Washington DC

It seems as if I started eating on Thanksgiving and haven't stopped. I don't think I can remember what "hungry" feels like. I think that's why I haven't posted a blog yet... I'm still full from Thanksgiving. Since Christmas is in full swing it's about time I post about our trip to DC over Thanksgiving.

We spent 10 days traveling, 5 different hotels/houses, and 5 different states/districts. We traveled by planes, trains, and automobiles through the east coast. I took 250 pictures, which is why this task has seemed so daunting. Procrastination ends here! Well, at least procrastination on this blog...I'm writing this technically during work hours where I have other things to accomplish, therefore the procrastination of this blog is causing procrastination of work. It's a cycle.

Anyway, we started out in DC staying with my sister who barely survives the daily gunfire and attacks... I'm joking of course, since she's moved to DC there has been some talk in my family about how DC is so dangerous... so I tease. Truthfully, DC is an awesome place, and I was only shot once. This is my sister and Madelyn apparently dressed as stage hands for a ballet.

Our DC tour started like any DC visit starts... the Metro. The public transportation in DC is handy, as long as you follow these simple rules:

• Don't try to travel with 16 people (majority of them under the age of 11)
  
• Don't put money on one card and try and use it to get 16 people through, DC is not NYC
  
• The explanation and wording on the actual ticket machines must have been written by someone with dyslexia... because making sense of it is nearly impossible.
  
• Understand that the Metro costs different amounts depending on when/where your going... making it virtually impossible for you to know how much it's going to cost.
• Don't put your card near anything, it becomes deactivated by touching a credit card, a room key, a cell phone... basically ANY other objects. I would have carried it in it's own special glass case but I'm afraid that glass may deactivate it.
• Take hand sanitizer.

Truthfully the Metro was fine, until we tried to travel with 16 people... then it became a nightmare. One awesome feature of the Metro is the amazing architecture. I must have taken 30 pictures of the subway stations.

We started out DC museum marathon at the National Archives, where we saw the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence. It was cool to see them in person... made you feel like freedom. Here we are in front of the archives.

We also happened to stop by the Supreme Court. I think my eyes are closed in this picture...

Next stop was the Newseum... which was amazing. After visiting all the DC museums I can honestly say that the Newseum is the best, well worth the money (it is also the only museum we paid for - all the rest are free). It's so well put together and fascinating. Among other things, they have the largest piece of the Berlin Wall outside of Germany (below) and the the communication tower from one of the Twin Towers. Powerful stuff.

The next day we headed for the Holocaust Museum which is one of the most humbling experiences of my life. It's certainly an experience I think every American should go through. It really puts things in perspective. Also, not really an activity that involves pictures and posing.

On Monday it was time for out US Capitol tour given by Madelyn's great uncle and senator. It was the royal treatment tour. I learned so much... and was in political paradise. Getting to go on the house and senate floor are definitely memories I will never forget. It was incredible. Getting to ride the subway from the senate building was pretty awesome too.

Here we are getting the awesome tour.

After seeing where the senators' hideaways were (amazing) we got to enjoy some Diet Cokes left over from the inauguration. An inaugural Diet Coke! It tasted like regular Diet Coke, but more presidential.

Best capital tour guide ever...

Here is a video I shot of the Senate Subway. Watch it now before I get an email from the government to take it down!

As if the capitol tour wasn't enough... we got a tour of the White House the following day. If I was allowed to take pictures in the White House I would have taken at least 100. We also got a tour from a White House expert (Madelyn's great aunt) which made the experience even more memorable.

During our tour we got the inside scoop that Marine One (the president's helicopter) was about to land and take Obama somewhere. So, we found a place to watch the action go down.

After the White House tour it was time for the best, and only, advice my sister has ever given me... rent bikes to go see the monuments. We knocked out monuments in half a day!

It's kind of interesting that in all the pictures of the Lincoln Memorial I can't recall ever seeing the ceiling, which is pretty cool.

Madelyn is getting her learning on.

At this stage in our marriage we've pretty much perfected the one handed snap shot.

This was pretty incredible. Standing in the exact spot where Martin Luther King gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. It was certainly a very powerful "wow" moment.

The FDR memorial was really neat. It was unlike any of the other memorials... more laid back. I loved it. It was also full of really awesome quotes.

When you're in DC with a camera you find yourself constantly taking pictures of the Washington Monument. We were lucky enough to score some tickets to get to the top where the best views of DC are.

Madelyn is fighting children so that she gets a turn to look out the window. You can see the Jefferson memorial in this picture.

After seeing the Newseum and the Holocaust Museum I have to say the other Smithsonian Museums landed with a dud. It wasn't that they weren't cool, but they just didn't compare. We should have done the Smithsonians first. Anyway, here is a picture from the air and space museum... to prove we were there.

Now that the DC portion of our trip was over we headed to Delaware by train to have Thanksgiving at Madelyn's brother's house. I don't have any pictures of Thanksgiving... I was too focused on food, football, and the iPad. It was a delicious feast provided by Madelyn and her sisters... and the fine people at Costco.

Everyone in the family loves each other, but after spending several days together, some of which involved the Metro, it was time for an activity outside the house. We headed to the Franklin Museum in Philadelphia. This was an excellent remedy for everyone.... the kids ran around and the adults goofed off.

Some of us went to an IMAX about the Hubble Space Telescope.

We all got together for a quick group shot with Franklin's feet.

After the Franklin Museum some of us stayed back for Independence Hall... but I think the main reason for staying back was for the promise of cheese steaks.

We also saw the Liberty Bell, which even after reading its history, I'm still confused why this is a monument. It's a broken bell which never really worked.

I don't mean to insult Philly or anything, but as a tourist, there are exactly enough activities in Philly to fill one day. We were there for a day and a half and we got to our limit. Maybe it was the 9 days of traveling beforehand, but when we reached Philly we were ready for home.

Here we are at the Love statue in Philly.

It's pretty funny that one of Philly's biggest tourist attractions are the stairs that are featured in the movie Rocky. I enjoyed my Rocky moment.

We tried to recreate the famous scene from Rocky, but unfortunately the ridiculousness of it all made us laugh. I was going to put music to this... but our inability to hold it together is pretty funny.

That pretty much sums up our DC trip. It was awesome... and I want to thank everyone who made it possible! It was SO memorable.

Here is the whole album if you want to flip through all the pictures:

ACL Fest Craziness

This past weekend Madelyn and threw our bikes in the car, strapped some chairs to our backpacks, and walked in to the ACL ready to burst our eardrums. It couldn't have been nicer weather, although when you're standing in the sun, shoulder to shoulder, even 89 degrees feels pretty hot. It didn't seem to matter once you were standing there watching your favorite bands play to huge crowds filled with people who all share the same admiration for the music. There were not so good bands, great bands, and then there were bands that literally changed my entire outlook on what music and live shows are.

For those who care, here is the listing of bands we saw.

Blues Traveler
Black Keys
Black Keys
Beach House
Spoon
Vampire Weekend
Phish
The Strokes
Pete Yorn
Two Door Cinema Club
Broken Bells
The XX
LCD Soundsystem
The Muse
Yeasayer
Flaming Lips
The National
The Eagles


We started the festival on Friday for the Black Keys! I couldn't think of a better way to start then watching these two rock out.

Taking a break after getting rocked by the Black Keys

After ACL on Friday we threw in a free Mates of State after-show. We hustled out of the festival after The Strokes, jumped on our bikes, and rode across town just in time for the Mates of State show. They were amazing as always...

On the 2nd day Madelyn bought a big hat sun shield... fighting the sun and the 70,000+ crowd was a challenge. Walking around the festival takes some serious skill.

We didn't try and get up front for the Broken Bells because...well, look at the picture. The show was still great even from the back.

We did make sure to get up close for The XX... not only because we like the band, but that's where the shade was.

This is us at The XX, I was sporting my Utah hat because it was Saturday... and during football season, on Saturday, you ALWAYS wear Utah clothing.

Madelyn and our friend Sarah, who was responsible for getting us one of our tickets! They enjoyed shows from the chair section, which was a nice break from fighting the crowds.

We had some downtime... and we took some pictures against the really pretty sky. It was a really pretty weekend, we couldn't have asked for better weather.

The Muse had some awesome laser lights that I want to install in our house for Rockband parties. They were incredible, as expected, and were a great end to an amazing 2nd day.

Sunday it was all about the Flaming Lips. We arrived two hours early to get a good spot for the show. While waiting for the Flaming Lips we met some fellow concert goers, although we really had no choice with our close proximity. We were crammed with our new friends for an hour, but it was totally worth it. The Flaming Lips were INCREDIBLE!

Waiting for the Flaming Lips

The Flaming Lips blew our minds! Changed my entire outlook on shows. The guy walks on the crowd in a ball... how cool is that?! The band knows how to get the crowd involved and knows how to keep the energy going. Weather it's walking around in the space ball...

...Directly over us...

Or singing an entire song on the shoulders of a guy in a bear costume. The concert was the best show I've ever seen...

Waiting for The National who had a great set, but after getting our minds blown at the Flaming Lips we took the moment to sit on a hill, listen to The National, and watch a TON of shooting stars in the sky. I couldn't have imagined a better end to the day.

It really was an amazing weekend... and we were really sad to see it come to a close. Going back to work after a three day party is hard, but we have the music, the pictures, and the excitement of who will play next year.