Our Life in Alaska and Beyond

Our last evening in DC we were able to go to a Nationals baseball game! It was so fun! Ever since Scott and mine's first date was at a Bees game, I think baseball has held a special place in our hearts, lol. Scott has always been a baseball fan though, haha. We were really looking forward to seeing Bryce Harper, and his first up at bat he hit a home run! It was so exciting! We ended up only staying for the first three innings because it was a late game, and we had an early flight the next morning, and it was also pretty cold! But still, it was so fun, and definitely one of the major highlights of our trip!

After walking through Alexandria we decided to stop at Arlington National Cemetery. It made for a perfect Sunday afternoon. The size of the cemetery is a bit overwhelming; it's just over 600 acres. There are over 400,000 interments of active duty service members, veterans, and their families from every major conflict from the Revolution to the present. I'm so grateful to them and the sacrifices they made so that I can live here in this beautiful country of the United States of America!

There are many beautiful and old trees (including cherry trees!) throughout the cemetery.

This tree had some green leaves starting to come through. The cherry blossom season is so short!

A beautiful tulip magnolia tree

Get ready for a history lesson! On Sunday afternoon we walked through old town Alexandria, VA. It was really cool to see these historic homes and sites, and enjoy the beautiful sunshine. Again, all facts/info come from our handy dandy guide book.

Christ Church, completed in 1773. Presidents come here every year to honor George Washington on his birthday.

Blossoms, with Christ Church in the background.

This is the home church of George Washington and Robert E. Lee!

This historic cemetery in the churchyard was pretty amazing. I couldn't believe some of the dates!

The Ramsay house, built in 1724, it's the oldest house in Alexandria. It is now a visitor center.

Carlyle house, completed in 1753, and modeled after the Scottish Craigiehall.

This block is called "Captain's Row." Still paved with cobblestones, it was once home to captains and shipbuilders.

Gadsby's Tavern Museum, built in 1792. Thomas Jefferson's inaugural banquet was held here.

Robert E. Lee's boyhood home, built in 1795. He lived here during his childhood until he entered West Point Military Academy at age 18.

I loved the red, white, and blue here :)

And more blossoms :)

Sunday was our last day in DC, and I really couldn't get enough of the beautiful cherry blossoms. While Scott was finishing up his conference that morning I went to Tidal Basin with Robyn, and then we spent the rest of the afternoon and evening with Scott. I think this was my 5th time at Tidal Basin, lol. It was still a little chilly, but at least the sun was out! Enjoy these cherry blossoms!

Sunday morning was the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler. I can't imagine a more beautiful setting!

After visiting The Blind Whino on Saturday, Robyn and I met Scott at the US Capitol and the US Botanic Garden. It was actually pretty chilly this day, and it even started snowing while we were walking around the Capitol Building. It really is a beautiful building! Earlier in the week (4/5/18), Robyn and I got to take a tour of the inside of the building, which was pretty cool. So the pics of the inside of the capitol are from Thursday. I enjoyed the tour (I didn't realize how big and grand and ornate and old the US Capitol is!), but I'm just not super into politics and government and stuff like that, haha. The Capitol Building was originally completed in 1800, but it has since had many expansions and revisions. Enjoy the pics!

Can't ever get enough blossoms!

The Statue of Freedom stands atop the dome of the Capitol Building. She faces East to the rising sun, so "the sun never sets on freedom." I learned that on the tour, not sure if it's a direct quote ?

I learned the right side in this pic (South side) houses the State Representatives, and the left side houses the Senate.

Looking up the dome (L) and the Baptism of Pochahontas, by John Gadsby Chapman, 1839 (R), one of 8 paintings in the Capitol Rotunda (below the dome).

Portrait Monument to Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony, by Adelaide Johnson, 1920, (L). Possibly unfinished because women's rights are unfinished. And the National Statuary Hall (R). Apparently his desk was here because the acoustics allowed him to overhear others. The other desk locations were also marked. Our tour guide demonstrated, and it worked, kind of, haha.

One of the statues representing Utah, (L), and a memorial to United Airlines flight 93 from 9/11, possibly saving the US Capitol (R).

Inside the greenhouse of the US Botanic Garden. It was so nice to warm up in here! On the (L) we're in front of a cacao tree!

That evening for dinner we had some delicious sushi! Robby spilled some miso soup on me, haha (R). It was a chilly walk home.

Miso soup pants, lol.

On Saturday Robyn and I explored some colorful parts of DC. This art gallery, called The Blind Whino, used to be the Friendship Baptist Church, originally built in 1886. It is now used to showcase art and host different events. There was an exhibit of cherry blossom photographs going on, which is one of the reasons I chose to visit. I got there just before they closed and people were starting to set up for a wedding there that evening. The florist was outside and I got her ok to take pictures of these gorgeous floral centerpieces. (I probably should have asked for her card too, so I could email these flower pics to her.) The bright colors really lightened up this cloudy day. :)

I love the pink picnic tables too!

Friday evening we decided to walk through Georgetown again. It was just so cute! We loved seeing all the old, charming houses. It was definitely a lot more busy Friday night than it was Tuesday morning, but still so fun! Scott's friend Kami was with us this evening as well. Enjoy the pics!

The same St. John's Episcopal Church from the last Georgetown post, built in 1809 and attended by Thomas Jefferson.

A beautiful yellow(!) magnolia tree on the Georgetown University campus.

These tulips on Georgetown U's campus weren't yet blooming just a few days before. Spring flowers are so fleeting, yet so beautiful!

I went out exploring with Robyn during the day on Friday. (Thanks again to Katie for the lillebaby carrier!) I didn't take the big camera with me, but I think I did every other day, haha. We went to see the Netherlands Carillon - a 127 foot high bell tower gifted to the US from the Netherlands as a token of gratitude for aid provided during and after WWII. It was dedicated in 1960, and the bells really ring! It's in a beautiful park surrounded by tulips, overlooking the US Capital and Washington Monument. It's also right by Arlington Cemetery (though I didn't actually go in the cemetery this day) and near the US Marine Corps War Memorial (or the Iwo Jima Memorial). The weather was beautiful this day, and probably the only day I felt hot, haha.

The US Marine Corps War Memorial

The Netherlands Carillon

Arlington Cemetery

We also did a little shopping and got donuts! These were creme brulee (cream filled) and cherry blossom (cherry filled). So good!

When we decided that I was going to go to DC with Scott, and that we would take Robyn with us, I immediately knew I wanted to take some pics of Robby with the cherry blossoms. We took them Thursday evening (I had already been to Tidal Basin that morning for sunrise) and it was crazy busy! We were totally expecting that though, and I love how these turned out! I only wish Ruby and Noelle could have been there too, haha. Enjoy!

There are so many beautiful and meaningful and powerful monuments and memorials in DC it's hard to see them all, let alone take in the seriousness of what they represent and honor. We did our best, and I'll just share a few of them here. These pics are from Thursday evening, after Scott got done with his conference.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Stone of Hope, dedicated in 2011.

This is in the Tidal Basin area. We also took some adorable portraits of Robyn in the blossoms here. Post coming soon!

The Lincoln Memorial, dedicated in 1922.