Kendra the Explorer

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?

group date.

We had big plans on Saturday to join the holiday masses and throw an ugly sweater party complete with photobooth, prizes, and all but we were stinkers and cancelled the shindig. After a week of two christmas parties and a cookie exchange I had had my fill of christmas joy. So instead we got a group of friends together and satisfied our itching for some bbq.

Things I learned at dinner:

:: there are many types of bbq and apparently they all taste significantly different. we inhaled north carolina pork but I guess there's such a thing as Louisiana bbq and that tastes more vinegary? I think I would like that.
:: two baby front teeth can puncture through a small container of butter. my friend had to tell me that my baby's mouth was oozing with the sticky cream, all the while I failed to notice because I was too busy stuffing my face with mashed potatoes
:: there are three foods in this world I love: grilled cheese, macaroni and cheese and pulled pork. that's it.
:: even if I have had way too many cookies for my own good and shouldn't order dessert I will never EVER pass up key lime pie. even if husband gives me the look that says "are you sure you really want to do that?" yes, i'm sure! even if I gain back the 5 lbs I worked off, yes I'm SURE!
:: group dates are fun! and I think Evelyn behaves much better when others are around.

Christmas at the US Botanical Gardens

The National Botanical Garden is cool by itself but add 800 feet of mini-train tracks, Christmas trees, poinsettias and model buildings all made from natural organic materials and it becomes a winter wonderland. You'll notice how distracted Evelyn is in all of these pictures. She is a train enthusiast. That yellow train up there coming out of the tree trunk? That one got Jared and I laughing. Everytime the choo-choo came out of the hole zipping by Ev would jump. It was rather funny. It was gorgeous this weekend with temperatures in the high 60's. It was the perfect day to stroll around the Capitol and throw our baby girl in the air. {I'm trying to use the word baby more because in 2 months she'll be one year old and according to baby clothing sizes she will not longer be an "infant." Sad.}

Georgetown

Earlier this week we took a little family date to Georgetown. The weather was just right for a cupcake {or two!}. Two of my wonderful girlfriends took me to Georgetown Cupcake a couple of weeks ago for my birthday for my first time but Jared had yet to try it out, so it was a perfect excuse to drive the 15 min to sweeten up our tummies. After scarfing down our Peanut Butter Chip at Georgetown we decided we still liked Sprinkles more, but needed to be sure.  So we went and each got ourselves another treat. And there's the tale of how we indulged in 2 delectable cupcakes in 20 minutes! {Oh, and Sprinkles wins in our book!}

Isn't Georgetown itself lovely? Each home has so much character and charm. Totally my dream style.

HAPPY WEEKEND!
** oh, and thank you all for your NYC suggestions! I'm so excited! Hotel has been booked.

Fall.

It has arrived.

land that I love

We all three experienced Arlington National Cemetery for the first time together as a family. It really is as beautiful as the pictures make you believe. I am so anxious for my little family to grow so I can put my history degree and patriotic spirit to good use with all these national field trips we have been taking.

"Benny, I'm roasting like a toasted cheezer, it's so hot out here!"

It's 83° inside our house right now. How hot is it outside? 93°. Not much of a break if you ask me, the girl who has warm air blowing on her while nursing. A baby seriously adds 20 degrees to your body temperature and that can make things pretty uncomfortable real quick. We could be sitting more comfortably, but let's have the Mr. Temperature Nazi own up to that one himself. Since living in a town where AC is a necessity but also the driving force behind staggering electric bills, Jared has been very thrifty with switching on the "cool" button.  The first night we were here he took this responsibility of manning the gauge very seriously. I guess that's his earned right to roast the family alive, as I remember my dad doing the same. Oh well, Ev and I can endure :)

Today we had a family outing back to DC. Ev and I accompanied Jared to some potential internships and afterward we peanutbutter-and-jellied-it-up at the Lincoln Memorial. It's been a rather pretty day. We're crossing our fingers that our stuff arrives tomorrow!

La Casa Blanca

Wowzers, I think it's time I kiss the days of doing my hair goodbye. Humidity has me seriously contemplating chopping my hair off. Could I swing a short do? I think my face is too round for that.  We have definitely been exploring this new city of ours. And we love it. There is so much to do! Saturday we ventured downtown to give Ev her first little peak at the White House.