A Naval Graduation
We went to Dahlgren, VA to see Uncle Jakie graduate on June 2, 2011.
The kids loved Jake's bike. They couldn't get enough of it.
Prep talk before grad starts.
The graduating class
(Minus two, they didn't fit in the frame.)
Yeah for Uncle Jake
Daniel, Bradley, Rorie, Uncle Jake, Aunt Meghan and one of Jake's buddies.
A proud mom!
The Grad with his parents
After the graduation we had to check out this anchor. It is an award given to the training center in 1998.
MT. VERNON
After the graduation we headed north to pick up Aunt Janna and Abby and then went to see Mt. Vernon, George Washington's home.
George, Martha
Abby, Bradley, Rorie and Daniel in the visitor center
Bradley and Daniel pushing a cart of hay in the field.
Eliza catching a ride with Uncle Jake.
The Mansion
Some of the gardens on the grounds
More gardens
Bradley, Rorie, G-ma, G-pa, Eliza and Uncle Jake with the Potomac river in the back ground.
I love the wide porch facing the Potomac river and lined with rocking chairs.
Rorie and Abby visiting on the rocking chairs on the porch.
Uncle Jake and G-pa Chuck, Meghan's dad.
Outside the blacksmith's shop. They had all kinds of building on the grounds. The Washington plantation was practically a small town!
A man in period clothing.
Decorative hedges.
Uncle Jakie laid down on the grass to rest and the kids jumped on his back. He started doing push-ups and they were laughing. He did 3-4 before I thought to grab my camera. I made him to one more and my camera didn't focus in time, so I begged for one more! Eliza thought it was pretty awesome!
Daniel (40 lbs.) + Bradley + (43 lbs.) and Rorie (30ish lbs.) = one tough Uncle Jakie and one impressed Eliza!
George Washington's tomb.
George is on the right and Martha is on the left. There are also 25 more family members buried in the vault behind the coffins.
This is the farm that sits on the banks of the Potomac river on the Mt. Vernon estate.
The stables and thrashing barn.
More gardens.
Small sheep
Large Cow
After seeing Mt. Vernon we went to Aunt Jenny's apartment for dinner. Thank you Aunt Jenny for making dinner for all of us! After dinner Meghan and I took the kids back to the hotel to get ready for bed and Jenny took Jake, G-ma and G-pa downtown to see some of the monuments.
June 2, 2011
Down Town D.C.
The squirrels are pretty uses to having lots of people around them, but they don't like little boys to try and grad them! Bradley chased the squirrel up the tree and everyone stopped to get a picture of it. I stopped to get a picture of them! Jenny is in the background wondering what kind of tourists she is going to be stuck with all day!! Thanks for being a great tour guide Aunt Jenny!
There was a ceremony at the Navy Monument to commemorate a battle 65 years ago.
I love military bands. These guys were very good!
Plus, who doesn't love men in uniform?
Mom, Eliza, Abby, Bradley, Daniel and Rorie
These ducks were at the sculpture gardens across from the National Archives. They came swimming over as soon as they saw us sit down. I am betting the get fed quite a bit.
Uncle Jake and I took our kids to the gardens to let them eat a snack and run a little. The others waited in a long line to see the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. (We saw them on a previous trip!)
We were lucky enough to see a mounted police man patrolling the Mall.
We met up with everyone at the Airplane Museum and then headed up to see the Nations Capital Building.
Abby, Daniel and Bradley on the reflection pond.
Eliza and I at the fountain
Eliza and I with our Fabulous tour guide, Aunt Jenny!
As a side note: Jenny played a big part in getting Andy and I together, so we felt it was propriety to express our eternal gratitude by naming Eliza after her. (They share the same middle name.)
Eliza sneaking into G-pa and G-ma's photo
Daniel
These lions were outside of a restaurant we passed on our way to see the White house.
Bradley
This is outside the Canadian Embassy.
This is the front side or north side of the White House.
Abby, G-ma, Bradley, G-pa and Daniel
Abby, Eliza, Jenny, Bradley, G-pa and Daniel
This is on the south or back side of the White House.
They marched these kids out to the garden at the White House and then kicked everyone off the fence line. We over heard one of the guards say that the kids were going to have a picnic with the first family.
One man asked if Pres. Obama was at home and the police man replied, "That information is secret. You have to ask the secret service." I imagine the police standing guard by the fence line get asked that a lot!
Washington DC Temple
Aunt Jenny stayed with the kids at the hotel so we could go to the temple Friday evening. It was really neat to go inside the temple that my Grandpa and Grandma Kenison served at years ago.
The temple in the reflecting pond.
I thought is was neat to see the temple reflection over the statue of Christ in the visitor center.
June 3, 2011
THE PENTAGON
G-ma, Eliza and G-pa
This memorial is on the west side of the pentagon. You can see the section that was rebuilt after 9-11.
Daniel and Bradley
This photo is entitled "The hat of shame!"
The boys were having a hard time listening when I asked them not to throw or kick the rocks into the water beneath the benches. G-pa had a little talk with them about listening to their mom and that hurt their feelings a little. I found their reaction a little funny!
Eliza was happy to be out of the stroller.
Aunt Meghan and G-Pa Chuck.
It was fun to get to know Meghan's dad more. He came down for the graduation and to see DC. He rode his bike back with Jake.
"My Grandpa!"
ARLINGTON
We got to Arlington Cemetery just in time for the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Bradley and Abby
The stone chair is part of the amphitheater next to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
This is at the Arlington House looking down at all the monuments in DC. The Arlington house was originally Gen. Lee's home. The north confiscated his lands during the Civil War and started burying Union Soldiers on the property. They are currently renovating the home and it will be completed summer 2012.
Looking up at Lee's home from Pres. Kennedy's tomb.
Rorie and Abby hugging as they say good bye!
Jake was leaving to head home and pack for his move cross country. We feel all your moving pains!
Jake telling Mom not to be sad since he is crashing in Utah for a couple weeks on the way to his new station in California.
(This picture of G-pa and Jake was actually taken on the 2nd of June when they went down town with Jenny. However, since it is of the Roosevelt Memorial I thought it should be here.)
G-ma and Aunt Janna
G-pa and Janna in the work line.
G-pa and G-ma
Since this was our last day in DC we had to take G-pa and G-ma to Chipotle for lunch before heading for North Carolina...
and no trip to DC is complete with out going to the Dairy Godmother. Their frozen custard is heavenly!
Bradley, Daniel and Jenny
Abby, Janna, G-ma and G-pa
Aunt Jenny and Eliza
Poor Eliza was exhausted after being drug around DC for two days!
We loved seeing Aunt Jenny and all the sites again!
June 4, 2011
(June 2-4, 2011)
