Virginia Beach

Oh Virginia Beach! I miss you!

A few weeks ago (gosh that feels like a year ago!!) D and I decided to make a trip down there before the weather started to "cool" off! As Rookies, we decided to leave Friday around 4 pm. BAD IDEA! Traffic was awful because everyone and their mom and dog were headed South too it seemed. Luckily, we were stopping by to see a friend on the way down and her mom called and gave us an alternate route to take which saved us about an hour! I couldn't believe the traffic though... 

Sadly we were only able to visit with my friend Aylia for about an hour because we got in way later then expected! I haven't seen her in about 5 years! I love that girl and her cute little baby girl! It was so fun to catch up for a bit.

We got settled in the hotel and the next morning we set out for the day! We first at at Village Inn (my favorite diner ever!)  and headed to the beach! It was scorching but so fun. Dallan and I would totally be beach bums if we lived close to a beach. The water wasn't warm like I was expecting which was a GOOD thing! You actually felt refreshed in the water. There was a family of dolphins that would swim back and forth too! At one point we were probably only 30 feet away from them!!

This picture cracks me up... I put sun screen on multiple times throughout the day but can you guess where I forgot to apply?! HAHA! It actually didn't hurt and was 80% gone the next morning (Thank you Lord for my olive skin tone). 

Sunday we headed up to Jamestown! Looking back at these photos makes me so giddy! Jamestown, if you guys don't know about it, is where the first settlers landed coming from England! (Pocahontas anyone?!) Anyways, it was a dream come true because if you know me, you know that I LOVED Pocahontas growing up! It still love that movie, but as a little girl I had Pocahontas everything! 

Jamestown has a "Mock" area of what Jamestown would have looked like when they first settled. It was cool actually seeing how things would've been set up!  

D is such a trooper with me! I make him do all kinds of silly stuff that he normally wouldn't! But come on! Who wouldn't want to try on the John Smith armor?!

This guy did a demonstration with a Musket! SO FLIPPING AWESOME! I wanted to try it so bad. The gun is nearly as tall as me!! Craziness.

A Mock of what the boats would've looked like!

"Can you paint with all the colors of the winddddd" haha!

A mile down the road was the ACTUAL location of Jamestown! It was SO surreal! Gave me goosebumps! Note: those wood fences are NOT original, BUT they have found the original holes, and made the fences above those holes. So it's really accurate! 

Where I'm standing is the original wall of the Church made in the 1600's that was located in James Fort! It was insane!

Pocahontas statue. D is REALLY into family history and a few months ago he found out that I am actually a descendant of Pocahontas! HOW AMAZING?! Dreams really do come true! haha! But in all honesty, being in a place where your ancestors used to roam and live makes it so much more special! I'm thankful D is into family history. I would've never known about this! 

Not my best work, but it's always fun to go back and watch =)

Virginia Beach Weekend 9/2014 from Jordan Petersen on Vimeo.

DC Temple

Around the beginning of September, Dallan and I really needed to go to the temple. It had been way to long (I'm embarrassed to say exactly how long)! I love going to the temple. I just feel so at peace and at ease. It also helps when the temple is GORGEOUS like the DC Temple! Inside there is stained glass on each end that you can't see from the outside, I so badly wanted to take a photo but it will be mentally ingrained forever! 

My Brother's Mission Homecoming

As soon as we got settled in VA, I turned around and headed back to AK for my brother's homecoming. I'm grateful my dad offered to buy my ticket otherwise I wouldn't see my bro until next summer... which would be nearly 3 years!!! That alone made me super sad! 

Alaska was wonderful as always. I was so happy to see everyone and my doggies! Jet lag kicked my butt but it was a good time all around!

I'm literally OBSESSED with my dogs! Call me the crazy dog lady! but who could resist these faces?!

 Meet Hershey! She is 9, loves to cuddle and give kisses!

 Meet Bri. My oldest =) She is 10 and my very first dog! (a post on that later). She loves tennis balls, catch, walks, and is very protective.

Back to my brother I guess.... haha! Love you Dylan!

 The waiting was PAINFUL!

 Mom and Son

 He had NO idea I was going to be there. He thought I was still in VA! He was shocked!

 He was a bit overwhelmed!

 Family Photo

Shout out to my cousin Colton for filming at the airport for me! It was fun editing what you had captured

Elder Fullmer's Mission Homecoming from Jordan Petersen on Vimeo.

Mt. Vernon, Battle Fields, and ALAN JACKSON!

August 16: We woke up so excited for the day! We headed to Mt. Vernon first. Dallan has always been a big fan of George Washington so this was a must! And I got to say, it was so COOL! I loved the grounds, house, view, everything. 

I also love how the historic places here make their workers dress in the time period. It makes it more real.

George's house

I loved this side of the house. I love columns on anything. 

Washington's Carriage

Potomac River is HUGE! Just as wide as the Mississippi I think..

This tree is one of the oldest trees on the plantation! I think it was circa 1600's

Pano of the view. It was to die for

We then headed to Fredericksburg. I LOVE that town! It's so cute and quaint. My ancestor on my mom's side fought for the Yankee's and the battle of Fredericksburg. We went and visited the site and it felt so eerie.. Especially at one part where the sign says something like "right here lay fallen soldiers after the battle" uhhh what... freaky! I wouldn't want to walk around this area at night..

 This house is original (refurbished obviously) and has bullet holes all over it. 

Part of the original wall the soldiers built for cover..

We then went and walked around Historic Fredericksburg to kill some time. They have an area called "Antique Mall" and it was antique shops for days!!! I was dying to buy a piece of furniture... Maybe before we leave...

We sat in the car for awhile before the concert because it was POURING rain... Good thing we bought ponchos... we would've been soaked because the concert was outdoors.

It was a lifelong dream of mine to see Alan Jackson. Such a classy guy. He was amazing live too! That's what I love about country.. they sound good on the record and live! (horrible Iphone quality but it'll do!)

The National Zoo

August 15th: D and I like to make the most of our weekends especially while we are in a new place! We jam pack our plans to see as much as we can. This particular weekend was fun filled! 

Horrible quality picture.. but this was getting off the metro and heading up to the street.. The longest escalator I've ever been on! We were probably 6 stories beneath ground... my claustrophobic tendencies kicked in for sure...

Yay the Zoo!!! 

 My FAVORITE PART!!! THE LIONS!!!!

 I could've stayed for HOURS just watching these guys. They're so cute!!!

 I've always thought my dog resembled a lion... What do you think?

 So giddy! The best picture I could get with Luke

King's Dominion & Other Things

Dallan's first day of Law School (August12th)! He was nervous to say the least. He also said in regards to me taking his picture.. "I feel like I'm in Kindergarten..." 

That weekend we wanted to do something fun so we headed to King's Dominion! SO MUCH FUN! On one ride called "Intimidator" I blacked out for a few seconds... It drops you 300 feet at 94 mph... and I was dehydrated and hungry so that didn't help... other than that... that ride was fun! HA!

They also have a water park too! We went there during the hottest hours of the day. 

But our favorite ride was "Dominator" We rode is about 3 times. I didn't take too many pictures but here is a glance at that weekend.

 The sun is so bright!