home for the holidays

My final stop in D.C.: the White House.  A perfect way to say goodbye.

Also, just a little something for you to listen to for the next 9 hours.  Pick whichever version you like best:

I'm gonna miss this

We have been singing this song all day.  All week, actually.  (Except I only knew the chorus until tonight when Carly finally showed the song to me.)  It's been a pretty great batch of final days.  Lunch at We, the Pizza (and a shake from Good Stuff, extra thick).  White House Christmas tree lighting.  Botanical Gardens' Christmas decorations and trains.  Staying up late talking.  Cupcakes.  Long run.  African Art museum (which only reinforced/strengthened my determination for Uganda in June).  Dinner at Busboys and Poets. 

Took this for you, as promised.

Partying with the Obamas

   

  

Brie, tomato, and spinach sandwich

We finished off the night at the Lincoln Memorial.  Beautiful.  Grand.  One of the park rangers gave us a little speech about the symbolism of the memorial---it was the perfect way to end our experience.  It took like 20 minutes, so I won't say it all, but basically the main message was that the purpose of our lives is to make the world we live in a better place.  He said that we will each make an impact in some way and that our memory would be preserved for those that we influenced, just as Lincoln is remembered.  It was deep, touching, and a little cheesy.  Great way to say goodbye.

We ended it where we began.

the clock is ticking...

Last Sunday at the beautiful Chevy Chase Chapel....

Last week at work...

Last market in D.C....

Last FHE....

Last night so warm you can sit outside and talk for hours about all that you've learned in D.C. with your best friend with this as your view.....

Last gathering of Hill interns at some cool elite event....

Last cupcake....

[why do good things have to end?]

Christmas lights

I know that you and dad thinks that I do nothing but play out here---but, unfortunately, that's not true.  Example?  Our final paper for one of our classes was due on Friday.  Thus, it should come as no surprise that the majority of my week was spent here:

I am happy to say that I finished on time.  Printed my paper at 8:44 a.m., turned it in right as we left the Barlow for class.  Our last briefing was up on Capitol Hill with {soon to be} Senator Flake.

We had a funny conversation after class.  Some people found out my GPA and were asking me questions about it...such as, "What do you do?"  Accompanied with, "I just don't picture you as the studious type.  I just can't see you like that."  I laughed for a good while after that.  

Anyway, after class we went to lunch at a wonderful, amazing, great, awesome, lovely place: Ted's Bulletin.  I was like a ....I dunno.  I was just filled with joy.  The only sadness that came from that lunch was the fact that we had not been before, and probably will not go again.  Might be my new favorite restaurant.

Their menu was a newspaper!

McKay's parents came down for the weekend, so we met up with them after lunch to go to Mt. Vernon.....only, we called as we were on our way and found out that they were closing in 30 minutes, so we decided to go up to the temple instead.  Great choice.  They have lights, decorations, and nativity scenes from all over the world.  A concert also happened to be going on that night, so we stayed for that too.  We finished off our night at We, the Pizza.

We met up with the Potters this morning for breakfast at Founding Farmers to finish off their visit.  (Carly and I finally got the red velvet pancakes.)  After that I did some shopping, took a nap, and went to the Phillips Collection.

We had our ward Christmas party tonight--also wonderful.  The theme was "It's a Wonderful Life," and they had people dress up like they were from Bedford Falls and make sodas and there were pretty decorations and hors d'oeuvres.   And now we're watching Elf.   So it has been a pretty festive weekend if I do say so myself.

Oh also, as a side-note, I got free ice cream this week.  And a free hat.  McKay and Emma were super jealous.

[see you in seven.]

paper-writing playlist

Sitting at Starbucks.
Working on my final paper.
Sipping caramel hot chocolate.
Listening to some songs.

But don't worry, I'm not distracted....

thanksgiving weekend

Well.  What a fun weekend.  It started with this rooftop view:

After a pizza party at work and a long drive, we strolled the streets of NYC to check out the parade balloons and get some ice cream {for dinner}.

We were welcomed at the Potter residence with some rounds of Mormon bridge and Idiot.  And talking late into the night.  (So obviously I felt right at home.)  The next morning I went on a beautiful run by the harbor.   The rest of the day was spent cooking, eating, and cleaning...and eating.  (McKay and I made an apple pie.)  And playing games.  And talking late into the night again.

Friday we went into the city.  Our first stop was Central Park (probably my favorite), followed by a stroll down 5th Ave, Rockefeller Square, Times Square, and the 9/11 memorial (my second favorite part).  The day went by really fast, but it was great.  We debated trying to get lottery tickets for a show, but considered our odds on one of the busiest days in New York and decided to go back to Darien for food and games instead.  (Good choice on our part.)

 

Saturday, as you know, was spent doing Sandy clean up.  Once we got home, we showered and then went to Post Corner Pizza for a large feast and then spent the rest of the night talking.  (Well, the boys had a ping pong tournament while the girls talked about dating...as usual.)  And today we went to church, ate lunch, and then made the long--and beautiful--drive home.  (Which, as I mentioned, included Christmas music and fun stories....so it went by quickly.)

And that's that.  As we drove into D.C. and all of it's evening glory, I realized how much I love this place.  It is going to be really hard to say goodbye.  I don't even want to think about it.