Washington DC

Last week I went to Washington DC with my friend Kristi.  She asked me to come along to help with her kids, but she has really good kids so it was more fun than it was work.  I tease a little in the first pic, but the kids did great on that LOOOONG car ride!  Thanks Kristi for having me along!  And thanks to your sister and her family too!

When we arrived, everyone kept asking me what I wanted to see, because it was my first time there.  I told them I wanted to go to the Smithsonian, and I about hit the floor when they said "Which one?"  I didn't know there was more than one... so I picked the Hirschorn museum of modern art.  Most people hate modern art because it "doesn't make sense" but I think it is fun and different.  I like how you can interpret it any way you want.  Like I think the sculpture in the pic below looks like a big pile of old school stamps!

I think the kids liked the waterfountain best...

I like when art is sort of interactive as well... 

In this pic I am standing in front of "Les Bourgeois de Calais" it is a Rodin sculpture that was on my AP Art History exam " I am a much better photographer when I am not also the subject:)  

I put this same picture on my photo blog, can you spot at least 3 differences?

The next day Kristi's sister was kind enough to stay with the kids so Kristi and I got to go to some more museums.  We went to The Museum of Natural History for like 5 seconds just to see the hope diamond... which was not as big, or as cool, as I thought it would be.  But there was a giant squid downstairs so it was worth it.   We spent most of our time at the National Gallery of Art.  I was in heaven.

I was surprised at the size and beauty of this Degas.  The text books never really do the paintings justice!

We thought it would be fun to drive by the White House.  We got lost first, and then stuck in traffic... and we were stuck for a long time....

So, I made an art quiz for you to do while you wait for us to find our way.  Name the artist.  Answers posted in comments.

Just when all hope was lost...

One of the coolest things we saw was the Washington National Cathedral.  It was HUGE! and super cool.  There was even a Darth Vader gargoyle!

This made me laugh. At the bottom it says "Children, obey your parents in all things."

I sent a text, and posted on facebook, that "I went to the back of a penny today..." no one got it.  But that was our first stop on our last day of touring.  We saw all the memorials, and I was most impressed by the Vietnam Memorial.  I never imagined just how long it was and how many many names there were.  It was quite the experience.

Here is me, and the very bottom, of the 16th prez statue.

This is how the little one spent most of the day.

We ended our last day of DC touring with ice cream.  I think that is the part the kids enjoyed the most!  And secretly, me too!

Vacation Madness: The Bonnie Hunt Show!

Wow, it is about time I posted something!  It has been too long!  About three months ago, on a whim, I clicked on a link that said "get tickets to the Bonnie Hunt Show" not ever imagining that I would actually get them.  Well, as you can see, I did, I went, and it was AWESOME!  

I called my mom to tell her about the tickets and she said "What are you going to do?  Fly to Utah and then drive to LA?"  And I said "Yep!"  I think she thought I was crazy, but she went along with it.  She invited two of her friends to come a long for the ride.  I was a bit worried about 4 women with totally different personalities getting along for 4 days most of which were spent crammed into my moms little toyota (which by the way has a freakishly HUGE trunk), but my worries were for naught.  Even when we met up with my good friend who recently moved to LA, adding a 5th woman to the mix, we didn't have any problems.

We all got along and had a blast talking and laughing together.  I truly believe that the women on this trip are some of the worlds best.  I was enveloped by their friendship and surrounded by their wisdom.  As much fun as all the stuff we did was, it was their company that I enjoyed the most. (ps I love you mom, and yes those statements include you... thanks for going along with my crazy idea)

This is the Culver Hotel. 

It is literally right next to the Culver Studios, where the show is filmed.  The rooms were not great, but the location couldn't have been more convenient.

We ended up going to the show twice!

The night before we had tickets to the show we wanted to make sure we knew where we were supposed to be for the next day.  When we walked over there some people on the crew invited us in to see the show.  So we went!  We sat on the very back row right next to the sound guy.  It was so fun!  Even on the back row, the experience was one of a kind!  Bonnie is so funny and quick witted!  I almost fell of my chair laughing.  Not only is she funny, but she is also sincere and kind.  She spent as much time as she could talking to the audience afterwards and shaking hands.  It is too bad her show is being cancelled. She is a ray of sunshine in the crap-fest that is on tv these days. (click here for a list of ways to help save the show)

The line!

After first show we saw on the back row, one of the crew members invited us to be VIP guests for the next days taping.  So even though we did have to wait at the end of that HUGE line, we got to sit on the front row.  You can see us in these two videos.  Video1 and Video2.  Video one is the one where you can see us the most.  Right behind the producer she talks to.  The guests we got to see were: Maria Bello, Ru Paul, Matt Lucas, Ruby Gettinger, Lauren Conrad, and Jillian Michaels.

The Ladies.

In front of the Culver Studios building, after all the tapings were over.

Meet the Cupcake Thief!

The audience got free cupcakes from Crumbs bakery.  Free!  I was very attached to my cupcake and was reluctant to let anyone else hold it... someone offered to hold it for me while I situated my luggage, but I couldn't let go... 

Ah, sweet sweet victory!

As you can see, no one ran off with my cupcake.... 

Christmas Is

Just a fun video to go with my favorite Christmas song... Enjoy!

Christmas is sleigh bells

Christmas is sharing

Christmas is holly

Christmas is caring

Christmas is children who just can't go to sleep

Christmas is memories the kind you always keep

Deck the halls and give a cheer 

For all the things that Christmas is each year

Christmas, Merry Christmas

When all your wishes come true

Christmas is carols to warm you in the snow

Christmas is bedtime where no one wants to go

All the world is tinsel bright

So glad to know that Christmas is tonight

Christmas, Merry Christmas

When all your wishes come true

(repeat 3 times )

Christmas is sleigh bells

Christmas is sharing

Christmas is holly

Christmas is caring

(fade out)

Mike & Steph finally see what it is all about!

Last week my good friends Mike and Steph came to New England to visit!  Dave and I were so happy to show our friends just what we love about living here!  We had a great time!  Here are some of the Saturday highlights...

Fall is the best time to be in New England for many reasons... the number one being the hot apple fritters of course!

The bees ruined a perfectly good picture spot... I am glad Dave made it out alive!

Steph and I have always been friends so it is really nice that our husbands found things to talk about too...

I don't get it...

Neither of us girls wanted to have our pictures taken (we are used to being behind the lens) so Mike was a good sport to let Dave repeatedly take his picture...

Poor Steph got sick... poor Mike got kissed...

There is really no explanation for this pic other than, Dave took it without our knowledge...

Yes its true, Waterfire does = Happy... crazy traffic on the way there, however, does not!

Come back again soon guys!  There is still more to see!

Jenny's Wedding

I have been blessed all my life.  I have been blessed with loving parents, who always encouraged me to go for my dreams (no matter how far away my dreams take me).  I have been blessed with a brother who makes me laugh and a sister who is my best friend.  I have been blessed to find a husband who can put up with me =), and whom I love more and more every day.  I even have in-laws that are a blessing to me.   I could list my blessings all day and still have more to write down.  So, rather than attempt to finish a never ending list, I am going to focus on the blessing that is my sister.

Mindy, I think, embodies the phrase "heart of gold".  She is kind through and through.  I live every day hoping that some day I can be more like her.  She is my sister and my friend.  It makes me sad when I hear of sisters not getting along.  It is something I can not imagine.  I love her so much, and I count her as one of my greatest blessings.

Recently my good friend and former college roommate Jenny flew me out to photograph her wedding.  I asked my sister, Mindy, if she would be the 2nd photographer.  Not only does Mindy have a great eye for detail she sees people as they really are and manages to capture that in her images.  She was such a great help to me all day.  She kept me calm when things were shaky and made me feel like I could handle anything because she was there.  

Thank you Mindy.  I love you!

Weird New England Continued: The Crypt

I woke up today and since it wasn't raining I decided to drag my hubby and my sister-in-law on an adventure!  I thought it was about time to make another stop on my Wierd New England tour.

Our stop today was the Center Church in New Haven CT.  It is one of the only churches in the USA with a cemetery in the basement.  The church was beautiful and the cemetery was, well... why don't I just show you. =)  

Can't start the day without Dunkin Donuts... not only is there like 50 in every town in New england, but they are also delicious!

He's just mad cuz he can't have any.

I think she likes it!

The facade of the church was very New-Englandy... yes that's right... i said New-Englandy!

Suzanne was concerned about the appearance of evil, ok so she only joked about it... but really she had hot chocolate in her cup. =)

Back in the day, people paid a yearly fee to save their spot at church... can you imagine having to pay for the place you sit?  Well, this particular pew once belonged to the great Eli Whitney, the inventor of the............ Cotton Gin!

I know Dave doesn't really like all the creepy stuff I am into, but he is so sweet to come with me!  I am so lucky!

Just in case you get lost...

Ok, this tombstone baffles me... there is a letter on here that makes no sense and makes the words seem silly.  It looks like an "f" but it can't be because there are lots of normal "f's" on there.  I also thought it could be an "s" but there are normal "s's" on there too. Click on the pic to make it bigger and see if you can figure it out!

Because the headstones are indoors they are protected from the elements that would normally erase the lines used by the engraver.  

Sarah Trowbridge was the first person buried in the cemetery, she died when she was 46.  I don't know if you can tell, but the engraver didn't measure very well.  He ran out of room so he just started carving her name around the stone.

Our tour guide was great, but he kept moving whenever I tried to take his picture. So, I was sneaky... muhahaha!

I know it is faded, but this really was a sundial!  Its like primitive CSI... the coroner made sure time of death was written in stone!

Ok, this is a popular theme of the tombstones.  Supposedly it is the angel of death.  The things floating out of their heads are wings... not deformed ears.  As you can see they evolved from being more like death, to more like an angel.  I find the transition hilarious. Number 3 is my favorite, check out his nose... is that a nose ring, or a booger?

Here's one of me, I am always hesitant to give up my camera... I like being behind the lens, not in front of it!

Poor Dave, he didn't see the sign...

Next stop: The Chef's Emporium 

Dave saw a sign advertising this discount chef's store on the way home, so we stopped!  It was really cool!  The best part tho, were the funny statues.  They were all over!

Finally: Lunch!

I saw a sign for German food. 'Nuff said!

The food was pretty good, I had chicken schnitzel and Spätzle. For those of you who don't know, Spätzle is a noodle like dumpling.

Dessert was black forest cake.  It was delicious!

It was a great day!  To see more pics of the beautiful church, and the Tiffany window... That's right... the church had a TIFFANY stained glass window!... just click here.

In Loving Memory

This post is in honor of my Grandpa, Burt Penrod.  He left this earth one year ago today.

He was an extraordinary man in very simple ways.  He loved my grandma and his family with all his heart.  He taught me how to whistle and how to blow bubbles in my bubble gum.  He shared with me his great love for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He was always a good example of how to work hard and put his family first. 

He had a laugh that was infectious and full of joy.  He had a green thumb and tried, without success, to convince me that biting into one of his freshly grown tomatoes like it was an apple was a good idea.

He gave the best hugs.  

I miss him, but I know I will see him again.  

Click here to see a video of his life in pictures.