Well

Yesterday my Mom and I headed back downtown to visit more museums! (in fact the same museums just MORE). Our first stop took us to the Natural History Museum where we went inside a butterfly enclosure. They were absolutely stunning with iridescent wings in bright shades. I made friends with a beautiful blue butterfly who landed on my chest and just stayed there for about 25 minutes.

Following the butterflies we returned to the Newseum where we explored their marvelous exhibits--its a REALLY REALLY good museum--very interactive and fascinating. There is a permanent exhibit of all the Pulitzer Prize winning photographs, some heart wrenching, others heart warming. I found the one documenting the Ethiopian famine and Rwanda especially poignant. There was one image of an emaciated child (only about 3) crying crouched beside his dead mother--now completely alone in the world. Anyhow it obviously made me very sad but has inspired me to appreciate every blessing I take for granted.

When the Newseum closed (we still didn't finish there) we walked to the Portrait Gallery where we saw a lot of paintings of important Americans as well as an exhibition of Norman Rockwells. I love the stories and warm fuzzy feeling that Rockwell paintings contain!

Our night was not over yet as we then headed to Gatsby's Tavern in Old Alexandria for British colonial dance class (the type of dancing done in Jane Austen's time). The dance class was held in an assembly room where George Washington once danced and was really fun. I loved it and my mom and I are going back next Tuesday (lessons are every Tuesday and free). There is a masquerade ball coming up but I don't think I can go--