Bike Ride Around DC

Last Saturday we decided to be tourists again.  The weather was pretty nice and we planned to take out bikes to ride around the city.  So we parked at our favorite free parking in DC, near the Potomac and got on our bikes.  Glenn was really excited to ride around.  I was a bit nervous at first because I don't like riding around a lot of cars.  But traffic wasn't too bad.  We had enough room to ride on the sidewalks most of the way, so we did.  And that was nice.  

We rode to Ford's Theater first and did the tour of the theater, museum, and the house where Abraham Lincoln died.  The tour didn't start for another 45 minutes, so we went walking around that area.  There was a group of ladies who had gotten out of a car and were trying to figure out the parking meter.  I noticed them first and asked Paul, "How many ladies does it take to fill a parking meter?"

hahaha!

"It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas"

On December 1st, we got out our Christmas things and began to decorate.  We have a lot more decorations, but we just don't have the space here.  So we have a simplified Christmas this year.  It still feels Christmas-y and nice.  

"I Can do That!"

Glenn got a new game from Grandma Esther.  It is a Cat in the Hat game called, "I Can do That!"  It's a really cute, simple game perfect for kids.  There are different colored/numbered cards and they are all face down.  The players take turns turning over three cards, trying to get one of each color/number.  If they do, they then have to try to accomplish what it says.  The 1 cards have to do with how to do it; the 2 cards deal with where you have to go; and the 3 cards tell you where to place the fish bowl.  

For example, you could flip over three cards that read: "Hop...To the fridge and back...With the fish on top of your head."  If you are successful at completely the sentence, you then get to keep those cards/book.  The player with the most cards/books wins!

It is a lot of fun and we've already played it several times.

Fun Around the House

December has started out pretty fun.  We are almost half-way through the month and it's been busy, and it will continue to be busy.  Here is a sampling of what goes on at our house.

Paul's workplace had an open house party last week and we came to it.  Glenn wanted to ride the bike home with Paul, so Paul had Glenn wear his sweatshirt.  Glenn thought it was pretty funny.

Fun at the Park

When we got back to Virginia we enjoyed some nice weather and so we went to the park.  We had Graisen with us for the day and they were definitely wanting and needing to get outdoors and run around.  We met up with Maya and Melanie there and had a great time!

A Visit with the Eberts

After Temple Square, we all headed over to my Aunt Carolyn's house.  We brought cookies and hot chocolate to share while we played a game.  They had a small gift for Glenn and that was really nice.

A Visit in Downtown SLC

Monday night--our last night there--we headed down to Salt Lake to see some of the sites there.

A Visit with Grandpa Thibault

On Sunday we went down to Church in Lehi in our old ward.  It was a lot of fun to see everyone again.  After Church I asked Glenn if he remembered who else lived in Lehi.  He exclaimed, "Ian and Sean!"  So we stopped by their house for a little bit.  They were on their way to Grandma and Grandpa Jensen's house so Grandpa, Stan and Dad could talk about and show their pictures from their India trip.  So after visiting with them we went down to Provo to visit with Grandpa Thibault.  We could tell that he was a bit lonely without Grandma there.  But he was sure happy to see us.

Glenn remembered where the toys were and went right to them--after giving Grandpa a big hug of course!

An Early Christmas

Because we flew to Utah and would have to fly back, and also since we weren't going to be with our family for Christmas, we decided to open the presents they gave to us.  So Saturday morning with a few family members around us, we opened our presents.

Celebrating 80 Years

Paul's Grandpa Savage turned 80 years old the Monday before Thanksgiving--the 19th.  Paul's Mom and Aunt Bonnye held a celebration in his honor.  The party was held at Bonnye's house, also in Salt Lake.  We had gone down to Clarisse's again that morning, but they needed some help getting things ready for the party.  So Robyn, Cheryl, Glenn and I went to Bonnye's house.  Cheryl and I worked on a scrapbook which was full of pictures and letters to Grandpa Bob.  It turned out really good for how quickly we put it together.  : D

Thanksgiving 2012

Thanksgiving morning we had some time with my family.  Sirie and Spencer were the first to arrive at Mom's house.  They have two little dogs and they came along too.  Glenn was excited to play with them outside.  It was a beautiful morning--and day--and so they had a lot of fun being out there.

A Visit to Provo

On Monday November 19, we headed down south.  Seeing the sun coming through the clouds and the mountains was nice.

Fun at Grandma Esther's

The day after we arrived in Utah, Ethan and Lena invited us to go to see the new Bond movie Skyfall with them.  They brought their kids to Mom's house and got to play with Glenn while Grandma watched them.  It was nice to be on a double date.  The movie was good and then we got good food afterwards.

When we got back we took some pictures of the kids playing together.

Our Flight to Utah

The Friday before Thanksgiving--so November 16--Paul, Glenn and I flew out to Utah.  This was my third time back to Utah this year!  Crazy~

Anyway, we came out for Thanksgiving and for Paul's Grandpa Savage's 80th Birthday Party.  We knew that everyone would be getting together on that side of the family.  That has never happened, so we knew it was important for us to be there.

When we arrived at the airport, we sat next to a big group of soldiers coming home from Iraq.  We talked with them a bit and that was neat.  When we arrived in Utah, we were walking behind them...and when they got to the baggage claim area and where the people are waiting, the whole place erupted in applause and cheers.  We were very honored to be a tiny part of welcoming them home.  I got choked up seeing them greet their family and friends.  What a huge sacrifice for all involved!  

Thank you service men and women!!

(It's not the best picture--I just stuck my hand up and took it.)

A Small Taste of Fall

I meant to take pictures of the trees as I saw them changing...Every time I was in the car and driving past the trees, I would have the thought again to bring my camera--and each time I would forget.  But the drive around was really beautiful.  With so many trees and different kinds of trees, there was just a variety of colors all around.  One day--about a month ago--I looked out my window and thought, 'okay, I'm going to at least take a picture of these trees.'  So that's what I did.  I'm kind of bummed that I didn't get more pictures.  But I think this shows some of the vibrancy and color that we saw here.

Gorgeous!

Balloon Fun

Glenn went to a birthday party of one of his friends from Church.  At the end he was allowed to choose a balloon to take home.  He chose SpongeBob.  

Paul and I are not a fan of SpongeBob because all they do is yell their lines and don't really teach anything good to kids...so normally we don't let him have SpongeBob stuff, but I let this one slide...

...Anyway...

That birthday party was before Halloween.  The balloon lasted a good long while too.  Just before we went out to Utah for Thanksgiving stuff, Glenn found the balloon and began playing with it.  It had lost some of it's helium inside, but it wasn't completely flat yet.  

It was so funny to us that it would just kind of slowly go up and down--it was fun to play with!

Dinner-Time Fun

While the firemen were here last night, we took a break from watching them to make and eat dinner.  Glenn wanted to help me make the crescent rolls.  

I love that he loves helping in the kitchen!  I hope he continues to love helping out and making food.  It is a good skill to have.

A Visit from the Firemen

This afternoon my friend from across the apartment complex called to see if we were home and okay.  I didn't quite understand why she was asking it like that, and she explained that there were 5 or 6 fire trucks outside near our apartment and she couldn't tell if it was our building.  

Oh!

So we went outside to see what was going on.  Indeed there were several trucks and response vehicles right outside our apartment, but it wasn't our building, it was a couple away.  Thankfully.

The National Zoo Again

After the cathedral, we drove about a mile to the National Zoo.  We had wanted to visit again because we didn't see all of it last time.  And since we were so close, we planned to go there again.  And again the weather was so nice we really enjoyed being outside.

A Beautiful Day to be a Tourist

Yesterday was a gorgeous day here in the DC area!  

(I heard about and saw pictures of the snow they got in Utah--crazy!)  

Anyway, we took advantage of the nice weather to be tourists again.  

We first went to the Washington National Cathedral.