and here are the pictures

Outside of Arlington House

It was so great to see the Iwo Jima Memorial. It was huge!

This is Wellington, our AWESOME ghost tour guide in Alexandria.

The Ghost Tour was a blast!

Isn't this the greatest picture you've ever seen in your life? We love ice cream!

At the Kennedy Center after the concert. We wanted a picture with the lead singer.

I realize this is outdated, but...

It's a really long story why I wrote this post a week ago and never posted it... but better late than never, right? I'll be sure to post pictures of these adventures soon!

They say “time flies when you’re having fun.” Well, I am living proof of that! I only have six weeks left in this wonderful city, and I am having so many happy adventures. The past two weeks have been especially jam packed, so I’ll give you a timeline of the fun I’ve been having…

Wednesday, June 25 - I attended a Governors’ Breakfast hosted by the RGA at the Google offices. Google is incredible! It was like going to a playground! That night I went to the most amazing baseball game I’ve ever seen in my life. (You’ll hear more about that later.)

Thursday, June 26 – Tried to go to the Temple. Found out buses don’t run past 6:30. Came home again.

Friday, June 27 – I went to a free concert at the Kennedy Center where they played country music and I line danced! We Utah interns showed off our boot-scootin’ boogie skills!

Saturday, June 28 – I spent the morning at Arlington Cemetery. It is such a peaceful and awe-inspiring place. I know I will miss it when the time comes to leave Washington, DC. I saw the Iwo Jima memorial for the first time. It’s incredible!

Monday, June 30 – My ward’s FHE activity for the evening was making get well cards for wounded servicemen at Walter Reed. I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude to those who risk their lives for my country. I’m so glad I was there. I also found out that the second counselor in my bishopric went to high school with my aunt! Small world!

Tuesday, July 1 – I was so happy! My ward scheduled a night to do baptisms at the Washington DC temple! I got a ride with someone in the ward and went to the temple with a few of my friends. It was such a special experience. The temple is beautiful!

Wednesday, July 2 – After meeting Stanley for lunch, I realized I couldn’t get back to work. There was a bomb threat at the World Bank, which is near my work, and they had closed the entire street to cars and pedestrians! Stanley and I sat outside Potbelly and waited for the street to open for two hours! Stanley was nice enough to keep me company and provide great music for my extremely extended lunch break. Luckily, the bomb threat was taken care of safely, and I made it back to work. Never a dull day in Washington!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

For weeks, I had been looking forward to going to the Nationals/Angels baseball game. The Angels are my favorite team, but I've never seen them play live. I counted down the days until they came to town to take on the Nats. When the day came to buy tickets, though, all of the affordable tickets were sold out! I was disappointed until one of the guys at my work stopped by my desk and offered me two tickets to the game... in the suite! I couldn't believe it! I immediately accepted!

Stanley and I hopped on the green line and headed out to the ballpark. It was the most amazing night! Our box was right behind home plate! We sat in the big wig seats, ate delicious food, and cheered our guts out. We cheered and laughed while Teddy Roosevelt made a valiant effort to win the Presidents' Race (and I laughed uncontrollably). We stood and sang in the 7th inning stretch, and we watched as the Nats clinched the game with a run in the bottom of the ninth! My Angels didn't win, but I became a Nats fan! (I am in DC, after all) On the way home, Stanley and I bought matching Nats caps on the street. It was one of the most fun nights I've had this summer! I can't believe how lucky I was!

In the Box

The Presidents' Race!

Errr....

Pictures to go with the list...

The tire swing!

One of the waiters/performers at Starlight Diner

Frozen Hot Chocolate!

With some help from a friendly stranger, we found the best Thai food ever!

We just bought tickets to a Broadway show!

I love Rupert! He's just as charismatic in person.

The girls on Times Square

We love Harry!

The temple was closed, but we got to see the outside

Waiting for the show to start

In the lobby of the Empire State Building

An oddly creepy Elmo

Top Ten (Times Three) Best Things From My Weekend in NYC!

30. Buying an umbrella seconds before the downpour stopped.
29. Trying on beautiful vintage shoes
28. The Empire State Building lobby was covered in scaffolding… I enjoyed the irony
27. My Indian friend on the bus
26. Carting around “the wheelie.” (We took turns pulling my wheeled suitcase after we checked out of the hostel.)
25. The Woolworth Building
24. Spotting two men dressed as Elmo strolling down the street
23. “Watchwatchwatchwatchwatchwatch…” one very long word from the salesman on the street
22. Dinner AND a show at Starlight Diner
21. “What is this? Grand Central Station?”
20. The tire swing in Central Park!
19. Riding the wooden escalator in Macy’s
18. Getting to New York on the infamous Chinatown bus
17. “Well, it is $0.87 an ounce… and those are really big chunks.”
16. A windy ride on the Staten Island Ferry past the Statue of Liberty
15. Frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity (and eating real Humble Pie)
14. Times Square
13. Shopping in Diagon Alley at FAO Schwartz
12. Seeing the skyline of downtown Manhattan from the bus
11. Thai food!!!
10. Meeting Rupert of David Letterman fame
9. The Manhattan Temple
8. Honey roasted almonds on Wall Street
7. Glitzy and glamorous Tiffany and Co.
6. Being told I was cool by a native New Yorker
5. Third row seats to Chicago!
4. Staying in a hostel on Amsterdam Ave. and feeling hip
3. Buying a Dolce and Gabbana giraffe purse in Chinatown
2. The Metropolitan Museum of Art… need I say more?
1. Seeing the greatest city in the world with some of the coolest people ever!

Ritzy... Like the Cracker

It turns out there are some perks that come with being an intern in the Nation’s Capitol. A few weeks ago, everyone in my office was invited to an event at the Ronald Reagan Building hosted by the governor of Texas. Even the interns were invited!
I was so excited to hob nob with some government big wigs. Stanley agreed to come as my guest, and we spent the night eating Texas food and working the room. The reception was great! I dined on the most delicious quesadillas and the stickiest ribs (they didn’t believe in utensils). There was an open bar, and I ordered a Shirley Temple (something I’ve always wanted to do). I felt pretty swanky, standing there, sipping my pink drink. Stanley and I stopped by the NASA table where we signed our names to a poster that will go into space aboard the space shuttle!
Toward the end of the evening, Governor Perry spoke. I worked my way to the front for the meet and greet and shook his hand!
On our way out, we even got goodie bags! I felt so important. I could get used to this…