Laundry time at the Pike's Home (July 5, 2011)

I had to do some laundry and Spencer decided to help me out a little bit. Unfortunately he thought it was better to mix all the clothes into one pile.

4th of July at Mount Vernon

Before the daytime fireworks they had a gun solute. It was really loud. After the fireworks the troops marched out. We got a picture of them marching out.

The smoke from the fireworks. We watched them fromt he back of George Washington's home. They were shot over the Potomac River.

George and Martha Washington said "Happy Birthday America" before they shot off the fireworks.

George Washington in front of the troops. Right before they did a gun solute. It was too loud and Spencer didn't even jump when they shot the guns over our head. We also saw a naturlization ceremony, they brought 100 newest citizens and made them U.S. Citizens, it was really interesting to here what they say. We had a great day at Mount Vernon, celebrating like they would have back on July 4th years and years ago.

July 4th 2011

This is the stars and stripes band that were playing at Mount Vernon.

Spencer had so much fun at Mount Vernon for the 4th.

Fort McHenry

Here is a picture of Fort McHenry. We stopped on the way to take my parents to the airport. This is where the Star Spangled Banner was written. He was actually on a ship in the bay outside Fort McHenry when the British were trying to take Fort McHenry.

Jared and Spencer in front of a Flag at the Fort McHenry visitor's cenJared participated in the raising of the flag, because it was Memorial Day. They asked for volunteers to help with the raising of the flag and Jared ran ahead and was on a corner. It was a huge flag.

Gettysburg

We drove up to Gettysburg PA while my parents were visiting. This is The Pike Restaurant and Lounge that we saw while we were driving to the different battle sights in Gettysburg.

Jared and Spencer standing on an overlook tower and in the background is the town of Gettysburg.

We are standing in front of a canon. They say that some of the canon's are original and some have been placed there.

Abraham Lincoln, Jared, Crystal and Spencer outside the visitor's center in Gettysburg.

Jefferson Memorial, American Indian Museum and Botanical Gardens

We were tired so this is as close to the Jefferson Memorial as we got. We didn't want to walk all the way over to it, maybe next trip.

This picture is from the American Indian Museum. It was neat to learn about the indians that are native to the Virginia area.

Mom, me and Spencer at the Botanical Gardens in DC. They have lots of plants and beautiful flowers. They have an orchid section that was my favorite.

We went to see the outside of the United States Capital Building.

Me and Spencer in front of a swordfish display at The Natural History Museum.

The Lincoln Memorial. Inside is Abraham Lincoln sitting in a chair and Gettysburg Address on the wall.

The Korean War Memorial. They had big display of flowers. I'm not sure if they have it all year around or if it was because of Memorial Day. It was a very impressive Memorial.

Mount Vernon-May 2011

Here is a picture of mom, me and Spencer at the side of George Washington's home at Mount Vernon.

Here is a picture of the Gardens at Mount Vernon. It was really fun to see all the vegetables and flowers that weren't planted when we went in Feb. We had a great time.

White House and Boy Scout Memorial

Pictures of the white house and the mom, dad and Spencer in front of the Boy Scout Memorial in Washington DC.