The Santini Family

DC Trip

At the beginning of June we went to DC to take care of some business, see family, and do a little touring.

Now for a disclaimer. I hate to be such a girl, but my hair this trip was giving me serious trouble. Actually, it wasn't my hair. It was the humidity. I'd leave the house with my hair looking decent and an hour later I was scaring small children. Yikes!

These are the steps in the movie The Exorcist. Never seen it, but it's apparently famous.

So very true.

This is the oldest house in DC.

This is the gun that shot Lincoln.

And this is the box he was in when he was shot.

Here is where he died, but if I remember correctly, the bed is not the actual bed he died in.

The Smithsonian

When we were walking around, we saw this HUGE procession of police. There were several unmarked black vehicles that entered the Environmental Protection Agency building. We are fairly certain it was the president.

Black vehicles entering the building.

All the secret service walking around talking into their wrists. Cool stuff!

Look familiar?

Dorthy's shoes!

The original Kermit puppet

We went to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and saw them printing the new $100 bills. The great thing about DC is everything is free. We didn't go to a single place this trip that cost anything. Great place for a vacation.

Lincoln's top hat

On our way up the Washington monument. I had no idea you could go inside.

The view from the top

JD loved the war exhibits. Cool stuff!

Part of the twin towers that fell.

This is part of the diner where one of the first sit-ins occurred.

Supreme Court

Library of Congress

Absolutely breathtaking!

This was a farmer's market in DC we went to for lunch. I love farmer's markets.

Here we are in Philadelphia inside Independence Hall.

Here is where the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Here is the Senate room

Beautiful

We went to a little restaurant that serves food from George Washington's time period. The waiters dress up in period garb too. We had the most amazing West Indies Pepperpot Soup that Washington served his troops.

Love this print of the first legislative prayer. JD's Substantial Paper was written about legislative prayer.

Benjamin Franklin had a printing press that still prints today.

There was also a great little fire fighter's museum in Philly we visited.

Benjamin Franklin's grave- we decided NOT to pay $2 per person to see the grave when all we had to do is stick our camera through the gate and snap a picture.

The stairs Rocky ran up in Rocky.

Father's Day with the fam.

Dear Presley!

Every football game that the Naval Academy wins against Air Force results in a bronzed football.

Wouldn't you like to have lived in a dorm that looked like this?

This is the church on campus.

At one point this was the US Capital.

Law School Stuff- Catching Up

I was too exited about JD's graduation to neglect posting about it, but everything else I've been really bad about.

Before JD graduated, he had to write this monstrous paper. Oh....the all nighters! I felt so bad for him. But he wrote a fantastic paper about legislative prayer and went through the defense process like a pro! I was able to help him a little with his paper and attend his defense. It's so fun to see him at work. He's very talented.

Nina helping JD with his paper..

This is just a random picture. I made those rainbow cupcakes that are all over the blogging world and they turned out so cute! Had to share.

We threw a graduation party for JD and his law school buddy, Nathaniel.

A lot of our friends attended the picnic and it was a great party.

Love the look on Nash's face!

This is Carl who helped JD out a lot when he had his stroke. Carl is a med student who came and helped JD understand what had happened and gave him good advice. So grateful for good friends.

We had a surprise kangaroo court. The boys were charged with fraudulent graduation. Carl was the prosecuting attorney, JD and Nathaniel had to defend themselves, and Kevin was the judge.

Carl making his closing argument.

JD making his.

Then everyone had to close their eyes and vote as to whether the boys were guilty or not. Luckily the court found them not guilty. Whew! Would hate to go through those 3 grueling years for nothing!

This is the pinata Tennille made. Accounting for Lawyers was a class the boys took together that was probably the most complained about class. Yuck!

JD at bat.

All of the other adults stepped back to wait while the kids grabbed candy, except for JD. He's so much fun!

We filled the pinata with regular candy but also some of the good stuff! It was fun to hear our friends (mostly the men) say "Wait! That was a real Snickers. That's real candy!"

Congrats, Sweets!

Vegas- The Last Leg

We drove into Vegas in the evening and drove by The Freemont Experience.

JD snagged a great deal at the Hilton. He's good at that!

The result of a little detour. We swung by Ely to see where our friends are going to be moving, and stopped for gas. JD walked into the gas station and saw NFL clocks up on a high shelf. As he reached to look at one, he was not able to see that a NFL machete (a collector's item, I guess) was laying on the shelf. It fell off the shelf and stabbed him in the finger which created a permanent reminder of our trip!