Fairfax Virginia and Mount Vernon or Day 3 of our Trip to D.C.

So, we woke up fairly early and went and had a great breakfast at the Hotel Cafe. They have a wonderful Continental breakfast with Fresh Fruit- strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries the works! While you are eating breakfast there is a wonderful guitarist playing great music. It makes me feel as if I am the most spoilt girl in the world!

After we had our great breakfast we had planned the night before that we were going to go see Matt's Hero~ George Washington and tour his Estate (I use that term loosely...) at Mount Vernon. I who were becoming expert Metro riders hopped onto the Metro made our connection at Huntington station and then hopped onto the shuttle in Fairfax and past some of the most amazing houses! There was one for sale that had a view of the Potomac that was to die for! I think I am falling in love with Colonial homes. But this one was of course right up my alley--- a Victorian!

I wasn't able to take pictures in George Washington's home but was able to take pictures of the outhouses and of his Tomb. And Matt and I were so lucky to meet Lady Washington herself!!! You don't believe me? Well, wait and see!!!!

I was absolutely in love with the view from Mount Vernon's home! I think I could have stayed there for the rest of the trip, eaten at the Mount Vernon Inn (which we did not... bummer,) and slept in the guest bedroom (which was quite substantial for that time.) Yes, I can say that I was in love with the peace of it all!

I hope you feel as if you are with us with our pictures!

Arlington National Cemetery or Day 2 of our trip to D.C.

Today was our first escapade out of the downtown area of D.C.
We decided that we would head out to the Hallowed grounds of Arlington and visit The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, J.F.K and Jackie Kennedy's burial site and enjoy the peace of all that is included.

It was absolutely amazing how peaceful the cemetery could be when the Ronald Reagan National airport planes weren't taking off!

We had a special chat with one of the soldiers on duty whom Matt saw inside their soldier quarters right before the changing of the guards of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. That fine soldier was absolutely the friendliest I had ever seen and was quite a contrast to his counterparts that were on guard who were silent, composed and really serious (which is as they should be, right?)

I loved the so many different war hero's that were buried in that large cemetery and it was quite sobering to think all the men and women buried there had been killed in the service of their country and were there to protect ME! Coming from a mom who's middle son wants to serve in the Air force, I am so thankful for their sacrifice to our country. Thanks to all of you who in some way or other are serving our country! My hat and heart is out to you. Kyler is considering a very special career and in some ways it scares me and in other ways I am so proud of him for being so selfless!

(disclaimer: I am sitting in B and N writing these blog entries and I didn't delete any of the numerous pics on this entry or give captions. I am sorry, but I am just tired of the yummy smelling coffee and it is getting late. Please forgive me. -S-)

I hope that you enjoy our pictures,
May you feel the awe that those who have gone on ahead deserve!

Washington D.C. in the Winter or Day 1 of our adventure

So, we are in Washington D.C. for Matt's Florida Municipal Power Authority (think that is what it is called.)
I am so lucky that I got to go with him thanks to our friends the Larsen's and Shaddix's.
It has been cold this first day! I anticipated the cold and was actually freaking out about it for weeks ahead of time that I actually made my own gloves, hat and scarf for this occasion and had to go find a coat in Ocala (which believe it or not had really been no existent because of the cold snap in December!)


Our first touristy thing we wanted to do was go to the Holocaust Museum. I was so excited about this because I had just finished reading the book NIGHT by Elie Weisel and knew that I could possible handle the photos and videos that they throw at you behind the high walls. It still broke me down to tears! I Just can't help it, it really hits me deep in the heart!



I am still amazed that so many people were fooled by the Nazi Propaganda. I mean they played their trickery so well what with the Red Cross tours, the Olympics, everything. They were so good at hiding the nasty, horrible things they were doing and yet, it still amazed me that there were so many that turned a blinds eye to it all. Even the United States turned a blind eye to the "rumors" because we had so many problems of our own at that time. and then when it came time for Liberation of the Concentration Camps that the USA military encountered the Horror of what had been going on finally reached home. I think that is when I broke down the hardest was the videos of the Liberation of Dachau and Buchenwald! But what really got to me the hardest was the thousand of shoes that were on display of the poor Jewish people who were put in those concentration camps! It reverberated to my soul and I totally lost it!

I have seen so many wonderful things while here. The hotel we are staying in is absolutely amazing, but to me is still not like the Grand America in Salt Lake City, Utah. (which is my absolute fav! Yes, I know I am a spoiled gal when it comes to some of the hotels I get to stay at!)



I didn't have a clue as to how much Matt and I were going to be walking and ended up seriously exhausted by the time I finish the first night.
Matt has been such a trooper waiting for me to stop and start and stop again to take pictures because this is what I do... I am a shutterbug and want to remember our trip in details!

Thanks Honey for your patience!!!
Well, I hope you enjoy the first day pictures!