Lagmans: Road Trippin' Part 2 - Close Encounter with W

We got some good news and bad news about our visit to the White House on Sunday. The good news is that we would be able to greet POTUS (President Of The United States) when he landed on the south lawn of the White House. The bad news is that he was going straight to a meeting to prepare for a sudden meeting with the Saudis which meant that he probably would not greet us. Other bad news that turned out to be good was that all tours for that day were canceled. However, since they were canceled, Susan gave us a private insider tour of the White House which meant that we got to see and hear things you wouldn't see on a formal tour. Highlights of the tour were the oval office, the vp's office, the cabinet room and various other rooms not seen by the public. Unfortunately, no pictures are allowed inside. All in all, a very exciting day that none of us will forget. Here's the pics...

Just cleared security and with badges in hand, we were official "White House guests"

Auntie Susan gave the kids official White House M&M's and Crayons. Check it out!!

The Eisenhower executive offices. This is where most of the president's staff is located not the West Wing.

Employee entrance to the West Wing

The rose garden with the Oval Office entrance in the background

Famous walkway between the West Wing and main building

Another shot of Oval office as seen from the rose garden

and another

The Truman balcony that faces the South Lawn where Marine One lands

The south lawn of the White House with the Washington Monument in the background

The CAT (Counter Assault Team) preparing for POTUS' arrival. These guys fan out in covert locations (bushes, trees, etc) around the landing area and the closer to arrival the more "invisible" they become. I couldn't spot a single one during the landing. I tried to get a shot of the snipers on the roof but we never got far enough away.