Inauguration 2013

This is the "test" photo TSA took to make sure my camera wasn't an explosive device or something. I smiled. :D

So, as you know, we had a sleepover the night before Inauguration. The sleep was somewhat... less than ideal... But the company was lovely, and the fact that we slept in a downtown office the night before just makes the story that much better, don'tcha think? :)

We woke up before the sun (I have a personal rule against being out before the sun is, but for Inauguration Day, I was willing!), and got in line with the masses.

And finally, we were able to join 900,000 of our closest friends in front of the Capitol!

It was packed!

The view wasn't always so great for us short girls. :( People should stand by height, don't you think?

We passed the time eating snacks, playing games, and resting on the ground before the festivities started.

And even though it was cold, and we had to wake up soooo early and stand for hours, and even when I found out later that Beyonce LIP SYNCED the national anthem (!!) it was so fun to be there in person!

Here's hoping for front row seats for 2016! :)

(And many thanks to our friend who got us tickets this year! We love youuuuu! :D)

1-Year Blog-aversary!

via

My blog is one year old today! To celebrate, I'm going to visit the President, I mean... Go watch the presidential inauguration with 1 million of my closest Americans on the National Mall. (After this awesome sleepover tonight with some awesome girlfriends, of course!)

Happy 1st birthday, my baby blog!

Instagram dat Joint

Have you seen this video yet?? I JUST watched it, and I think I may have woken my  neighbors up from laughing so hard. It's HIL-A-RI-OUSSSS!!! (Sorry, neighbors!) Please, please go watch it NOW. It'll be four minutes well-spent! :D

Listen to Your Mother

I flew back to DC this week, and guess who I met at the airport??

My political idol + his awesome wife!

Jon Huntsman! and his wife, Mary Kaye! (And scrubby me!)

Now the funny thing is that in the morning, when I got dressed, my mom said to me, "Is that what you're going to wear on your flight?" (Referring to the leggings, UMD t-shirt, and cardigan I had just thrown on.) And for good measure, she also asked, "Aren't you going to do your hair or straighten it?" (She had trimmed my hair that morning, and I usually straighten it after she cuts it to make sure it looks good both straight AND curly.) 

My response was, "Mom, I'm just going to be on a plane all night, and I want to be comfortable, since I'll probably sleep through most of the flight anyway."

She reminded me that it's important to always look your best, because you never know WHO you'll meet/see/run into.

(Oh, and as I was packing, I realized my suitcase would probably be overweight, so I needed to layer as much as possible, so I threw on my gray hoodie. And on the plane, I took out my high bun thingie and swapped it out for a side braid.... Yeah.... But don't you worry! That certainly didn't stop me from getting a photo with one of my favorite politicians of all time!)

So when I sent her the photo via text, she said, "I told you to wear something different!"

In conclusion, listen to your moms, everyone. If you need me, I'll be occupied purging my closet of everything I wouldn't want to wear whilst taking a photo with Jon and Mary Kaye Huntsman.

(*Sidenote* The Huntsman's were super nice! We chatted about my program, about No Labels, and about the upcoming event Governor Huntsman will be hosting with the U's DC alumni chapter. We did NOT discuss any offers for me to run his 2016 campaign. (Rats!) The man who took our photo said to him, "You look familiar. Who are you? Should I know you? Are you someone famous?" And Governor Huntsman very modestly replied, "Oh, I'm just her husband." So gracious. And dude, was that guy living under a rock for the past few years? How does he not know JH?? And then we all waited at the baggage carousel. After which I thought of all the clever things I should have said... Too bad I was so busy being star-struck.)

Christmas Break 2012, Part 1

I've had a glorious 2.5 weeks here in Utah and am excited that it's not over yet! Here are a few snapshots from my first week at home (including CHRISTmas!)

I got home just in time to put the star on the tree! :) Pardon my exhausted look.

I also made it home in time for Spencer's orchestra concert. He is First Chair of his
junior high orchestra, and he ain't half bad, if I do say so myself. :)

Pentzy's musical talents are manifold.

Sometimes, he looks up songs online and tries to learn them. (He didn't know I took either of these. Heh heh!)

You'd feel motivated to run, too, if the scenery was this gorgeous.

Ice skating at the Gallivan Center! It was my mom's first time. Also, that gray hat I'm wearing is hers. I love it. I may accidentally forget to give it back before I leave. "Ooops!" Heh heh!

I took Chris with me to Winter and Lee's Iron Chef/White Elephant party! There were some awesome gifts. (Pictures to come later.)

My missionary brother with a  new friend  (Nick) in Preston. (Thanks to Nick for sending me the photo!)

We had Christmas Eve dinner with both of my parents. (The looks on my brothers' faces? Yeah, those were intentional.)

Dinner!

I made the turkey; it was delicious! Alas, people started picking at my poor bird before I could get a good picture. :(

Midnight aftermath. We have a big dinner on Christmas Eve, then we open presents at midnight, per Latin tradition. :) My favorite part of the gift opening is watching everyone else open gifts and laugh/smile/otherwise indicate they like the gift I worked so hard to pick out for them. :) I like to watch first, and open last.

Skyping with my brother (who is on a mission in the UK)!

It was such a lovely Christmas. We remembered that it's not about what you "get" for Christmas, we ate a lot, and we spent Christmas Day watching movies in our pajammies. :) AND we got the loveliest snow storm the day after Christmas! But most importantly, I got to be with the fam, and you know what? They're pretty all right. ;)