Guess What We Found?

On Wednesday, when we were at the National Cathedral, we found the "special" gargoyle: Darth Vader. Darth Vader was designed by the winner of a children's contest to design a gargoyle for the cathedral. Trust me, it is not easy to find, but with Erika's eagle eye, we did it!

Mount Vernon- Washington's home

Today, we went into George Washington's home where he lived. I liked it because in the beginning we saw a 2o minute show about Washington life and how he fought in The French Indian War. After that we saw where he lived, and we saw the bedrooms , the kitchen , and the smokehouse, and the stables. It was cool. But it was really cold it felt like 39 degrees. It was raining too. Then we left, and we went to our hotel because we are leaving tomorrow to California . I thought Washington D.C was the best vacation ever!!!!!!! :)

Emily- 9

Mt. Vernon was a wonderful end to a great week for us. Despite the rain and cold weather, we enjoyed seeing the home of George and Martha Washington. There is a wonderful museum where all of us learned something new about our great first President. Besides a courageous leader, George Washington motivated his men through his faith and determination to realize the dream of being a free nation. Interestingly, Washington's advice to our nation as he resigned his Presidency: to pay heed to our nation's causes and to refrain from involving ourselves in issues abroad. Good advice we seem to have forgotten.

I had a great time at Mt. Vernon today, despite that it was cold and rainy. Before we started the tour of the rooms and mansion, we watched a video about George Washington's life and how he was brave and humble. Well, the rooms were very old and pretty cool. The designs on the beds were mostly floral, the painted walls were colorful, and the mansion is made of wood, but it is painted and sand thrown on it to look like bricks! There was the mansion and different little houses that include: the smokehouse, the kitchen, the stable, and the "outdoor toilet." Today was nice touring Mt. Vernon.

-Erika 12

Yesterday's Tours

Yesterday, we got to have a tour in the U.S. Capitol. I liked it because it was beautiful in the inside and it had some statues. But we only got half of it because we had to go to our other tour on how they made money. I liked how they made the money because it was cool how the machine put them in stacks stuck together and something cut them apart. It was cool! We had a really fun time. The capital had pretty walls and statues of more beautiful stuff. Emily-9

Yesterday, we had a great tour at the capitol. We toured the different rooms. The rotunda was spectacular and the guide said the statue of liberty could fit in that room. But since the tour for the bureau of engraving was soon, we had to leave the tour early. While we went through the bureau of engraving tour, we saw how they printed the money, the type of ink they used, the machines working, and the different dollar bills being printed and cut. After the tour we checked out the gift shop, but found nothing interesting enough to buy. By the time it was getting late so we took the metro on home. Once we settled in at home we all watched some Looney Toons.
-Erika 12

A Day at the Mall

Today we went to The National History Museum! We went into the The Ocean Hall where there were pictures of animals. I liked it because it told facts about different animals like whales, fish, and more stuff. Then, we went to the Gem and Minerals where there were diamonds, the hope diamond, and more diamonds. I liked it because it was pretty and glitzy and some of them were weird. Hahaha. After that we went to the Space Museum. I liked it because it had airplanes and it talked about them. It was fun!!

Emily - 9

Today was a fun opposite of casual day. We had a blast enjoying the exhibits and looking at the diamond of hope. The ocean hall was cool too. But in the ocean hall my favorite part was the crochet coral display. Also, I couldn't forget the big elephant statue in the front that we did get a picture with. After we were all done with the National History Museum, we went to the Air and Space Museum. There we read about planes, Amelia Airheart, and Apollo 13. It didn't take long until we met Taryn, Kirsten, Kim, and Ryan at pizza for lunch. We were all hyper after pizza and delicious ice cream. Then we all had a fun time playing at the park. What fun!

-Erika age 12

Washington D.C. in Spring

What beautiful flowers! We saw a lot of tuilups

and some pretty flowers!!

Day Three

Today, we went to the Spy Museum. I liked it because it talked about how they put cameras into shoes, cigarette lighters, and a brush. After that there was a little store that we went to. Then, we went to the National Portrait Art Gallery. I liked the paintings and statue heads. We took the hop on hop off bus to the National Archives, but we couldnt get into it because it was a very long line so we decided to see the movie Rio. After that we ate dinner at The Cheesecake Factory.

-Emily age 9

At the Spy Museum, I assumed the identity of Jane Meyer, age 13, born in Sweetwater, Tennessee. Then, we went to a room that showed us spy gadgets including a secret agent car. We learned about microdots - the smallest photograph that can be taken. It is taken with a camera that can be hid in a pen or cigarette lighter. The microdot is so small it can be mailed in the seam of a postcard or fit into a cuff link (with a secret hidding place). I watched two videos on how people disguised themselves: one woman was changed into a Muslim man as well as a male bum. After the Spy Museum, we visited the National Portrait Art Gallery. It had paintings of the U.S. Presidents even ones my mom could not remember. We saw an exhibit about Katherine Graham who ran the Washington Post after her husband died. She was an impressive woman. Later this afternoon, we enjoyed the movie, Rio and ate dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.

-Erika, age 12

Arlington Cemetery

Today we saw the tomb of the unknown solidier and the changing of the guard. I thought it was cool and boring at the same time. I thought it was good because I liked how they had a gun and their outfits. Wow! There was a lot of tulips where we were today. There were red ,yellow , and mabye some orange. I liked today better because we didnt get to walk that much we mostly rode on the double-decker bus and the subway (underground). We also saw the liberty bell and some graves...actually a lot. - Emily, 9

Wow! Today was a great day! I loved honoring all the soilders who fought in war and how every tomb stone was perfectlyallined every direction you looked. When i was reading the brochure, it said over 16,000 were buried at the end of the civil war, and today there are 325,000 buried. The land is 624 acres!There were tullips every were you looked, in many different colors. Also, we road a dubble decker bus that we road to many stops. While on it, we passed different places and it gave us much history and information. Oh, and I couldnt forget, while on the double- decker we happened to pass by a crowd of protesters marching for green energy. It made me remember that we live in a free country; whereas in other countries the people cannot express their ideas. They do not have freedom of speech. -Erika, 12