It's My Homie's Birthday!

My dear husband turns 26 today. For two whole days we share the same age, and then he goes back to being the older, more mature one. I like it like that. So, in honor of his birthday, I thought I would share with you some things that you may not know about him.

Ten Things about Victor, the Birthday Boy:

Victor loves dressing up. This isn't anything new. He loved dressing up when he was a tiny kid, and he would get upset if his parents wouldn't let him leave the house in his suit.

what 5-year-old wears a custom-sized ring?? victor, that's who

 Victor LOVES to eat. And he can eat A LOT. What you may not know is that he once got thrown out of an all-you-can-eat buffet because he was eating too much. Yeah.

Victor is a recovering road rager. Sometimes it comes out every once in a while, but I guess it was really bad when he was in high school. Apparently he and his friends would chuck bbq sauce packets at cars that were making them mad. I can't help but laugh, but I sure am glad he doesn't still do that.

Victor doesn't know how to use a microwave. He is ALWAYS asking how long to put something in the microwave, and sometimes I get annoyed, but I have to remember that never had a microwave growing up, so he really has no idea.

Victor loves his mom. This shouldn't be any surprise, but he really does. He has a close relationship with her and always treats her with respect, and he always, without fail, answers the phone when she calls, "Hola mommy, como estas?"

Victor is adventurous. He is always willing to try something new, and he loves experiencing new things. And that is why I love him so much.

I love this picture. Taken in the Dominican Republic with Victor's grandpa

Victor is a first rate parallel parker. Seriously, he has skills. I guarantee he is a better parallel parker than you are. That's just the way it is :)

Victor is a very loyal friend. He is still very good friends with guys he has known since he was five years old. I think that's a rare trait, because with most people I know, that is not the case. He always goes out of his way to help his friends, and he even is the same way with my friends.

Victor is very spiritual. You may know that Victor joined the church at the age of 17, but you may not know that his quest for religion and spirituality began as early as eleven years old. He always was going to different churches trying to find the truth, and that really shows what kind of a person he is. He  is always trying to do what God wants him to do, and he never stops trying.

Victor is very patriotic. He may have graduated from the Naval Academy, but he actually had enlisted in the Marines years before, immediately following September 11. He saw the whole thing happen from the windows of his high school, which had a perfect overlook into lower Manhattan. Once again, it shows what kind of person Victor is. What he saw that day changed him forever and gave him the determination to do his part to protect our country.

So happy birthday, Victor.
Glad you're alllllll mine!

Our car insurance will be cheaper now, so husband bought me a present to celebrate

In other words, I turn 25 today. So maybe the present is for that too.

Goodbye, my early 20s. I sure will miss you!

One Last Summer Getaway

This week, Victor started "Comms" school, AKA his training for his job in the Marines. On Monday, I start working. So we thought it would be fun to go on one last mini vacation before the summer ends. And it also worked out nicely that our friend MaryAnn decided to visit us as well. MaryAnn was one of the missionaries who taught Victor right before he got baptized, so it was fun to take her back to her mission, and also have some fun in NYC, since that was a no-no when she was a missionary!

We took a stroll through Liberty State Park with the fam Sunday evening.

The next day we started out at the World Trade Center Memorial. The construction of the new buildings there is incredible. The new WTC is huge. The memorial was also very nice.

that one broke my heart

Then after some lunch, we strolled through Washington Square Park, and that fountain saved me from the excessive heat. I love that area of NYC.

After a nice wait in the sun for TKTS, and a visit to the Museum of Natural History (not pictured), we stopped and had din din at the Carnegie Deli. This place has been on my list of places to visit, but it was a tad disappointing.

But they did have good pickles

The evening was my favorite part, because we went to the theater. I was really excited to see "Peter and the Starcatcher," and it did not disappoint! This show was fantastic. It's a play about how an orphan boy became Peter Pan and how he came to live on the island called Neverland. And I can't praise it more, except to just say to see it if you have the chance. 

And then on Tuesday, before heading home to Virginia, we visited the temple, and it was a great experience, like it generally tends to be. And what's a temple trip without stopping to get a treat afterward? I feel lucky that Victor is willing to indulge my macaron cravings. This place is seriously the best.

We also spent the next two days seeing stuff in D.C. with MaryAnn before she left, but unfortunately, no photos were taken, and true to D.C. fashion, it involved very high heat and humidity and bad traffic, so we just won't talk about that part.

But other than that, it was a great couple of days. Can't wait for our next round of visitors!

D.C. MUST DO

Sooo....

First of all, I don't know what is happening to the summer. It is flying by. Like, I feel like I just blogged, but it was actually over a week ago. It needs to slow down!

Second of all, you may not know this, but as of next week, I will be working full time for a Congressman. It's only temporary, and I still have mixed feelings about working on Capitol Hill. Let's hope it goes well.

It's off to a good start though, because last week, I was invited to go on a Capitol Building dome tour before I start working. And, let me just say, it was SO COOL. Better than the Washington Monument, better than the Capitol tour, and better than the White House tour. You have to arrange to go with your Congressman (and I think he has to accompany you? or just meet you there and vouch for you or something), so, if you are going to be going to D.C., call them up!

First, you go up to the middle balcony part---there's probably an official name for it, but I don't remember.

That's the view of the little pink circle things (I'm sure that's the official name for them) from the inside and the outside of the dome. Some of them even open up. 

Then you go up up up to the upper balcony and get an incredible view. The people below become incredibly tiny. 

Then, you get to go outside, and get a complete panoramic view of the District, Maryland, and Virginia.  And just as a side comment: DARN you, construction at the National Mall, for ruining my photos. 

And in case you were dying to know what the roof of the Capitol looks like, today is your lucky day!

So yeah, like I said, it's worth it.

One of these things is trying really hard to be like the other

 But unfortunately, Thing 1 on the left is failing miserably, mostly due to a lack of legs.

I wonder if the sun ever makes the princess squint and look ridiculous in photos.

Or if she ever shops clearance at H&M. (which is where I scored this dress for $15)

Or if she avoids wearing her nude pumps because the Madden girl pair that she has kills her feet. 

Wait, that's just me? 

Well, at least my husband thinks I'm special. 

when you expect the worst, sometimes life decides to give you the best day ever.

I try to keep this blog a happy environment by trying not complain about things all the time (although it does happen occasionally). That's why I rarely talk about the traffic here in the D.C. area, because in my opinion (and that of many others), IT. IS. HELL. Victor and I try to make the best of it. We don't let it prevent us from getting out and doing things, but it is a constant thing that looms in the back of our minds. With the summertime brings bad traffic even on the weekends. Miserable, I tell you.

So, when the Fourth of July came around this year, I complained to Victor when he suggested going into D.C. for the holiday. I whined, "there will be so much traffic, Victor! and not to mention it will be so hot and so crowded! and I go there all the time anyway, and we've seen it all already!" I know what you're thinking: "wow, he puts up with a lot of whining." I'm working on it.

One of Victor's friends and his girlfriend wanted to see the sites of D.C. for the fourth, so they came down from NYC for the day. So, we decided to meet them for an early lunch, before going to Annapolis to have a bbq with Victor's sponsor family from the Naval Academy, the Beals. And you know what happened???

A miracle.

There was absolutely no traffic. It took us 25 minutes to get into downtown D.C.: a record. If only it were like that all the time. So we had a very lovely time exploring around Capitol Hill and eating delicious pizza from our favorite D.C. place.

 Then, we left for Annapolis, telling our friends that we would contemplate the idea of coming back into the city for the concert at the Capitol Building and fireworks. We were weary of the thought of not only getting into the city, but also finding a place to park our car. Again, I imagined the worst.

But then I started thinking. This probably is our only Independence Day here, and if we have the chance to hear the National Orchestra famously play the Overture of 1812 while the fireworks explode over the Washington Monument, then shouldn't we take that chance??

So we did. And you want to know what happend?

Miracles all around.

Absolutely no traffic getting back into the city. Absolutely no problem finding a parking spot, which was conveniently located next to a tunnel that directly connects to the freeway, so there was absolutely no traffic to get out of the city and back home.

There is probably more to life than basing your happiness on how bad the traffic is, but let me tell you, that traffic free day, coupled with spending the day with great friends and great food, made it a PERFECT day. Best Fourth of July ever.

Here are some more pictures from the holiday.

I think AJ was getting bored of how many times we stopped to enjoy the scenery. 

Delish and beautiful. I did not make this. 

 That evening:

the heat and humidity turns my face into a cherry tomato. 

 Not the best quality fireworks pictures, but those fireworks were awesome. The live orchestra and cannons helped with that.

It was a perfect day.
God bless America!