museum quality pictures--NOT

I have some children who shy away from the camera--
I have to sneak in a picture when i can--
these are the shy children i am talking about
always turning away when the camera is focused on them
I think i captured their best side--rather cheeky i would say

Wait-- that is someone else's children who were defacing the museum as we were walking through--remember how nice i told you the weather was--people were running around the museum half naked. Actually they were not running--they appeared frozen like they were statues or something--showing an early display of tagging--only to move when we looked away...

but then i have this child--
who recently has loved the camera pointed her way

and would encourage picture taking any chance she got.
(I will show you some of my favorite photo shoots with her in future posts)
"mom take my picture"
i would hear her periodically say, and since she was my museum buddy, i did.

There is nothing like standing in the mouth of a shark--even if it is just the bones--just the fact that they can swallow you whole--GULP.
I felt bad that my other children did not have these random pictures--but they didn't want to hang with me. I like to actually read about the things i am seeing and have been known to be slow in my viewing---truly taking it all in. They did take pictures of each other--


Unfortunately they were not as "focused" on composition--maybe because i was sporting the more expensive camera--or maybe because my companion was soooo willing....although i will say that some of the museum lighting made photography interesting...that and the glass that much of it was behind.

The concept seemed like a great idea at the time--me taking a picture of my daughter taking a picture of the HOPE diamond--but i think the glass was a bit to thick to make it work

And in case there is any doubt that i actually was along for the trip--as if all the pictures i took was not enough----my son documented my role on the trip--looking at my life through a camera lens--

A week ago

Time just keeps moving on--
often it is only when you reflect back that you realize how quickly time moves--
Has it really only been a week that we were starting out on our vacation?

Last Saturday night found us all together here....

It is one of my favorite buildings--so beautiful in the distance--rising up from the trees--

and even more beautiful up close.

The DC temple has always been a favorite of mine--
I had the opportunity to go there when i was young and I had wanted to get married there...but while temples might vary in architecture the truths that are taught inside are all the same...

I loved walking around the grounds with my kids--
seeing the awe as they looked up at the spires pointing up to heaven.

The building appeared to be glowing in it's simplistic beauty--

simply stating its purpose as well...

the house of the lord--

holiness to the lord--

stated on each and every temple...

We have a Christus in our visitor center as well--
I love the fact he is standing there
with his arms open
to welcome all to come unto him

It was the first time i had all my teenagers together with us at the temple
It was a great experience--such a beautiful place,
with a peaceful spirit, and definitely a highlight to our trip

How my kids measure up

MONEY:

Portable pieces of stamped paper or metal

in use of a medium of exchange.


We took a trip to the treasury building--kinda hard to miss the purpose of this building since they have the picture of the new $5 bill on a large banner hanging on it

actually it is the bureau of engraving and printing...
someone had told me they were handing out samples--
they weren't.
Call me gullible...
but the government is always giving away money--
yours and mine...
so was it so wrong of me to believe that i could get some?
I know it was a stretch....

The bureau of engraving doesn't only print money--
no---they are used to print all the presidential invites and such...
One more benefit for being the president--
never having to worry about running out of ink....

They were really picky about taking pictures--
as in "don't even think about it"
There were signs everywhere about NOT taking pictures.
I wanted to take a picture of the signs...
but i withstood the temptation...
It's not like they would come and yank the film out of my camera...
that is the problem with digital--
it is just not as dramatic to delete pictures.

It was interesting to see the many "security" features that they are continuing to add to our money--they said that they continue to add changes to the bills every 7 years...
and i am fine with that--
as long as they don't remove the "In GOD we trust" they can do what they want
(i know they have been waiting for my approval)

I was not the only person seeing dollar signs...

but i could actually take a picture of this

I used to think that a hundred thousand dollars was a lot of money--and then i worked for a bank and realized that while financially it is alot of money--it is just not that impressive sitting there.....

they had this on the wall--i just want to know--is the size of the kid in direct relation to the amount of money you will spend on them?

I love the fact that we were able to document how tall they currently are
and the financial value attached to each one
All my kids are into the millions already--my how they've grown
although i think this kids value will increase by several hundred thousand before all is said and done.
We do have a friend who is in the 7 foot range--worth over 2 million
I will take my vertically challenged family--they are cheaper that way...