Friday, December 3, 2010

Washington DC -Day 6

Newseum


Going to The Newseum was an eye-opening experience. It was by far my favorite place we went this entire trip! Seeing all recent and latest things happening in society from the oil spill to Hurricane Katrina and 9-11. Everything told a story. A story worth listening too. A story worth listening to and telling others about! Some of the exhibits here were heart-warming and others were heart-breaking but not everything and everyone can have a fairytale ending. And I thank God each and everyday for how lucky I am to be healthy and to have a family that loves and supports me! (P.S. I fell in love with Elvis here <3)



The interactive games we played here were fun as well, it was a total blast watching Kody do a newscast! My family is so amazing and I am so happy to have them in my life!

Today we also visited the Lincoln Memorial today. It was HUMONGOUS! I couldn't believe how small I was standing next to it. I felt like an ant. I had never stood next to something or even someone so significant to history..and I loved every minute of it! At that very moment, I could truly say... I am proud to be an american.





Tommorow we head home and I am not looking forward to it. I wish I could stay here just a little bit LONGER and learn a little bit MORE.



<3 Bye Bye Beautiful <3


Thursday, December 2, 2010

Washington DC -Day 5

Washington Monument


What a gorgeous view of Washington DC at 555 feet in the air. You can see the White House, Lincoln memorial, the Ellipse, the Smithsonian's,
the Capitol building, and much much more! Looking around in the top I felt invincible. Like nothing could go wrong, I saw everything around for miles. I couldn't help but think that our founding fathers struggled to make this world what we have and that this is one small piece left behind.
Many things that they DID leave we surrounded with sky scrappers and house and we lost the importance of our country's history through it all. You could say that we still have it all but it is all tucked away in the tallest building on the highest shelf in the biggest book. But who would be brave enough to open it and discover all the little secrets?


"If not me, then who?
If not now, then when?"


We also went to Fords Theatre to see where President Lincoln was shot.
We got to see his seats that are still the same as from the night he was killed along with the gun used to shoot him. We heard the story and the real story not some phony story you hear online. It was truly amazing to learn a little piece from the past.
You think your History teachers know everything? THINK AGAIN! Not even close. You need to get up close and personal to discover what your not taught because that...is the interesting stuff!

Another AMAZING day :)

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Washington DC -Day 4

Air & Space Museum

Today as we woke up we strolled on down to Air and Space to meet Amelia Earhart and the Wright Brothers. The exhibits here were really cool along will all the interactive games. I learned how much the world has changed from discrimination against women to the new advances in technology! It was a blast seeing all the REAL and MODEL airplanes and pieces of rocket ships!









Me and Kody even did a simulation flyer and we learned that I absolutely suck at flying and Kody stinks at shooting. We didn't make a very good team today.

We also went to the White House today. You may think its pretty and that it has some significant meaning behind it but all it really is, is a white building with a fence around it. If you wanted to see one of those all you would of had to do is walk around your neighborhood. But, no. We wanted the wow factor! The Jazz! You go to see it take a few pictures here and there, turn around' walk away, and all the excitment is gone! Ya it was great to see in person but nothing of extreme factors to make me want to go back.


I love hanging out with my family and today was a good day. Can't wait for more tomorrow.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Washington DC -Day 3

Museum of American History


Today we walked through the National Mall (Smithsonian's). We visited the Museum of American History which took up all day. We saw Julia Child's kitchen to trains and the ORIGINAL star-spangled banner. We were only allowed to take pictures in certain areas. The rooms had barely any lights because the clothing (linens/threads) would fall apart and the important documents would fade away.

We also saw the Bill of Rights, Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and the Magna Carta. When looking at the Declaration I realized that they spelled "Pennsylvania" wrong and 3 of the original 13 colonies didn't even sign the document. The Magna Carta was cool to see after learning so many details about it in History class! Today we walked everywhere and learned lots. All in all today was a good day.





Steps walked today: 8294

Monday, November 22, 2010

Washington DC -Day 2

Gettysburg


Even though it is only the 2nd day of vacation, it was by far my favorite day! We got up and drove for a while. All the way up to Gettysburg. It was really pretty along the way but I fell asleep yet again. Once I woke up the sights were astonishing! The tree leaves were changing colors. Some were green, some were red and yellow, some were orange and brown.









Then we arrived to Gettysburg around 3 O'clock. We went to the museum on the battle field. In the museum we watched a film and saw the cyclorama. The cyclorama was my favorite because I didn't want to go at first; because I had recently learned about it in History class. (Cyclorama- 360 panoramic; painted in 1884, 20 years after the battle took place;painted in less then a year)

My Experience:
Learning about History in a book makes it seem unreal. But, once you go on a trip, and experience it it becomes a story. Learning about everything today made me realize how much I don't listen to my teacher or what the books tell us. Standing and looking at the cyclorama made me understand all the casualties of war. The bombs were fired left and right, gun powder so thick you couldn't see in front of you face, men falling down by the thousands, general shouting orders, horses strucken dead bu bullets. Once the 3 gruesome days were over the wounded crowded into homes; turned into hospitals. Over time many died from infections, many survived though too. The war continued, but we were once again a Union.



We made our way to Washington D.C. later today. As the clock stricks midnight it is time for me to get to bed. *Turns off lights*

Steps walked today: 3873

GOODNIGHT MY BRAVE SOLDIERS!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Washington DC -Day 1

Pennsylvania- Steelers game

We left LAX Airport at 10:45 on Saturday night. I was really hyper at the airport but as soon as we got onto the airplane I hit a state of exhaustion. Me and Kody say next to each other on the plane (our seats were across from the bathroom). As soon as the pilot took away the seat belt sign away...A never ending stream of light hit our face. Door open, door close, door open, door close, almost asleep, drunk guy hits our chairs, uses bathroom, doesn't close door... common sense people. I mean really you can't shut a door?

Kody feel asleep on my shoulder, It made me feel important and needed. We landed in North Carolina at 5:30am. We had a 2 hour lay-over before we got on our connecting flight to Pennsylvania. Sure enough we fell asleep on that 1 hr and 30 min flight.


Once we got our rental car we drove for 20 minutes (I fell asleep once again) to Heinz Stadium (Pittsburgh Steelers). Once we there, we saw thousands and thousands of people. The tail-gate parties were crazy! There were over 20 LARGE parking lots filled with them. Everyone attending the game was dressed in their own personal take on the Steelers attire. People had their face's painted (including Kody),
crazy suits, hats that even made them look crazy.

We sat in front of this family, they were "true" fans as you could say. Every call they had some input. Bad Call- "Boo ref you suck" or "Dirty Raiders!" Plus, their daughter would repeats the mom's EVERY word. Good Call- "Finally ref" or "Go Steelers!" It got old really fast.


As we were walking to a restaurant after the game for dinner, My dad dropped his "terrible towel" and these drunk ladies grabbed it and ran up to him. The ladies kept repeating and slurring the words, " Sir, sir, sir! You, you dropped your to-towel." We get it he dropped his towel. Is it really that hard to ask you to stop drinking beer so you can talk! But, it was really funny and I thought they were going to fall over.

We walked to "Jerome Bettis Grill 36", which was packed (no surprise there). We ended up eating dinner at a steakhouse called "Hyde Park." My dad said (quote) "This is the best steak I've ever had!" And we all tried each others food; which made it all the better. Dinner was delicious!


As the day comes to a close, we are all worn out; the 3 hours time difference sucks, the football game was a blast, and dinner was great! So good night California and hello Washington D.C.

Step walked today: 5890

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Civil War Re-enactment

Had a fun day with the family today! We went to Moorpark for a Civil War re-enactment. We saw all the guns, sabers(swords), and canons; blare for hours at a time! We got to see Abraham Lincoln
gave a speech called the Gettysburg Address and General Custer
talked about his great triumphs and failures. For a man who failed in the act of trying to free our country; is a pretty decent man I would say. Even though he lead thousands of men to their death and will be considered a fool in the History books for the rest of time; he will be a hero for the dedication and effort he put in.








Today was such a good day for me to take pictures! I took some great pictures that showed the simple facts of war. War is a place where men and women are fighting for us. We may have been to scared to fight oursleves but the sacrafices they make for us show the heart the have for their country. Whether they return home or not they will know what they have done for us and I hope we can all realize how important they are to us. Please, come home safely <3

My Photography:










Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Santa Monica Pier


Today we went to the Santa Monica Pier and while we were there we went on a 10 mile bike ride, walked around Venice, played in the ocean, and went to the Pier. We got to the beach around 10 in the morning and it was cold and cloudy and then we went on our bike ride and on it we say a poke-a-dot house, AND Barbies Dream House! They were the 2 UGLIEST houses in the world! I would never ever let a family member live there! So very ugly!

Then went we got to Venice we had lunch and saw some creepers. My friend that was there with us was freaking out and hyperventilating because druggies were yelling and cursing at each other. She thought they were gonna pull guns out and shoot her. I got a kick out of it. And then we went back to the Pier.

When we got to the Pier we went on a roller coaster, Farris wheel, and bumper cars. Before we did all that we just stared out into the ocean and watched the gentle ripples in the ocean move up and down. It was to gorgeous! Then after we finished going on all the rides we got these HUGE ice cream cones!

After we got our cones we walked back to the front of the Pier so we could go play in the water. As Kody and His friend played in the water, my friend and I put are feet in the sand because it was starting to get cold again. And as we got bored we had a race down the beach....guess who won...her the track star or me the volleyball star. I did, because she twisted her ankle earlier in the day. I still say i won though.

After spending about 45 minutes goofing of down by the water we had to get back home so Kody could get to football practice. We all wish we could have stayed longer. Even though we couldn't it was definitely worth the trip!

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Aquarium of the Pacific


I had a blast with the family today at the Aquarium! We got to pet/touch sharks, sting rays, and bat rays. They felt like velvet and were really slimy. I didn't want to touch them at first but, I am glad I did it at the end. I'm glad I didn't miss out on that once in a lifetime opportunity.

As we went through all the exhibits the had this emboss thing-a-ma-jig so you could get stamps for your program. That entertained me a lot! We also went the seal show. It was the most crowded thing in my life, we had to stand in the back. We could barely see anything...except Dad because he is so tall.

After we visited the Aquarium we went and sat on a patch of grass to look at the Queen Mary. Yes, that is the "HAUNTED" ship.
Just to sit there and stare at the ship, was amazing. You heard the crashing of the waves against the pointed rocks. The sound of the moter boats going against the wind. The roar of their engines. It just made the view that much more spectacular!

For lunch we went to Bubba Gump and ate lots and LOTS of shrimp! It was really yummy but, so incredibly filling. After we stuffed or stomachs we drove home and the traffic was a beast. All in all, I love hanging out with the family.