Veteran's Day 2010

Alan (one of my roommates) and I drove down to Arlington Cemetery on the morning of Veteran's Day to watch the wreath-laying ceremony.

It was a gorgeous day!

Changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Getting ready for the wreath-laying ceremony

VP Biden

Alan, Lee (my other roommate, who met us there), and myself

Beautiful November day in Washington DC

Visiting the gravesite of the Kennedy family

Alan and I went to the Washington Capitals hockey game that night. What a game! The Caps won the game 6-3, and that included a Hat Trick (3 goals scored by one person). Check out my Facebook page to see a short video from the game.

On the drive home we were entertained by a car full of drunk guys honking and swearing at everyone they could see. It was actually just one of the guys doing the swearing. Obnoxious? Yes. But since we were sitting in traffic at least it gave us something to watch. At one point the guys pulled up next to a truck (whose occupants might have also had a little too much to drink) and persuaded one of the occupants of the truck to drink his entire can of beer without taking a breath. He did so, and then he proceeded to throw his can of beer through the driver's side window of the other vehicle. Oh my, what alcohol can do to people.

Monticello (Pronounced MontiCHello), VA

I woke up at 4:00 this morning to get ready for a little drive down to the home of Thomas Jefferson. We drove two hours south, met up with a few friends, and spent most of the day touring TJ's home and grounds. It's November, and it's a little cold outside, but it was a beautiful day at a beautiful place.

TJ's place of burial

He was 6 feet 2 1/2 inches tall

3 days, 6 temples, 1084 miles

Tuesday morning I drove to Vernal to meet my good friend, Jon, and visit the Vernal Temple.

It has a different look to it because it was converted from a tabernacle.

Thursday morning I got up early and drove to the Ogden Temple.

The Ogden Temple is going to be closed for two years for a massive makeover. I guess they finally got tired of all the complaints that this temple looks exactly like the Provo Temple. :)

I then moved on to the Logan Temple.

Beautiful

And following the Logan Temple I drove a couple of hours west to the Twin Falls Temple, where I had the good fortune of doing sealings with Brother (Doctor) Petersen, another great family friend.

Twin Falls

I spent the night at the home of my cousins in Pocatello. We had a wild game of Apples to Apples before getting some shuteye. You girls are awesome! Annalee was kind enough to give up her bed for me Thursday night. It was the first time in my life that I slept in pink/purple sheets. :)

Uncle Craig is awesome too. Here we are at the Rexburg, Idaho Temple Friday morning.

With Aunt Audrie at the Idaho Falls Temple.

I rented a small, environmentally-friendly vehicle for my temple trip.

Nope, this has nothing to do with temples. Jessica and I met up with Chris and Stacy Wednesday night for some good Lebanese food and a fun haunted house in Salt Lake.

This is what happens when I'm driving alone in Idaho with nothing to distract me.

Happy Birthday, Sara!

 

Spruce Goose

Today I went with Sara to the current home of the Spruce Goose, in McMinnville, Oregon.

It has the longest wingspan of any plane

Howard Hughes thought his plane might sink on the water so he put a bunch of beach balls in it just in case.

Da Vinci knew how to write backwards and upside down. I wish I could do that.

Twilight and Seattle

Monday morning I flew to Portland where Sara, Jarem, Sadie, Ari, and Jude picked me up for our little adventure to Washington State.

This has absolutely nothing to do with the trip, but I had to insert it here because it made me laugh when I found out Granny has a grabber.

I like Southwest Airlines even more after seeing this

Sara found an amazing place for our two-day stay in Forks, Washington. The people we rented this house from did a great job.

Ari was extremely happy about his little room

Our first stop was the Hoh Rainforest

Phone booth at the Hoh Rainforest

Sara, Jarem, Sadie, Jude, and Ari in the Hoh Rainforest

We met Alice in the rainforest and she accompanied us on our trip

Ari and Jude decided that taking their clothes off made things much more fun

Alice and Sadie visiting Charlie Swan

We left vampire territory and went over to visit the werewolves in La Push

Ari, Jude, and Sadie on the beach at La Push. Ari was showing off his pouty face.

Then he tried to hide his pouty face

Daddy and son at La Push

Sadie reading to the boys before driving over to Seattle

The beautiful mountains of northern Washington State

Tired of driving!

Just plain tired

We stopped in Port Angeles. This restaurant is supposedly where Bella and Edward had their first date, or first meal together, or something like that.

Check out the pink sign. I think there might be a few people in this country who feel that way.

Sadie and I visited the Space Needle in Seattle

EMP (Experience Music Project)

Stylin'

Pike's Place Market

Jarem says this streetlamp resembles Brother Brigham.

And here's Brother Joseph upside down

The wall of gum

Ha! What a great feeling when Uncle Daniel outlasts the nephews.

Jarem and I paid a quick visit to the Seattle Temple on Thursday morning

Another great trip and more fun memories!