Geraldine and Kirsty visit the USA!

The pictures are up--captions will be added as time allows. Sure enjoyed revisiting this trip through the photos. :)


OK, so blogger adds picture BACKWARDS from the way they were uploaded....and there are a lot...so we will revisit the trip starting at the end..... :)

So, as we were walking through the airport as we were seeing them off, I explained to Kirsty that the terminal they would be leaving from is the same terminal that both Tom and TJ returned to from their deployments to the desert. I told her all about how everyone waits outside the doors and when the first servicemember walks through, everyone cheers and the first one through the doors (when I was there) looked behind her to see who we were cheering. I also told her that the noise we made drew the attention of people from upstairs and they were looking over the railing to see what was going on. Just as Kirsty and Geraldine got to the conveyor belt at security, a huge cheer was heard. Kirsty gave me a 'thumbs up' to signify she understood what was happening. This is what we saw when we went to check it out. If you are observant, you will notice how cute the kids holding the "welcome home" sign are...you'll also notice they got mixed up... :)

The Flag flying from the Parade Ground at Fort McHenry.


Lily checking out Fort McHenry's exhibits.


This must be at Fort McHenry, too, but darned if I remember it....


Geraldine reading "Pinkalicious' to Lily.


More "Pinkalicious" Lily was really taken with both Geraldine and Kirsty. After our shopping trip that day, I told Geraldine that 'she'd better love me again once they (G & K) go home.'


Capital Building, Washington DC.


We saw Marine One land on the White House lawn and pick up the President.


We were kept pretty far from the White House lawn while the Prez was in transit.


Geraldine was first to notice the reporters on the lawn--their cameras flashing caught her eye.

She was also the first to notice the snipers on the roof...

There was one point when we could see the walking feet of what we thought was someone important.

Another pic of the action on the White House lawn.

The crowd at the fence was very excited to be seeing the helicopter in the distance...

Beginning to take off.

In the air.

Moving higher...

See all the birds behind? It was at this point that I took video of the departure. Bad video, but I took it.

Marine One flying past the Washington Monument.

Me getting artsy with the WWII monument, the Washington Monument, and the American Flag.

More artsiness.

Washington Monument.

Another view from the WWII Memorial.

World War II Memorial.

Long distance view of "The Wall"--VietNam War Memorial.

Plaque

Tribute to VietNam War servicemembers.

Korean War Commemoration

Wreath at the Korean War Memorial.

Lincoln Memorial.

Geraldine and Kirsty with the Washington Monument.

With the reflecting pool.

Capital Building in the distance.

Riding the Metro to DC.

Kirsty with Jacque in the background--at Jacque's family Beach House.

Geraldine at the Beach House.

Beth

Beth again.

Kalei.

Falcon at the Hoghland Games.

Falconer and his bird at the Highland Games.

Beth greets Gary at the Highland Games, Jacque and one of her girls.

Gary and Kalei arrive at the Highland Games.

Mormon Temple in the distance off of I-495.

Rhiannon on Tom's shoulders at the Highland Games in Virginia. I loved the blue of the sky behind her.

I forget the story behind this pic. I know we were at the Museum of Crime and Puishment in DC. Kirsty? Do you remember?

At the Museum of Crime and Punishment.

NYC-Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center). I took this phoo because my BIL works for MetLife. That is the Chrysler Building behind it.

Through the glass at Top of the Rock.

NYC skyline from TOTR.

Looking down on Times Square from TOTR--see where the ball drops on New Year's Eve?

L

Me and Geraldine at the top of Rockefeller Center.

Kirsty and Geraldine at TOTR.

Again.


Saint Patrick's Cathedral from TOTR.

Central Park from TOTR.

The lake in Central Park from TOTR.

Crystal chandelier from the top of the stairs on the way to TOTR.

Crystal chandelier from the bottom.

I was hoping to get the words clearer. It says: "Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair. The event is in the hand of God." Washington

The arch from a distance.

Nighttime on Times Square.

Geraldine and Kirsty--nighttime on Times Square.

From a distance...

Again.

Kirsty with her fancy blinking glass.

Lunch at Bubba Gump's Shrimp Factory!

Artsy Essex House.

Kirsty flirting with the camera in Central Park. ;)

The Scots with Robbie Burns.

Tile ceiling in a pavilion in Central Park.

Trying to get the tile ceiling. Got my forehead in the shot...

Central Park.

That lady stepped into the shot just as I clicked the shutter. Darn. Photoshopping time...

Tribute to John Lennon.

In Strawberry Fields, Central Park, NYC.

Geraldine waiting for lunch to be served in NYC.

Lovely.

Caught Geraldine with her eyes closed.

Kirsty with real NYC cops. There were four when she asked for the photo, but two decided to step out. Look at the smile on the one on the right! He was the one who said she was having her picture done with the 'good-looking' ones.

Daytime on Times Square.

Waiting for the bus to NYC. Excitement abounds!