Day 4 (Monday)

Sight seeing was in full force today, we left bright and early to make it to our Library of Congress tour at 8:30 which was VERY impressive! Then we browsed around in the Native American Museum until 1:00 when had our own personal tour of the Capitol Building (by a North Dakota girl from Pomeroy's office). I am continually amazed by everything! The thing that I always come back to is how incredible it is now... just imagine 100 years ago and when these monstrosities were being built!! It's hard to imagine! I wish I could take a trip back and watch our founding fathers play their role in forming this nation under God.

The very first "new to me" experience of the day was riding the subway... simple I know, but not exactly what I'm used to... :P

The Library was SO amazing! SO MUCH detail on EVERY little thing! How would you like to be the artisan for this and not be guaranteed payment... it's true, (although they did get paid) while they were working, the craftsmen didn't know if and when they were going to get paid, the possibility of fame and their work lasting was enough. I saw some super cool things, one being the first map to every bear the name "America" (even though the shape it labeled is a far cry from the true shape of our Continent),

All the touring made us hungry! When we found some "fry bread" it really hit the spot!

It was fun to see "North Dakota here" I love ND! Somehow it almost felt like a little piece of home! These Paintings around the Capitol were so neat to me, they looked so much like statues I had to look VERY close and be told that they were just 2D paintings. My favorite part of the capital was the "wisper spot"... very cool story!

Day 3 (Sunday)

Today We did a little more real sight-seeing. We started with Iwo Jima and drove past Arlington National Cemetery. We made a really quick loop through the botanic gardens... absolutely beautiful! We spent most of the day in the air and space museum, that was mind-boggling! Paul Leo, you would have LOVED IT!! I took lots of pictures and will do my best to re-live it for you! It was SO INTERESTING, I have to many things to tell you guys! In 100 years (Grandpa Hoffman's lifetime) we flew the first plane, walked on the moon, and launched space ships! We saw the Imax "To Fly" and then had supper at a Korean restaurant. Full, sleepy, and ready for bed. :)

Day 2

Well, after a YUMMY Friday night meal we went to bed relatively early (or what seemed early after driving through the night before!) we hit the bed and I don't think I moved ONCE all night! After church we had a nice meal with Brenda's Parents and then took Rachel and Elizabeth down to D.C. to meet Dan and Bethany. It was rainy and the true sight-seeing won't start until tomorrow but I couldn't help but snap some shots from inside the car of my "first sights" off all the amazing things here!

This was my first glimpse of the capital building, and the one at the top was what I could see of the white house! So exciting! It's still almost hard to believe I'm here!

There is SO MUCH to see! Everywhere you look something is new and unique to catch your eye! I couldn't take it all in, can't wait for the real sight-seeing to begin! There are countless little "match-box" houses like these lining the streets, they are all so different and unique yet so much the same. A little different than the wide-open space of the farm... so much for a yard or place to play... better hope you don't have a noisy neighbor!

Spring Break Trip to D.C.

Yesterday around 1:00pm we left Lincoln, NE and 24 hours later we're here in Washington D.C. We took turns driving and went straight through besides about an hour stop for supper last night! :) Kenny took us to the Amish Market and a Beautiful green house this afternoon! I figured I better keep up with blogging from the start because I will have lots of pictures to share over this week!

I got to bring Elizabeth and Rachel Wissmann With me so they could spend some time out here with Bethany!

The Amish market was AMAZING they had EVERYTHING you could think of..... and at leaste ten different kinds of it! We got some goodies for supper tonight and dinner tomorrow. Speaking of supper... there are some amazing smells coming from the kitchen... Kenny's got a wonderful sounding soup cooking!

1940's/WWII Banquet

Tonight was the ASB 1940's/WWI Banquet at the strategic air and space museum. It was pretty cool to see the guys looking sharp in uniforms of all kinds and all the 1940's outfits that came out! The museum was really cool and we ate a yummy supper right under the wings of impressive planes! Good times and fun pictures!

NE afternoon

Yesterday I went with Tyson and some others from Union to Hastings, NE for church. We spent the afternoon birding in rural NE.

Note: What you see along the horizon is NOT a cloud!

It's migrating season and NE gets to see most of the action! We saw literally millions of birds yesterday, most were Sand-hill Cranes and Canada Geese. It was over-cast most of the day but the sun did peek out for a few minutes and when it did, it was gorgeous!

These are three Sand-hill Cranes which is most of what we saw but up in the left corner you can barely see... the treat of the day... a Bald Eagle!

Matthew 10:29-30

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.