An Anniversary to Note and stitching update

First...for those who are looking for my posts regarding my trip to DC with the FMS 8th grade class, you will need to click on the links below. Each on will take you to the respective post of the day.

Day 1 - http://cadurst.blogspot.com/2013/03/washington-dc-trip-day-12.html

Day 2 - http://cadurst.blogspot.com/2013/04/washington-dc-day-23.html

Day 3 - http://cadurst.blogspot.com/2013/04/washington-dc-day-34.html

Day 4 - http://cadurst.blogspot.com/2013/04/washington-dc-day-45.html

Day 5 - http://cadurst.blogspot.com/2013/04/washington-dc-day-56.html

Day 6 - http://cadurst.blogspot.com/2013/04/washington-dc-last-day.html

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Today is Sunday, April 7th.....

22 years ago today - I married my sweetheart...my best friend...my soulmate....

Goodness gracious, we look so young. 

Today has started early, as the boys have a hockey activity from 6:30-8:30am this morning. My DH took them for he love to watch when both of them are on the ice together. Something that doesn't happen very often any more. 

An Me? Well, I am home enjoying this quiet house :) Last night, while watching some of the final four basketball game, I was able to get some stitching done. Here is a status photo of the 2nd owl heart:

I got all the light purple finished, just need to fill in the whites of their eyes and then #2 is complete. I am getting a little tired of stitching this design, so I might opt to do a different one for my mother. I really need to get going on this project. For the anniversary of the passing of my grandmother was April 4...her burial was April 14. We all miss her dearly so that is why I wanted to make something special for my sisters and mother. Well, hopefully I will get going again.

In the mean time, I received part 3 of the Blue Ribbon Designs Mystery Sampler: Blue Jeans and Daisies. 

Is anyone out there working on this sampler? I haven't started, as you can see. I will probably make this a start in May...or sometime soon. I like the colors and look forward to starting this. There seems to be so many new designs that have come out recently!

Well, I am just rambling now. I need to sign off and get a move on - time to exercise before all the boys get home.

Take care and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

All you need is deep within you waiting to unfold and reveal itself.

All you have to do is be still and take time to seek what is within,

and you will surely find it.

~ Eileen Caddy

Washington DC - Last Day

Well, as I write this last entry I am home. Hard to believe that this wonderful trip is all over. But before we get a little sappy, here is the entry for the last day.

Thursday, April 4, 2013
For today's morning routine - 6:30 wake up call, 7:30 breakfast - we added a room check to it in order to make sure that no one left any of their belongings behind. Once everyone was "checked out" we headed down to the bus, loaded our luggage and headed out. But it wasn't quite time to go to the airport, for we still had a little more sight-seeing to do!

First up on the itinerary is the Newseum. This museum celebrates our freedom described in the 1st Amendment of the Constitution:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceable to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Inside this museum, we saw exhibits regarding the 9-11 events - JFK - FBI - the Berlin Wall - and so on! This is definitely one museum that you could spend a full day, if not more, to really read and take in all the information. But, unfortunately, our time was limited and it was time to move on.

Next up - the Smithsonians...first the American History Museum where we enjoyed a delicious meal in the cafeteria before looking at as many exhibits as time would allow.

 From the History Museum, we moved on to the Natural History Museum. Here we saw:

The Hope Diamond

Stuffed Animals - Mammal, Ocean Life, Primates and so on

And of course, what would a Natural History Museum be with out the Dinosaur exhibit?

The Natural History Museum, like the Newseum and the American History Museum, is another place you really need to take a whole day to explore...as long as you have patience for the crowd! Ugh, it was busy and crowded!

From here, we headed to the Smithsonian Castle...

Here is an exhibit that was near and dear to my family's heart...

With our time in DC growing short, we had one more place to visit before heading home...the National Art & Space Museum...but this one is not on The National Mall. It is located near Dullies Airport. It is a very large building that looks like an airplane hanger and holds some amazing airplanes & helicopters.

One that caught your eye as soon as you walked in was the Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird. The long sleek black body of this plane and the fact that it can fly from one end of the country to the other in 1hr and 4 minutes...it is incredible. 

However, the ultimate favorite was the Discovery Space Shuttle!!!!!

 Now this was a sight to behold!

Well, as timing would have it, the clock struck 5:30pm and the announcement came over the loud speaker: "The museum is closing, please exit". And with that, so was our trip to DC, for now it was time to do one last head count, to load up the bus one last time and head out to the airport.

What a wonderful trip! We visited lots of awesome places, learned a lot about the beginnings of our country, ate some great food and made some wonderful memories. I am grateful that there are these opportunities which the school organizes. And there are some people I would like to publicly thank (not in any particular order):

1. Joe "the bus driver" - thank you for your great care in getting us were we need to be safely and timely! 
2. Jeff "the tour guide" - your history knowledge is overwhelming; we enjoyed all your stories and learned a lot from you. You are a true history geek!
3. My co-chaperones - Paul, Terri, Bambi and "Big D" - it was a pleasure getting to know you all and working with you this week.
4. Mr. Chapman - wow! Your passion for history and your passion to be with all the kids is wonderful. I am so glad that you continue to make this trip happen!

Well, that is all there is to tell of this trip. We are in the process of recovering - getting back on west coast time.

Thank you for your interest in my trip with the 8th graders to Washington DC.

Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Washington DC - Day 5/6

Hello...hope you all are enjoying my journal of the 8th grade trip to DC 2013.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

I'm just a bill

Yes, I'm only a bill

And I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill

Well, it's a long, long journey

To the capital city

It's a long, long wait

While I'm sitting in committee

But I know I'll be a law someday

At least I hope and pray that I will

But today I am still just a bill

~School House Rock

After the 6:30am wake up call and the 7:30am breakfast, we were on the bus and headed to Capitol Hill. 

Sunrise at the Capitol

First we had the traditional group photo on the steps in front of the Capitol. Always a great souvenir of this trip. Then we headed around to the entrance of the building...

Always a lot of security around this building :)

Here I am - in front of the "front" side of the Capitol...yes, I was a little chilly

Once we arrived at the entrance to the Capitol, we went through security and got in line for a short video about the history of our country and then we started the tour of the capitol building.

Everyone got their own set of headphones so that we could hear the tour guide talk. This way, several groups can be lead around the different rooms of the Capitol all at once without disturbing each other.

Matthew and his classmates listening intently in the statue room.

One of the most beautiful rooms in the Capitol is the Rotunda...there are bronze statues of our founding fathers as well as...Ronald Reagan :)

 And then there is the ceiling...the top of the dome. It is gorgeous!

Here is the group learning about the Rotunda.

After the tour was over, the group had a couple of choice. They could either visit the US House of Representatives or go to the Library of Congress. Since the wait for the House was long, I decided to join the 1/2 of the group that went to the Library....and I am definitely glad I did. Another beautiful building!

We looked around the building for a while, even got to go to the Civil War exhibit that was there. We also got to peak into a window of the actual Library...where all those books are, especially the famous "President's Book of Secrets". Once the 2 groups met up, we all walked to the US Supreme court building where we just had enough time for a group photo :)

Then it was off to lunch! Today's lunch was in the food court of Pentagon City Mall. With over an hour for lunch, many of the kids also enjoyed some shopping time! I on the other hand had the great opportunity to visit with my cousin, Charlie, who I haven't seen in over a year. It was great to see him and catch up. While the visit was very short, I appreciated the fact that he slipped out of work to come over and see me...Thank you Charlie!

 After lunch, we headed out of the mall and boarded the bus and off to Mount Vernon - George and Martha Washington's house.

The front of the Washington's house. 

Before we took the tour of the interior of the house, we walked around the grounds. Here we saw the lower garden, the "necessary" (aka outhouse or potty), the farm yard where there were sheep and the gravesite of George and his family.

The back of the house, which overlooks the Potomac River. It is a gorgeous view!

And here is the group...

Once through the tour, and after a visit of the gift shop (something that we always ended up with after every tour), we headed off to the evening activity...the Nationals Baseball game.

We had great seats...down pretty low, behind 1st base.

Matthew sitting in the stands with his classmates...it was a little chilly that evening-hovering around 40 degrees (honestly, who goes to a baseball game in this cold weather? Hockey, I understand...but baseball?????)

Even though it was $1 hot dog night...the burger from Shake Shack was a hit!

With numb fingers and toes, we all were very happen when the game ended mid-9th with the Nationals leading 3-0 and we were able to leave the park. It was time to head off to the hotel and begin to pack up, as our trip was coming to an end...

Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa