After the Zoo

Thursday evening, after spending the day at the zoo, SM came home and suggested that we all go to Old Town Alexandria. So after a scrumptious dinner of stir-fry we drove down to Old Town Alexandria.

We walked up and down the main road and then after some ice cream, we walked to the wharf. The wharf was beautiful, especially the lights across the river and the full moon in the sky.
We found this fountain/statue. It's not a well known statue but we like to visit it when we are down in Old Town.
Secrets being told.
A very hungry statue...and now I have to type this blog with just one hand.

After we left Old Town, we went to the Iwojima Memorial. I have never been there before. Unfortunately, the picture didn't come out very well in the dark. Someday I'll go there during daylight hours and get some good pictures.

Can you say "Zoo?"

Lions (saw them but didn't take a picture) and tigers(couldn't find them...too warm today?) and cheetahs...Lions and tigers and BEARS (this was the most colorful bear and he wasn't even at the zoo). Today we spent the day at the National Zoo. And the weather was so warm and nice. We found this bear outside a Marriott Hotel as we were walking to the zoo from the metro. And since I forgot to take any pictures of bears...this one will have to do.
And a pigmy hippo sunbathing outside...I actually think he was getting sunburned...just like me.

And you can't forget the elephants!! Almost all the animals were outside enjoying the weather.

I'm the one on the right side. (I had to fight my way through a bunch of teenage girls to get this picture...but one of them was nice enough to let me go before she went and climbed the back of the eagle).

And then I found the birds...I think I got carried away taking pictures...I took the most of birds.


These are some of my favorite birds. And so I got some great pictures of them. And then look below. He was a really ugly bird that is raised as currency in some countries. One of his saving graces is that the males help care for the young. Go daddy bird!
And then on our way back to the metro station we found some flowers...and spent five to ten minutes taking pictures. Phew! What a busy day!

I love you Mom and Dad. Thanks for coming to visit me. Stay tuned for tomorrow's adventures!!

Another Day with Mom & Dad

Today we went to the National Arboretum. At least, we got there on the second try. We took the wrong turn once, had to back track and try it again. But what a wonderful day! The weather was pleasant...not too hot and not too cold.
Mom found some beautiful flowers...actually there were beautiful flowers in many places...with the potential of many flowers in the next week or two.
This bonsai tree was the oldest that we could find...It's been around since the 1600's.
It's amazing the detail that is given to this bonsai garden!!
I loved this flowering bonsai tree. And what do you know, it matches my shirt.

Look below at one of the beautiful flowers that I found on a trial.These pillars once were on the Capital Building until 1958...and then they were sitting in storage somewhere until 1990 when someone had the idea of putting them in the National Arboretum. They are fun. Below is a picture of just one of the top pieces of a pillar. Wow, is all I can say!!

And to end a beautiful day...here is a bouquet of beautiful tulips. Enjoy!!

More happenings with Mom & Dad

My SM got a Wii for finishing his dissertation. Mom and Dad brought it with them, since we bought the Wii from my cousin. Anyway, I have been very amazed at how much my Dad has been enjoying himself on the Wii. And he is very good at it too. In the picture above and below, SM and my Dad are bowling. Check out their form!!

That was a great curve on the bowling ball...I know that there is a technical term for that but I haven't learned it yet. I guess that means I need more time on the Wii. Also, you will notice that my Mom is reading in the background. I borrowed the book The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale and she hasn't put the book down unless we are out being tourists.
This morning we went the NRA (National Rifle Association) Museum. I learned so much about guns. Dad was an unofficial tour guide and probably did better than any "real" tour guides. He knows so much history about guns and the small little details. We spent a few hours seeing hundreds of guns.
SM spent the morning with us and went into work around noon. It was nice having him there. Plus, he'd never been to the NRA Museum before and wanted to go. We had a great time.
This afternoon, Mom, Dad, and I went to the Washington D.C. temple. I'm holding a picture of "Flat Kaitlyn"...a picture of a little girl from New York. This picture has travelled around the United States, and is with me this week, and hopefully I'll get it mailed off to someone else next week. But back to the temple. We had a great time at the temple and my Dad really enjoyed being there. Last time he was here...it was a very quick trip...this time we actually did a session. And it was wonderful!!

Mom & Dad in DC

Springtime is a great time to visit Washington D.C.
The Captial Building
I think I'm additicted to flowers...and big white buildings...and more flowers. This is the Library of Congress.
Supreme Court Building
Library of Congress

At the Washintong Monument...looking towards the Capital. Some guy came up to Dad and told him he'd take their picture with the White House in the background...Dad then commented that that wasn't the White House but was the Capital Building...the confused guy then left. Wonder what he really wanted.
Mom and Dad in front of the Capital.

This is my artistic view of the Supreme Court Building.
I love my parents. Today we spent the day down on the Mall. We went to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History...hiked to the Washington Monument and the Captial Building. We saw the Supreme Court building and the Library of Congress. And then we were exhausted and it was late...so we came home. And made dinner...and watched a movie...and then SM and Dad played golf on the Wii.

Keep in touch...I'll try to keep a daily log of all the things we do.

Fairy anyone?

Here is the next fairy in my fairy series. I actually took about a week to paint this picture. I painted the fairy in one day and then slowly painted the flowers. I actually dreaded working on the flowers...I didn't like the blue paint I was using (since it wasn't working the way I wanted it to) and I didn't like how the flowers seemed so fake. Anyway, I finally forced myself to finish the painting...and it's okay. It's not my favorite and I will never use that blue paint again, but it turned out okay in the end.

Another Fairy

Here's my latest fairy. I really like how it turned out. Enjoy!