take you pop to work day

It was too precious, today my dad came to work with me today. Ever since I got the job, he kept saying he wanted to see exactly where I work, exactly what I do. He was a little surprised that he never went to the Archives, the research side that is, before even though his building is so close. So we finally chose a date & time for the grand tour. We met outside & I guided him through security, getting a research ID, and the lockers. Then we ventured to the main research area upstairs & it was awesome being able to show him exactly what I did & put a visual to everything I described when I first started working there. He was blown away by the beauty of the building itself & all the intricacies. Fortunately, he was able to meet most of my co-workers & could finally put a face to so many of the names I would talk about & describe. Afterwards, we went to Potbelly's for lunch-man I love that place! I thought it was so awesome ate there, because thats where we went on my first day at the Archives. Funny how things make a full circle, as today is almost my last day. I love my dad, especially how he supports me & genuinely cares about all my endeavors. It has surely been a pleasure commuting with each other for these past few months.

navidad

The much anticipated day where its expected to stay in jammies all day & leave wrapping paper everywhere. The season of egg nog, christmas parties, hot cocoa, snowmen, ice skating, candy & cookies out the wazoo, jolly st.nick, gifts, snow, and a season of joy & giving. I love Christmas. Friends at work couldn't believe I had a playlist with 636 christmas songs. what can I say? I really enjoy my 6 different versions of "winter wonderland." Every christmas, my family & I delight in watching Home Along & our all time favorite Jingle All The Way. Such a hilarious movie with so many great quotes.

 I really enjoyed seeing this crazy bunch home for winter break

This Christmas season I loved the jenny oaks baker concert & the messiah sing-along my family went to. There really is no place like home for the holidays. I asked for the gift of checking in luggage for when I fly out to college & on the big day I gave my family a webcam so we could have splendid skype dates. And it SNOWED! magical.

I love this video. cutest nativity ever.

I hope everyone had a very merry christmas, it really is the most wonderful time of the year! 

messiah sing-along

After work today, my dad & I met up with the rest of the fam that had been waiting for a few hours to get tickets for the Messiah Sing-Along. The Kennedy Center has it every year & apparently we've gone before, but this is the first time I remember it. After awhile of indulging in subway, waiting, and chatting, we got to out second row seats & anticipated the great concert. It was wonderful. There is something about music instruments around the holidays that make everything so magical. I didn't really know what to expect, but was looking forward to singing christmas carols, some Jingle Bell Rock & Joy to the World. Nothing like that at all. People around us broke out in their opera voices to songs like "But Who May Abide" & "For Unto Us." My favorite song that we sung was definitely "Hallelujah." So much power & intensity. In between the audience singing, there were a few legit soloists who made us look really bad. One was a male, but sung as a soprano-that was interesting. One of the conductors was great & always motioned when we were supposed to stand & sing and after to sit. However, the other one looked crazy waving his arms violently around & neglected to let us know when we were supposed to sing. It was a magnificent night, I am so thankful for wonderful music.

Jenny Oaks Baker

Every year, I look forward to going to the Festival of Lights at the Washington DC Temple Visitors' Center around Christmastime. They are so gorgeous and helps you get in the Christmas spirit & there's always great programs & lots of great activities. Today, we went to see Jenny Oaks Baker & the Winterland Folk Ensemble. She's really talented & quite popular, there was even a long line outside the visitors' center to get inside. Slightly reminded me of black friday, but wasn't that bad. We all went to make the 7pm concert, but it was already filled up. However, we were second in line to see the 8pm concert. Boy was it worth the wait! We loved our deluxe third row seats. She performed fantastic celtic-influenced Christmas songs & I was blown away with how beautiful it was to hear. It was amazing to see her three little ones come on stage with their little instruments and perform so wonderfully! 

brilliant. 

amor verdadero

Today marks my parents' 23rd anniversary. I think they were made for each other. They both talk non-stop & compliment the others' quirks and personality. It was funny watching their wedding tape and seeing how they both still have the same laugh and smile. For their anniversary date, they went to see South Pacific, one of my mom's favorite plays, at the Kennedy Center. so precious. happy anniversary mom & dad!

stuffing by the sea

With the big return & reunion, we headed down to Myrtle Beach for Thanksgiving together. It was our first family vacation with everyone, since our trip to Spain. We were very fortunate to have 75 º weather all week long. While the ocean water was very cold, I loved walking on the beautiful sand everyday & getting some sun. Some of my favorite parts of the trip-

Hunter teaching us how to make fried chicken

yum.

broadway at the beach.

I met up with a good friend of mine & we had a marvelous time mini golfing in some mayan pyramids, exploring broadway, and enjoying some delicious DQ blizzards. I'm so bad at putt putt, but its still always so much fun.

Thanksgiving.

I am so grateful for-

my crazy family

new friends

old friends

missionaries

vacations

a healthy body

the gospel

music

sunday naps

cold water

DVR

my primary class

the metro

my job

running

skype

book of mormon

AND a delicious Thanksgiving dinner together.

black friday.

We strategically planned our shopping extravaganza and set out on our adventure at 11:30pm, Thanksgiving day and didn't return until 11:30am friday. Thats right, we shopped for 12 hours straight. We went to two outlets, target, a local mall, wal-mart, and costco. I got a few really nice things at ann taylor loft, some great gap finds, and a new camera at target. That place was INSANE. Lines wrapped around the store and at 4am I didn't appreciate boxes being poked into my back while standing in a line for an hour. But it was totally worth it. I don't want to go shopping anytime soon.

family photographs.

I love chasing the seagulls

Happy Thanksgiving!

boody is back

Five weeks ago today my older brother, Hunter, returned home from his mission. He served a full-time two year mission in the California Roseville mission-right near sacramento. Its difficult to describe exactly how excited and thrilled we were to reunite and have the boody clan back together again! I don't think anyone was more psyched than my mom was. She started a countdown when he had 150 days left and got more & more anxious as the days started flying from 50 to 5. It was such an anticipated day for us because during these two years, we've only talked with him four times on the phone, on christmas & mother's day-in addition to the weekly e-mails and letters back and forth. We were able to meet two families that he got to know very well that visited the D.C. area, which was awesome. He could send stuff back with them & we were comforted knowing how well he was being looked after. I am so proud of my big bro. He's always been a wonderful example to me, but even more while he was in CA. I am so thankful that he could have so many excellent experiences and strengthened so many people. An amazing family that we know really well were so kind & were able to see him twice, and surprised him at his last Sacrament meeting as a missionary in California.

The day he returned, November 9th, we ran all over the place getting ready. Yellow ribbon on the trees, "welcome home" banner, balloons, ice cream cake, and posters made. In all of our rushing around, we got to the airport a tad late. On the way, his friend called and asked if we were close-they had been promptly waiting at the airport for half an hour. I wish we were better organized & had been waiting for him, but what do you expect with seven people dashing to get into our sunday best and being so excited? We finally arrived & saw his flight had landed, but no baggage claim had been assigned. We met up with the buds, Piero & Brian, and stood around idly while waiting for the other caravan to park. I double-checked the board with all the flights & noticed a baggage claim was assigned. Adrenaline rushed through my head while Grant, Rex, Mckay, and I ran to the claim. There standing with his luggage at the empty carousel was the much anticipated Hunter. I was quite confused. We were the ones who were supposed to be waiting, with the signs and balloons in hand, not the other way around. What happened was that his flight landed, the one time it would've been wonderful to arrive late. There at baggage, were Pierro & Brian to meet the missionary. "Hey guys, where's my family?" haha oops. Regardless, it was incredible seeing him! He looked taller, and his voice & even laugh seemed a bit different. I think the biggest shock to him was how big Grant was. He was only four when Hunter left and all of the sudden he's this big six year old boy who reads, writes, and says the most adorable things. Clark also really seemed older and is slightly taller. 

Straight from the airport, we headed to our stake center where we met with the Stake President. It was incredible hearing Hunter bear his testimony to us and to spiritually see how much he's grown. Afterwards, he officially got released from being a full-time suit-and-tie missionary. Once we got home, we marveled at his enormous tie collection & his super nice new Nikon camera. It was funny how we followed him around the house, curious as to where he was going & what he was bringing out to show us. We broke out the ice cream cake & enjoyed it with our Aunt, Uncle, and cousins that stopped by. Its like getting to know someone all over again, we talked and talked while looking through hundreds of photographs to select what ones to show at seminary the next morning. We got so caught up in everything that he didn't get to bed until 3:30am, wednesday. Just an hour and a half later, we all somehow woke up & headed to early-morning seminary where Hunter & another missionary talked about their experiences. He spoke first, with the California flag and posters from he previous night displayed. I listened intently as he described all the people he got to know & his favorite things about his mission, accompanied with pictures. Those first two days home were crazy busy.

On Sunday, after a few days to settle back home, he spoke in Sacrament meeting at church. It was similar to speaking at seminary, but in more depth. I cried with joy, but also loved when he was describing how much he loves his family and the appreciation for all the support and when he especially thanked my mom. He said, "mom, thanks for your letters each week, although some things I could care less about." During several of Clark & Rex's basketball games, she would report the score every few minutes and the points they would make. She is  one of the most supportive people I know & made good friends with the mailmen at the post office. Good friends & more of our extended family were able to come and welcome him home. 

It has been wonderful to have Hunter back home and the way that he brings us all together. He's helped us realize how much more we need to share responsibilities in keeping a family of eight sane & more organized. We've tried to help out with chores more and the phrase "step up" is echoed throughout the day. He's working like a mad man & loves exercising during his lunch break. His mission has made him a better brother, man, son, and future father. I am so grateful for missionaries and all the dedication, time, and love they put into their work.