Another fun weekend in DC!

Friday we hiked around The Mall and saw the World War II Memorial. We also tried a really good place to eat, JJ's Cheesesteak. Saturday we went to the farmers market by our house. It is awesome and we go every Saturday now. They have the best apples you have ever tasted! At night we went to the Nationals Baseball game. It was Nic's first major league baseball game so that was cool. We chased Sam more then we watched the game but it was still fun.

 

Trip To PA

I had a neat opportunity to go to Pennsylvania this week. I was born in Pennsylvania and the majority of our family still lives there. Since we are living in DC for the summer, I wanted to take advantage of being so close to them. My Uncle Tim is always a great host and was kind enough to let Sam and I invade his house for a few days.

There is something that warms my heart about going back to the place I was born. Most of my memories are actually of our summers spent there after we moved to Utah, but it is still so neat for me to go "home". Even though Sam had no clue where we were, I still thought it was neat to be able to take her there.

Getting there was kind of an adventure for me. I had never rented a car before, never driven in DC or PA, never taken Sam somewhere without Nic. It actually went really well and I feel like it was a great opportunity for me. I felt like I grown up, LOL!

Here is why I LOVE PA:

Green Green, Green!

Amish Farms

My Grammy & Pappy's old house

The creek in front of their house

Wild rabbits in everyones yards, I would kill to have those in Utah!

 OK, the rest of the pics involve food! I love none-chain restaurants, and Central PA is full of them.

Texas Hot Dogs is a favorite of the family. My goodness they are so good!

Meadows is SO good. Where else can you get PEANUT BUTTER frozen custard or peanut butter sauce on a sundae? Only PA!

Did I mention everywhere has one of these? That's right, Mt Dew everywhere! I LOVE it!

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a neat Memorial Day weekend here in DC. Friday night we went to a jazz concert at the National Gallery of Art. We went to Arlington Cemetery on Saturday and then there was a great parade downtown on Monday. It was really neat to be in Washington for this holiday. The parade had a section for every branch of the military. It was so neat to see them as we honor them on Memorial Day.

Here are some pictures of our weekend...

Should I be worried that tourists take pictures of Sam? It's happened a couple of times!
Changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier


Nic and Sam watching the parade in front if the Washington Monument.

Another fun day in DC

Yesterday was a really hot day here. We walked all over the place so I stopped to let Sam play in the water.

We went to the National Aquarium. I was a little disappointed with it (because it was really small), but Sam had fun watching the Alligators.

 

Here is Sam in front of the Washington Monument

Oh the Smithsonian...what an incredible place. Here are some of my favorites...

The Greensboro Lunch Counter

I will admit, I was a little bit choked up when I saw this! I love Michael Jackson.

The Star Spangled Banner was the neatest thing at the museum in my opinion. You can't take pictures in there so this is just the outside. I can't believe that they have the actual flag that Francis Scott Key wrote the National Anthem about. What a neat experience to be able to see that and learn all of the history surrounding it.

The First Lady section was also one of my favorites.

The Ruby Slippers are the only thing I remember from the museum when we came as kids. So neat!

I have to say that I am liking being here more each day. I love all of the fun exploring that Sam and I get to do. The only real downfall is our apartment. It's just gross and I struggle being here. I try to leave for the whole day so I don't have to be here. I will continue you to keep you posted on our adventures!

Nightly Walks

Every night we go for a walk with Sam before bed time. It's a way for her to run around and get her energy out since we are stuck in a small apartment all day. Here are some pictures of our walks...

Here is our walk last night to the White House

Here is Sam at the park by our house. She looks like a boy in this picture (she is wearing a "Take A Bite Out Of Crime" shirt that Nic bought her at the Crime Punishment Museum. She loves watching the skateboarders. 

 

Sam Updates

Since we are away from our families I thought I would so some updates on Sam and what she is doing right now.

She is 11 months old (closing in on a year soon)

• Loves walking/running everywhere
• Is kind of saying: "Hi" (which sounds like eye), "Daddy" (which sounds like ahdah), and "Doggy" (which sounds like duh).
• If you sing or say "la la la" she will imitate singing
• Is drinking whole milk now
• She LOVES books
• She loves her new doll-she literally has it with her all of the time!
• She waves & says Hi to EVERYONE we see, especially since we got to DC
• She loves all animals
• She is very social and happiest when she is with a lot of people
• She loves spending time with her dad
• She is a really good eater--loves vegetables and everything!
• She is obsessed with the Disney movie "Three Caballeros" she will sit still and watch it anytime you put it on. Don't ask me why, I have no idea!