Cherries, teaching, and Washington, D.C.

How long has it been since my last post?

I'm scared to do the math. 

I assure you, it has been time well spent.

6 weeks working in the cherry warehouse, with my cousins.

During this time, I was hired for a 4th grade teaching position at a local elementary school! There is a story behind this, but, seeing as how the time I've allotted for myself to write this post is almost up, it will have to wait for another time. [Sorry!]

After the cherries, and after a week of making a mess of my classroom, my brother and I headed out for a 10-day D.C./Virginia trip! SO much fun! We had been planning it for a long time, and, even though at first I felt guilty for leaving my messy classroom for so long, I believe it was worthwhile.

Allow me to throw some photos at ya.

We had a red-eye flight to D.C. If you've done one of these before, you understand how we felt -- red eyes, indeed.

Remember the Titans? We had the privilege of seeing T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia. [Not actually where the movie was filmed, as we were disappointed to discover.]

We spent LOTS of time in the American History museum [6 hours, to be exact.] So fascinating. George Washington was there to greet us at one of the levels [but I honestly can't remember if we saw him at the American History or the Natural History museum...I guess the former makes more sense].

My primo Silve accompanied us when he was free. Here he is pictured with my hermano in front of the Washington monument.

See Mr. Lincoln in the distance? In front of him is the World War II memorial. Close-ups follow.

Library of Congress, ceiling.

One of the best tours we had was that of the Capitol. Because we requested it through our senator Patty Murray, my brother and I got a personalized tour from one of Murray's interns, who was from Seattle!

Mt. Vernon [home of THE George Washington] ended up being very close to where we were staying in Alexandria, Virginia.

George Washington's tomb at Mount Vernon:

Soldier's Home, a.k.a. Lincoln's Cottage [where Lincoln and his family stayed for part of his presidency. It is just 3 miles from the White House, I believe].

The women's memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. While we were there, a young man dressed in a suit walked in. He left behind a bouquet of roses. 

The highlight of our trip: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Wow.

Okay, so this next photo might seem out of place. Let me explain. After our tour of the Pentagon, we visited the Pentagon memorial honoring those who died from the plane crashing into it on 9/11. Just outside the memorial was an outhouse. THE fanciest outhouse I have ever seen. Proof:

Supreme Court:

Iwo Jima memorial:

Our final stop we took while on our way to Virginia Beach: Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson. See his grave below, followed by his house.

That's all I have time for today. 

Coming soon: classroom before and after photos, and a full report from your very own 4th grade teacher. :)