Washington, D.C.

My family came out over New Years and I got a couple of cool pictures while we were out and about site seeing. I wish I had more or even some of my family, but I'm just not cool enough to remember to use my camera on a regular basis. I've been living in the D.C. area for a few years now and I love it more and more. There are so many charming things about it. While my family was here we did a lot of the standard stuff like, White House, U.S. Capitol, Air and Space, National Archives, Arlington Cemetery, etc. I think probably one of my most favorite things to do in D.C. is go to the monuments at night. These pictures don't capture the full magnitude and presence these monuments have, but they are still pretty cool.

and of course, the National Cathedral

I really feel like an adult now

I joined a book club. Yes, I did. There are several women from my church in the area that get together for a book club each month and last night was my first night attending. Aren't adults the only people who join book clubs? I think so. As nerdy as some of you may think I am, I love it. This last month we read, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. It was an excellent, heart wrenching book about several women in Afghanistan. It was remarkable to read the things these women had to endure. The book was filled with heartache and disappointment for these women and it was powerful. It certainly put a perspective on my life and increased my awareness of how greatly blessed my life has been.

So it's official, I'm an adult. I'm going to go and see what other adult like things I can do now!

Dear CTR 6,

Oh how I love you. Every Saturday I spend some time thinking about how to teach you and what activities we can do that you will enjoy and that will keep your attention span. I get excited when I come up with a good idea and know that you will love it. Dear Audrey, I absolutely love the picture you drew for me. I love that you spent some of your week working on it. You were so brave to come up to me in Sacrament meeting and give it to me. It's beautiful and I love that you put CTR in the middle of the heart. I want you to know it is hanging on my fridge at home. Dear Lily, oh my little Lily. I laugh every time I think about how you tried to ditch my class in the beginning because you were scared to have a new teacher. Where did you learn about ditching at age 5 anyway? I love how you talk about your boyfriend in class. I love your gorgeous face and how your eyes get wide and you smile so big every time you see me. I love how you always tell me you love my class and can't wait to come to it next week. I hope you always feel that way about church. I know you were sad on Sunday when they sent us home because of the flood and so we were going to have to miss our class, but don't be, we will see each other next week. Dear Payton, I LOVE the sweater vests you wear every week. I noticed how cute you were and how excited you get before you were even in my class and I am so excited you're now with me. Dear Riley, you have a quiet beauty that I love. You're so gentle and loving, I've noticed the way you treat you siblings and it's precious. I hope we get to play more together.

Thank you CTR 6 for being my class. I love you all and am privileged to get to spend each Sunday with you.

French Fries

I am grateful for French Fries. They really can make anything better!

What was I waiting for?

Last night I finally put our down comforter on our bed. Honestly, why did it take me so long? I was in pure heaven last night as I slept. My husband and I have different body temperatures and so he enjoys our house being on 65 while I find it a little cold. But after last night, I don't care what temperature it's on, I'm good as long as I'm under the down comforter.

I will admit that I am a little spoiled when it comes to down comforters. I have always had one. My Mom is a huge fan and every room you go into and almost every throw blanket is a down comforter. I even went so far as to take mine on the mission with me. I know it may seem silly to some since there is only a two suitcase limit for two years, but it was the best thing I brought! I just sleep better with a down comforter. So cheers to all the great down comforters in the world and the pleasure they bring to many of us! (clink, clink)

I'm grateful for....

WARM HOMES and FIREPLACES. Yesterday Peter and I worked/studied while we watched the Inauguration of President Obama on our comfy couch. Peter put a log on the fire and it was so nice and cozy in our house. I'm so grateful, especially on a day like yesterday when it was in the low teens, that we have a nice, warm home. We even have a tiny fireplace that I love!

Lately I've been having lots of bad dreams. I wake up in the middle of the night totally sweating and my heart beating fast. Sometimes I even wake Peter up to help calm me down. It's ridiculous and I don't know why I'm having them. I have also been having lots of worrying thoughts about bad things happening to people I care about or getting a phone call that something horrible has happened. I double check the locks too often and I get more nervous than normal to drive when there is ice of the road. For some reason I have become more paranoid and I don't like it. Sometimes I wonder if it's because I'm just so happy that I'm worried it's going to go away soon. I don't know, but it's bothering me.

So in order to not focus on my worrying thoughts, I'm going to try and focus on what I'm grateful for. I hope to do regular posts on what I'm grateful for and what brings me joy.

HALIE and LUCY

These two I'm definitely grateful for. They are my sisters kids and I absolutely adore them. Halie is so sassy and so smart.

Lucy is hilarious and strong willed.

Whenever I am around these two I am always happy. They are so fun and they make me feel so loved. I work hard to be their favorite aunt, I just can't help it. I love them so much. For some reason I have been missing them so much lately as we live very far from each other right now and I don't get to see them as often as I would like. I'm just so grateful they are a part of my life and especially grateful they are a part of my sisters life, they have brought her so much joy and love over the years and I'm so grateful for that.

Peter's Birthday

Yay, Peter turned 27 yesterday (yes, for those of you doing the math, I married a younger man). After attending his sister's basketball game we came back to our place with his family and had cake and ice cream to celebrate.

I'm grateful to Peter's parents for having him and raising him to be the good, kind, and honest man that he is. Thank you Peter for being a great friend, lover, and fan to me. Love you.