Long Update Post

I got two free tickets for the matinee concert of the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center. Who else is available for a concert in the middle of the day? Seniors and students.

Luckily, Brittany is also a student and was able to come with me. We were laughing while at the concert because other than us, the audience was full of gray hair. (Yes, those types of seniors) The concert was amazing.

Joey, Cesar, and Matt came to visit Maryland and Virginia. While in Virginia, they spent the night at my house.

I took them to the Dairy Godmother for custard.

And they loved it.
Cesar on Obama's chair.

I made banana bread. Thanks for sharing the recipe Dani! My house smelled wonderful the whole day.

Fall bike rides with friends. This is Jamie. The Mount Vernon trail is the best.

Can you blame my lack of posts when it looks like this outside?

Kim and I enjoyed a fall drive up the GW Parkway. We were on our way to a bridal shower dinner party for Sarah, our old roommate who is getting married in less than two weeks!
Yes, in case you are wondering, I will be in Utah for the wedding. But only for a couple days and I will be back the following week for Thanksgiving.

I tried to be like my cute roommate Allie and was planning to make a whole fall post. As you can see, it didn't make the cut and ended up in the update post.

Throwing the leaves! Again, Allie was much better at this.

This is the best picture from the Rally to Restore Sanity/Fear. I think the comedians are hilarious. The majority of the people at the rally were not.

Lindsay and I opted to bike into the Rally, which was smart. In and Out. And believe me, we were ready to get out.

I made the traditional Halloween Ghost Cookies.
They have now all successfully been given out to other people, so I can no longer eat them.
I know, that's the second orange coat appearance on this post. But, it's orange, and I love it. I wear it as often as I can in the fall.

SUSHI

I was so reluctant to try sushi for the first time. My friend Kyle was convinced that I would like it.

It wasn't actually as bad as I thought it would be. I stomached a few pieces, and I'm happy to say I have now tried sushi. I think I mostly struggled with the thought of what I was eating, rather than the actual taste. Kyle told me that California Roll could not even be in my vocabulary and that I had to try real sushi. That meant sushi with multiple pieces of fish in it. I couldn't stop laughing just while reading the menu. While it won't be the first thing I order, it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.

Our waitress tried snapping a picture. My camera is kind of hard to figure out, so it took her a few tries... ha ha

But, she got it.

HALLOWEEN METRO

Late Friday night when we still had no idea what we were going to be for Halloween, Kim came up with the BEST IDEA. We were going to be the Metro!

Lindsay- Yellow Line, Jamie- Orange Line, Kim- Blue Line,
Amber- Red Line, Kelsey- Green Line

With the help of a little KT Tape, the costume was a huge success!

Have you heard the metro rap? It can be found here.

The little Indian is trying to steal the metros thunder.

Just kidding. We love our little Indian!

I have hardly had any posts about the Metro lately. Aren't you happy about how fitting my costume was this year?

my next two months. and the best deal on a flight.

Have you heard that I booked a $7 flight to Boston?

That's right. SEVEN DOLLARS.

It was $7 each way and with taxes and fees a total of $35 came out of my checking account.

That's cheaper than driving, taking the train, or riding a bus. And it gets me to Boston in less than two hours!

Jet Blue was having a deal, and I am so happy I jumped on it when I did.

I will be flying to Boston tomorrow morning, and back Wednesday night for class.

I will get to see one of my best friends, Maryella! She visited me in the summer and I promised her a visit in the fall. I never imagined I would be able to fulfill that promise for only $35.

So here is my schedule for the next two months:

This week: Boston
Next week: Utah for Sarah and Tanners wedding
3rd week: Virginia
4th week: Utah for Thanksgiving
5th week: Virginia and NYC @ Christmas time with my mom and sisters
6th week: Final week of school- Virginia
7th week: Home to Utah - for an entire month!

I mentioned that I love being a student, right?

Best Roommates

Introducing my new roommates: Lindsay and Allie

Kim, Lindsay, Allie, Amber

I don't know how I have been lucky enough to always end up with the best roommates in the world, but I have.

What have I been up to?

Writing papers, reading, researching, and writing more papers.
And, apparently, taking photos on campus.

I love being a student again.

Sunrise

Back in August my friend, Brittany, invited me to go watch the sunrise at the Lincoln Memorial with a group of her friends. We were really excited for the morning plans but because of overcast weather, the sunrise was terrible. This was the best picture of the morning. We woke up super early for nothing!

When Joey, Matt, and Cesar were out visiting last month we decided to attempt the early morning sunrise. Mind you, these boys were up until about three the night before and we had to wake up at six! Which was four Utah time. Let's just say Joey wasn't thrilled. But look how gorgeous it was. I was sure to take them to Eastern Market for breakfast after.

This is more what we were hoping for in August, isn't it beautiful?

Things to do in DC: Watch the sunrise at the Lincoln Memorial. Check.

Where dreams come true

I can't dream of anything more perfect.

Seriously. How does she know how to do the cutest thing at the perfect moment?

Florida with the cutest Snow White around!

Reality comes tomorrow, but I'm enjoying my dream while it lasts.

National Book Festival

Today was the National Book Festival on The Mall. Kim, Allie, and I knew we wanted to go when we found out...

Suzanne Collins would be there! We had to get our books signed. Along with a lot of other crazy people. Maybe we should be more embarrassed about the population of people who were also waiting in line. And maybe we should be more embarrassed about how excited we were, and about how many pictures we took. The line was LONG. They made an announcement that each person could only get one book signed...er... stamped? Luckily between the three of us- we got each book in the series taken care of.

(Please note the Mockingjay necklace she is wearing)
Here she is signing(stamping) MY BOOK! I don't blame her for wanting to stamp instead of sign. Her hand would not have made it through that line. The stamp was actually really cool too. Plus, it was stamped BY SUZANNE COLLINS. What more could we ask for?

Hunger Games - Catching Fire - Mockingjay
We were super excited!

Many of you may know that I will likely be getting a masters in reading/literacy next year. I love children books. This festival was right up my line. While Kim and Allie stood in the Suzanne Collins line I ran over to the Rebecca Stead line. She wrote the Newbery Award book, "When You Reach Me." I waited in line hoping to get a copy signed for my mom (The avid Newbery book reader). Unfortunately I was literally the NEXT person in line when they cut the line off. So, Mom, you won't be getting a personalized copy of this years Newbery book at Christmas time. Sorry.

Here's to reading, books, authors, crazy fans, and living in DC so that we were able to attend THE NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL!

To the left, To the left, Everything you own in a box to the left...

.... if only everything I own could fit in a box to the left.

Unfortunately the moving process was much more than a simple, "box to the left."

Luckily we all had plenty of help, and we got it done in two days! It was long and terrible while it lasted, but we had a lot of good laughs.

Presenting... our new townhouse! #2325

Seriously, we look out our family room window and see this beautiful building. I feel like we live in Colonial Virginia. Our view is one of the big highlights of the new place. Not to mention the extra 1,000 square feet. And 2 fantastic new roommates: Allie, and soon-to-be Lindsay. We owe Amy big time for finding a great fourth roommate.

The infamous colorful dishes, with a new glass cabinet.

Allie got these great chairs from PB.

We have a fireplace, a garage, and a deck, we almost feel like adults.

Watching Dave and Steve carry my unexpectedly heavy and awkward bed frame up three flights of stairs was hysterical. I owe them big time.

A special THANK YOU to:
Team 1: Natalie, Joe, Dave, Tim, Ryan, Steve, Scott.
Team 2: Heidi, Jamie, Emilie, and Natalie.
Sunday dinner team: The Powers
And, Taylor for making the whole weekend more fun!

I tried getting as many visitors as possible at my old apartment and I ended up with lots. However, if you liked visiting my old place, you will like my new place even more! There is more space than we know what to do with. So, come visit soon.

In other news: I really wish everything I own could fit in a couple boxes. I need help downsizing.

I made it!

It was hard to believe at some points during this year that I would actually make it to the end- but I did it! I had to turn in my awesome Smithsonian ID badge too.

All of my coworkers who made it to the end!
(Mind you, of the three original FF teachers I was the only one left standing for this photo)

I'm going to miss these guys like crazy. My last day would have been a lot harder if....

...I hadn't gone straight to the airport after work to pick up these three! Talk about the best way to finish off my last day of work. And now, after a busy year, coming up next:

GRADUATE SCHOOL - I never thought I would be so excited to pick up my books and ID. I love school!

And... I get to think about my cute family cheer squad at home! Thanks for spending my vacation week with me!

Whitney, River, and Saylor left yesterday.
Today I:
SLEPT IN UNTIL 10!
Did six loads of laundry
Went running
Ate OREOS
and...
Took a relaxing bath with a glittery bath bomb from LUSH (given to me as a gift from one of my students. The glitter was a nice surprise but it was relaxing and enjoyable none the less)
Now I am off to read: MOCKINGJAY! If you don't know what I am talking about, get off the computer and go buy the book Hunger Games. I've been waiting so long for the third one to come out and I can't wait to read it!

More pictures and posts to come. It's been a crazy month!