DC final leg

After finding a local church, we went to the National Geographic Museum to see their Real Pirates exhibit and Birds of Paradise. Click link here for better info on the Whydah ship that was recovered and provided most of the stuff in the exhibit.

Kyleigh was scared when we first walked into the Pirates exhibit because they have you watch a video of a real Pirate captain, Sam Bellamy, and his ship that sunk the Whydah...it was a slave ship that Sam captured on its maiden voyage and turned it into his main vessel in raiding over 50 ships. It sunk in a perfect storm and still had most of the treasure captured from those 50 ships. That was a lot of ships to have raided back in the day...and most of that recovered treasure was on display. We learned stuff like if the Pirates boarded your ship and you said that your Captain was mean, they would probably kill the Captain or throw him in their jail. But if you said your Captain was fair and just, they might let the Captain keep his ship and just take the loot from it.
Most Pirates were from poor backgrounds, but anytime they captured another ship, they would take whatever they wanted and often it was the fine clothing of the men on board along with whatever would garner some money for them.
A finely dressed Pirate.

Display of the Captain's quarters. Fancy.

Real treasure found in the wreckage from the Whydah ship.

On the other side of the museum they had the Birds of Paradise exhibit.

You look through this camera and it shows video of what the National Geographic photographers saw when on their trips to capture the rare birds. Then you push the button to try to capture certain movements of the bird...just like a pro. B spent a long time here.

Kyleigh liked the part where it teaches you how to do the dance the birds do when trying to show off.

Then it was time to go home to Ohio, so we made our last stop. I'm told that there are alot of accidents in this area because the temple will just pop out of the landscape and causes alot of people to stare at it. Our neighbor here in Akron used to live in the DC area growing up and told us that everyone who lives there knows about the giant Mormon temple.

Beds buds.

He's no National Geographic photographer, but he got the subject in focus without being blurred like his younger counterpart usually does.

We let the kids run around before loading them up for 5 hours.

She already likes the nice smell of colorful flowers.

This might be about the 9th Temple they've been able to go up and touch.

Seems tucked away. (Definitely not though. It's DC.)

Kyleigh started crossing the street without holding anyone's hand, so he's scolding her and telling her to come back.

She complied.

And then took off once she reached safety

We checked out their Visitors Center. Kyleigh likes this statue.

I never tell her not to touch statues of Jesus, cause I don't think He would want her to keep her distance either.

Some good reads

Kyleigh actually asked me to take her picture next to this photo.

Visitors Center missionaries show a video on role and importance of Families in this room.

While watching the short video, Kyleigh started out sitting by Trent and I, but eventually found her way over to her brother. He didn't seem to mind.


It also has a couple displays of the type of welfare and humanitarian work the Church does for areas around the world.

Kids always prefer the hands on approach.

Love this bunch. A fun group to go touring around the country with. And a really nice area to go visit. 

...but perhaps even better was coming home to this little treasure:

Has provided many hours of fun and fascination for a certain 6 year old boy.