M Street

I love DC.

my first congressional briefing

That's right, today I get to go to a congressional briefing.

Who knew meetings could be so exciting?!?!

using the metro and finding where internships are

Today was the last day of "prep class" for Washington Seminar kids and I tagged along. They learned all about how to make the most of their internships and how to be safe in DC. The GWU police captain came in and talked about safety and since he's lived in DC his whole life, he also talked about the best restaurants. I'm definitely sending an e-mail his way to find out where to go and what to order--there are so many restaurants here!

A quick glance at the monument. I can't wait to go up with Ry.

Then we split up into groups and went all around the city to find where everyone's internship was. It was so nice to travel around and sight-see while we were out and about. We also ate Thai for lunch (there's a kid in my group who LOVES Thai food) and Ry and I had some Chicken Pad Thai and Wonton soup. YUM. The pad thai was good and sweet and the wonton soup was way good. Neither Ry or I had ever had Thai food before so it was fun to experiment. And since we won't be going out for lunch very often, it was a nice treat.

Isn't he just adorable?!

We also saw the Capitol as well as walked by the Washington Monument as we went to the Museum of American History. I really loved the museum, it was right by Ry's internship, and I can't wait to go back and spend another hour or so there. Hurray for free museums!

From the Julia Child's Kitchen exhibit. I reeeeeeally want to make Beef Bourbuignon now!

DC does not disappoint, and we even experienced a little drizzle. Good thing we had our umbrella! The only thing is that we were on GWU's campus for a little bit and all the kids were smoking. Ugh. Makes me wish I was still in Provo where seeing a person smoke is so so rare.

But other than that we're loving it.

AND I'm loving seeing all the kids in yarmulkes (pronounced ya-ma-ka..you know, the little hats on Jewish people's heads). I've lived in Texas and Utah for most of my 22 years of life and never saw a lot of Jewish people. Love it.

Ry in front of the Capitol.

Me in front of the Capitol.

our first sunday

Today was amazing. We go to the DC 3rd ward. Inner city. French Africans.

Today Sacrament meeting was in French and translated in English. I want to learn French.

AND we were called into the Primary and I'll be the chorister. And doing some songs for the Mother's Day program. Yikes.

A kid from the primary, named Isaiah, got baptized. Ryan and I went to support him and I cried. It was so amazing to know that this kid just made a super big decision in his life and I can help him stay on the straight and narrow path. He also looks like Snoop at age 8. SUPER cute kid.

After church we went to a member's house and they fed us chips and dip, then we made pizzas. They were delicious, especially the one with pesto and goat cheese. Oh, it was gooood.

Then after we came home we decided to go to M St., look at all the shops and then walk around Georgetown University. It's so close and a very pretty and historic campus. Ryan wouldn't be

going to the main campus if he went to law school here, but it's fun to think that we could live so close! And I love all the homes and the random sculptures we see... The shops are so fun, too and there's everything from Betsy Johnson and Anthropologie and H&M to random hole in the wall bistros and thai places. I love it.

And we love it. Here's some proof.

we're finally here!

It feels a little surreal, I'm not going to lie. But so far Ryan and I are absolutely in LOVE with DC. We had to run a few errands after we got here (and decided that we needed to run errands even though I could be in bed right now since we got up at FOUR AM). So we went to a CVS that's close and then to the Watergate shopping complex to go to Safeway. There's also a Trader Joe's nearby that I CAN'T WAIT to go to. I've always wanted to live next to a Trader Joe's-for real.

Here are a few of my favorite's right now:
- sidewalks that are red brick instead of concrete
- cute colorful houses
- shopping in the same place where a past pres. snooped around and got in trouble for it
- taking my camera wherever I go
- having to use re-useable bags since there's an ordinance where you have to pay $.05 for each plastic bag you use
- walking around town with Ry
- seeing the Georgetown spires on our walk
- ALL THE GREEN TREES!

Graduation part one

I successfully completed part one of my graduation ceremonies: commencement.

HURRAYYYYYYYYY!

Here's a little proof:

More.

I had to post more on our adorable Primary class. We really will miss them and it was so nice to have a church calling with Ryan. I know he was intimidated to teach the little ones at first, but I think he warmed up quite nicely.


We had fun playing outside the last few minutes of the last class we taught so I took some pictures of them running around. They definitely aren't top quality pictures, but the looks on the kids' faces are too adorable not to show.

What a week!

So life has kept us pretty busy lately. We finished up classes on Tuesday and have been tackling finals here and there. I have two left and Em has three left. Amidst all the studying we have managed to move almost all of our stuff into its storage space for the summer, thanks to an amazing friend who is letting us use the extra space in his basement. The only piece of furniture that remains in our apartment is our bed!

We are extremely excited for Emily's graduation. Family will be coming into town to celebrate (fortunately the family can also help us clean). However, we are very sad to be leaving our ward. We have enjoyed it immensely and have been surrounded by amazing people like our home and visiting teachers. We'll especially miss our primary class (seen below). Those kids are just too much fun! Anyway, back to packing...

this is one of my favorite parts of conference weekend.

I love General Conference.

Especially on Saturday night when all the boys twelve and up go to a meeting and that means a party for just Kaylea and I.

Tonight Kaylea and I went to Smith's to get some chocolate chips and 25 cent (plus tax, but pish posh to that, they were 25 cents for goodness sake!) cereal, thanks to this beautiful site.

Then we came home.

Then we ran to get a redbox movie.

Then we came home.

Then Kaylea decided to satisfy her caffeine addiction and go to the nearest gas station to get some DC.

We think ahead...

Either way, we had fun and watched Julie and Julia. Cute movie. And now I want to buy the book. Or rent it for free. Too bad I'm on the waiting list at the library. There are 9 holds for it (I think I'm somewhere around 7??) and each is for 6 weeks I think...that's over a year of waiting!

Great night. And great weekend. How was yours??