Christmas in D.C.!

For our first Christmas in Washington D.C., we decided to try to get to as many fun Christmasy things as we could. The Arlington VA/ Maryland/ DC area definitely has a lot of festive things going on around the holidays! (Long post & too many pictures ahead)

Early on we walked around Pentagon Row, a shopping center and ice rink a few minutes from our home.

We loved their giant, well-decorated tree!

Brandon is one superstar! :D We didn't go ice skating then, but look forward to going back & trying the mini outdoor rink out. 

We put up our own little mini fake tree up right before Thanksgiving. Usually we wait until after, but with traveling on a red-eye flight home & Thanksgiving being so late this year, we decided to splurge and put it up a little early. :) 

Lights off!

Our 6 ornaments kind of weigh this tiny tree down!  

We also got out our festive Christmas pillowcases! My mother made these for us & I love getting them out every year.

Brandon also planned for SEVERAL weeks in advance, this special date to the National Harbor's Holiday Festival at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Maryland. It was such a beautiful hotel and the festival was so fun. 

The hotel had this GIANT hanging tree in their lobby area.

At the entrance of the Holiday Festival, we found these sweet Nutcrackers and had to snap Brandon's photo in his darling Santa hat. 

We enjoyed walking around all the booths & trying all the various samples of salsa, back massagers, lotion, & everything else they had there. We were especially amused by the plethora of wine bottle art. Who knew that was even a thing?

I so appreciated Brandon's thoughtfulness in planning such a special Christmasy date!

Check out this monstrous Christmas tree at National Harbor!

We have had a LITTLE snow in Virginia so far this winter. And by little, I been some white rain/ice that kind of stuck one Sunday.

Being from Colorado & Utah we are very used to lots of snow from October to April and this is the extent of white flurries we've gotten in Virginia. 

We've been so amused at how people freak out about the "snow" here. There was a winter warning for the area one day and even though no actual snow had stated to fall, Brandon's University texted that the school was closed due to inclement weather. Haha! Several public school districts completely closed due to snow like this as well. It's very odd. I've really missed real snow this December!

I also was in charge of a date the following weekend. After we splurged and went to Founding Farmers for dinner, we went home & decorated our own mugs with sharpies & a little 500 degree oven baking. (thank you pinterest)

My mug

Brandon's AWESOME Star Wars Mug:

Who knew he was such an amazing artist??!

My orchestra, Arlington Concert Orchestra, also had a festive holiday concert! Brandon sadly had a final at the same time so he wasn't able to make it. I wish I had some video to post from it but I will tell you that Santa made an entrance at the end! My friend Kristen & I got a picture with the big man himself & we were delighted to see that Santa's a Virginia Tech fan! 

Speaking of Brandon's finals- he studied so hard!!!! His first semester of law school has gone well & so far he really likes it which makes me so happy. He has a natural interest & ability for law and I'm so proud of all his hard work.  I made him a few final packages to open either before or after his test. Here was his last note. 

On the 14th of December, we had our company Christmas party! Here are a few friends from Integrated Dermatology.

Tess, Jenny, me, & Keri

3 of the 4 Patient Service Representatives! Tess, me & Ie Ling

One of the absolute highlights from the Christmas season was going to the DC Temple to see the lights & go hear Jenny Oaks Baker perform, for free, on the FRONT ROW! 

I love this beautiful temple & the Christmas lights just made it even more special.

We enjoyed the lights then went inside the visitor's center to enjoy the concert. It was a packed house but somehow we scored front row seats. I could have died and gone to heaven to hear grammy-nominated, Julliard trained Jenny Oaks Baker perform Christmas songs mere feet away from me. She was phenomenal. Truly got me in the Christmas spirit!

We ended our night visiting with Sister Erin Johnson, a young woman from my home stake in Colorado serving her mission in the D.C. North Mission! It was so fun to hug another Coloradan and send her love from back home. 

Another Christmas list to do was make an ornament wreath! Took 2 nights, 1 broken glass ornament, & LOTS of hot glue & glitter but it turned out pretty good I must say!

And right before we flew home for the holidays, we enjoyed going to the free Smithsonian Zoo. We had never been but loved the Zoo Lights and seeing a few animals. Sadly many animals were asleep or not around being night time and all.

Brandon was at home with the monkeys. (We only saw one awake in the monkey house).

We saw lots of fish, turtles, and lizards but were impressed at these GIANT turtles hiding. I've always liked turtles. 

And after many failed attempts at selfie photo with both of us, we took our solo shots & called it a night!

Isn't he a dashing guy?! We packed in as much Christmas fun as we could in the past few weeks and didn't even get to some of the items on our list! Good thing we'll be around for a few more Christmases in D.C. 

Why I'm Proud to be an Arapahoe Alum

I graduated from Arapahoe High School- home of the Warriors in 2008. Proudly following in my siblings' footsteps: my sister Celeste who graduated in 2003, Alison in 2000, and John in 1997. My time spent at this blue-ribbon award winning high school, one of the best in the state, was memorable, unique, fun, challenging, and though it sounds cliché- some of the most important years of my life. Without a doubt Arapahoe High School shaped me into the adult I am today and I am so grateful for the time I had there. When people ask where I graduated from, I'm always so proud to reply that I went to Arapahoe High School.

  

When I got the text messages from my sisters on Friday, December 13th, I couldn't believe what I was reading: "There's been a shooting at Arapahoe!" Never in my wildest dreams would I ever imagine this atrocity to happen at MY high school. I know those halls, those classrooms, the teachers, faculty, and administration. I have such deep respect for the school and all that it's meant to me. I've always felt safe within it's walls. It broke my heart to even consider that Arapahoe could have its safety threatened by a shooter, let alone another student.

I was desperate for any and all information I could get about the shooting. I started to feel physically ill as I read more and more details and truly couldn't believe this was real. When I finally got home from work and watched the videos of the new footage, tears streamed down my face as I saw students, younger siblings of my friends and classmates, pour out of the school & with hands raised in the air, get patted down on the track where I spent countless cross county & track practices and P.E. classes. How I so wanted to go hug each one of the students.

I've learned more & more about the details of the shooting and it's hit home hard. My locker senior year, shared with my best friend, was right across from the library, where the majority of the shooting & atrocities took place. What if I had been there getting my books for my next class? I also learned the time of the shooting was during 5th period. I've imagined where I would have been: Singers, AP English, Math or any of my other memorable 5th period classes over the years- what would I have done? Who would I have hid with? These thoughts have made this whole event that more real. Then I read and talked to those who were actually there and I so want to wrap my arms around them and help them know that in those frightening minutes that turned into hours, we were with them. The alumni who have walked those same halls, and sat in those same desks cared more than ever about you and were with you.

What I have kept thinking is that I wish I could do something for this current student body- shaken, torn, and changed forever to help them realize that we fellow Arapahoe Warriors are behind you, proud of you, and are praying for you, now more than ever!

As the days have passed and I've had time to think about what this amazing high school means to me. I have always been, am still, and will always be proud to be an Arapahoe Warrior. The courage and bravery of so many people helped keep so many students safe and thankfully avoided a situation that could have been so much worse. It's without a doubt that Arapahoe will rise stronger from this horrible shooting, more unified and more proud than ever.

 I've read so many beautiful words from fellow alumni, Mr. Kiszla's article in the Denver Post, and others thoughts & feelings but I want to record now & share why Arapahoe is a special place to me. I don't pretend to be eloquent. But I think it is time to celebrate all that is so remarkable about this high school, located just a half mile away from my home.

Arapahoe High School is special because it creates a feeling of unity and community as soon as you come through the doors. Sports or activities were always largely supported. For example, though I'm no runner, I can proudly say I ran cross country in my freshman & sophomore years: a sport at our high school where no one was cut and over 10% of the student body ran. Whether you participated in sports or attended the game as fans, AHS thrived in a feeling of unified school spirit. At pep rallies, football games in the snow, choir concerts, homecoming spirit weeks, sold out musicals, or FCCLA competitions- you could count on Arapahoe to bring a strong, unified and proud school spirit

Arapahoe is special because it is a school filled with educators, staff, and administration who care deeply about the students in their school. Teachers such as Mrs. Gerlich, my AP US History teacher, Mr. Sale, my AP English teacher, Mr. Escue, my Government teacher, Ms. Parmenter, my amazing choir & orchestra teacher, Principal Ron Booth, and so many others truly changed my life. These people are so invested in their students and would do anything to help them learn and excel. I was touched that even Mrs. Gerlich & Mr. Escue came to my wedding last summer. Each student at AHS can think of several teachers who made immeasurable impact on their life

But more than anything Arapahoe is special because the people there are at their very core good, kind, and loyal. Some of my very best of friends are those I went to Arapahoe with. Students I may only have had 1 or 2 classes with even now are so willing to reach out, to help, and to connect with you no matter how long it's been since they were with you at AHS. I'm so grateful for these classmates and fellow alum & their incredible ability to be kind to one another. The mantra that was echoed around AHS is still true today: "Warriors take care of one another." 

As our community heals together and moves forward, I hope the world will remember Arapahoe not for that December afternoon when shots were fired at a Denver high school 10 miles away from Columbine, but for the longstanding spirit of Arapahoe: warriors who are strong, kind, & true-- who support one another no matter what. 

We're warriors of the tribe Arapahoe.
Courageous loyal braves where'r we go.
Beneath the colors bold, the black & gold,
We'll cheer our team to victory. FIGHT FIGHT!
Dear alma mater, now we sing to thee.
Our symbol brave and strong we'll always be.
Our pride in you will ever grow,
Cause that's the spirit of Arapahoe!


Mini Cheers with my older sister Alison


Cross Country

The Sound of Music

Singing the National Anthem before home games 

Homecoming

Football Games

Dinner Theater

Christmas Caroling with Singers

Beauty and the Beast

Thankful!

With our big move to DC this past Fall, we weren't thinking a trip back West for BOTH Thanksgiving and Christmas would be possible. But we were so grateful things worked out for Brandon & I to make a quick trip to Colorado for Thanksgiving 2013!

After arriving in Denver, we were delighted to be greeted with some lovely faces. Just look at those kissable cheeks & bright blue eyes! My niece Sadie makes coming home to so easy. :) 

Not my best picture- but I want to prove how happy I was to be home and holding this sweetheart. 

The morning of Thanksgiving, after sleeping in we watched a little bit of the parade & then went on a walk to the park with Xander, Spencer, & Uncle John. We couldn't believe we had left Virginia with freezing cold rain and wind, 30 degrees at most and came to Colorado where it was 60 degrees and sunny! So it was perfect day for some fun in the park with these two goofballs. 

Seriously what a stunning day for November! 

Spencer went around playing on each area for about 30 seconds and then would say, "what's next?"and go on to the next cool thing. Haha we had fun following him around. 

He and I eventually settled on the swings (my personal favorite). 

Seriously being an aunt is the best. 

After the park we headed home & Sadie had just woken up from her nap. Isn't she so darling in the dress Mom & Dad got her from their trip to Hawaii? 

Dinner that night was a FEAST! Mom once again out did herself! It was truly scrumptious!

Afterwards we definitely watched some football & relaxed.

We didn't waste any time getting in the Christmas spirit! That night we all helped decorate the tree.

hahaha my brother in law Justin asked Brandon if he ordered a pair of legs for Christmas when he saw this... haha not quite. I was just trying to put the tree skirt on! It's very important. 

Spencer & Xander were great helpers!

Xander & Mom getting the ornaments out

I am so incredibly thankful for this dear husband of mine. He is always serving and so willing to listen, help, and love me. Best decision of my life was marrying this sweet boy. We couldn't be more opposites but I think we make a pretty good pair! 

This may be my all time favorite picture ever. While taking some photos, Dad decided to pop out and be crazy man daddio! We had no idea he was photo bombing us! hahaha I love my dad. 

hahaha goofiness is rampant in our family as you can clearly tell. :)

I'm grateful for family and the time to be together! We sure missed the Steadmans who were in California for Thanksgiving. 

And of course Thanksgiving just isn't complete without PIE! I kept with tradition and had some pumpkin pie and my all time favorite pie: french apple pie. YUM!

Brandon went all out & had french apple, pumpkin, AND lemon meringue. It is Thanksgiving after all! 

The next day we helped put up some Christmas lights 

Sadie supervised. :)

I decided some tree climbing would be required to put up the lights in the tree out front-- haha after I got all the way up there I realized my short little arms couldn't quite reach the lights on the branches. Oh well! It was still fun. 

That night we got together & decorated gingerbread houses! I look forward to this ALLL year long

My mom has a special recipe for the gingerbread and uses melted sugar to glue all the pieces together. (she usually has several bad burns from putting the many houses together- seriously she's amazing.) Here's our before picture...

And after! We decided to make Santa's house at the North Pole (please notice the literal pole to the left). We were quite proud of how everything looked when we were done. 

The sides...

And the back! 

I get a little giddy with so much sugar everywhere.... :)

My mom made four houses this year, one for each family: The Pridays, the Steadmans, the Andersons, and the Chlarsons. :) My mom is seriously a rock star homemaker.

The Steadmans made it back from California to join us and made an impressive house complete with a swimming pool & garage!

Dad & John also made a masterpiece as always. 

Our whole group working hard.

We made quite the mess! But our houses were pretty awesome I must say! I seriously love decorating gingerbread houses. Such an important tradition!

We finished our trip with lots of down time. :)

We caught Sadie grinning away 

It was so fun to watch Sadie & Carson interact- they're only a few months apart and seem to be buddies already.

I really wanted to take a picture with both adorable babies in my arms and I even got it when they were both smiling! Score! I seriously love these two little kids.

And a trip home isn't complete without a visit from Fred Bird. :) These boys get SO excited seeing Fred Bird.

It was one Happy Thanksgiving! Too bad we flew back on a red eye and got maybe 2 hours of sleep then went to work as soon as we got in. haha I don't recommend that flight plan to anyone.