Washington D.C.

So Mark and I just got home from our great trip to Washington D.C. We had so much fun and saw so much!! So here are a few pictures from the trip.

Please don't judge how hideous i look in this picture. We left on Wednesday morning at 8:30. Landed in New York around 12:30. Then waited on the plane for an hour while they brought the "people mover" over to get us. For some reason they didn't bring us directly to a gate, so they had to bus us over to the terminal. Then we had a few hours to sit in the airport. This was my first time to New York and it definitely didnt count because we didnt have enough time to go do anything there, and i couldn't even see anything from the airport. not even one little building.

Then we got on a new plane and flew to Washington and got there around 9:00 p.m. So we spent all day in airports and on planes. Yet again they didnt bring us to a terminal, so here I am, standing next to airplanes, looking like i spent all day in airports and on airplanes. So once more, don't judge. (in case you can't tell, i'm pointing to the Washington Monument)

We took a taxi to the hotel where Mark's dad was waiting for us. He was smart and paid the extra money for a direct flight. he left 3 hours after us and got there 5 hours before us.

The next day was "business day." We met all the Utah delegates (2 senators and 3 congressmen) Here we are with Jim Matheson

After our meeting, we went and had lunch in some basement of some congress office building. I had a crispy chicken wrap. it was pretty delicious!

Then Mark and I headed over to meet the other congressional award people for a group picture. It was pretty miserable, but it had a great view!

We spent the rest of the day meeting people. Then we had the award ceremony. Sorry no pictures. I didnt want to be like all the other annoying family people stepping over everyone for a picture.

Then that night we had a very fancy, fantastic dinner with the congressional award people. It was just delightful! We sat next to people from Wyoming, and lets just say they have a lot of "state pride."

By the end of the day i wanted to scream because i had been wearing my heals all day and walking EVERYWHERE!! My feet will never be the same.

The next morning we had an appointment with Orin Hatch. I almost cried when i had to put the evil heals back on my poor feet.

After Hatch's meeting we went over to the Supreme court building. It was pretty cool. Plus, Mark's dad got us into the library there which you can't get in unless you are a lawyer. So we felt pretty cool.

Here is Mark, just reading a book from the Supreme court library.

After that Mark and I took a taxi home (i could/would not walk one more step in those shoes.) to change our clothes (hallelujah!!)

Then we set out to see some museums.

Here i am in the Smithsonian Natural History Museum.

Mark and I outside the National Art Gallery. ( i think that's what it's called)

Mark being a dork. Isn't he so cute??

Then we went back to Senator Hatch's office and a nice girl there took us on a Capital tour. It was really cool. Then she took us out to where all the President's are inaugurated on the front balcony thing of the Capital. So here we are standing on the inauguration spot!

Every state gets to have 2 statures up in the Capital. I dont know who this guy is, but he is one of Arizona's, so i got a picture with him. (In case you were wondering, Utah has one of Brigham Young, and one of whoever invented the T.V.)

Then Mark and i headed over to the Library of Congress. I must admit, i was not excited about this. Mark kept saying he wanted to go there and i just didnt get it. I mean, come on!! we are students, we spend our lives in libraries. But once we were there, it turned out to be one of my favorite places we went.

The outside

the inside

Then we headed back to the hotel for a little rest. Then later that night we went to see the monuments. I think seeing them at night is definitely the way to go. they just look so much cooler all lit up!

This night we also saw the WW2 memorial and the Viet Nam memorial

Then the next day we went to the Newseum and the Holocaust museum. Both very cool, if you can call the Holocaust cool.

Mark trying on Lincoln's head in the Newseum.

Then we said goodbye to Mark's dad, and the two of us headed over to have some lunch.

We have some friends, Dave and Karly, who live in D.C. They had been out of town until Saturday night. So, we went over to their apartment, got their car, and picked them up from the airport. Then we went to see the National's and the Orioles. It was pretty awesome!

That night we went and saw the Jefferson monument and the FDR monument. Both very cool.

The next morning, Mark and I got up and went to wait in line for the National Archives. We had been trying to see these the whole time, but every time we walked by the line was huge. We were so glad we went first thing in the morning because the wait was definitely much shorter.

Then we met up with Dave at the Smithsonian Air and Space museum. Here we are in front of some plane!

We took this picture looking into the helmet of a space suit. Cool huh!

Then we went and picked Karly up and had lunch at the Burger place Obama went to. I know, we are such tourists!

Then we went to Arlington Cemetery and saw the Changing of the Guards and JFK's grave.

Then we got on a plane and came home. well kinda. We got on a plane, taxied out to the runway, then had to turn around and go back to the terminal while they fixed something for an hour, then flew to Mineappolas and waited for about 2 hours then flew home. We didn't actually get to our apartment until 2:00 am.

All in all we had a great time!! Everyone needs to go to D.C. i think!