Kendra the Explorer


Wednesday, January 11, 2012

I have always had a passion for absorbing my surroundings. I think this started way back when I was two years old and my parents took me to Monticello. There was a changing of the guard and I guess I wanted to get a better view, so I stuck my head between two bars. Well, as my parents tell the tale, my head was so big it got stuck and they had to get security to cut the iron bars to free my noggin. That's how much of an adventurer I am! Gotta get in on the action. Every city I have lived in I have tried to take advantage of all the place has to offer. Even my small hometown of Clovis, Ca has quirks that no other place in the world has.  So you can imagine how giddy my adventurist soul got when we found out we would be moving to DC - the home of National Treasure!

Lucky for me, my friend Julianne works in the Capitol. Evelyn and I had a double mommy/daughter date with two of our friends and Julianne gave us a private tour. It was stunning! Being a history major, this building was eye candy for me.
I love it when you start to feel like you "own" a city because you have explored the nooks and crannies, ya know what I mean? 
What's your favorite thing about your hometown?

49 comments:

  1. We LOOOVED DC when we visited. I had no idea how beautiful it was there. Growing up my whole life in Oklahoma, I feel like I own it because I literally know just about every nook and cranny there is to know here! Time to be Melissa the Explorer I guess:)

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  2. that's it, i need to put DC on my bucketlist! you'ev convinced me :) such cute mama's and babies too!

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  3. kendra, i didn't know you lived in dc! last time i was reading your blog i was trying to figure it out and i was thinking california. my sister lives there but now she is in arlington (and is friends with naomi as well) and i lived there for a when my mom was working out there. she was in the capitol hill branch/ward. every time i read your blog i feel like somehow we know each other, like i'm missing some connection. or maybe it's just because i feel like we'd be friends in real life. :) anyway, i love visiting the capitol. my mom used to give tours at the library of congress for fun and so that building really has my heart. also, love your skirt. i just tried one on just like it at zara that i loved but it was a little bit too booty-licious for church.

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  4. The Capitol is stunning. Have you ever been to the Library of Congress? It's probably my favorite building in DC. The architecture and detail is truly breathtaking. Lucky babies for having adventurous mommies! The best thing my mom ever did was take me on dozens of random road trips. I can't wait to do the same when I have children :) Ooh and a visit to the Museum of Natural History just to see the "Minerals" exhibit is awesome- thousands of jewels from kings and queens. Enjoy!

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  5. Private tour?! That's the way to go! I wish we could make it into DC more. The hubs isn't into crowds, etc though. He's a homebody!

    You guys look like Rockstars!

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  6. Aww! Your friend is Taza and her baby Eleanor! too presh! I'm jealous! :)

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  7. girl! this is right up my alley since i majored in political science. sitting here slightly jealous looking at your gorgeous pictures. : )

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  8. Isn't the Capitol just spectacular? It's my absolute favorite building in DC. It was fun taking you guys through!

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  9. I've never been to DC but it looks fantastical! :)

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  10. i remember visiting the capitol on our school trip in 8th grade! i couldn't believe how incredible it was. so much to absorb! i'm the same way as you are, i'm all about taking in my surroundings :)

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  11. Well, I still live in my hometown, so I kind of hate it. There's not much to do around these parts, but my favorite place would probably have to be the downtown area. I love the cute little shoppes!

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  12. Aww how cute! baby dates are always the cutest! I remember going there almost 6 years ago and it was awesome. So much history and beauty! Your pictures always capture good moments!

    xo. Britt
    A Southern Bee Diary

    :)

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  13. My town doesn't have very many cool things but the next city over is where the Oregon Trail ended and a few other neat places.

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  14. Awesome! DC has so much history and beautiful architecture... every detail has meaning!

    Oh, and your skirt is super cute!

    I love Austin because there's always theater, live music and free events. There are tons of local restaurants and beautiful views. But what I really love about Austin is that is doesn't fit the mold. There are colorful marbles in the sidewalk and we have a food truck festival. Haha, Austin has my heart.

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  15. DC is so amazing. My husband was also a history major, and I am a history lover - we went back in Sept. and couldn't soak up enough.

    It's so fun to be a tourist in your own city :)

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  16. what a beautiful trip!! so jealous!

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  17. How fun and it looks like the babes had a good time also!

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  18. These are some cute pictures! I want to visit DC :)

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  19. I guess I would have to say that growing up in a big city (San Jose, CA) was awesome in that now my lil' city seems so country even though it's not. I grew up in a rough neighborhood so I so appreciate my environment now.

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  20. Wow stunning - that ceiling and those columns!

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  21. God, I would love to live in DC! I'm a history major as well, so looking at this makes me giddy inside! I would loveeee to work in a museum after graduating.

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  22. i love DC! so much history there and of course a political science junkie like myself just swoons when i get to go to our capital! love it! speaking of hometown, i have a series called from my hometown to yours, i would love to have you participate, tell me your favorite things about your hometown! email me

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  23. Oh I love DC...great photos. We always make trips to the beach (we live in San Diego).

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  24. Private tour!!!!?? How amazing! Great pictures!

    Janette, the Jongleur

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  25. What a great day! :) That's so cool that you got to see so much and take tons of amazing pics in the process!

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  26. I currently live in Logan, Utah. It's charming and quaint and small town-ish. I love walking to the library, around the Logan Temple and up and down the hills. I didn't love it so much when we first moved here, but I think walking around a city or town really helps one to realize the unique quirks about it.

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  27. I love the pictures. I am so glad you were able to visit there. I love that place.

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  28. Beautiful! Annnndddd I spy Naomi Davis from Rockstar! Excited to be a new follower! Can't wait to see more. Fun stuff. =)
    Char xo
    www.itsacharmlife.blogspot.com

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  29. Do you know most people that live in Clovis?? I had a roommate from there.

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  30. Hi Kendra,
    Thanks for visiting my blog and for your nice comments. This looks like a great time. We homeschool our children and two years ago I took them back east to tour all the "early American" history sights. It was wonderful! I love your pictures and your baby, so sweet....I'll be following! Take care,

    Shauna

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  31. You have such a sweet blog! :) DC looks so beautiful, I hope to visit someday :) ...

    and your daughter, oh my, she is cute, I love her name!!!

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  32. I love living here where there's just do much to do and see it really makes for a great place to host out of towners, cute space you have here (and such a cute fam!!) I adore that yellow skirt you have on too.

    Thanks so much for visiting my blog! I will be sure to follow ya!

    XO,
    Erin
    http://erinscurrentlycoveting.blogspot.com/

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  33. thanks for stopping by my blog! i've been sifting through yours, & you are just too adorable.

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  34. I just spent the last hour reading all your entries. I feel like we're new BFF's! haha, one sided of course ;)

    So happy that you stopped by my little blog and left a comment....it's how I found you andI am now officially a new follower!

    xoET
    Fancy Napkin

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  35. oh my gosh kendra, you were 2 blocks from my house! we need to have a play date!

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  36. Cute pictures! And you got to see the rockstar diaries girls, soo lucky! You two must have the funnest girl's nights. I wish some of my friends were more into blogging! haha

    http://bronsonbloopers.blogspot.com

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  37. kendra,
    great little blog you have here. used to live in dc, so yes, i would say we enjoyed some of it's nooks and crannies. enjoy.

    thanks, too for visiting my little blog. love visitors, ya know. come back and stay awhile.

    oh, new follower here.

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  38. You my dear, have the cutest little blog! What a gorgeous fam you have, and stunning pictures of our national's capitol. I am your newest follower and am excited to keep reading :)

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  39. Looks like a FUN FUN FUN exploration day!
    We live in MN and I love to drive around the country past farms... my daughter points and makes all of the animal sounds! :)
    the best is horseback riding thru fields in the fall :)
    happy thursday sweet friend,
    maggie

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  40. Aw gorgeous, and how precious is she? I love DC, my in-laws live there, it's so 'historical'.

    Ps. love that skirt!

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  41. Oh wow - what a great experience to have a personal tour guide ;)!!! I've only been to DC a few times, but none of the short trips allowed time for me to explore the major buildings! I'd love to see them...

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  42. What a beautiful building!! And you are your babe look lovely!

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  43. These pictures are gorgeous! What a great city to live in! I once went to a wedding around DC at George Washington's River Farm. While we were there I got to tour DC for a day. I'm sure you know exactly how much of DC you can see in a day (not much). So I'm REALLY looking forward to going back and spending more time there!

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  44. What a treat to have all of that so close by! I love Brisbane's river that runs around our city centre and the fact that we're really building up cultural sector. Our gallery of modern art has great installations the last few years as well as our theatre. It's so lovely to be a part of! x

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  45. I've been here almost a year and have yet to go there or the White House. And one of my BFFs is in charge of tours for both. Don't ask how I haven't done this before.

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  46. I love your pictures! I've never been to DC, but it looks incredible. I definitely need to go!

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  47. Thanks again for inviting us along. Was a great time! And your photos are great! (Still so sad I forgot to switch my lenses. oh well.)

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  48. So wonderful! We used to visit Dc a lot as kids because my grandma lived there. My mom was lucky enough to grow up there. Its definitely one to my favorite cities. We love American history and try to get there as often as we can. So cool that u have an inside scoop!

    Thanks for stopping by my blog and for your sweet comment. Have a great week!

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