If I never have to climb the escalator at Woodley Park.....

This past week Chad and I went to Washington DC. There was a conference there for Pharmacist that Chad was invited to so I tagged along. We left Kelsie in the hands of her Aunt Kelli for a few days and then her Aunt Jami the last day. She did pretty well but now every time I leave the room she freaks out at me. Hopefully that will pass. It was actually pretty hard to leave her and we were both excited to see her cute little face when we got home.

We got in Wednesday at around 5 pm, took the metro to our hotel, and then headed back on the metro to the National Mall. We walked to the Washington monument and then checked out the National Museum of American History. The Star Spangled Banner is located here and it is amazing! Plus I made Chad go look at the First Lady's dresses. Sorry Chad.

Thursday, we took a bus tour and were able to see Arlington Cemetery. As we surveyed all the gravestones and saw the changing of the guards, I started to get a little emotional. I thought about all the lives that have been lost for the good of this country. And then you think about the families that lost those good people. So much suffering and sacrifice. That is a very sacred and holy place.

The Jefferson Memorial

(Just a drive by. We didn't have time to go in.)

There are four statues on two bridges on the way to Arlington.

JFK Burial Site

Arlington Mansion

Some structure in Arlington. We thought maybe it was for funerals.

Changing of the guard.

Lincoln Memorial

There was such a difference between the Vietnam Memorial and the World War II Memorial. Vietnam was so sad and depressing but the World War II Memorial felt like a celebration. It was full of life and thanksgiving. I guess it's a true reflection of the feelings of both wars.

It was so hot! How could you not put your feet in the water. I would have swam in it if I was under 5 years old.

And of course the White House.

Friday, I had all to myself. I took the metro to the National Mall again and went to the Museum of Natural History. I was going to walk up to the National Art Gallery but half way there I gave up. It was so bloody hot! Seriously. I thought Thursday was bad. Thursday was a dream. I was sweating like crazy. So I hopped back on the metro and headed to Bethesda. I wanted to go to Georgetown Cupcakes. It is what the show DC Cupcakes is about. There really was a line out the door to get in. They weren't too shabby but I think the Sweet Tooth Fairy here in Utah is just as good. Saturday, we just dinked around and flew back home.

THE END

I cut it!

My hair was getting way too long and I rarely do it for that reason so, I decided to chop a few inches off a couple of weeks ago. It's been so much easier to do my hair. Chad actually gets to see it done more often. Lucky.

Before

After

Who knows. Maybe I'll even chop it a little more:)

The 24th Cookoff

So I'm exactly a month late getting this post out. What? It's Summer! We celebrated Pioneer Day at our house this year. And with the celebration we had a bbq rib-off. Allen's vs. Nelson's. The winner got babysitting time so we were all about adding to the babysitting pot already collecting at the Allen's.

The A Team's Ribs

The N Team's Ribs

(You wanted it to say the B Team didn't you. Me too, but I can't take all the credit.)

Not very pretty but oh so good. I don't think the Allen's knew what they were getting in to when they challenged our proven winning recipe. Sorry suckers!

I also made these mini hamburgers and fries just in case there weren't enough ribs. Haha. Chad came out with a plate of these for the kids and they hesitated a bit before trying them out. I got the idea from bakerella. They are yellow cake cupcakes for the bun, brownie for the meat, green frosting for lettuce, red frosting for ketchup and yellow frosting for mustard.  I used box mixes and frosting but it still took a bit of time to put them together.

The fries are just made of sugar cookies. Everyone seemed to get a kick out of them.

We also set up a race that consisted of bouncing a tennis ball on a tennis racket around orange cones, throwing horse shoes, putting plastic balls into a bucket, nocking down plastic cups with squirt guns, and finally bowling with plastic balls and pins. It was pretty hilarious watching everyone get through it.

We are pretty serious about our game playing around here:)

If you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it....

and he did.

2 years and one day ago Chad and I were married in the Salt Lake Temple. 2 years?!? That's it! You say. Yes 2 years! It has gone by really fast. Especially the last 8 months with the Kelsiepoo! It's crazy how much our lives have changed.

While I was getting my car registration yesterday (a very exciting start to our anniversary), the kid at Jiffy Lube said "Oh man, I stayed up way too late last night. Do you ever do that?" Hahaha. I laughed and said "No. Not if I have to. I have a baby alarm that wakes up everyday around 7a.m."

I love it though. I'm excited to see what else life brings us. We have had our ups and downs. Some arguments and more laughter. Fun times and boring times. And I've been through all of it with my best friend. He helps clean the house, does the dishes, gets Kelsie out of bed the mornings he is home, does all the yardwork (What? I dislike it very much.), fixes things, hangs pictures, goes to work everyday, puts up with a stinker of a wife, and much, much more. I love him. A lot. I'm not sure what I would do without him.

Louisville engagement reenactment.

Chad with no eyebrows! Don't ask.

My handsome husband.

The cruise right before I got prego.

The result after all these pictures.

And more of 'the result' from her jail cell looking for her momma after she woke up from a nap.

Read this and then come back....

Go to this blog and read the story of this family.

I read this last night and could barely get through it without tearing up. I tried explaining what it was about to Chad and just started bawling. I thought about Kelsie while I read the whole thing. The heartache struck me to my core and I realized how truly blessed I am to have the privilege of this little spirit in my life. 

I thought about the complaints I had/have with Kelsie and how they don't even compare to this mother's struggle.

I thought about what it would feel like to lose her....oh it would just brake me. 

I thought about this little life that had so much to struggle with in just a few short months. Who smiled through her vent tubing. What a sweet little life!

I thought about my family. My dad. My testimony of the sacredness of a forever family.

How I don't even know how really blessed I am. How sometimes I take it for granted.

I sometimes wonder if I'm really using all my talents for the best things so I decided to help. They are doing a fundraiser to help raise money for research into SMA here. And she is also making leggings for the babies at Primary Children's here.

I don't know why this has affected me so much but it makes me really want to do what I can to help and to also share my blessing with those who need it. Even if it's just to help keep a cute little baby's legs warm!

Father's Day Present

Can you even believe this face? I don't know where she got this cuteness but it is effortless I swear. For a Father's day present Kelsie and I snuck off one morning and got pictures taken. Chad had been bugging me forever to get pictures of her. The same week we did it he kept asking me over and over again when I was going to take Kelsie to get some professional pictures done. Sheesh. So here are a few. He was super excited about it! She was such a diva for this. Would not smile to save her life and the photographer was doing all sorts of stuff to get her to do anything. Made me laugh though:)
                                                                            I love her feet in this one!

Gotta love the double chin! Haha. Dang it!

P.S. Karina Orgill from ko-photography.blogspot.com took these photos. I think she did a great job and will probably use her again this year for our Christmas photos.