August 28, 2010 - The reason we went to D.C. The Restoring Honor Rally. The morning started VERY early for us...Mark & I up at 5 am to get ready, girls up at 5:30 and everyone out the door by 6:30. After a little glitch with the cab company we were on our way and at the Lincoln Memorial by 7 am. The grounds were already starting to fill up and fill up fast. Mark & Marin went ahead of us and found us a great spot. So by 7:30 we settled in and made ourselves comfortable...
By 9:30 the sun was out and heating up the day. There was an amazing couple that sat behind us that gave us their umbrellas (which SAVED the little ones!) By 10 am when the rally started it was blisteringly hot!
Martin Luther King Jr's niece gave an incredible speech that morning, she came to the rally against the advice of many of her family members and colleagues. She spoke of her reasons for being there that day one of which was because she knew that it was going to be an inspirational experience filled with the spirit of honor, hope and charity. That the spirit of the Lord would be there to guide all that spoke and attended that day and that her uncle would be proud of her. She was incredible. Her speech was powerful. I'm grateful she chose to be with us that day.
Of course Sarah Palin was a crowd favorite! We love Sarah! She too gave an amazing speech. It wasn't political at all, none of the speeches were. The rally stood true to it's premise...It was about Hope. About Charity. About Faith. About Restoring Honor.
The amount of people there that day was INSANE! They started at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and packed full past the WWll memorial all the way back to the lawn of the Washington Monument. After being there and seeing that many people there is NO WAY anyone can tell me that the American people don't have faith and a love for our country. There were no riots, no fights...just people gathering together standing for something. It was an AMAZING experience that I'm grateful to have shared with my husband and daughters! An experience that we will never forget!
This was absolutely incredible to watch! We stayed and watched them change at least 3 times. The dedication. The timing. These elite soldiers are unbelievably powerful to see. Again another experience I was privileged to share with my family. A lifetime memory.
JFK and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (it's hard to see in the photo but on the circle is a burning flame)
View from the top of the hill at Arlington House which was George Washington's home.
One cute kid and always happy too!
Me on the other hand...I was sick of pushing the stroller with two 30 lbs kiddos up and down the hills as the tram cruises behind me...
By 9:30 the sun was out and heating up the day. There was an amazing couple that sat behind us that gave us their umbrellas (which SAVED the little ones!) By 10 am when the rally started it was blisteringly hot!
Martin Luther King Jr's niece gave an incredible speech that morning, she came to the rally against the advice of many of her family members and colleagues. She spoke of her reasons for being there that day one of which was because she knew that it was going to be an inspirational experience filled with the spirit of honor, hope and charity. That the spirit of the Lord would be there to guide all that spoke and attended that day and that her uncle would be proud of her. She was incredible. Her speech was powerful. I'm grateful she chose to be with us that day.
Of course Sarah Palin was a crowd favorite! We love Sarah! She too gave an amazing speech. It wasn't political at all, none of the speeches were. The rally stood true to it's premise...It was about Hope. About Charity. About Faith. About Restoring Honor. 
The amount of people there that day was INSANE! They started at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and packed full past the WWll memorial all the way back to the lawn of the Washington Monument. After being there and seeing that many people there is NO WAY anyone can tell me that the American people don't have faith and a love for our country. There were no riots, no fights...just people gathering together standing for something. It was an AMAZING experience that I'm grateful to have shared with my husband and daughters! An experience that we will never forget!
The view from our "spot"...
By noon Mckinley crashed...
So did Megan & Macy...
Before we headed out to see the Vietnam, Lincoln & WWll memorials Mark got a little love from a very hot (& still sleepy) Macy.
Our patriotic girl! Marin had a great time and was a big help with the younger ones :)
Lincoln Memorial...
World War ll Memorial...
Washington Monument...
View straight up from the base of the monument.
Family Shot at the base of the Washington Monument.
A little love from Mckinley...
Saw this Naval "unit" marching while we were on our walk from the back of the White House to the front.
So cool the things we got to see on our walk...
The girls thought it was awesome to climb this monument that stands next to the Eisenhower Building.
Made it to the top!
Map showing the grounds surrounding the White House (and our walking route from back to front.)
Front side of the White House
My girls!
My man!
My sweethearts!
It was a LONG first day and we did a a-lot of walking! It was well worth it! We had a ton of fun and saw A-LOT of really cool things!!!
