Day 38 - 7/28

We spent all of today in Nauvoo seeing the different plays/musicals and buildings. We started off the day riding in a carriage drawn by horses and saw some of the old farms and the dry river. Along the way we heard stories of the people who lived here and what the wildlife was like. Before the Saints settled in Nauvoo, the land was a complete swamp and was mostly inhabited by mosquitoes. They were able to dig ditches and eventually drain the area. The trees that grew here also rotted from the inside out so the outside bark could only be used for firewood. Julia enjoyed the wagon ride a lot because she could pet the horses afterwards.
We then saw a couple of musicals the young missionaries put on. The first one, called Just Plain Anna Amanda, was about a girl who wanted to be important, but then realized she is great being who she is. Lydia said she liked it because, "it was a good way to teach kids that they are important while having fun." Before the show started they had a puppet show that involved singing. Emily especially liked standing up to sing Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree. The other play was about other events in Old Nauvoo. As always, the singing and acting was perfect. I have been very impressed with all the plays in Nauvoo. If anyone is considering going, I would highly recommend making the trip.

We also visited some of the buildings such as the Brickyard, the Print shop, and the Blacksmith. I liked the Brickyard because they give you a souvenir brick at the end and explain the process of forming the bricks. The Print shop showed how the Nauvoo Neighbor, the local newspaper, was printed. The printing press was fun to be able to touch and actually feel how something would be printed. At the Blacksmith, they showed all of the tools that were used to make wagons and they even showed how to make a horseshoe. At the end, they gave everyone a prairie diamond ring. There was also a center where different trades were shown such as rope making, candle making and a kitchen that made bread. The rope was especially fun to make because it took all of us to make a sturdy rope out of Si001/sal fibers.

The highlight of today was attending the Nauvoo Pageant. Before the Pageant, they had a bunch of 19th Century activities such as stilt walking, hitting a hoop with a stick and puppet shows. Blake liked walking with stilts because he could take five steps, while the rest of us couldn't get off the ground. The Pageant was about the history of Nauvoo. It showed the temple being built and the martyrdom of the prophet Joseph Smith. The ending number they sang, The Spirit of God, was very powerful and spiritual. I'm very grateful to have the gospel in my life and be able to enjoy the happiness and peace it brings me.

Oh, and by the way, Happy Birthday to Nathan. You have existed for fourteen years, and I hope that your future will be filled with no anguish and much prosperity. At least, that's what that fortune cookie said.

Day 37 - 7/27

Today we traveled on the road for a long time in the morning. By the afternoon we arrived at Carthage, Illinois. We went to the Carthage Jail where Joseph Smith, the prophet, was martyred. Joseph Smith restored the Gospel and gathered many of the Saints in Nauvoo, Illinois, which was situated near the Mississippi River. The people there had been relentlessly persecuted and Joseph was brought to jail and court many times based on false charges. This time, Joseph along with his brother Hyrum and friends John Taylor and Willard Richards were put in Carthage Jail. Just past 5:00 pm, the jail was invaded by over 100 men who blackened their face to hide their identity. They shot and killed Hyrum and Joseph and injured John Taylor. Willard Richards and John Taylor were able to return back to Nauvoo safely and testify of the occurrence and the greatness of the true prophet Joseph Smith. His actions and leadership brought to pass a new dispensation that has blessed millions of people and more to come. As William Phelps wrote in his hymn, Praise to the Man, "Death cannot conquer the Hero again."

Shortly after seeing Carthage Jail, we drove a bit further to Nauvoo and settled in our hotel.  We toured around Nauvoo a bit to view some their evening programs. Many of the people who run and star in programs at Nauvoo are missionaries. The first one we saw was called Sunset on the Mississippi. This show involved many skits and short tunes. The Nauvoo Brass Band played some numbers and even featured the trombone section. They played a song titled Lassus Trombone. This was especially fun to listen to because I played the same song in band this year in our end of the year concert. I was amazed at the singing and choreography that the missionaries had. Of course, this is a special mission that one is called for, but the show was very excellent. The kids even got to march in a parade with their own homemade hats!

After that program we went to one called Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo. The actors were mainly the older couples and they put on a good show. It was about events that took place in the lives of the people in Nauvoo. While humorous and entertaining, the spiritual messages were also enjoyable as well. So far, Nauvoo has been one of my favorite places on this entire trip and I'm sure it always will be!

Day 36 - 7/26

As we traveled for several hours in the car today, we spent time going through and experiencing the Amish Country of Ohio. We went to a Farmer's Market that had many little shops.  There were many Amish made items such as baskets, rugs and soaps. My mom got a baked potato cooker. It looked like an oven mitt and is microwave safe. To use it, you put the potato in it and then just microwave it until they are cooked enough. We also got some soaps.  One scent, Plumeria, I liked a lot. We came across this one shop that had lots of wood miniature men. Each one had a label such as The Piano Player or The Couch Potato under them. They had over 240 varieties! My favorite one was The Trombone Player because I play trombone in band. There was a stand that was selling vinaigrettes, salsas, and chips. They had free samples that we thoroughly enjoyed. We ended up buying some of the vinaigrette and salsa. The salsa we got was a jelly salsa that tasted excellent. The texture was like strawberry jam, but it tasted like salsa. We also got some Amish made jelly.
After seeing the different shops, we went to have lunch at an Amish restaurant. It was a buffet so everyone got their fill of mashed potatoes, fried chicken, Jell-O and whoopee pies. Emily especially liked the Jell-o and insisted on eating mainly that. Dad remarked how inexpensive Jell-o was and that they will make their money off of Emily. In a quick defensive reply, Emily said, "Don't worry Dad, I'll pay you back!" We laughed and let Emily continue to eat her Jell-o. Unfortunately, Nathan wasn't able to join us because he felt sick. Hopefully he'll be able to get better. For the seventh time in a row, we drove to our hotel in a thunder and lightning storm. While it may be fun to watch a giant lightning bolt strike less than a mile away from where you are, driving in it is a little more stressful. However, Mom has been doing great so far!

Day 35 - 7/25

Today we traveled through four different states: Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland. Although we spent most of today in the car, we stopped by to visit Morgantown, West Virginia. My 7th great grandfather, Morgan Morgan (yes that's really his name) immigrated in the early 1700's from Wales. He was instrumental in building the first road and church in West Virginia. He also became a Colonel in the British army. His son David fought with George Washington in the French and Indian War. In fact, he was in the battle where Braddock, the leading general, was killed by the Indians. Washington saw this and took command and led the men to safety while bullets were flying through his jacket. It's so cool to know that I have a ancestor who not only knew Washington, but served with him. David also served in the Revolutionary War and fought against the Indians. In fact, there is a story he recounted later of him having a dream that Indians were throwing tomahawks at his two little children. He woke up with a start and rushed outside to see Indians approaching his kids. He quickly put them in the house and as he was getting inside himself, an Indian threw a tomahawk at the back of his head. To protect himself, David put his hand up and got his fingers chopped. However by doing this, he saved his life.

David's brother Zackquill, my 6th great grandfather, founded Morgantown and was a Colonel just like Morgan his father. We were able to visit his home in nearby Bunker Hill, West Virginia. There, we went to the cemetery where Morgan Morgan and his wife, Catherine Garrison, are buried and did some grave rubbings of the tombstones. Blake said he liked visiting the cemetery because "you could see how old they were." Oddly enough, this Morgan line is through my mom and not Dad. My dad's ancestors came from Wales in the 1800's as pioneers. I'm glad that I got to see sites that are not only significant to our history, but our family as well.

Day 34 - 7/24

We continued down the road to see James Madison's Montpelier. Even though this house isn't as complex as Jefferson's Monticello, it was still very beautiful. The group that owns the house now is still in the process of restoration.  Some of the rooms were less filled with furnishings than others but still showed how Madison would live his life. Even though Madison was known to be soft-spoken, at the dinner table he would love to engage in stimulating conversation. He even had his bedroom situated so that even if he was sick he could prop the door open to the dining room and converse with his guests. The entertaining room had many red decorations. Dolly Madison liked the color a lot and loved to have it in her home. Madison also liked to entertain his guests by showcasing fun objects. One of them was a machine where a crank would turn and it would create enough static electricity to cause someone's hair to stand up. He also had a display of fossils of animals that weren't native to Virginia. Many of the aspects of the house were designed by Jefferson and influenced by a neoclassical look.

The outside of Madison's house was nice as well. His outdoor temple was located directly above where he would store his ice and other products that needed to be chilled.  That made is nice to sit in during the summertime. Dolly's kitchen had a display of recipes they used for dinner parties and other meals. I can't imagine working in an extremely hot kitchen while it is in the 90's outside. They also had an archeology display where kids could dig up artifacts, wash them and then identify what they are. Lydia said she liked it because she, "found out that there are a lot of different items that you can find while digging." Rachel also had a fun time with this activity because she likes digging and playing in the dirt.

After seeing Madison's home, we went through Shenandoah National Park. This area is considered one of the most beautiful places in the United States. Right after we left Montpelier, rain began pouring. In fact, it fell so hard and continuously that Mom had to pull over and basically let the car get washed. We could barely see out the window. After traveling some through the National Forest area we came across some Boy Scouts who needed help. One of the scouts was developing hypothermia from being in the rain for too long. We took him and another boy in and helped warm them up. We dropped them off at a trailhead that led to the shelter they were hiking to. I'm grateful that we happened to be driving by  and have enough space to take both boys and their gear.  The drive which is usually a beautiful pleasant drive was a crazy one for us with mists and fog and rain coming and going the whole time.  We did, however, manage to appreciate some of the beauty in a few spots.

Day 33 - 7/23

Today we visited Thomas Jefferson's estate, Monticello, meaning little mountain. The surrounding area was rolling hills covered in green. While the humidity may have been less than desired, the gardens and plants outside the estate made it worthwhile. We took a tour that led us throughout the home. Jefferson was a very intelligent person who believed that knowledge can change the human condition for the better. We saw his actual library and some of the books he owned and used. He also made a rotatable book reader so that he could consult up to five books and papers at a time. Jefferson also wrote over 19,000 letters during his life. He had a machine that would make a copy of the letter as Jefferson was writing it. He would then send the letter and file his copy. They had a kid's center where one could try a reproduction of that machine. My handwriting didn't turn out as elegant as Jefferson's but it was fun to use. It made me grateful for Word today. Jefferson studied classic architecture a lot when building his house and incorporated many neoclassical designs. This included a rounded dome on top and Doric columns. He also had a dumbwaiter in the sides of his fireplace so that his slaves below could send him wine. There was also a clock that was attached to a series of cannonballs that would go lower and tell the day of the week. There wasn't enough room to hold all of the days so Saturday is in the basement.

We also took a tours of the gardens and one of Mulberry Row where the slaves lived and worked. For the garden tour, our tour guide identified many plants that were around when Jefferson lived. She also told us that Jefferson loved to farm and found great pleasure in doing so. When he would have visitors, they would bring him a plant or a seedling of a tree as a gift. On the slave tour, we saw some of the foundations of the slaves' small homes. The slaves would also sell Jefferson extra food they grew on their own farms for money. Then that money could be used to buy new dresses or a luxury like sugar. 

Day 32 - 7/22

Today we went to see Jamestown and Yorktown. Before we left, we had breakfast in our hotel. There was a guy who looked liked Einstein and someone who was Santa Claus. He even wore a Santa Claus Hat! Jamestown was the first permanent English colony settled in 1607. We saw a statue of Pocahontas and went on a tour about her life. Despite what Disney thinks, Pocahontas married John Rolfe and died in her early 20's either from disease or perhaps being poisoned. We also saw the excavation sites where archeologists have dug up artifacts. The church building was also still standing so we went through and looked around there. Inside the museum they had hundred of artifacts displayed. Among them was a skeleton of one of the men who was with John Smith. They had a kid program where you would count a certain number of items (wells, cannons, ducks, etc.) and add up your total and receive a prize. The prize was a nice drawstring backpack. It's amazing to think about how old the Jamestown artifacts are. Our nation is only a little over 200 years old. Jamestown celebrated its 400th anniversary five years ago.  Jamestown serves as a continual reminder of how we are here today.

Yorktown was a beautiful area. Inside the museum they had a movie on the battle of Yorktown complete with a map that would light up different areas to show where specific skirmishes took place. There was also a model of what Washington's tent would have looked like. The greatest part of the museum according to the girls was the giant model boat that kids could explore. Rachel liked it because "there were two floors and you could see the potty. They also had a telescope and you could see pirates sailing a ship." When we arrived at the visitor's center, it was going to close in a half hour. We wanted to do the Junior Ranger program, but there wouldn't be enough time to complete it and pass it off. The Ranger was understanding and graciously gave us the patches and told us to complete the packet, which we did later.

The outside parts of Yorktown didn't close until sunset, so  we toured around in the van to look at the different sites. We saw some of the ridges and ditches the British and Americans made. During this battle, the French sent troops to support the Americans. Off in the distance we saw the body of water where British and French ships fought until the British were overtaken. What was probably the most poignant part was seeing the actual field where the British surrendered to Washington. Cornwallis sent his second in command to give his sword signifying defeat. Mom told us the story of the surrender in detail.

Day 31 - 7/21

We spent all of today in Williamsburg seeing the different sites and reenactments. The reenactment we went to was about the gun powder being removed from the magazine. This event involved many places around the town so we got to see a majority of the area. We got to see protesters storm the Palace Green but then be intercepted by more calmer representatives who then took a petition to the Governor. All of the reenactments were truly excellent. I love how the people stay in character and make it feel as if it is 1776 again.

At Colonial Williamsburg, they have a special program called Rev Quest where by using clues and traveling to different locations your team earns a special prize at the last location. It also used the phone and would text back next clues and hints. Lydia liked Rev Quest because she liked being able to solve a clue and then guide us to the next location. I particularly felt like Nancy Drew today. On the way into Williamsburg I found a secret path that was a good shortcut. I also discovered the British agent we had to meet with while everyone else insisted it was someone else. Additionally I solved a clue that even Dad stewed over for some time.

We also went into some of the smaller buildings that were shops. The apothecary displayed different herbal medicines. The lady there explained about how the apothecary would serve as a prescriber of medicine and a physician. We also saw a silversmith and jewel maker. I learned that they don't heat up the silver at all but just stretch and ply with it at room temperature. They had a silver serving bowl displayed that was worth 2793 dollars. We also to the Powell house that had many children's activities. I beat Nathan and Blake at checkers. However, Lydia was a formidable opponent and I ended up losing.

This was the road we walked on this morning.

Late into the afternoon, it started to rain. In fact, the rain was so hard that after we got our prize for the Rev Quest we quickly tried to run undercover. However, the rain was falling so hard that we got soaked. Everyone else rushed undercover and we soon found that there was no room for us to be. In fact, there was a mill shop that had lots of space, but we were rejected because to go in required a ticket and strollers weren't allowed. We eventually found a outside tent covering that we waited until the rain let up a little. By the time we got to the hotel, we were all thoroughly soaked. We later celebrated dryness by eating out at a steakhouse. By the time we were driving home, we could hear thunder and see lighting. The storm was so intense that we saw lighting every 4-5 seconds. Thankfully, we all got to the hotel safely. Julia also got to experiment with goggles.

Day 30 - 7/20

As we left D.C. for Williamsburg we said many good-byes to the many memorials and monuments. We also saw many giant puddles left over from the extensive thunder and lightning storm the night before. We spent the rest of the day by seeing some of the buildings and attending programs. Some of the places and events we went to were the court room, the stocks, the Palace Gardens, a game of trap ball and a presentation by Patrick Henry.

The court room was cool because it was in the British style with more than one magistrate and the British coat of arms proudly displayed. There was a program in which they held fake court hearings. Dad got to be an attorney for a boy because he was the only attorney in the room. Apparently a patent attorney can also be in court.

A place which the kids enjoyed very much was the stocks. Of course, when they were in use, I'm sure no one would enjoy them. We got to take a couple pictures of us smiling as we were locked in a wooden trap that exposed us to public humiliation and torture. Emily had a little bit of a struggle reaching her head through the hole, but she was determined.

The Palace Gardens were cool because it had a long green lawn in front of it. The building was where the Governor would be watching the people of Williamsburg below. Many times, the people would be protesting the British crown instead of praising it. They also had a game of trap ball set up. One would place a ball on a lever on the ground and stomp on the lever to project the ball up. Then, the flat, cricket-like  bat would hit the ball and send it into a field where someone would try to catch it. It was a lot trickier than I thought. Nathan tried to develop a strategy of hitting it from behind, but that didn't work out so well.

We also got to hear Patrick Henry speak about why we should join the revolution. He was very passionate and very persuasive. After his speech the audience could ask him questions about his life and ideology. It was fun to ask almost anything and be able to have him answer. The interactive experience of Williamsburg is awesome. They also had a musket firing and a marching band play. We also got to go to a museum of Williamsburg artifacts and color pictures.

Day 29 - 7/19

We started out today by going to Ford's Theater. This was where the assassation of President Lincoln occured. The theater still holds plays today and much of the architecture is original. Across the street is the boarding house in which Lincoln died. Both of the places had adjoining museums that gave visitors background information on the Civil War, the events of the day Lincoln was killed and other facts about the causes and effects of the assassination. I asked Lydia if she learned something new. She told me that she "didn't know that Lincoln didn't die in the Theater, but in the boarding house across the street." We had the opportunity to hear a Park Ranger relate the chronological events of the day Lincoln was killed. It was eerie to imagine the movements of John Wilkes Booth and know that you're only a couple feet away from where he stood. At the end of the museum, there was a column of books about 30 feet high and 5 feet in diameter completely filled with works about Lincoln. It's fitting that one of the greatest Americans has been written of in thousands of books.

After Ford's Theater, we traveled down the road (on the sidewalk) to the National Portrait Gallery. Some of the exhibitions included portraits of all the American presidents, the art of video games and pictures of more modern famous people. I enjoyed being able to guess the president's name by solely looking at their portrait. Yes, that includes Millard Fillmore and John Tyler too. The video game exhibit had a bunch of 80's era games that one could play and many projections of game graphics. By the time we left, I became dizzy and saw colors everywhere.

The last stop of today was the National Archives. This is where the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution and the Bill of Rights are displayed. I was amazed at how faded they were. Despite the physical condition, it's meaning is still incredibly important. The National Archives is also home to other documents, films and sound recordings. We got to hear a sound clip of Theodore Roosevelt and see classified FBI documents about Cold War activities. Blake liked looking at patent drawings and then trying to guess what the invention was.

Day 28 - 7/18

We had an extremely busy day today! We began the day taking a tour of the Capitol Building. This tour was a congressional tour and they take you to places where normal tourists aren't allowed to go. We had to schedule this tour through our senator Patty Murray about six months in advance. Our two guides were interns who were really nice. We saw several places such as the Rotunda, the old Supreme Court, the underground walkway and a room that had a star on the ground. The star designates the center of Washington D.C. and supposedly brings luck to all who step on it.  The Rotunda had many statues and was where the original House met. The underground walkway is where interns, staff and politicians walk to get from building to building. The star room is where the president will walk through to their inauguration. I especially enjoyed this tour because I know a lot about how government works and who the people on the different statues were.

We also saw the Senate in action. They didn't allow cameras and other items, but it was worth spending time seeing them in action. What surprised me was how empty the floor was. Only one or two senators were actually present. Every speech though was recorded and sent to the missing senators. We got to see John McCain give a speech. Later we found out that his speech had made the news on TV and in the newspapers.

While Dad went to do some patent work at the Patent Office in Alexandria, we went to the Smithsonian Museums of Natural History and American History. Both of these places were swamped with people, but we were fortunate enough to see some cool artifacts. Some of these included a mummy, skeleton of an angler fish, the Hope Diamond, the flag that inspired the Star Spangled Banner and an original car from Disneyland's Dumbo.  Emily liked looking at the Dumbo car because she liked the ride at Disneyland.

We enjoyed touring the Library of Congress and learning more about it. Our tour guide was an older man who was really funny and made the tour interesting. He talked a lot about the art and murals in the different rooms. I didn't ask him where The Book of Secrets was located, which Benjamin Gates (Nicholas Cage) found in National Treasure 2, but I'm sure if I had looked hard enough I might have found it.

To end our day, we got into the van and toured about to see some of the monuments we missed. We primarily spent our time at the Lincoln Memorial and getting horribly lost on the road trying to go to the Jefferson Memorial.  The Lincoln Memorial is much bigger than what I expected. I enjoyed playing with Julia as she ran around the Doric columns. Meanwhile, Emily kept begging for as many pictures as she could. We all enjoyed seeing the Washington Monument in the Reflection Pool.

Day 27 - 7/17

Today is our first day in the heart of D.C. It's amazing to think that our country's lawmakers and policies come from here and that we are so close to it all. We first saw the National Gallery of Art. In the middle of the main room, there is a fountain with a figure on top of it, pointing his finger in the air. Seeing this, Julia copied him and received many compliments about her cuteness. This museum had many beautiful and interesting paintings and sculptures. One of them was Girl With Watering Can by Renoir. This painting is my mom's favorite.

Throughout the museum there were people who were painting reproductions of different paintings. They were good reproductions and the people were very approachable in talking about the painting they were observing. When I look at paintings, I like to notice the details that give a painting more meaning. One of them had small cheribs, but the way they drew them came off to be as somewhat disturbing. I don't know what's weirder, the fact that only the child's head is used or that it looks like a crowchild. Probably one of the more significant paintings we saw was one by Leonardo Di Vinci. It was painted in the 1400's and was a picture of a woman. This picture is so special because it is the only one by Leonardo Di Vinci in all of North America.

Early in the morning (before everyone woke up) Dad and I went to the Bureau of Engraving to get tickets for their tour. This is the place where paper money is printed and shipped to the Federal Reserve. When we went on the tour, they talked a lot about the different security features. The 100 dollar bill will be the newest one to be released with new features such as liberty bells that change in light. Also I learned that the 100 dollar bill only costs 11 cents to make, while the nickel cost 6 cents. After finishing the tour, what impressed me the most what how meticulous the process is. But then again it has to be to thwart counterfeiters. We also measured our height to see how much we are worth in 100 dollar bills.

To finish up the day, we went to the National Air and Space Museum. This branch of the Smithsonian Museums has two parts. We already visited the larger one a couple days ago. This one had exhibits that featured WWI and WWII planes and pilot gear. We also saw the original Wright brothers' plane they flew in 1903. They also showed a movie of different NASA shuttles going off into space and astronaut related items, such as space food and clothing. This museum was fun for Dad especially because he is into technology and science. The girls liked it as well because they could see vintage pictures of Snoopy fighting the Red Baron.

Day 26 - 7/16

Today we visited Mount Vernon in Virginia. This was the home of George Washington. His estate today is comprised of some museums, fields, recreated buildings and a dock in the Potomac River. Mom came up with a brilliant plan in that to escape the hot weather, we would tour the outside buildings in the morning and see the museums in the afternoon. Even though it was still significantly hot in the morning, the temperature skyrocketed by mid-afternoon. We first saw the dock and a thresing barn. The view that one has from the Mount Vernon property of the Potomac is absolutely beautiful. Washington loved to be at Mount Vernon as long as he could. Julia loved running around and playing with every stick she could find.

Washington invented a specialized 16 sided barn where horses would run over wheat to separate the kernal from the rest of the wheat stock. They also had a station where anyone could use weaved disks to separate the chaff from the seed. Lydia, for example, would toss a mixture of kernals and chaff into the air, and let the chaff blow off in the wind. She was actually quite good at this process and was able to collect lots of good wheat kernals.

We also saw Washington's tomb. Here, George Washington and Martha, his wife, are buried side by side. It was a very humbling experience for all of us to know that just a mere five feet away from us is buried a man who influenced the birth of a nation that has brought prosperity and freedom to many. Other members of Washington's family are also buried in the crypt.

Washington's mansion was the highlight of the day for me. For one, it was air conditioned, which was a relief. It also had many furnishings that were original. One of the bedrooms was occupied by LaFayette, who was a friend of Washington and helped him during the Revolutionary War. Another room was painted with this green that seemed to emanate and call attention to itself. Nathan told me he thought it was very fashionable. Washington's mansion was much nicer than the slaves' quarters. Their home was a simple cabin that provided only the necessities. His slaves worked very hard in the fields all day to come home to sleep briefly and be ready to work the next day.

The museum's were very fun for all ages. There were numerous films and interactive stations. They had a movie about Washington's life that highlighted his remarkable accomplishments. Washington's original dentures were also on display. After examining them closely I have concluded that I am forever grateful to live in a period where dental hygiene is emphasized and our knowledge is great. Mount Vernon was a delightful place to visit and left me with a greater appreciation for a great founder.

Day 25 - 7/15

We started off today going to church in Eastern Virginia. After church, we went to the National Zoo near Washington D.C.  This zoo is one of the few  to have Pandas. They were extremely cute. We saw them sleep, walk around and even eat fresh bamboo. I probably won't have another opportunity to see a panda again in my life so I'm grateful for the opportunity to do so. In addition to seeing pandas, we also saw some Asian Elephants. African Elephants are more plentiful than Asian, so again, this was a special opportunity to see them. I guess we came at a lucky time because we got to see both ends of the digestion process at the same time! To escape the extreme, crazy heat, we went into the small mammal exhibit. Some of the animals we saw were naked mole rats, squirrels and porcupines. We also saw a couple lions play with each other and roar. It wasn't exactly like the MGM lion, but it was interesting to hear an actual lion in real life.

After seeing the zoo, we decided to skip the heat and have lunch. We went to the Washington D.C. Temple Visitor's Center. The temple is a place where sacred ordinances are preformed. The visitor's center was nice to look around and enjoy the air conditioning. It was good to go to a place where one can escape the commotion of the world and enjoy a peaceful Sunday.

We also went to the Smithsonian Museum of Air and Space. There they had a special exhibit featuring the space shuttle Discovery. It was interesting to see all of the heat tiles and patch work on the outside. It really shows how the scientist weren't going for pretty, but rather functionality. Dad had a fun time observing everything about it. Meanwhile, the girls were more interested in the space food that the astronauts would use. Julia also had a fun time running around looking at all of the planes in the exhibit.