oh here I am

Not blogging in over a week feels strange, and also....

like....

WAY good.

So I'm going to send out a general warning that this will probably be a trend for the next few weeks.

(At least until we get ourselves back across the whole stinking nation to our home in Utah.)

You see, dividing our time between our two families gets very busy.

And let's not kid ourselves... it's also TONS more fun than blogging. 

Sorrynotsorry.

Until then, I will let these pictures do the talking.

I give you:

Our last night in DC. 

Complete with trip to Founding Fathers, the US Court of Appeals, and the national Christmas tree.

Aka.... larger and grainier pictures than you ever wanted to see of us! Y'welcome!

a few things

- Here are some snapshots from our weekend, mostly because I don't feel like detailing it all. 

But just so you know, it was a GREAT 5 days off of work.

Fur vest courtesy of some insane Black Friday shopping. 

Now I will be able to dress up like a polar bear if ever there was an occasion!

Here's a secret: 

I ABHOR these kind of olives. 

Each time I try and eat one, I'm pretty sure the salt is going to make me shrivel up and die.

But because I love my husband, and he loves these olives, I am trying so hard to learn to love them too.

Sacrifices people.

Also, 2Amys is the BEST food we've had in D.C. so far.

And that's saying something, because there are some great eats here!

Cool picture with some plants at the Botanic Gardens.

Obviously enthused by my hamburger at Good Stuff Eatery.

If you are ever in D.C., you must try their toasted marshmallow shake.

Weirdly delicious!

-Speaking of work.... today I went to Michaels with the mother of the girl I nanny, the grandmother of the girl I nanny, and let's not forget.... the actual girl I nanny. 

Sometimes I wonder why they pay me to just hang out with them all day.......

- I think I have food poisoning. 

Almost definitely.

Christian and I ate some VERY questionable fish on Sunday

(don't ever eat fish if it's been sitting in your fridge for over 3 days.... let alone a WEEK. I know. We're sick)

- Today on the bus, I saw a man writing imaginary things on the window for a good 20 minutes.

One thing I love about D.C. is all the colorful people. 

"Colorful" doesn't even come CLOSE to accurately describing things sometimes. 

- And finally, as sad as I am to be leaving this amazing city NEXT WEEK

(soooo crazy!)

I am mega pumped to be with our families in Florida for almost a solid month. 

The weather is going to be amazing, and let's not even talk about the unadulterated time with our loved ones.

It's sad that the Showalter side doesn't live in Mesa anymore, but Florida isn't a bad fall back.

Until next time, 

peace and blessings!

strangest weekend ever

It's been like a 3 day weekend from weirdy-ville over here.

Friday we took a tour of the Capitol building with some friends

(Which I definitely thought was going to be the most boring thing ever, but it was awesome!)

 Those are what I fondly call my Asian eyes.

Also LOOKHOWLONGMYHAIRISGETTING!

ate dinner at We The Pizza, which has become one of our favorite places here in DC,

(but definitely NOT because I come away from there smelling hard core like smoke.

I sort of dislike that.)

and then celebrated all the Barlow Birthdays in November with a dance party, brownies and ice cream.

It was then that I was reminded why I only like having dance parties in our apartment with Christian.

My inner Michael Jackson feels much more comfortable letting loose, you know?

Then on Saturday we slept in, like, all the morning long.

Went to Trader Joes and bought THESE,

so good, you could seriously die.

And then babysat Christian's cousins in the evening.

A great reminder that I am SO not ready for my own babies, thankyouverymuch!

Then today, tragedy struck.

*STORY TIME*

In a frantic attempt to make it stake conference on time

(Which we weren't even that late for, mind you!) 

we ended up waiting for a combined 30 minutes at 2 Metro stations,

on top of another 40 minute wait at our last Metro station for a "ride" that never showed up.

So then we decided to just forget it and just come back home.

3 hours and 14 bucks later, our pointless journey came to a close.

Then we played Ticket to Ride for like 3 straight hours, all while laying in bed.
Which was seriously so much fun.

Basically not one of our most normal weekends, but a fun one nonetheless.

another weekend post, sorrynotsorry

Last weekend we:

- strolled through Georgetown and got stuck at H&M in a downpour.

- ate at Shake Shack

(this is how we feel about that place.)

- toured a destroyer turned haunted house at the Navy Yard
Aka the worst thing ever.

(here's a few tricks I learned so that you don't pee your pants in potentially horrifying situations....

Make your husband walk behind you, gripping your waist the whole time,
laugh, even if it's a fake laugh, a lot, 
and talk to the people trying to scare you!

Freddie Krueger can suck it because I know what's up in haunted houses.)

- biked through the city, visited the Newseum (AMAAAAAZING!!) and had a caramel-apple -Hocus-Pocus-party with fellow Barlow Center residents.

Oh weekends, we love you!

sunday funday

Here's the thing:

Sometimes when I get tired and hungry, I also get REAL grouchy.

(And sometimes actually means all the time)

So last Sunday when both befell me, all I wanted to do was curl up in bed all afternoon and let my pancake lunch settle.

(So gross right?)

Anyways, thankful I have a husband with an insatiable desire to see things, and after much coaxing, we ventured out on a bike ride through UNBELIEVABLE weather down to see the monuments.

Thank heavens for a convincing man like Christian, because it was the most enjoyable Sunday afternoon we've had here so far. And biking around the city is quickly becoming our favorite past time!

it was totally serendipitous

Last weekend, we had a fun little date night.

We went on a boat tour of the Potomac with some friends from the program

(which was kiiiind of pointless since we could hardly see anything.

But the company was great, so we still had fun)

Followed by a trip to Georgetown Cupcakes

(I thought nothing could be as delicious as Sprinkles, but I was wrong.....)

A stroll through Dean & Deluca
(to my fellow Felicity fans, it was AWESOME!)

And then dinner at Serendipity.

(Which was a little pricey but delicious.

And no we didn't get the famous frrrrozen hot chocolate... we figured since we had dessert BEFORE dinner that another was a little uncalled for.

I know. I'm surprised at our restraint.)

Anyways, it was fun

We love the friends we've made here.

And Georgetown is magical in the fall.

The End.

welcome to the zoo, zoo, zoo

When I was a kid, I was ALL about computer games. 

My two favorites were Freddie Fish and Putt-Putt Saves the Zoo. 

Did you ever play those games?

And did Putt-Putt make you as obsessed with the zoo as I was?

(I mean, it's no secret that I was an animal loving child, but that computer game was the straw on the camel's back, let me tell you.)

Anyways, the big secret of the day is that I am actually STILL rather obsessed with the zoo.

Which is why when Christian suggested we pay a visit to the one here in DC, 

I was on that like an ape on bananas.

(nice animal reference eh? eh?)

*Tip for future DC visitors, zoo fanatics and the like: this was a STUNNING zoo. 

Totally free of charge.

And TOOOOTTTAAALLLY worth it!*

Check out the goiter on that Iguana.

Someone needs an iodine supplement, and fast.

(attn: I know it's not really a goiter. But for reals. It might as well be.)

Enthralled because the lions wouldn't stop roaring. 

SRSLYMYFAV.

This is what happens when you let Whole Foods name animals.

Here's what I don't understand:

Kevin????

I mean come on.

So much love for the zoo!

 We also went back to the National Portrait Gallery, and naturally Christian had to take a picture with his man Henry Ford.

(which explains the random, non-zoo related picture)

And then Sunday we walked down by the Potomac River.

Beautiful DC, we love you so.

wanna be your friday night

Yesterday we saw some of our favorite things in the District yet:

National Portrait Gallery and American Art museum:

This was a sneaky, "notsupposedtotakepictures" picture.
HOW GORGEOUS IS THIS PIANO OMGGGGGGGGGG?!

ate at the Shake Shack:

How's that for a grainy photo

Kramerbooks AND street music!

How's that for grainy photo #2?!

Cutie patootie.

And finished the night by watching What's Eating Gilbert Grape.
It was...... interesting. 
I much prefer a "Jack Sparrow" Johnny Depp to "Little Mermaid" Johnny Depp, to say the least.

Then today we continued our DC adventures by visiting Arlington cemetery and watching the changing of the guard, followed by the H street Festival.

(Otherwise known as the
"why the H am I here" festival.
Seriously there were so many stinky people, and so much loud music, I wanted to die.
On the upside, I DID see two bulldogs that almost gave me a heart attack from cuteness.
Thanks pals.)

Anyways, happy weekend!

a midweek date night

A few nights ago Christian and I went on a little date-night walk through Georgetown. 

After spending 10 buckaroos on Ben & Jerry's ice cream

(Still can't decide if that was worth it or not....)

and wandering through quite possibly the most expensive stores EVER,

(who seriously has money to afford things from Madewell and Zara? I mean really)

we stopped at this cutie bookstore.

Love this boy. 

Even when he makes faces like a true goober.

killers and cupcakes

Yesterday on the way home from church,

Christian and I got chatty with a..... shall we say..... nice looking man on the bus.

Here are a few snippets of our conversation, courtesy of said man. 

They were just too good not to share:

"I need two hip replacements!"

*looks at Christian*

"Boy, you've got excellent taste!"

(I don't think Christian appreciated that one much...)

"...because sometimes you just need to touch a woman, you know?

*looks at me*

It's a guy thing"

"Where have I been the last ten years? The hills of Virginia!

IN PRISON!"

"It was all self defense, let me tell you."

So basically we met a murderer yesterday. 

No big deal. 

And based on his demeanor, he didn't think it was either. 

Way to go pal.

Also on Saturday we went to the National Geographic Museum for the 1001 Inventions Festival, celebrating Middle Eastern inventions and their contribution to society. 

1 dance concert, a neat-o art exhibit and some delicious falafel later, we were happy campers.

Then we got stuck in the rainstorm of the century

TOTAL BUZZ KILL.

Thankfully we had some free cupcakes to brighten the mood. 

Sprinkle's knows what's up.

Also, I don't know why food determines my happiness level so often, 

(actually I do. It's called being a woman)

but I hope Christian reads this so the next time I have a complete meltdown he knows what to do.

(Hint: It starts with "coconut lemon" and ends with "cupcake".

You're welcome lover)

thankfuls

The last few days have been slightly rough ones 

(read: I've had PMS on steroids. Love that)

So true to form, here are some thankfuls.

Because if I didn't focus on the things I have to be happy about, I might just collapse face first into a

bowl of ice cream as a sobbing, inconsolable mess. 

But anyways.

Today I'm thankful for:

- The temple. 

Beautiful in EVERY possible way!

- Cooler weather. Yesterday morning was pleasant and instead of dripping with sweat by the time i got to work, I was only slightly damp! It was refreshing!

- I'm thankful for the fact that I DON'T 

and will not EVER 

own a greyhound. I'm sorry but....... 

Gagdoublegag.

- I'm thankful for the laugh that these Trader Joes wasabi peas gave me. 

Even though they are disgusting and burned off my nose hairs.

- Im thankful for a short week! 

Today is Saturday already!

- The little munchkin yelling from her bed "heee buuukk" (hey Brooke) so that I can retrieve her from her crib. 

Precious and hilarious.

- Date nights.

We the Pizza totally rocked our socks off last night.

As did our night time stroll around the monuments.

Such the dramatic water drinker!

Sorry for looking like a dementor in this picture.

Isn't it nice how being thankful can make the whole world seem better?

I'm so thankful for that!