Visiting Cody in D.C.

Just about two weeks ago I went on my trip to visit Cody up in D.C. While of course I wish it could have been longer, it was otherwise wonderful and nearly perfect. I traveled most of the day Friday which I was semi-nervous about. I had never flown by myself (and I'm not a huge fan of flying), or taken a public bus, or ridden on a metro. But thankfully with no real mishaps, I did make it. I flew to DFW, had a layover and changed planes, then flew to the BWI airport. From there I took a bus to a metro station and then rode the metro (changing trains at one point) to the Crystal City stop. From there it was maybe a two block walk to our hotel. The only semi-problem was that it honestly took me about 30 minutes to figure out the metro station at first. I couldn't get my card to work, wasn't sure which way to go, and seriously walked back and forth looking for I don't even know what, for about 30 minutes. But I finally did figure it out. Cody arrived at the hotel only about 45 minutes after me. 

Together at the hotel about to go out Friday evening.

View of people sitting around the pond of the fountain.

That evening we went out to dinner and ate at Potbelly that I love! Then we went to an event type thing that Cody had gone to once before called 'Jazz in the Garden' -or something like that. It was just a big gathering of people (seriously, a ton, like hundreds probably) all throughout this large park. People had chairs out, blankets out, ...there was almost nowhere with open space. This is obviously a very popular event. They sold delicious sangria and had a live band playing. Cody and I found a spot open around this fountain pond and sat with our feet in the water talking and enjoying the music. It was a completely relaxing and enjoyable evening! Probably my favorite thing from the trip.

Sitting with our feet in the water.

Enjoying the evening together.

Isn't my husband cute?!

Saturday we ate lunch at a Whole Foods store and then headed off to do some kayaking. Cody had also done this before since he's been up there but it sounded so fun that I wanted to do it with him. We did a two person kayak (thank goodness because let's face it... Cody did about 95% of the rowing) for about two hours and had a great time. It was fairly cloudy too so thankfully we didn't get sunburned. At one point we stopped and got off on this little island section and just hung out for a bit. We took lots of pictures there while we were stopped. After we were done with the kayaking, we walked around and got some water and a snack before heading back to the hotel. We enjoyed a little Italian place for dinner that night which was only about a five minute walk from our hotel.

Walking around exploring pre-rain.

Sunday we explored the International Spy Museum together. It was kinda silly but very fun! Some of the stuff in there was really interesting. Afterwards, we just walked around together for a bit and then decided we were hungry. However, we had no idea what we wanted to eat, or where some good options would be. We finally decided to head back on the metro to a stop kind of mid-way back to our hotel and look around there for some good food. Just a few minutes after getting off the metro it started drizzling... and pretty soon turned into full on rain. I don't know how much Cody did, but I loved that evening! (2nd favorite thing after the Jazz in the Garden.) We were literally walking around in the rain with no particular destination looking for somewhere to eat. I thought it was romantic and fun. We stopped and took a few pictures by a fountain when the rain lightened up for a few minutes. Eventually we found a Mexican restaurant that we ate at. It was pretty delicious. By the time we were done the rain had stopped and we just headed back to the hotel to call it a night.

We could only take pictures here at the entry.
At least the "Spy" carpet can show where we were.

Picture at a fountain we passed after the rain lightened up a bit.

At the Mexican place we stumbled upon for dinner.

Monday we got up and went out to Cody's apartment where he's been living all summer for the internship. None of his roommates where there (as it was mid-day on a Monday and they're all there too with internship positions) but it was nice to get to see his temporary home. He hasn't been exaggerating about the place either! It is definitely no amazing home-away-from-home. And his bed might be the most uncomfortable thing on the planet. Fortunately he only has less than two weeks left!! Anyway. So we went back to his apartment so he could pick up some work clothes for the next day and drop off some of his other stuff so he wouldn't have to haul it all to work on Tuesday. Cody made me a nice little lunch while we were there before we headed back. Most of the day we just hung out and relaxed, which definitely did include watching the newest episode of Breaking Bad and also some Parks and Rec together. That night we did go out to dinner to a Chinese place that was another brief five minute walk from our hotel.

On our way back to the hotel after dinner our last night together.

Overall the trip was simply wonderful! We had lots of fun, enjoyed exploring the city some together, had lots of good food, and some much needed time together. I cannot wait for my husband to come home for good on August 11th!! It's getting so close! Until then, he is studying like mad for his comprehensive exams. I am leaving tomorrow morning (!!!) for a trip to New York with Sue and Kari (my mother-in-law and sister-in-law), and during those days that I'll be gone, Cody is flying back to SA to take the two part exam. Cody then will fly back to D.C. for the last few days of his internship and then come home to stay!

f u n n y

I have noted the show Parks and Rec on the sidebar of this blog under the section "Recently Enjoyed" -however, I have been SO enjoying it lately that I felt it deserved a short post.

I was completely against watching this show initially because I couldn't stand Amy Poehler and was decidedly not going to let myself like it.  But it slowly grew on me and I started to like it.  Now after having watched the first 3 seasons (Cody and I are impatiently waiting for season 4 to become available on Netflix), I love it!  While each and every character on the show is utterly ridiculous, the show has me laugh out loud almost every single episode.  My favorite episode thus far is Flu Season (season 3).  I don't know if it would be my favorite if I watched it again... but goodness gracious.  I think I was laughing through the entire episode.  Cody didn't seem to love that particular episode like I did... and I don't know what was so exceptional about it to me. But whatever it was, I found it hilarious.

While visiting Cody in D.C. (or rather on my return trip home) I was in the DFW airport with an hour delay for my flight.  I found an area with a place to charge my phone and just plopped on the floor and leaned against the wall. While my phone charged I watched the episode Ron and Tammy: Part 2 (season 3). This so far is my second favorite episode.  I had an extremely hard time not busting out laughing while dozens of strangers walked past me throughout the show. I was grinning and trying to hold in my laughter and must have looked ridiculous myself to the people around me.  It was worth it.  Hilarious and I loved it.  Cody did find that episode especially funny himself.  At least we agreed on one of the best episodes thus far.

Anyways.  Enough about a random not-at-all-actually-important T.V. show. I just thought I'd throw it out there that if you like to laugh and be entertained by ridiculous characters and you haven't yet watched this show -you really, really should give it a try.

Busy, Busy

With Cody being away this summer, I have definitely been trying to keep myself busy.  Busy weeks and days are much easier to get through than slow ones that allow me much too much time to sit, be sad, and just wish he was back already.  This stretch of summer however, really is keeping me more than just busy.  I feel like I haven't been home for a decent period of time in a while.  I love everything I've been doing though and I cannot wait for my last trip during this mid-summer time!

First I had my family trip to South Padre for about a week (of which I have already posted all about!), then Cody and I met up in Dallas the following weekend for a friend's wedding.  Last weekend I went to Lake LBJ with Cody's parents, sister and her husband, and this weekend I am flying up to D.C. to spend four nights and three whole days plus Friday evening with my Loves! F-i-n-a-l-l-y!!! Even though I technically saw him and spent some time with him in Dallas for the wedding weekend, since Cody was IN the wedding as a groomsman, he was pretty busy and we actually only had (ahem) less than about two hours together of quality/alone time together.  So, it basically felt like yeah I saw him, but didn't really get to spend time with him during that trip. He was handsome in his suit at the wedding though : )

So anyways, what I was initially getting at, was that I haven't been home for about three consecutive weekends and this coming one will be the fourth.  I have enjoyed and loved each trip I've been on... but I sort of feel like lately I haven't fully been able to live either out of a suitcase or just at home.  After my D.C. trip I'll definitely be ready to enjoy a solid few weeks at home without needing to pack, unpack, and repack constantly.

The wedding we went to was beautiful and it was really nice to see friends that we haven't gotten to see in quite a while.  On Saturday I enjoyed a nice lunch at Potbelly with a couple of the other wives while Cody and the other guys played some disc golf before going to do pictures at the church.  Here are some pictures from the wedding.

(Note:  We seem to have lost our camera charger and haven't replaced it yet... so my camera quickly died -and also decided to take some awfully blurry pictures before it powered off for good. So sorry for the very limited number of (some very blurry) pictures to account for the weekend.)

Enjoying dinner at the reception.

The Barbers

The Nichols Family
--I sooo enjoyed their adorable son, Easton!

The Sorensens

The Groom and Bride!
Jim & Brooke Koss

Thank you Stephanie for taking our picture
with the happy newlyweds after our camera died! 

Lounging on some comfy chairs above the reception for a short bit.

I love him.
And he sure was handsome in that suit!

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This past weekend I went to Lake LBJ with Sue, Steve, Kari and John.  I really wish Cody could have joined us -but I'm sure saying that is beyond obvious.  Cody wished he could have been there too.  We sure managed to have tons of fun and relaxation without him though!  We stayed at a condo that was literally just about on the lake and had a nice little pool.  It was extremely beautiful and enjoyable.  We basically lounged at the pool all day and enjoyed the view of the lake.  Kari and John did venture out on a kayak once though. (Cody and I will be kayaking this weekend together in D.C.!)  Here are some pics of our weekend at the lake!

We literally walked about fifteen steps to the pool which was right next to part of the lake -and a golf course!
It was gorgeous.

Me standing on a small pier.

My sister-in-law, Kari, and her husband, John.
They seriously always manage to take adorable pictures!

Enjoyed some laying out in an attempt to gain even a slightly more noticeable tan.

Kari enjoying a float that a sweet neighbor we met let us borrow for an afternoon.

Of course I couldn't let only Kari enjoy it.

Me, Sue, and Kari

I really can't help myself. 

Me, Steve, and Kari.

The last afternoon and evening a storm slowly rolled in and I seriously thought the dark clouds made the lake look amazing!  This photo did not capture the beauty I saw in this scene.


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Soon I will be off for my next adventure! I am beyond excited that my weekend to go visit Cody in D.C. is finally about here!  I leave bright and early Friday morning on a 6:30 a.m. flight!  (I am NOT a morning person, yet I couldn't be happier for this flight!)  After a layover in Dallas I will arrive in D.C. around 1:00 in the afternoon and then take a bus to the metro which should take me just a couple of blocks away from the hotel we will be staying at.  I have never flown by myself (and am not a huge fan of flying) or taken a bus -let alone a completely unfamiliar metro- by myself.  So needless to say, I am somewhat (*okay, a lot) nervous about the actual travel part of this trip.  But I'm a big girl -right?  I'm 25. I've been married for four years now... I can figure this out and it'll be a good independent experience.  Assuming I do make it to the hotel just fine and dandy.  I'll tell all about our D.C. weekend sometime after I get back!

Pity Party

I firmly believe that there are two distinctly different types of pity parties.  One is useless in which you simply feel sad, whine, complain and otherwise wallow in your thoughts and emotions.  The other I believe can actually be beneficial if you get yourself past the wallowing phase and into honestly trying to evaluate the situation and yourself in the situation.  If you can try to detach, step back, and at least attempt to realize the situation from an outside perspective, along with yourself and whatever role you play in the situation.  If you can genuinely try to determine what you are thinking, feeling, and why.  Whether those thoughts and emotions are appropriate and equal responses or not to whatever it is going on in your life.  And what you can do -if anything- to help, or simply change your own actions and the part you are playing.

Lately, (and on and off for quite a while now) I have been throwing both parties for myself.  Recently however, I feel that I have finally started to grow more and more into the second type of pity party and am actually starting to address things in a more rational mind set and also at least attempt (attempt is the key word as I feel like this doesn't easily happen overnight) to view myself and everything from an outside perspective.

I also recently (ok, just today actually) have remembered some of my favorite books from when I was little. I loved Anne of Green Gables!  I owned and read them all, along with of course watching each of the movies.  I loved how Anne thought and spoke and was just so genuinely herself. (I know she is a fictitious character, but we had a childhood bond. I felt we were bosom friends, kindred spirits, if you will.)

"I'm in the depths of despair."

"It's all very well to read about sorrows and imagine yourself living through them heroically, but it's not so nice when you really come to have them, is it?" 

These quotes from Anne fit exactly what I've been feeling lately.  And guess what, I feel like I am far from handling a lot of things "heroically" in my life.  I more often throw myself pity party #1.


HOWEVER, the other day, it morphed into party #2 and really was helpful.  It's amazing how much we need to process and just deal with things.  And at least for me and what I've found so far, is that simply talking about whatever you're thinking and feeling can really help.  I was on the phone with Cody and he just listened.  He didn't try to solve any of the problems.  He didn't offer any suggestions or make any judgement or comments on any of my thoughts, feelings, or opinions.  He just listened.  It was exactly what I needed.  Time for me to let myself talk through everything, share everything, and know that I was genuinely heard by my husband who loves me.  I woke up the next day feeling immensely better and more positive.  

Through all of this lately, this summer I decided to officially and finally take a few small but real steps in trying to grasp and deal with some things in my life. While what I've started doing might not even be noteworthy to some people, it was at least a monumental first step for me. 

---More on this to come.  Hopefully in my next (or at least next few) posts.

For this post I'll end with one last Anne quote on a more positive note, because of course every day isn't one in which I throw a pity party. Even though occasionally the pity party days start to feel like they overwhelm my life, they really don't.  Most days are good, fine, or wonderful.  I'm extremely blessed, and I hope and pray that I never forget that.

“Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” 

Yes, it really is.

Sunless South Padre

A little over a week ago, my family enjoyed a trip to South Padre.  Minus Cody, (sad) it was the first time at least the 6 of us had gone on a vacation together in quite a while!  And while we did not have much sun or great weather until our last day at the beach, we still managed to have a good time.  Unfortunately, since we hadn't gotten much sun up until that point, almost all of us forwent sunscreen (you know, to ensure a semi tan at least).  All I could think later that day was, "I've made a huge mistake."  (Any AD fans reading lol??) By the time I felt that I needed sunscreen, of course it was way too late.  I was not the only one of us burned... but I am pretty sure I'm the only one STILL dealing with the consequences.  Five days after my initial sunburn, I started to get mini blisters. And now 10 days later I am peeling all over.  I don't think I've ever dealt with a sun burn a week and a half later. I'm definitely not going without sunscreen at any point again this summer!

While at South Padre we enjoyed four wheeling, lots of pool time, of course the beach, and a trip to the island's Schlitterbahn.  Everyone else also enjoyed lots of seafood while I suffered from the smell and of course the antics of my brothers.  I had lots of seafood pushed near my face, dangled over my plate, once a shrimp was left on my chair while I went to the bathroom.  While I am used to this behavior, I do honestly get extremely upset if seafood actually touches me or my plate/food at all.  Thankfully it did not come to that.  The dinner would not have ended nicely.

Here are some pics from our trip!  Unfortunately my camera battery was pretty much dead and so all pictures are either from mine or my dad's phone.  So they are not the best quality, but better than nothing.

Exploring a pier.

The boys. 

Of course we all took turns taking pictures on these cut outs!
-Daddy

Mama's turn.
Please note Aaron lurking strategically behind her.

Ryan
(Yes, almost all of us did both the guy and girl cut out.
You know it's more fun when you do the wrong one!)

Mom and dad.

Me on the pier
Nobody ever offered to take my picture so I had to take them of myself lol.

Me and Sean at Pizza Hut.
Yes, we did forgo seafood one night for Pizza Hut.  And guess what, we all loved it!  Pizza just sounded good.

Aaron and Daddy at Pizza Hut

All of us 4 kids at our Pizza Hut dinner.

Driving to do the four wheeling, we pulled over and Aaron explored some massive sand dune drifts practically covering the road toward the end of the island.  

Aaron

Me on the left and Sean on the right

Sean

At the beach. The boys did some skim boarding and  boogie boarding.

We definitely ate one night at Louie's Backyard where everyone but me had the all-you-can-eat seafood buffet.

Mama and Aaron

Ryan and Sean

Me, Ryan, Sean, my mom, Aaron -and my dad took the pic.
Nice family dinner, minus the smell of all the seafood!