Tour GuideI love playing tour guide when friends and family come to visit me in D.C. This past weekend I was visited by my parents and good friend Jen. I loved being able to share D.C. and my life here. I believe someone is able to know you better when they are able to see the small, yet meaningful, parts of your lives. This included having them spend time with my great friends (whom they adored). My parents and Jen had so much fun meeting and talking with so many of my D.C. friends. And my D.C. friends were hospitable and friendly to my parents and Jen. They were also able to be present for Mary's faith promoting talk and even a panel of former ward members that are now married, whom talked about their courtship and marriage experiences.
We packed so much sight seeing into one weekend so here is a small sampling of the fun we had.
Thanks to Jen and the parents for their continual support and great insights into life.
On Friday we had a tour of the capitol given by none other than the famous Kaylyn Peterson. She was informative and lively and even let us take a ride on the capitol transit authority. After the capitol, we visited the Holocaust Museum. Then we drove to Baltimore (can I get a what-what!!) We ate in Little Italy and then made our way to the Harbor. At the harbor, one of my dreams came true. Jen, my mother, and I rode a dragon paddle boat that we affectionately called Purple Dragon (not very creative.)
At the Capitol
Upper: Jen is windblown on the tram
Below:Us standing on the exact center of Washington, DC. Kaylyn, Dad, Mom with Iesha the wolf.
Baltimore and the Purple Dragon
Baltimore and the Purple Dragon
Saturday's events started by driving to Mt. Vernon for a little visit. A few great things happened there. One, I bought a year pass. Two, there were at least a hundred people dressed up as soldiers and 1770's era clothing. They had set up a little village outside of the mansion. Jen could not resist joining them.
After Mt. Vernon, we went to the National Cathedral to celebrate its 100th year. There were bagpipers, folk singers, dancers, birthday cake, and tours. Then my mother, Jen, and I went to the Relief Society General Conference meeting and met up with my father at Melrose 3076 to watch the BYU Cougars win!!!
Mt. Vernon
National Cathedral 100th year celebration
Before church, Jen and I went to Arlington National Cemetery. After church we had a Mexican fiesta at my home so my parents could meet and greet some of my friends. It was a fun time full of songs from David, pictures from Ryan, and Dan flipping an enchilada at my head.
Arlington Cemetery
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9 comments:
so fun! i wish i had known about the mt. vernon dress up party...i am a sucker for crowds of people dressed as colonials ;)
i really want to go to baltimore, but i have no idea what to do or see there. since you are the expert...can you email me your recommendations?
I especially enjoyed the video... If you had known it would turn out dark like that you could have made it sound like a real adventure (ie "oh no, I fell off the purple dragon and some of the native Baltimore sharks are nibbling on my knee caps.. arg" etc) and no one would have known the difference.
I can't wait to play tour guide to my parents soon.
I had planned the enchilada toss for months only to see my only chance of hitting the target dashed...
Can I offer a correction - for obvious reasons the football game watching was at 3076 - not 3078. Cougartown has an address and it is not with 78.
I love the Jensens and Jen! They should just all move here...it was the best thing ever to see Dan attack you with the enchilada. All in all, I feel as though it was a successful weekend!
Collin says, "I love the pictures, and that's all."
1.) Dan is correct, there was none of that BYU shenanigans at the 78. Not on Saturday, not ever.
2.) Man, I leave the fiesta and it really gets loco. I need to hear about Da-veehds singing and Dans enchilada throwing.
3.) I missed out on the Purple Dragon when I was in Bmore. We must go again. Soon.
4.) I was so glad that Jen and your parents came to visit. I always enjoy meeting people who are influencial in the development of my friends. They are welcome to come into our circle of crazy friends anytime.
Mandy - thank you for changing the error and giving us credit - we need the positive re-enforcement.
I've made a donation to the Cougar Club under the name Mary Ann McMullen.
Jen is a worthy West Coast rival, although now I agree there is plenty of Mandy goodness to go around.
Dan -- I am glad that I could make the change and give you guys credit.
And yes....there is enough of Mandy to go around.
The East Coast friends were all so great! Thanks for the welcome wagon!! I had a great time seeing all the wonderful (slightly crazy) people MJ associates with!
Brian - I really like the purple dragon story and I think we should adopt it.
Dan - Thanks for accepting me and realizing that there is enough Mandy-love to go around.
Kaylyn - I came home and told my husband we need to move back East, so maybe it will happen one of these days!
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