Christmas Break!

Oh man, Christmas Break was like a blur. These are in no particular order, because let's be honest, I don't remember if these things actually happened! Good thing I take a butt load of photos where ever I'm at.

Besides being in a state of jetlag/trance, being back in Alaska for Christmas was just the break we (more like Dallan) needed! 

Our virtual Christmas card! (taken in our apartment in VA)

Oh how I miss my dogs. Excuse the blurriness, my dogs aren't exactly models

Now, our dogs aren't indoor dogs, unless its fetching cold outside. Then they are limited to where they can be in the house. But this little rebel, Hershey, was just too dang cute in that blanket to let her leave! (don't worry, the blanket went straight to the washer afterwards)

On one of our many walks with the pups, I noticed the creek wasn't quite frozen over yet (a rarity in Alaska for creeks and rivers to not be frozen by the start of December), and I was taken away by the beauty!

Bri, she's was so sassy and stubborn one night. She wouldn't look at anyone!

Alaska, you're so pretty!

One of my BFF's and her boyfriend took D and I icefishing! I'm sad to say this was actually my first time going! As a life-long Alaskan, this is quite shameful to me. (Yes, blurry photo, it was cold okay?!)

 I just love her!

Little lake trout!

After being hunched over for a good couple hours, looking down into the hole, I finally caught one! That is a look of pure joy folks.

Another BFF of mine got to come home for Christmas! I hadn't seen her in a loooooong time! So I'm glad we got to hang out quite a bit when she was there.

Sledding crew!

Now it's time for Christmas! Bri was quite excited about her bone!

Christmas Eve-ish, family photo!

 After opening presents Christmas morning, I wanted to get photos with my siblings before going to my dads to open gifts (sadly, nothing was documented at my dad's house =(....)

3rd Christmas married with this dude!!

I love my little, big (as in tall....barely taller) sister! 

 This was the first time my siblings have been together for Christmas in 2 years since my brother was on his mission! Both brothers only got to be home for like 4 days, it was short but sweet! 

The Nutcracker Ballet

It is tradition for us to see the Nutcracker Ballet every December. Except we actually haven't been since getting married!! We went 2 years in a row when we were dating/engaged, but after we got married, funds were a tad more tight! 

When I found out The Washington Ballet was doing The Nutcracker, I found the cheapest tickets they had left and bought them. As a "retired" dancer, I'm always craving going to the theater for ballets or other dance like things. 

On the metro! It was actually stopped at this point... I hate when it stops in the middle of a dark tunnel.. my claustrophobia kicks in. So what better way to distract myself then with photos!

Warner Theater!

AHH! This is by far the prettiest theater I've been in. It was smaller then what I'm used to, but it was SO pretty!

I mean, c'mon! Look at the detail!!!!

The performance itself was pretty good. Each choreographer has artistic license so there were some parts that were like ehhhh.. Ballet West is still has done my favorite Nutcracker performance! Nonetheless, I'm so glad we got to see it! The next ballet I want to see live is Swan Lake!!! I've watched it on film, but never live. Someday......

Ford Theater and The Capitol

D and I always try to do something on the weekends, and when we aren't travelling to another state, we are usually exploring DC area.

After getting back from Vegas, we only had a couple weeks until heading to Alaska. So that Saturday  (Dec. 6th) we decided to go into DC and see the Ford theater and tour the Capitol building.

The Ford Theater you need tickets which is like 4-5 bucks. Not too shabby. If you're early they take you down to the museum and you can see the gun that killed Lincoln and other random things. It was cool but we had to wait down there for an hour (yes we were that early, we thought the metro would take longer). After we waited, they took the group into the theater. It's smaller then I thought it was. but back then they didn't have huge theaters like we do now. 

The lady who gave the "briefing" stood on the stage and gave us all the history and logistics about what went down. It was cool, but kind of long. I started to fall asleep... (school's not for me folks, I can't do lectures!) I did learn some new things though.. like the interior is NOT original due to a fire... sad. That kind of took "wow" factor away. Nonetheless, it is a must see in DC!

Us and the Presidential booth

Exterior of the Theater

Across the street is the house that they took Lincoln to get medical attention. I guess I never paid much attention in class because I didn't remember that happened... This was part of the tour to go into the house and see the room and bed he died on. 

After going into the house, they take you up an elevator and its a huge museum of the civil war history and more about Lincoln... We decided to bypass all of that and head to the Capitol.

You don't need tickets to the Capitol but I advise you call in and make an appointment if its prime tourist season. I'm all about travelling on the off season! It's cheaper, less crowded and I find you get more out of tours this way.

Our tour group had maybe 10 people in it so our tour guide, who was extremely cool, gave us a longer tour! 

D and I with our headsets on. I only had my iphone with me to take photos. I didn't want to risk my camera getting taken away. Is it just me or do government official buildings make you uncomfortable? yes, you too? okay good! 

This circular hallway was AMAZINGLY beautiful!

Brigham Young statue! I guess there are two statues of people from every state in the building. This was news to me. The state votes on the statues if the person meets certain qualifications (being dead is one for example)

The ceilings are so pretty! Very "Europe" like. I was loving it.

Unfortunately, the main dome is being retrofitted and needs to be done by the next inauguration. The exterior of the dome has scaffolding all over it too. But you could see some of the artistry done which was really nice.   

Thanksgiving and Other Things

November flew by I felt like! With the visitors and Thanksgiving... dang! 

As most of you know I'm a nanny for two different families. I love these kiddos! This particular day this little diva was cracking me up with her backpack! She's the sweetest. I love my job!

Dallan and I flew out to Vegas for Thanksgiving... Actually, we flew out separately, because there was a misunderstanding with his professor and so we had to fly out different times the same day. I wasn't complaining though because I still checked him in so I knew no one would sit by me! Extra room anyone?! 

On my first flight I got the whole row to myself going to TX! SCORE! Then The middle seat was open for my next flight to NV. But it was still great.

Poor Dallan though... there was a delay on his first flight and when they landed he only had 10 minutes to get to his connecting flight, Across the airport. Yikes! but he made it and everything was great after that. 

I just waited at the Las Vegas airport for him so that way his family didn't have to make two trips to the airport that day. 

Here are some snippets of our trip!

Deer up at Mt. Charleston

This is the first time their family has been together in over two years! It HAD to be documented

Ringo! 

Took a drive out to Red Rock Canyon. 

I always love going down to the strip to walk around and people watch. The Bellagio is a fave! Unfortunately their Garden was under construction to set up for Christmas (My favorite of their displays) but it was cool to see how they do it! 

The water show did the Titanic song (I'm blanking on the name) and I just kept laughing and saying, "Jack! Don't go!" It made D laugh. And now that I'm typing it, it's not as funny now as it was then.. lol

We rode the NY, NY rollercoaster... expensive, but fun! D had never done it before so I wanted him to experience it.

Dessert Date at the Cheesecake factory!

Grandma Maurine

The flight back was MISERABLE! We had a red eye flight... and had a 8 hour layover in TX. Our flight to DC didn't take off til about 6:30am. Who can freaking sleep on the hard floors and lumpy seats... not me! So I was a bit delirious when I got home. It took me forever to adjust back! Stupid Jet lag. 

November Visitors! // Playing Catch Up...

You guys, don't do what I'm doing right now. I'm playing catch up from NOVEMBER!!! Bad, bad, bad blogging habit! UGH! 

In November we had a few visitors come which was so fun and amazing! I LOVE having visitors *hint hint* so come! I'll show you around this awesome city that I've grown to love (and hate)! haha

Our first visit was my brother-in-law! He was actually serving his mission in Baltimore and went back to Vegas, then 2 weeks later came back East for a visit! YAY! We went to Gettysburg with him. This was technically D and I's 2nd time coming to Gettysburg, but we don't count the 1st because it was on accident on our way to Upstate NY! Whoops!

Gettysburg was not what I was expecting. I didn't really have expectations I guess, but it was different from what I pictured. Everyone should take a trip out there... its just unreal to say the least.

I spy a big gulp.... or what I like to call a diabetes gross gulp..

I LOVED all the apple trees! It was past the season, but all the apples on the ground smelt delicious even though they were rotting... 

Memorials on top of memorials you guys!

Next stop was Baltimore! Kyle showed us around some parts where he served his mission and then took us to this really cool L shaped alley! "Tag Alley" is what they call it and it was really neat to see!

Later that week, we took him to the The Mall and did all the touristy stuff (which I love!).

Laying at the base of the Washington Monument! You've got to try it!

While D was at school and I had the day off work, I took my BIL to Arlington Cemetery. It also happened to be Veteran's Day Weekend and all of these WW2 and Vietnam war Vet's were there too! It was really inspiring. I'm so grateful for our Military!

A week later, my mom and little sister came to visit! I'm sad we didn't document this trip well because it was a fast trip for Dance stuff (My mom owns a dance studio). But it was so nice to have them here!

We went the The Mall again, but this time we went to the top of the Washington Monument! I haven't done that before until they got there because it was off season for DC. 

Travel Tip: On busy tourist seasons, you need to get your tickets for this EARLY! They're free but they go fast!

I'm pretty sure I experienced Vertigo once we got to the stop. I got super dizzy! It was really weird... But after that left, we looked out the windows on all 4 sides! Gosh I love this City!!!!

We headed to Pennsylvania over the weekend and stopped by the temple! It's one of my favorite temples by far!

We got dinner at a steak house (I can't remember the name right now...) and the strawberry Lemonade was to DIE FOR... and HUGE!!! Just look at those Mason Jars!

Again... I'm sad we didn't document more... but it was a good time! I miss them =(