Okay, still playing catch-up.
Last year for Tacey's 16th Birthday we took her on a trip.
We went to
NEW YORK CITY
and
WASHINGTON D.C.
It was a blast. It was 10 days of walking and eating
and watching Broadway Shows.
Loved it, loved it.
So did she.
This year was a serious let down after last year.
Told her we weren't going to try to top that until her wedding.
But here are pictures of our trip!!!!
Tacey outside the White House.
With my sister Andrea and my seriously cute Cousin, Tarah.
Tarah lives back there now and works for one of the offices there.
Can't remember which. . . .
Aren't they cute?
The next day was Arlington National Cemetary
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
They soldiers that guard this are the elite of the elite.
Look up what is required of them.
Look at the paths worn into the marble walkway.
It was an amazing, moving sight.
Washington Monument, well all of D.C. actually.
Services for someone.
Lincoln Memorial
Yeah, this is what we saw of the great reflecting pool.
Tacey pushing over the Washington Monument
The Vietnam War Memorial
Look at how you can see Tacey's reflection in the wall as she reads the names.
This view you can see all of her.
But more importantly, do you see all of the soldiers names?
There had been an earthquake in D.C. right before we got there. Those workers are checking the monument for damage. They had a picture of every single tile of their iPads and were taking new pictures to compare the two.
The Smithsonian
Tacey was a little freaked that she might have a Nightmare while we were on Elm Street.
The History of Transportation
C-3PO
The Hope Diamond.
Yep, she is shorter than an Elephant leg.
Her mouth might be as big as a hippo's though. . .
Does she have a tongue like a giraffe?
Tiger Attack!
Then back to NYC.
First place she wanted to visit was actually in New Jersey - Carlo's Bakery from Cake Boss.
Had to have a canoli
The M&M store in Times Square
Top of the Empire State Building
Inside the Empire State Building
And Cheesecake from Juniors.
A must after a Broadway Show.
You can't take pictures in the Theatres, but we saw Phantom of the Opera, Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark, Mary Poppins and Rock of Ages.
Another Day took us to the Statue of Liberty.
I cried there, several times.
Well, not in the Statue of Liberty, but at Ellis Island.
Top of the Rock
(Rockefeller Center)
Traditional Shane-on-the-Phone picture.
Empire State Building in the back.
Pushing it over.
Museum of Natural History
(Where they made the movie 'Night at the Museum'. Here the the Easter Island Guy, Tacey was saying 'Dum, Dum have some gum, gum?'
Mayan Calendar
LDS Temple in Manhattan
Central Park
F.A.O. Schwartz
Back Story:
Shane is an artist. Is was his major in college, before he went pre-med. When he went to the Smithsonian years ago, he saw this painting and it moved him to tears.
It is Rembrandt's self-portrait.
We looked at this Smithsonian this trip and the one he & I had taken before but it was no longer there. He was very sad.
But this trip, we heard that it was in the
Metropolitan Museum of Art.
We went, and there it was.
His favorite painting.
Andrea decided to take a custom-made muppet home.
She designed it and watched its creation.
Yep, it looks like her. This is the guy who created it.
The night before we caught the flight home we stayed in a hotel room that was NOT what we had paid for and ate the last of the cheesecake.
You must improvise sometimes where cheesecake is involved.
This year,
not quite so exciting.
20 Things about Tacey:
1. Favorite thing? Lightening McQueen
2. Least Favorite thing? High School - College sounds SO much better
3. Favorite time of day? Midnight
4. Favorite thing to do? Text
5. Something you are proud of? I don't know
6. Something you wish you had? My new car (She is getting one for her birthday, but it isn't quite ready yet.)
7. Someone you miss? Elder Taylor Joshua Wilson
8. Favorite Subject in School? English. (I had expected her to say Cheer. . . )
9. Favorite Color? Pink. (well, duh.....)
10. Favorite Food? Ice Cream (duh again. . )
11. How do you feel? Content & Anxious. (Not sure how that all goes together. . )
12. Something you are not? a boy
13. Someplace you go over and over again? my room & school
14. Where do you think you will be in 6 years? at school
15. Something you are scared of? The Dark & Clowns
16. Wanted super power? Mind Reading
17. Something about yourself you would change? My thighs
18. First thing you think in the morning? Where's my phone?
19. Worst habit? Biting my nails.
20. Ninjas, Pirates, or Aliens? Ninjas. . . DUH!
It is hard to believe she is 17 and will leave us in less than 2 years.
Happy Birthday Tacey!
We are blessed to have you in our lives!
-danielle
