We had a GREAT trip to the East Coast for three weeks during June and July. We've been back for awhile, but I took way too many digital pictures during the trip and it was too overwhelming to think about working on this website. So, I decided to only highlight a few of the places we visited. Maybe someday I will put together an official "vacation 2001" page. = - ) After our flight to Providence, Rhode Island we rented a van and drove over to Plymouth Rock. The rock itself really isn't that impressive, but we did learn a lot about Pilgrim life and the beginning of our country. The next day we visited Cape Cod. The beach we visited was kind of cold and windy, but the weather was wonderful for site seeing and exploring the Cape. Our whole family enjoyed our first trip to Maine! We spent the day in Acadia National Park - it was beautiful!!! We wish we could have spent a few days visiting Acadia. New York City was SO fun!!! We all hiked up the skinny staircase to the crown on the Statue of Liberty. Here is a description of the experience from David's journal, "We went up to the top of the Statue of Liberty. It was so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so hot!!!!!!!! It was the hottest inside place I have ever been in my life. My estimate was 110 degrees. When we got up to the crown we took pictures as usual." Our trip up to the top of the Empire State Building was a lot less eventful. We rode an air conditioned elevator to the observation deck, took some pictures and rode the elevator back down. Philadelphia, PA was really fun to visit - of course we took the required Liberty Bell picture. = - ) We then made our way over to Washington DC for 4 days. The highlight of our trip was a visit to the White House on the 4th of July! We had a great tour and while we were inside the White House we saw President George W. Bush jogging!!! Really, we aren't joking! He was jogging aound the White House grounds and he waved to our group each time he passed us! (This is not a picture of George W. at the White House and I did not take it - it just shows you what he looked like when we saw him). = - ) We were also able to take a VIP tour of the Capitol Building. The dome of the Rotunda was quite amazing and it was fun trying to take a picture of the dome with all 4 kids! The 4th of July fireworks display was a little soggy - it rained all afternoon and we had to stay out in the rain to save a viewing spot. So, we got very wet!!!! Thankfully the fireworks weren't postponed and the rain stopped a few minutes after 9:00 p.m. It was an amazing show and one that we will never forget! = - ) Make way for ducklings and Ben Franklin in Boston, MA. We spent a couple of days in Boston during the final part of our vacation. By the time we arrived in Boston we were all "toured" out and didn't take one single tour with a tour guide. We did go on the self-guided Freedon Trail and made sure to see the Tea Party Ship - no pictures right now. = - ) After we returned home the kids began the traditional swimming classes and Matthew is officially swimming on his own now! This is a picture of David's pool party.