The Nilsson's go to Washington Day #4

Day #4

Tanner and I woke up a little on the early side to get ready and go out to the Air and Space Museum at the Dulles Airport. It was so fun! Traveling at this time was perfect because there were not very many people there. We got almost front row parking. We got in to the museum and went straight to the space shuttle. It was interesting to see in person. As we were looking at the space shuttle it looked almost like it was made out of cloth or vinyl but not metal . Each square on the shuttle had separate numbers to identify the piece. We spent the bulk of our time looking at the space shuttle and things that were in the space shuttle such as there food, clothes, instruments and tools. 

We then went to see the concord which was something I was interested to see. The first time I heard about the concord was when I watch Parent Trap and they talked about getting to London in about half the time. The Concord had such small windows and it was a skinny plane. We then looked at all the rest of the airplane that they had there and there were so many different kinds. War planes, helicopters, glider planes and hot air balloons. After seeing some of the helicopters Tanner said he was going to build one that he can fly around. Like to his parents or mine. He also is joking about getting his pilots license so he can just fly us on our family vacations. As we were leaving we decided to go to the watch tour at look out of that area. It was such a pretty view. 

We headed back to our hotel to eat a quick lunch and then go into Washington D.C. to go to the Holocaust museum again. We were able to finish the tour at the museum. There was so much to see and hear. My favorite part was sitting in one of the rooms and listening to people tell about their personal experiences of when they were in the concentration camps. At the end of the tour it talked about how different countries came in to save the people who were still in the camps. At the end I was able to pull up my grandpa Taylor's history that I was able to put into a book for my grandma last year for Christmas. Since my grandpa was in the  United States Air Force I was able to look up where he was during those years. It was so amazing for me to be able to have his history on my phone and be able to read about his life when big events like the Holocaust were happening. 

After we finished at the Holocaust Museum we headed to Arlington Cemetery. This place was such a reverent place. It was fun to see presidents grave site and to see the tomb of the unknown solider and watch the guard in his patrol. It was getting dark and I was starting to freak out being in this cemetery at night and we couldn't see any other people in site. I started to jog to get out and Tanner just laughed at me. 

We left just before the sun finally set and we were safely in our car going to get dinner at the restaurant that was connected to our hotel. It was nice and convenient but the food was not actually that great, The waitress was very funny and told up that Layla's name was Persian because she was Persian so she knows. She was a funny lady. 

The Nilsson's go to Washington Day #3

Day #3

We decided to go on the loop of the memorials and monuments this day. As we were walking from where we parked we passed this little farmers market. We bought ourselves some Asian pears that were so delicious and juicy. We then walked to the Washington Monument. We started there. We first got there and saw just how tall it was. We read that at one point in history it was the tallest building in the world. That has now changed of course but it was still interesting to know. We met two couples that were also member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They took a picture of us. One couple was from D.C. and the other was from Chicago but they all went to B.Y.U. It did help that Tanner was wearing a B.Y.U t-shirt so that they knew we were at least B.Y.U fans. After the pictures we took pictures of Layla and it was so cute Layla kept trying to reach for the Monument. We then walked around it. We then headed over to the World War II memorial. It was so fascinating to see this memorial. It was so amazing to read the quotes and see each state and province and the fountains. There was one spot where Tanner stopped and took a picture where when he was there before with his singing group Clayton Productions. Him and his friend Brad stood and sang the Star Spangle Banner. He said it was one of his most spiritual experiences. Then as we walked over to the Lincoln Memorial we walked through the trees it was wonderful. We got to the Lincoln Memorial and saw this incredible tall statue of Abraham Lincoln and read a few of his most famous speeches. Tanner and I commented on how incredible it was that he mentioned God so directly in his speeches and the country was supportive. How times have changed. After we visited the Lincoln Memorial we headed over to some picnic benches by the Potomac River to feed Layla and to eat our own lunch. It was so pretty by the river. As we were sitting eating lunch we saw/heard a car accident. It was small but it made a loud sound. After lunch we walked over to the Martin Luther King Memorial. It was very interesting to see how they made the memorial. They had a quote something like coming out of the rock and he was coming out of the rock. Then it had a wall behind of some of his most famous quotes. (As you can tell I love getting to read quotes from important people) We then headed over to the FDR and Jefferson Memorials.

After those we thought we would have time to go to the Holocaust Museum. Words cannot even describe this museum. I have always been interested in that era. Between reading non-fiction and fiction book, research about that time and getting to hear personal accounts. So when we got to the museum I was really excited to read every sign and watch every movie and listen to all the speeches. The only problem was we had a lot to see and hear and very little time. We got through one floor and then went back the next day to see the other two floors. I was shocked to see so many gruesome pictures and hear the accounts of all the different sides of the Holocaust. The museum closed at 5:20 and we had to leave but as we were walking out we met another member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He works at the museum and was telling us about all the things we should do while we were in Washington D.C. He told us about the Newseum, Crime and Punishment Museum, and the best information he told us about was that the Space Shuttle was at Dulles Airport at the Air and Space Museum there. After we talked to him we had to change our plans for the next day and go see the Space Shuttle. Tanner and I have been basically chasing the space shuttle around the country on our trips. It was in New York when we were there but that closed at 4pm and we barely missed it. Then when we were in San Francisco the Space Shuttle was landing while we were driving to the airport to leave. Finally we were in the city at the same time and had time to go see it. Tanner growing up wanted to be a Astronaut so going to see the space shuttle has been one of his dreams.  It was time for dinner and we headed to this pizza place that we had heard was really good. So our Friday night pizza night was at a place called Pupatella. It as Neapolitan pizza and it was delicious.  We would recommend this pizza to people going to Washington D.C. for sure. 

 

The Nilsson's Go To Washington Day 2

Day 2

Tanner and I decided that on this vacation we were going to sleep in some and take advantage of that. We used Layla as our alarm clock. Which was not always sleeping in. She would wake up around 7 or 7:30 most morning but she did have a few were we woke her up to head down to breakfast. It was raining this day while we were there which we didn't really plan on but it seemed like it was just sprinkling basically. Which actually got you more wet that I thought it would but it still just seemed like it was sprinkling. We went to the National Archives and saw the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. It was so interesting to see these documents in real life. They are larger than I imagined and were so incredible to see the signatures of our founding fathers. While we were in line for the Declaration of Independence and Constitution there was a lady behind us kind of playing with Layla in what we think was Russian and she kept calling her Thumbalina. Layla made friends with many foreigners and old people while in Washington. We were so lucky to not have to wait in line for very long anywhere we went. If there was a line it was of no more than like 10 people.  After we walked through the National Archives we headed over to the Air and Space Museum. We took a little pit stop and at lunch between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. It was very interesting because we had to stand and eat because everything was wet from the rain but we made our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and ate our yogurts. We actually took bread, jelly and yogurts from the breakfast that morning. It was our way of not spending even more money than needed since the hotel provided breakfast and for us a basic lunch.  We then headed to the museum.  Tanner and I could have spent days in that museum. We both love to learn about the stars, space, and airplanes. I have always been interested in the history and progression of how things are made and used then and now. Tanner wanted to be an astronaut when he was little and has always liked the stars so we spent the rest of our day there until it closed at 5:30. We could not believe that it would close what to us seemed early. Since it closed that early we decided that this would be a perfect time to go over to see the White House. It was not very far away so we jumped in the car and drove for almost 45 minutes. Between traffic and trying to find a parking spot. We finally got to the White House. There was a rally going on at the time. It was a group of Asian people. They were chanting,"Hey Obama don't deport my mama." Tanner and I couldnt help but laugh and chant that to ourselves. It seemed very catchy. I have always wanted that picture standing in front of the White House and I finally got it. After we left we went and found a Chinese Restaurant call Tasteful Delight, that was close to the Pentagon. After that we called it a night.

( Outside the National Archives in the rain)

 

( Lunch at the National Mall) 

Pictures from the Air and Space Museum

 

Out front of The White House