that first morning and were worried that we wouldn't get tickets, but we dropped Kellie off at the entrance and drove around the block hoping to find a place to park--we were lucky on both counts--although we accidentally got a tour of Arlington National Cemetery when Brian took a wrong turn back over the Potomac River.

Brian felt strongly that Travis and Abby have an opportunity to visit the museum even though he, Kellie, and I had been there years ago. (Personally, once was enough for me, but it is important that the younger ones really understand that terrifying time in world history.)

The museum has four floors. Visitors start at the top and work their way down. Just as we were finishing up the 3rd floor (which, by the way, is the most horrifying and impactful floor to me) we were told that we had to evacuate the museum. A bag had been left unattended and we had to leave NOW. Abby and cousin Kara were nearby, but Kellie and Travis were elsewhere on the floor. Brian went to search for them and I grabbed the two girls and headed for the stairs.

Everyone outwardly was very calm, although, inside my heart was racing as I grabbed each girls' hand and reassured them that everything would be OK. Uniformed officers ran up the stairs as we quickly descended. Images of the World Trade Center stairwells in 2001 ran through my mind as I searched for the first floor exit door as instructed. There was a bit of confusion as to which door it was, but soon we were all safely reunited outside.

Brian, cousin Kara, Abby, Kellie, Travis

We were told to wait with the employee holding the "3" (since we were on that floor when we were evacuated) and were moved further and further away from the building. Obviously the museum had been through this kind of thing before.

My anxiety turned to curiosity as helicopters swooped, sirens blared, and police swarmed from every corner.

No one knew exactly what was going on or when we would be able to resume our tour (if at all) and not wanting to waste any precious minutes of our time in the Nation's Capital we decided to cross the Mall to the National Museum of American History--my FAVORITE of all the Smithsonians.

Later that afternoon the Holocaust Museum reopened and we were able to pick up where we left off. Travis and Abby found it very disturbing, of course, but at 16 and 13, we thought they could handle it. Abby said there were no words to describe what she saw--just scary, and Travis actually felt physically sick.

The atrocities of the Holocaust are hard for all of us to digest. Yet, if learning about it helps my children internalize the fact that we are ALL God's children no matter our race, color, religion, or sexual orientation, then that knowledge is invaluable. If they can value and respect EVERY human being, then I have done my job.

My Monuments

Jefferson Memorial

These majestic monuments never fail to inspire in me a sense of nostalgia and American pride. I grew up in their shadow and have so many wonderful memories venturing to the National Mall with family and friends on many many occasions. No matter how old I get they represent true patriotism and sweet memories. Washington D.C. was the first stop on our two week "Education Vacation" as I've dubbed it.

Washington Monument

We dragged my niece, Kara, along for the sight-seeing. I'm so glad my sister and her family still live in Northern Virginia.

Cousins Abby and Kara on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial

The Lincoln Memorial is always impressive despite the reflecting pool being out of commission while renovations are being done.

The Lincoln Memorial

I really like this shot of Kellie taken as she was reading an inscription on an interior wall.

Abby at the "The Wall"

No matter how many times I've seen it, "The Wall" (Vietnam Veterans Memorial) is always sobering. I caught my family's reflection in the black granite as they were walking towards the Washington Monument.

Travis, Kellie, Brian and Kara reflecting

The only monument we hadn't seen before was the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

Kara, Travis, and Abby

By this time the heat and humidity had sucked all the energy out of the kids. They retreated to any shade they could find. We had exhausted all the monuments we could. The Korean War Veterans Memorial, World War II Memorial, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial were others we explored.

We only had two days in D.C. and I just KNEW we couldn't get away without visiting an Air and Space Museum. That and the Holocaust Museum are coming up next.

Squirrel!

On our recent trip to Washington D.C. we couldn't get enough of these guys. They were scampering everywhere. I know they are theoretically vermin, but I still love their fat little bodies and bushy tails.

They Draw Me In

On a recent trip to Logan (for Travis' basketball tournament) a few old structures caught my eye. My iPhone did the capturing, but my mind did the wondering.

I couldn't resist these old golden arches.

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It was almost like going back in time when we walked through the doors of the Bluebird Restaurant and Soda Fountain.

Of course, I ordered a sundae with my favorite toppings: hot fudge and marshmallow.

Abby and Brian chose old fashioned milk shakes.

I couldn't help but notice the vintage dishes with their original bluebird design.

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Before Travis' last game we stole him away for lunch at Maddox. (Brian finally got the meal he was craving.) I wonder how long their iconic sign has been around.

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This building was the most impressive of all--the Logan Utah Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Abby loves its castle-like appearance and has declared THIS is where she will be married. It was built in the late 1800s and is truly beautiful.

My Little Garden

My little garden consists mostly of herbs and a few tomato plants, yet each tiny effort lifts my spirit.

 The older I get the simpler the miracles that I appreciate.

Hill Air Force Base Museum

I am surrounded by airplane enthusiasts. My brother is a pilot and if my husband wasn't a chemistry professor, I suspect he would find his professional way into a cockpit as well. Although it isn't the National Air and Space Museum (which I have spent numerous hours in despite the fact that I prefer the Museum of American History) Utah's own Hill Air Force Base Museum is pretty awesome. Brian says it has an "outstanding collection of airplanes--a surprisingly good one for Utah."

Anytime we are traveling north on I-15 Brian tries to get us to stop for a "quick" tour. Of course, Travis and Abby have caught the aeronautical bug so they listen intently to all of Brian's explanations.

I caught snippets of "roll, yaw, and pitch" in this lesson. As for me. . . well. . . I enjoyed the photographic opportunities.

I am constantly amazed at how easily Brian can identify ANY type of aircraft he sees. Both he and my brother have that skill--whether the plane is soaring amongst the clouds or resting quietly in a museum graveyard.


Hill Aerospace Museum is free (which always appeals) and not only are there planes outside, but there are several hangars to explore inside as well.

In September many of the planes are open to the public. Last year (after a soccer game) Brian and Abby were able to go inside the cockpit of a B-29. In Brian's words, to see the original wood and electronics from a World War II aircraft was "pretty cool."

I had a much better time than the look on my face suggests, but I needed at least one photo to prove I was there. Kudos to me for being such a good wife and mother. :)