Arlington National Cemetery Walking Tour #WashingtonDCtrip

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about historical places in Washington DC.  After our tour of the  Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception,we headed to the Arlington National Cemetery. Because of our travel delay, we were not able to follow our schedule.

"Arlington National Cemetery is a United States military cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., in whose 624 acres (253 ha) the dead of the nation's conflicts have been buried, beginning with the Civil War, as well as reinterred dead from earlier wars. The United States Department of the Army, a component of the United States Department of Defense (DoD), controls the cemetery." - Wikipedia

"The national cemetery was established during the Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, which had been the estate of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Custis Lee (a great-granddaughter of Martha Washington). The Cemetery, along with Arlington House, Memorial Drive, the Hemicycle, and the Arlington Memorial Bridge, form the Arlington National Cemetery Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in April 2014." - Wikipedia

The rain did not stop us from exploring. Walking at the cemetery is so sad.  A lot of lives was lost during the war.

We must not forget the sacrifices that these men and women have gone through, they gave their lives just so we could enjoy the freedom that we have now.

My son's class was scheduled to  go this year but was cancelled due to Covid19 pandemic.  He definitely missed out on some of the key school events this year.  

We don't know anyone that was buried here.  My husband wants to visit the Normandy American Cemetery where his uncle Paul was buried.  His uncle served in the army and one of the many american soldiers that perished during Normandy Invasion. According to the statistics, 9,387 american soldiers from World War 2 and 1 soldier from World War 1 were buried there.

Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

Located near the downtown area of Washington, D.C., the capital city of the United States, the National Mall is a landscaped park within the National Mall and Memorial Parks. It is an official unit of the United States National Park System and one of the most iconic and visited by the tourist. My favorite part of this place is the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool.

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is the largest of the many reflecting pools in Washington, D.C., United States. It is a long and large rectangular pool located on the National Mall, directly east of the Lincoln Memorial, with the Washington Monument to the east of the reflecting pool. - info credit:Wikipedia

  It is lined by walking paths and shade trees on both sides. Depending on the viewer's vantage point, it dramatically reflects the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Mall's trees.

 I wish we could have walk the whole place but the rain was threatening to pour when we  got there.  All we could do is adore it and  take some photos.

I was thrilled to see it in person. I have yet to discover so many amazing places here in the States.  I am glad I was able to enjoy these places with my daughter  through the  field trip that St. Joseph the Worker offers.  Being one of the chaperones was truly a fun experience.  I wish my son could have experience this as well but their trip this year was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Travelling to Australia with Your Family

My husband in Fremantle Australia back in 2004

There are many places in the world you could visit with your family. Almost any destination will have family-friendly locations or elements. So, it would be nigh on impossible to tackle all of your options in just one post. For now, let’s focus on Australia - including the best ways to travel the country with your family and some of the top things you can do there!

Getting to Australia

Unless you happen to live in New Zealand, chances are you’re going to be taking a pretty long flight to reach Australia. This can be unappealing to some families for various reasons. Little ones can often get anxious or irritable on particularly long flights. So, if you do take this flight, make sure to bring along plenty of distractions for them. An alternative can be to extend your trip and to stop off in one or two countries on the way to Australia and on your return route home.

Getting Around Australia

Australia is a very spread out country, with most commonly visited cities and towns being located around the coast. Generally speaking, it’s best to consider people movers while on vacation with your little ones. This will give them plenty of room, as well as room for luggage, and gives you the freedom to easily travel wherever you please!

Things to Do

So, what shall you do while you’re in Australia? Here are some top attractions and ideas that can keep everyone happy and content!

The Great Barrier Reef

One of the most popular attractions in Australia is, of course, the Great Barrier Reef. This is the world’s biggest and most renowned coral reef. It’s made up of over 3000 different reef systems and coral cays and is extremely biodiverse. You’ll be able to see thousands of beautiful fish (such as clownfish, lionfish, and coral trout), turtles (including loggerheads, green sea turtles, leatherbacks, flatbacks, and the olive ridley) and thirty species of whales, dolphins and porpoises. If your little ones aren’t into swimming or snorkeling, you can always go on glass bottom boats for a safe and entrancing experience!

Beaches

We all like beaches. Often adults like to kick back and relax in the sun. Generally, kids like to build sandcastles. So why not visit some of the world’s most famous, like Bondi Beach? Just make sure to keep the kids regularly topped up with plenty of sunscreen and don’t let them in the sea if there are warning signs.

Sydney Opera House

If you’re looking for a night out, sometimes there are family friendly shows on at the Sydney Opera House. If there’s nothing on that takes your fancy, it’s still great to visit for pictures outside this famous attraction as a family!

As you can see, Australia really does have a lot to offer families. Hopefully, the above advice will help you to start planning your trip!

4 Things You Don’t Need to Buy Baby (and 2 You Do)

When you’re expecting a new arrival, you’re bound to spend a substantial amount of time thinking about all the things you might need once your baby arrives. With so many products geared towards babies and parents, you could be fooled into thinking you need to move to a larger property just to accommodate all of the essential newborn paraphernalia!

Fortunately, you don’t need to go all out when it comes to buying things to help you prepare for a new addition to the family. By identifying the things that will really come in handy and discounting the optional extras, you can streamline your needs and prevent your from being cluttered with items you rarely use. With this in mind, take a look at these four things you don’t need to buy baby and these two things you really do:

Things You Don’t Need to Buy For Baby

1. Baby towels

They may look super cute, but baby towels aren’t really a necessity. Often, they’re fairly thin and less absorbent than regular towels, so you’ll probably revert to using your own regularly. If you want to reduce the number of things you need when caring for a newborn, baby towels are one thing you can cross off your life. 

2. Baby socks

Putting a pair of socks on your baby may seem deceptively simple but try getting them to stay put. As any parent will tell you, socks rarely stay on a baby’s foot for longer than three minutes. In fact, that might be the record. If you want to ensure your baby’s feet stay nice and warm, opt for footed onesies instead. 

3. Wipes warmer

If you use wipes when you’re changing your baby’s diaper, you really don’t need to worry that they’re going to be too cold. Unless they’ve recently been taken out of the refrigerator, there’s really no issue with using them at room temperature. However, companies are no producing warmers dedicated solely to heating up wipes prior to use. While some parents may have the inclination to use a warmer, it’s not a phase that tends to last for very long!

4. Baby pillow

When it comes to putting things in your baby’s crib: Don’t. Adding anything to your child’s crib could put them at risk, so it’s best to just rely on a mattress when you put your baby down for a sleep. Looking at the latest research and advice from the government can help you to determine what’s right for your baby when it comes to sleep routines but it’s commonly accepted that putting anything in your baby’s crib could pose a risk to the their health, so this is something you’ll definitely want to leave off the registry. 

Must-Have Essentials You’ll Want to Try

1. Crib and crib mattress

Your baby is definitely going to need somewhere to sleep, so a crib is one of the most essential items on your list. Before you decide which one is right for your baby, however, be sure to do your research and weigh up all of the pros and cons.

An adjustable crib will grow with your baby and last them well into the future, so this could be something you want to add to your baby registry. Similarly, a high-quality crib mattress will ensure your baby is safe and comfortable and it can even help them to sleep for longer as well. 

2. Baby-proofing Equipment

This is one area of baby accessories that you really can’t afford to scrimp on. While you might not need to baby-proof your house as soon as you return home with your newborn, it won’t be long until you need to take action. From baby gates at the tops and bottoms of your stairs to cabinet latches and window locks, there are numerous options to consider. In fact, you won’t realize how dangerous a home can be until your baby starts to get curious! By stocking up early and taking a proactive approach to baby-proofing, you can ensure that your home is always a safe environment for your child. 

Creating a Baby Registry

When other people find out you’re expecting a child, they may be keen to buy you and/or the baby a gift. Although this can be a lovely expression of their happiness for you, it can also mean that you end up with a lot of duplicate items. To make it easy for those who want to gift you something, set up a baby registry and let them know what you need. They’ll be thrilled to be able to treat you to something you really want and you’ll be delighted when you receive a host of useful and much-loved baby essentials.

Inside the Basilica of the Shrine Immaculate Conception #WashingtonDC2019

I am so glad that I went on this trip with my daughter last year.  It was exhausting but very educational and entertaining as well.  Let me take you to a virtual tour of how beautiful Basilica of the Shrine Immaculate Conception in Washington DC is.

Like any other big churches that I have been into, the stained glass in Basilica Shrine is spectacular. 

I wonder how many millions of dollars they spent in building this shrine.  The intricate  design of the ceiling, the  unique lighting style, and everything inside it is just beautiful.  I am glad they offer tours in it as it is a great place to explore and learn some religious history and not to mention the artwork that are displayed.

You can see more of the exquisite  interior and exterior designs of this church in my previous post .

Using Modern Technology To Keep Your Children Safe

When you look around the web at parenting forums, social media pages, and blogs, you will find a lot of people talking about their concerns with exposing their children to modern technology. Some are worried that their little ones aren’t going out enough, while others fear that they may find themselves in trouble if they visit the wrong places online. Of course, though, while technology can be dangerous for young people, it can also be an incredibly powerful protection tool. But how exactly can you use tech to keep your children safe?

At Home

Making your home into a modern fortress is much easier than most people expect. CCTV options have come an awfully long way over the last few years, with many of these tools offering advanced features like motion detection and facial recognition. Getting a few cameras set up at the important points around your home will be a good way to ensure that you always have a view of the place. Not only will this make it easier to keep your family safe when something goes wrong, but it will also give you peace of mind when you have to leave your little ones at home but don’t want to leave them alone.

Out And About

Keeping your child safe when they are out and about can be trickier than making your home secure, and a lot of this work will be down to the teaching you give your child before they are allowed out on their own. Alongside making sure that they are streetwise, though, it will also help to make sure that you know where they are at all times. GPS trackers can be found fairly cheaply nowadays, but you could also try this if your child already has a smartphone and you’d rather save some money. Knowing where your child is at all times will make it very hard for them to get into trouble.

Their Devices

It’s hard for a child to understand the dangers of the internet. No matter how well you teach them about the risks they face online, kids will usually see dangerous websites as nothing to worry about, and this could land them in serious trouble. Both Apple and Android smartphones have parental control apps that enable you to monitor your child’s phone usage and internet history to make sure that they aren’t going to places that they shouldn’t. There is an argument that this is unethical, though most younger children won’t mind having this in place until they reach their teenage years.

Modern technology is extremely powerful, and it can be both a blessing and a curse for parents. There are countless options out there that can help you to keep your child safe, but you need to make sure that you’re working hard to employ them all. As time goes on, more and more parents are going to be facing this challenge, and this means that new options are going to be popping up all the time.