Clarks Crossing the Country

  Today we visited the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.  We took a tour, but again, no photos allowed.  Money is only printed in D.C. and at a location in Texas.  It was crazy to see the money stacked and being cut!   Our next goal was the Washington Monument.  Unfortunately, it was under construction, and so we weren't able to go all the way up to it.  Because it was so hot, we opted to just take a picture here, but it was too bright so no one wanted to look either.   Our next goal was the Air and Space Museum, but along the way, we went passed the Agricultural Department and they had a farmer's market.  Great for a few free samples, cold water, nectarines, and empanadas for lunch!  They had a cute area outside that provided blankets and stumps to sit on.   The original Smithsonian called the Smithsonian Castle.   The real Wright brothers plane and Amelia Earhart's plane.   A strange flying machine from WWI.   Finall

  We were so thankful to be able to stay with our friends, the Parals in Fairfax, VA.  Kristen and I grew up together and it was a blast getting to reconnect.  Our kids had an amazing time together too, so it was so hard to say goodbye!     We started the day at the National Archives where we saw originals of the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and The Bill of Rights.  It was incredible.  Bummer was, no pictures allowed!  After the archives, we walked to Ford's Theater.  Learning and seeing Lincoln sites has been a surreal experience.  I keep mulling over in my mind how our nation would have been different if Lincoln had survived and his goal for after the war, had been achieved.  The picture on the right is the home where Lincoln died, after being shot at Ford's Theater across the street.   John Wilkes Booth's gun and the theater box where President Lincoln and his wife sat.   This was a beautiful book display.  All the books are ab