Visit from the Vice President

My job has let me do some pretty awesome things at my job. Recently, my executive director got a call from the office of the Vice President... who wanted to vist our site. That is weird, I didn't realize that it could happen with just a phone call.

It was good but it also turned my world upside down. Anything else I had going on got pushed to the back burner and was replaced with meetinsg with the secret service and compiling lists or different things, and rearranging our facility.

Luckily, the day finally came.  It was a stress-filled day but everyone was pretty excited so it went fast.  Vice President Biden and his wife entered into the dining hall and then spoke to our veterans.  

I was able to say hello to Dr. Biden, my hair was very curly in the morning... not so much by the time they arrived.

 After they finished speaking we got to take a group shot.

 Here are the three main managers at my work.  I work with these three everyday.  It is totally crazy how much these people do!

 Yes, I did get a shot with just Vice President.  I was so shocked that I got one I have the goofiest smile on my face.

 After they left the counter-snipers got to come off the roof.  They were hilareous. They said it was 160 degrees on the roof and the gund they were using were taller than I am!  These guys were almost more exciting to meet than the VP!

IThe Vice President took time to talk to the veterans and one veteran asked for his tie before he left. . . you better believe Joe handed it over to him.

Overall this was a very cool experience, whether or not you like him or endorse him I am happy that our programs works hard and recieves the recognition it deserves!

Final Day in Washington DC

Our flight didn't leave until the afternoon so we made sure to take advantage of the time we had.

Brent wanted to see the amazing view from the post office. We set the monopod with our expensive camera up against a pole and as it was snapping the picture it slide from the pole and landed directly on the lense... the 400 dollar lense... : (  it was sad to see for sure but it just changed what type of pictures we could take.  

This is in front of the post office.

The tower was closed because it was memorial day.  To bad it looks like it would have been an awesome view.

We then walked past the capitol building to the Supreme Court Courthouse... I don't think that is what it is called, but I like it better.

I love that I can find turtles everywhere.

That is a good looking boy.

The Supreme Court Court House

Here are some grorgeous flowers we saw along the way.

Here is the train station. 

I think this is Dupoint Circle.  I feel like we would go somewhere and there was just nothing around it.

Once we got all packed up we headed out to Arlington Cemetary with Erica, Spencer and Landon.

First we went to this memorial.  Can I just say that this memorial was HUGE!

On Memorial day they hand out roses to eveyrone who comes in to the cemetary.  It was fun to find and give put it on someones tombstone.

Can I tell you that we did this all wrong?!?!  We thought Arlington was just the rolling hills of whit tombstones, I had NO IDEA that it was full of memorials.  You think someone would have shared that info with us but oh well, we will have to come back in the future!

Cool views

Last picture, I hope this individual knows how loved they are.

I also didn't know Arlington was just down the block from the Lincoln Memorial.

From there we headed to the airport.  It was an exhausting but SUPER FUN Trip!

Thank you Erica and Spencer for hosting us!  You guys were wonderful and we can't wait to come out and have a more relaxing visit!

Washington DC: Day Four- Monuments at Night and Thunder Storm

Sunday night Brent wanted to go out and see the monuments at night.  I had heard it was a pretty awesome experience so we saddled up for another night out on the town.

We loved this sign... apparently parralell parking is to concise for Washington D.C. to use.

The Lincoln Memorial at night.  It is really really prettym and SUPER crowded.  I thought I was going to loose Brent and at one point I did!

Here is the Korean War Memorial.  This is anout the time we saw a few drops of rain drizzle down from the sky.

This is the part where we heard thunder and saw lightening.  They actually closed this area but Brent didn't mind taking the chance.

Brent is such a good photographer.

After all the running around here is what we looked like.  If you thought it was raining a little I fooled you because it was totally pouring!

Brents Favorite license plate.  the "Taxation without representation" At first we thought it was a throw back to the day, but apparently it is because DC is taxed but doesn't have any representation.

I have to admit, the rain outside made it such a fun crazy night.  I wasn't expecting to be okay with it, but I really was.  The memorials at night are gorgeous, I will the washington memorial hadn't been underconstruction so we could have seen it all lit up.  The tower did have blinking red lights that are used to keep planes from hitting it.  There is the random fact of the day!

Washington DC: Day Three- National Arboritum

After resting up, we hit the Abroritum.  It is this large scultpted nature area which is really gorgeous.

The major stop was these pillars. 

They are old pillars from the capitol building

When we first showed up the pool area just looked dingy.  It wasn't until we went across it (where the camera currently is)  that we noticed it is a reflection pool.

We then looked for an asian inspired garden... To bad it was closed.  We found a really gorgeous overlook. It was gorgeous.

Overall it was a really fun place.  If I lived in D.C. I would totally have fun dates exploring this places!

I can't remember what this is a picture is of... but I added it so it must be something...

So I know I said there was going to be a firestorm and I am really hoping that this is what happens today.  I guess it is how much blogging I can get done during lunch!