My Birthday in The Big Apple (Video!)

I become a photographer...and I amaze everyone

National Botanical Gardens

I got a new dslr camera for my upcoming birthday (Oct. 27...nbd) and now I am automatically a professional photographer. 

My first day with my new companion was spent at the Newseum, a fantastic museum about news reporting and communications in the United States (which I am especially interested in). It had a fantastic view of the Capitol building, a touching section about the fall of the Berlin Wall and my favorite, the section about reporters of 9/11. The Newseum even has the mangled communications antenna from the North World Trade Center. 

A chunk of the Berlin Wall

The beautiful Capitol Building during a rainy fall day

Emma and I with the Canadian flag behind us (naturally) as well as the Capitol Building

9/11 exhibit

Comms Antenna from North Tower

News Headlines from around the U.S.

My second outing included a crisp day around the Nat. Mall, the Native American Museum (for the Day of the Dead Celebration) and the beautiful Botanical Gardens!

Statue in front of Native American Museum

Cooking Presentation

At the Botanical Gardens...

I know... beautiful, right?!

Capitol shots

Yeah...I'm good. (:

It's been a while...

First of all, the Washington D.C. Temple is gorg! 

I was able to see one of my great friends from growing up, Sister Moore, as she was still a missionary serving at the temple visitor's center!

Then I had an experience like this....

Marshall from "How I Met Your Mother"

(Shoutout to all the HIMYM fans out there!)

Burger Tap & Shake (BTS) Blue Burger...Best burger I've ever had (so far)

One night we were walking home from the metro when we saw tons of cops lining the streets in front of our building. Turns out, they were waiting for the president's motorcade...which we saw pass by.

When we went to old town Alexandria, Va., we went to a meat and cheese restaurant called La Fromagerie. So fAANCY!

Also, I love the National Mall on a beautiful cool day.

One of my favorite artifacts from the Smithsonian!

Nauvoo Sun Stone from the original temple

Second favorite.... Ruby Slippers!

The Washington Seminar group went to Valley Forge and Philadelphia for a weekend. 

Valley Forge was a beautiful retreat from the city.

Then in Philadelphia...

Liberty Bell

Independence Hall

Where the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence

Fall in Philly

Caroline and I with Ben Franklin and the rest of the Founding Fathers

Back in D.C., I finally saw the White House!!!! 

There was a Turkish Festival downtown and I went with my Jerusalem Center friend Caleb!! It was fun and reminded me of the real thing...sort of. See my real Turkey experience here.

There is a crazy blue head downtown that I like...

It's a quintessential American fall!

Gettysburg was the last excursion Washington Seminar did together. Autumn was in the air!

Gettysburg cannon, Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee and the Gettysburg Address

So, Gettysburg is definitely haunted.... but nobody even believes me. jk...but really....but, jk?