The Capitol Building

 Our first tour in Washington, DC was the Capitol Building.

 We found a picture of Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of the TV.

 

 The Old Supreme Court Chamber used to be in the Capitol Building.

 The ceilings were gorgeous.

 

 We had headphones to better hear our guide.

 Entering the Capitol rotunda.

 The ceiling of the rotunda.

 Ronald Regan.

 Magna Carta.  All these paintings were commissioned specifically for the Capitol rotunda and some were not historically accurate, so the guide told us.

Washington takes the presidency.

 Washington during the Revolution.

  

 Signing of the Constitution.

 Orrin and Abe.

 Thomas Jefferson.

 Washington.

 Brigham Young.  We got in trouble with another guide for taking a picture with Brigham and then losing our tour group.  She didn't like Mormons.

 This was the founder of FL, I think, or it's first governor.

Next we were going to take the subway to the Pentagon, but we forgot our tickets, so Christian had to race back to the car.

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello

 Welcome to Monticello.

 Our family has never been to this historical landmark.

 Jefferson was known for being extremely orderly and for taking copious notes.

 Jefferson was a little on the short side.

 Our family took a nice tour of the property and house.

 It was a gorgeous Fall day and the architecture was very impressive.

 The grounds were lovely there.

 

 The kids practiced writing with quills and ink.

 Joseph wrote a special message for Orrin.

 Lord of the Rings on the brain?

 They had gorgeous gardens and views.

 Jefferson built this outdoor room to enjoy surveying his property.

 We enjoyed some of the Fall colors.

 Jefferson's grave.

 This was an area with kids' hands-on exhibits.

 Amara and Orrin built some impressive structures.

 Orrin is getting his Jefferson on.

43! And still going . . .

Christian is 43 today.

Goodbye velcro watch, hello doctor's watch!

Aleya made daddy a nice card.

Daddy received the free weights he always wanted.

Amara made a nice pop-up card.

Joseph is so sentimental.

Our Cutie Kitties

 Aleya loves our new kitty, Callie.

 Callie can do the splits!

Coon and Callie get along well now and love to hang out on the wood floor when it's hot.

 The cereal boxes prizes are getting better and better!

Joseph spends many a waking hour bothering our cats.

More Fall Football

 Orrin is plugging along with football.

 It's not Florida football unless you have a game in a torrential downpour.

 Nothin' like watching football in the rain.  It actually feels better to play in the rain than in the heat and humidity.  It was a fun and watery game.