We were lucky enough to have a visit from some of our closest friends, Louise and Mike Innocenti and their boys Michael and Shawn. Michael and Thomas were good friends in school and Louise and I became very close. So when they suggested they might come out to VA to visit us, we jumped on the idea. Mike and Louise stayed at Oakwood as guests for the weekend, and we squeezed in a lot of sight-seeing in the time we had them with us, including a tour of the White House and the Capitol (thanks to Louise for putting all of that together for us!).
On the Friday of our tours, the weather was very wet and blustery, and we made our way into DC hoping we could avoid the rain indoors. No such luck--we arrived at the White House soaked to the bone.
Our White House tour was beautiful -- Bri and I and the kids have never been in the White House, and we enjoyed our tour (and escaping the weather for a bit).
The portrait of Hillary Clinton, where President Trump had come out and surprised a few visitors the week before our visit. No such drama this time. :)
The spring cherry tree blossoms had started coming out just a few weeks before their visit so I'm glad they got to see them! They are beautiful!
After the White House tour, we headed over to the Rayburn House Office Building to start our tour of Capitol Hill. Louise arranged tickets through our (now former) representative, Jason Chaffetz. Our tour started out in his office -- he left town the day before our tour, but his staff member Liz gave us a great tour and his office staff was very hospitable.
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| The underground tunnel from the Rayburn (and other Senate/House offices) to the Capitol. |
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This was new -- there is now a large gathering place for all tours that wasn't there the last time Bri and I did this in 2001 as guests of our senator Harry Reid. |
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Philo T. Farnsworth, one of Utah's two statutes at the Capitol. |
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The old Supreme Court chambers at the Capitol -- very lovely.    |
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A close-up of the "Apotheosis of Washington" in the Capitol Rotunda. |
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Capitol wrought-iron doors. |
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Brigham by the fireplace in the National Statuary Hall. I think Brother Brigham would enjoy his cozy spot by the fireplace.    |
The following day, we headed to the National Archives and saw the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights. We enjoyed taking our kids and our friends to see these important -- sacred -- documents. We enjoyed our tours and our time with the Innocentis!
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