Updating is just so difficult

Updating the blog takes so much effort, anyone else agree?

Anyway, here is what we have been up to...besides these three events, I've got nothing. We go to work, we hang out, and that is about it. So enjoy these events and then maybe I will have more to blog about during the holidays.

Event 1: The annual running of the Wolf Trap 5k. It was pretty cold the morning of the run but we had a lot of fun running and I totally improved my time from last year, which I was thrilled about. Ryan of course killed my time but he is an athlete, I am not.

Event 2: Rally to Restore Sanity/Keep Fear Alive. Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart decided to do a rally pretty much just to mock all of the other crazy rallies going on before the election. When they talked about it on their shows, I decided it would be really fun to go. It was the same day as the 5k so we made it a fun packed day. There were a ton of people downtown and the crowds were insane. They obviously needed a lot of security as evidenced by the horse police pictured below.

Event 3: Chicago/South Bend. We went to the Utah/Notre Dame game a few weekends ago and decided to spend some time in Chicago before the game. Chicago was a blast and I was reminded of why it is one of my favorite cities. The food is amazing and the city is so beautiful, I love it! Then we went to the game down in South Bend. Loved the campus but the game was HORRIBLE. The Utes really, really let us down and left us depressed for days. I am not sure if Ryan is ready to talk about it still. But we still had a very fun trip! It is always fun when we travel with the best road trips friends, Michael and Katie. They come to all of the Utah games with us and it is always a good time.

Top of the Sears TowerThey took this picture before we went up the Sears Tower and we think it is prom quality.
We didn't want to pay the $22 so Ryan just quickly took a picture of the picture...awesome.
Notre Dame's Touchdown Jesus...really?!? Who knew such a thing existed? So odd.

With SwoopWe were so sad and very cold and wet.

Welcome Football Season

We really love football season around our house. I think Ryan has been counting down the days for awhile now. We started off football season with a preseason NFL game. We had never been to an NFL game and since the Redskins played the Ravens on a Saturday, we figured it was a perfect time to go. We went with some of our friends and it was great times and it was especially great to see the Utah and BYU alumni that play on the Ravens and the Redskins.

Before the game watching warmups

Most of the group

Pitta (played for BYU) and Reed (played for Utah) are
now playing together for the Ravens. See, it can happen folks.
Kruger from Utah also plays on the Ravens

We watched Utah's opening game against Pitt with some of our friends and I felt such joy in my heart to see my Utes again after a year absence. Our U of U flag is proudly hanging in one of our windows and we are very excited for this season. No pictures of Utah games yet, but there will surely be some in the future. Go Utes!

On Monday night, we returned to FedEx Field, the Redskins stadium, to watch Boise State play Virginia Tech. Since I work for an Idaho Congressman, I have become a bit of a Boise State fan (Ryan does not agree with my sentiments). But, I am only a little bit of a BSU fan because my heart really belongs to Utah. But, we knew that this would be an awesome game since both teams are so highly ranked. It did not disappoint at all!

Our fun friends, Darcee & Jeremy joined us for the game. We went to a tailgate before the game and enjoyed great food and the company of Idahoans.

Before the game started, we watched the warmups and the BSU cheerleaders were giving out some very cool hats.

Are you all jealous? You should be. Who doesn't want a hat in the shape of a potato?

The game was amazing and we were so glad to be there.

The Virginia Tech band was awesome and they made cool shapes,
here they are making the shape of Virginia

There were around 86,000 people at the game...awesome.

It got really cold though and we were up high in the stadium. I forgot to bring a jacket but Darc and I improvised with the very cool hats we got before the game. Not only are they fashionable, but very useful. I really liked clapping with them on my hands.

Here we are after the game. Ryan was sad that Virginia Tech
lost but the rest of us were happy that BSU won

Football season is a great time of year and we are so happy it is here. Welcome and Go Utes!

Texas

I decided that since I had time off in August that I should use some of it to make a trip to see Megs in Texas. I mean let's be honest, I love Texas and Texas loves me. So off I went to College Station, Texas, aka the hottest place ever. I always thought that DC compared to Texas in the summer...what was I thinking? That place is ridiculously hot and humid and DC is nothing compared to College Station. BUT, I loved it. I loved seeing Meg, Andrew and Henry (and Justin just a little bit since he is pretty busy becoming more educated). And, I loved eating ice cream and a lot of treats because that is just what Meg and I do when we are together.

We tried to stay inside as much as possible but we did go on some fun adventures.

Adventure numero uno: Children's Museum in Waco. Andrew could not wait to go to the museum, he LOVES the children's museum in Utah so we figured we should check out the one in Waco. Wow, that place was impressive! There was a lego exhibit and then a lot of cool themed rooms. My favorites included a hallway that played music according to where you walked. So we ran zigzag down the hallway several times and struck dance poses throughout the hall. So we are crazy, oh well. Another favorite was the water and bubbles room where I could have stayed all day. Below is a video of my favorite thing: water is coming out of this plastic thing and when you put your finger over a hole, it plays a tune.







Adventure numero dos: Hullaballo Diner. Anyone else addicted to the Food Network? I sure am. One of the show is Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and it just so happens that one of the places he went on the show is just a hop, skip and a jump away from Meg's house. We went there for breakfast on Saturday morning and whew, it was amazing. Diner food at its finest. My mouth is watering just thinking about that french toast and biscuits & gravy that we ordered. Yummo.

Adventure numero tres: Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory. Hello to heaven. I LOVE BLUE BELL ICE CREAM. Every time I go to Texas, that is what I want. Megan found out that there is a factory within an hour's drive of College Station so we went on a tour of the factory. The tour was pretty boring and the tour guide seemed annoyed that we had two little ones with us...whatever. But, at the end of the tour, we got a free scoop of ice cream. It was my chance to try the new flavor: Caramel Kettle Crunch. It has pieces of kettle corn popcorn in it and it was amazing. My favorite quote of the whole trip happened at the factory. Andrew was eating his ice cream and it was dripping down his hand and he said, in a very concerned voice, "what is happening to my hand???" I heart that little guy so much.

The rest of the time was spent watching a lot of Gilmore Girls, playing nerts and just hanging out and enjoying the fabulous time together. Thank you Meg, Justin, Andrew and Henry for letting me come hang out with you, I really like you guys a lot.

August (aka the best month of the year)

Are you ready for another long update post? Good.

I really, really love the month of August. It may have to do with the fact that Congress is in recess for the entire month and work is not technically "work". I get several days completely off work and then when I am in the office, I work a little bit but mostly use my time taking care of personal things. This year, my project is to organize my recipes and it has been great to organize recipes while watching movies, all while sitting at work. What can I say, I love my job.

Besides me not really working, we have done a lot of fun things so far this month. First, we went to Rehoboth Beach, in Delaware, with some of our good friends. I love Rehoboth Beach because it has a great beach with a really fun boardwalk. Ryan and Lincoln decided to dig a hole in the sand. They really weren't joking around and dug a serious hole. It was over 5 feet deep...good job boys. It kept them so entertained and it was hilarious to watch them. Here are some fun pics.

The ladies: Ali, Darcee, Me, Mandy

Could I be any happier? Doubtful. I love the beach.

Watching over Ryan and Lincoln's beginning of the dig

They are done and happy as can be. I love when these two get together

We are all in the hole! People around us were very entertained.
Lincoln, Jeremy, Trent, Ryan, Me, Mandy, Darcee and Ali

Isn't he cute?

Ali and I were so proud of our hubbies

Next event was a weekend trip to Smith Mountain Lake. Never heard of it? I am not surprised. But you have seen it. It is actually the lake where What About Bob was filmed. It was not filmed in New Hampshire like they say, it was filmed in Southern Virginia. The lake is so beautiful and I want to move there. The water was so warm and it was just a great day. Ryan was so happy that he got to waterski even though we didn't make it to Utah this summer. You want to see pictures? Oh okay...

I will take any of these houses please

Dr. Leo Marvin's house from the movie

Ryan with Matt Fischer, our good friend and mastermind of the trip

We met a really cool girl named Siri and she went tubing in a shark costume...very cool

Gutman's Cafe - it is a little bit run down nowadays..

Here is a really nice couple that lives across the street from Gutman's Cafe from the movie. They were hilarious and told us all about when they filmed the movie. They really loved Bill Murphy and had him over for dinner a lot.

The last big blog worthy adventure was last weekend. We went kayaking on the Potomac River last Saturday with some friends. The weather was superb considering that we have had a ridiculously hot summer. The kayaking was a lot of fun and we had fun being outside. The only downside was that every time any of the water splashed on me, I freaked out a little inside. You see, the part of the Potomac that is by Washington, D.C. is a very, very gross river. They have done all sorts of studies on the river and let's just say that they have found some fish with very suspicious symptoms (males that are kind of female too). People don't swim in the river and it always looks really dirty. Ryan said on the way home that he felt like he needed to soak in clorox bleach. BUT, the kayaking was a lot of fun and we really enjoyed it!

Richie and Britni Vigil

Chad and Michelle Wallace

Darcee and Jeremy Bowen

Yours Truly - Team Bessey

Darcee and I really wanted a picture together even though we were in two kayaks. We are awesome.

The Vigils and Wallaces looking cool

Our halfway point in front of the Lincoln Memorial

We saw President Obama and waved. I don't think he saw us or he would have waved back.

That is our August so far. This weekend we have some more fun plans and then next week, I am headed to Texas to visit Megs...I. Cannot. Wait. Megs, get ready to see my face for 10 days.