field trip

In August 2011, my friend Amanda and I went to Monocacy Battlefield near Frederick, MD. We went into a small visitors center and I asked if we could become jr. rangers.. because I feel like when I do stuff like that I learn more.. they said no .. that they had something for adults called THE EXPLORER RANGER!!!! I have not found any other park since that has that.. It took Amanda and I together three or four hours to complete it.. and it was HARD for real..We drove around and did the driving tour. We also spent a lot of time in the visitor center.. They told us that we were only the THIRD AND FOURTH PEOPLE TO COMPLETE this!!!! the other two it took them a DAY AND A HALF!!!! I now have a little medal explorer ranger pin!!! :) the battlefield was beautiful and I had a great time walking around and chatting with Amanda I am really glad I went.

field trip

In August 2011, I took Julian to the Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA. It is basically the "extra air and space museum" it is free but it cost me about $15 to park.  We went in and I saw that there was a free tour so I went over to that but the guy talked so quiet AND was boring AND said the tour was going to last an hour and a half.. I thought no I am not THIS into airplanes I can go around and look at this place myself.. seriously... So we walked around and looke at all sorts of stuff.. We saw a space shuttle.. and space underwear.. we saw missles.. we saw Ross Perot's helicopter.. we saw airplanes that were in different wars and you could tell.. They had a Transformers display because Transformers part 2 was taped there... They had a video set up where you could watch the part of Transformers that was taped there...They also had the Enola Gay there.. that was really, really neat to see.

field trip

In July 2011, Serena and I took the kids that we nanny for ( Emma age 8 and Julian age 8 months) to White's Ferry in Leesburg, VA. We drove up and payed to take the ferry across the Potomac river with our car.  We got out and walked around on the ferry. Emma loved how she was able to help the man do some of the work on the ferry.
When we got to the other side. We parked and walked around the C & O canal historic park and took pictures. We went to a little eatery and ate some yummy steak and cheese subs and hand cut fries.. We later drove around MD.. stopped at a farmers market.. and stopped different places and took pictures it was a good day. :)

field trip

In July 2011 I took Julian to The Hirshorn in Washington, DC it is an art museum. Julian was good on the metro. When we got there We walked around and the sculpture garden and had a picnic outside. I thought about how wonderful things are beautiful weather...beautiful museum and Julian and me :).
I found out Julian LOVES fountains.. he had so much fun just looking at the fountain and smiling and clapping :).
We went in the museum and had a fun time looking at what goes for "art" Some of this stuff was so wierd.. I kept saying to the guards... "now that is what I call art!" they would laugh under their breath:)  There was one room that was all dark and you were supposed to just go in their and sit in the dark..seriously.. the guards said that they had a really hard time with that room because "you would not believe what people do in there" ...actually I would... they said that when they go in there and tell people that they could not be doing that stuff in there and those people would say they were just "expeirencing art"....strange.. I don't want to experience art in that way.
We went outside and walked around in a sculpture garden. There was a tree out there that was "art" by Yoko Uno there were little tags that you were supposed to write a wish on and hang it on the tree. When the tree was full those wishes would then be sent to Yoko Uno. .....Then she will make them all come true..hahahahahha

field trip

In July 2011, I took my friend Beth's children: Alex, Chris and Dylan to the National Museum of the Native American or whatever it is called in D.C. They were having a festival that day so Alex wanted to go. It was one of the hottest days in 2011. One of those days where you can barely walk because you are pressed back with OPRESSIVE HEAT...
the metro we were on did NOT have AC.. going there OR on the way back.. on the way back we were in rush hour traffic so not ONLY did it not have AC... we had to sit RIGHT beside someone else ..that was also super sweaty..
we walked over to the museum.. and when we were walking up to it we could FEEL the AC coming out of the building it was on that HIGH and THAT STRONG.. it felt like SUCH A RELIEF...!!!! there were booths set up that were selling different native american things.
We sat at one booth and learned how to play a Hawaiin game.. that was fun.
We went in a room and got some free books that they were giving to people that take care of children. I have since read those books.. they are all propaganda.. good propaganda.. because it is all about eating healthy and working out.. but STILL propaganda.. so much so that there is almost no story it is just HEY KIDS EAT HEALTHY AND RUN AROUND MORE!!!!
We sat at one station and made cornhusk dragon flys which is a LOT harder than it looks... or seems.
We went to another station and made little clay pots.
THEN we walked back to the car with TWELVE BOOKS a lesson manual on how to teach the stuff in the books to your kids. SIX clay pots FOUR cornhusk dolls.. and did I say it was HOT!!!! so so so so so so so SO HOT.. OMGOSH it was HOT.. I seriously don't know how we made it BACK to the metro I don't.
THEN I lost the kids in the metro.. and Alex kept calling me and I did not have reception .. and it was SO HOT.. and then we found each other.. and all was well.. in the world..

field trip

Julian and I went to the farmers market in Reston yesterday. it is HUGE.. we had to walk because there were cars almost all the way back to where they live.. which is fine anyway because there is something about walking to a farms market that just makes it so much better right ?? We got down there and here were some of the attractions


1. two old men singing and playing the guitar

2. a group that was playing the bass.. the violin and the guitar and singing .. they have some sort of following because there were people singing righ along with them

3. a girl that was like 10 or so playing the violin on a very very low level.. as in almost painful but not quite...

they all wanted money

I did not give any of them money

there were a lot of booths set up with crafts people made one guy had takedn alcohal bottles and then somehow ran a cord through them and now they were lamps with bulbs and shades... if that was not tempting to buy then IDK what was....there were people that had made bows and purses and all sorts of things.. then I realized that a lot of these people did NOT make ANYTHING they were selling.. they had bought it CHEAP ..WHOLESALE and were then selling it... like I admired this one knit hat and I was like I like this hat and the lady was like it is $15.. I said well it says handmade did you make it she said no someone in India or China made all this stuff ... SOMEONE IN INDIA OR CHINA? um NO THANK YOU!!!! someone that is working a ton of hours a day or a CHILD.. like if I want to buy that stuff then I will go to real store.. I came here to get local STUFF to support local people.. not people that just bought a booth to sell stuff like look I can go online and buy this stuff too...

There was a lady that was selling soap.. my boss said that in his opinion people that make soap are becoming "quite a racket" he said he feels like SO MANY people are making soap these days.. I said did you make this soap.. the lady said not really... well then I am not going to buy it from you cause I am at a FARMERS MARKET... I am here to buy local stuff made by LOCAL people.. not local people that can buy stuff online...

There were some guys selling pickles you KNOW I had to buy some.. I said where do you make these pickles.. they said DC .. I said where at.. they said in our warehouse.. I was like OK... well um DC is local enough for me.. cause I go there like once a week.. and well... I LOVE PICKLES...

I also bought some DELICIOUS hummus from a place called Wisteria Gardens in WV that is certified naturally grown ... and a small business.. it is so good!!! :)

I also talked to a Muslim girl that designs modest clothes.. she has a place in Vienna..I want to buy a couple of dresses from her.. here is the website http://www.modernmary.com/

they had some great donuts for sale too.. 3 tiny donuts for FIVE dollars I also did not buy those cause I ate three off the sample plate..
so that was my time at the farmers market.. I think I will go eat some hummus now!!!! :)



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field trip

In July 2011, Serena and I took the kids we nanny for Emma (age 8) and Julian ( age 8 months) to The National Zoo in Washington DC. We had a nice drive down there. when I googled the directions I realized that you can hop on the w o& D trail in Reston and then transition into Rock Creek Park and ride all the way to the zoo.. HOW COOL would that be?? It was super hot that day.. so the animals were not doing MUCH if anything at all..we did not see tigers the lions were just lying around looking bored and hot as hell.. They said that the dad lion is seperated right now because they have to many lions and need to get rid of some.. we walked in the heat to see an elephant that we did not see... we saw no giraffes or rhino's or hippo's cause the whole elephant area where those things are is under construction.
We were able to see a panda eating bamboo.. and a panda asleep..
we did not see seals there exhibit is being remodled also
We also saw a gorilla sitting and eating something.
I saw a lot of things I did not like too like lazy kids in strollers.. fat kids in strollers being pushed by fat moms.. I know this is judgemental but I am all about Michelle Obama's lets move campaign.. I don't want lazy kids!!! or fat kids!!! Michelle has an advertizement that comes on where she is like if you want your kids to be active YOU need to be active.. like well point taken Michelle.. I want my kids to be active!! :) but I digress..
We saw an orangatang that climbed out on a wire above us and climbed across then pooped out on the sidewalk where people were standing... a lot of people thought until he pooped he was not real they were like "it that real" like yes he is real! you want to see a fake one head on over to the Natural History museum.. cause they got one there...
We went in a lot of houses.. Julian clapped his hands when we went in them.. he liked the reptile house the best.. I had to lean up to the glass and make Serena take a picture of me pretending to speak parsle tounge to a snake...
it was SUPER HOT we payed to much for food...BUT you know what I am glad we went.. Julian was good all day. it was also free.. what more could I ask for ??

crafty Keli

In July 2011 I made headbands " with" Emily my friends daughter.. I say "with" because Emily is only 2.. one day soon though she will be able to do more and more.. :)

The headbands were that stretchy kind that you can get and I wore it across my forehead.. despite seeing SEVERAL celebrities and lots of people in magazines and blogs doing this.. people acted like I was the ONLY person they had ever seen EVER doing ANYTHING like this.. and thought I was trying to channel the 1920s... also two very strange guys one of whom is 56 told me I looked GREAT!!!! and they loved my headband.. I have since not worn the headband again..

I took a piece of fabric and wound it up then made it into a circle and hot glued it.. I put a feather on Emily's but my feather fell off.. you can check out a picture of Emily's on FB under my mobile uploads.. or if you are friends with my friend Erin Cowles ( Emily's mom) you can check it out on her page.. cause I tagged her...

Yesterday Julian and I drove down to Georgetown to check out the "old stone house" in DC it is the oldest house in DC.. the only way that it got saved was because George Washington and Pierre Lafeyette met at a guy named John Shuters tavern.. John Shuter JR.. lived there and made clocks.. by the time that they realized the mix-up it was already the oldest house in DC.. so they could not tear it down and now it is part of the national park service.. so nothing ever happened there and nobody important lived there it is just the oldest house in DC that is all..we went in and they had no magnets so I bought a Christmas ornament that I can make into a magnet.

You could only tour the kitchen the lady told us about it and we walked around outside in the gardens for a bit.

After that Julian and I walked over to Baked and Wired and I had a raspberry cream cheese brownie..YUM:) It was a good little trip to Georgetown.

field trip

yesterday Julian and I went to Herndon, VA to go check out the museum.. it was not open and it is only open on Sunday which is lame so I wont be going back.. that museum is TOTALLY going to miss out on me and Julian coming there.. and Julian maybe having a melt down and crying while we are there.. here are some other things we did while we were in Herndon

1. walked on the w o and d trail

2. checked out a caboose

3. talked to a hair dresser outside a salon about doing my hair http://www.maudehair.com/Home.aspx this place looks cool.. I think I want to go there.. I talked to Taelor I guess she is new.. so maybe she will be cheaper

4. I went and got a free slice of bread and Great Harvest.. I got pumpkin swirl which was SO GOOD.. and they seemed annoyed I did not buy any.. like well get rid of the sign that says FREE SLICES if you don't want people like me coming in.. really..

5. we went in the closet thrift store.. which was a fiasco.. so many people I was running over peoples feet with Julian stroller.. that is TO MUCH FOR ME...AND some old black guy asked where Julian's socks and shoes were.. I said at home.. it was like 70 degrees outside.. he said "lord have mercy" and walked away....

6. we started on a walking tour of historic Herndon.. which I now want to finish and go to town hall and complain about because it has me backtracking and walking back and forth all over the place.. like um... could these just ALL BE IN ORDER... cause it was EMBARRASING to be walking down or up a street then 5 minutes later .. HI IM BACK!!!!

7. I never realized how many hoarders/hicks/rednecks live in Herndon,VA... like a lot of those old houses look way cool but people have TRASHED the yard by putting so much JUNK in them.. and old cars and old motorcycles and junk sitting around and some had junk all over the porchs and weeds all over the yard..

8. this one house was SO BAD I asked some guys that were hanging out next door if someone really LIVED in it they said yes they are hoarders.. I was like ..wow...

9. that guy gave me his card it said he was a handyman and would do any handyman services OR "anything else I could think of"..... do we even NEED to go there.......................................anything else I can think of... well I can think of a lot...I thought hahahhah what if someone called him about something ridiculous like can you give me a ride to the airport.. if I pay your gas.. hahahahahha

10. I broke out in a sweat backtracking up and down those streets pushing a stroller

11. I REALLY WANT TO GO BACK TOMORROW AND BUY SOME PUMPKIN SWIRL BREAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

field trip

In July 2011 when I was recovering from my pnemonia.. I baby-sat for four kids in my ward. Julia, Aiden, Attie and Titus... I took them to a civil war plantation in Fairfax that you can tour.. for free I did not even know there WAS a civil war plantation in Fairfax that you could tour. The kids and I did some history scavenger hunt and the kids each got a free pencil for participating. What was really interesting about this house was that during the civil war it was used as a hospital and I guess the people there got really bored so they wrote their names and drew all over the walls. those drawings are still there and you can see them.. pretty cool.. indeed...

missionary Keli

Today in the scriptures I was reading about the 4 sons of Mosiah and I was remembering on my mission when I was in Bakersfield, CA and how one year we had a Christmas party at the ward and they set up 12 tables.. and then the person in charge went around and said that each table had to think of something to say and we were going to do the 12 days of Christmas.. and all the tables came up with something unique to them.. I remember there was this family that had a young teen girl and she was OBSESSED with obi-wan kenobi.. well she thought she was but in reality she was obsessed with Ewan MacGregor and ..I don't blame her.. I have no idea where this girl is now.. but I can almost guarentee that she also loves Moulin Rouge.. ANYWAY her table with her family said FIVE JEDI KNIGHTS.. and she got up every time and acted like she was swinging a lightsaber...


My table got four and I remember that since we were there and we were missionaries we said "four sons of Mosiah" and I was like wait were there four then our CONVERT Barbara said yes .. Ammon, Omni Aaron and Himner or whatever their names are... I was like how do you know.. and she said because I am reading the BOM!!!!.. that made our hearts SING!!!! like YOU GO GIRL!!!! :)

holiday 4th of July 2011

for the 4th of July 2011.. I just stayed alive.. I was in the hospital with pnemonia and all I can say is I am GLAD and GRATEFUL  my life was spared it must mean I am supposed to be HERE.. :)

In June 2011 I hosted a cookie class at my friend Catherine's in Oakton, VA I invited little kids ages 5 and up. I charged $10 a kid.
We had sugar cookie dough already made. when the kids got there they were able to roll out the dough and cut out the shapes. Then we baked them and the kids frosted and decorated them.
While they were baking the kids played in the slip and slide.
Each kid was able to take home a plate with their name on it and whatever cookies they had not already eaten.
It was an awesome day! I could not have done it without the help of my friends Catherine and Elaine.. they did more than I can ever imagine or THANK for me that day!!! ..esp. cause I was super sick and had no idea I was coming down with pnemonia...:(

The National Archives part 3

http://blogs.archives.gov/prologue/?p=3338 hahahhahahahah!

field trip

In June 2011 I babysat for my friend Beth. I took her daughter Alex to work. I was feeling so so so so so SO sick... I brought her sons Chris and Dylan back to her house and we sat on the couch they played computer games checked their fb's...while I was just kind of there... I thought I seriously DON'T FEEL GOOD...but I can't sit here ALL DAY so I got up and we went to the C&O Canal historic park in Maryland. We went in the visitor center and I got booklets for the boys and they became jr. rangers. They also played checkers.. We also hiked to an overlook. I was feeling so sick it was unbelievable.. I can't believe I did all of this with how sick I was.. when we got back to their house. I collapsed on Dylan's bed and told them that they could watch TV or whatever I was that sick.. I stayed there until their dad Eric came and got them.. I was like um.. can you come up here and get them.. I am so sick.. I thought I was just being a wimp.. I had no idea that in a couple days I would be in the hospital..

The National Archives part 2

http://www.wdl.org/static/c/2742/service/02201_2003_001_pr.jpg
this is a letter I saw there that three "Elvis Presley lovers" wrote to President Eisenhower saying they would just about die .. if he made Elvis cut his sideburns to go into the army...

The National Archives

I saw this letter in the National Archives and thought it was funny


2571 Portola Way


Sacramento, Calif.

February 11, 1963



Dear President Kennedy,



I would like to know why, in this age of stress on physical fitness, there are still paunchy teachers around. These teachers are supposed to be good examples to us poor, disgusted kids. We kids do the exercises the teachers tell us, while the teachers stand around talking to other teachers. How are we supposed to believe exercises are worth it if the teachers don't seem to be interested?



I move that a new law be passed that requires teachers to keep themselves in the pink, too. Thank you for your attention and please reply soon.



Sincerely yours,



Richard Millington



P.S. Even some of the Scoutmasters have midriff bulge.



hahhahhahahahahahahahhahahaahhahahah!!!!!!!

My birthday 2011 part 4

My birthday this year was really on a Sunday so I had to do all that stuff on a Sat. On Sunday I went to church in Sunday school we had to say something interesting about ourselves I said that my birthday was the day AFTER Michael Jackson died and the day BEFORE Joseph Smith died... We had to split into small groups and for some reason my group got pre-occupied by looking up things that happened, people that were born and people that died on June 26th.. I have NO IDEA how that started.. or why I let it continue... no idea at all... then we had a potluck...Serena made me cookies. Cherie got me a cake..
Elaine came and brought me two vintage necklaces.
Kelly came and brought me a cool flower arrangement
Rich showed up and wanted Happy Birthday sang to Keli AND Rich.. I said NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you have had a bday party!!!!! you announced it on every form of social media there is.. I NEED HAPPY BIRTHDAY SANG TO JUST KELI!!!! so the ward sang Happy Birthday Keli and then Happy Birthday Rich... after they did that I thought wow.. I am being mean.. but I DONT FEEL GOOD :( after that Rich and Serena came over and we walked around and I was feeling worse and worse.. I had NO IDEA I was coming down with pnemonia....

my birthday part 3 2011

After our tall ship cruise, Danielle and I walked over to The Freemason Abbey Restaurant. We passed a couple of mermaids on the way. Norfolk has mermaid sculptures all over it. We got to the restaurant which has nothing to do with masons or catholics and went inside. During the month of June they had a deal to celebrate their birthday and you could get an appetizer an entree and a dessert for $22 So we each got that. the food there was AMAZING! and we had a GREAT time. Earlier in the day my Aunt Gail had said she wanted to do something for my birthday so she gave me money for Danielle and I to eat there :) great dinner ..great birthday :)I love finding cool places to eat!!  

My birthday 2011 part 2

So after Danielle and I went and toured that historic house. We went to the waterfront in Norfolk and went on a tall ship cruise. I have been wanting to do this.. FOREVER.. I was so happy to do this with Danielle for my b-day. It was a beautiful day and it was just so relaxing sitting on the boat.. and seeing the sights in Portsmouth and Norfolk... So beautiful.. I felt so happy!!!! :) you can check out my pictures from that day on FB :)

So the other night Will did not get home until around 7:45 and then I stood and talked to him and told him about our day. When I went outside ... MY CAR WAS GONE.. I went back upstairs and I was like my car just got towed.. he was like NO IT WAS JUST OUT THERE.. I was like well..now it is not... I thought wow really so in the 15 or so minutes I stood here and talked to Will I got towed.. I thought two trucks did not even START coming around until like midnight ish...but you know where I got that information ....
JUSTIN... and what does he know...but anyway... I DIGRESS...
so Will figured out where my car was it was all the way down in Fairfax like right where Oakton ends and Fairfax begins.. near the Denny's.
We waited for Julia to get home and then Will and I went to get my car.. so we turn onto this road and I see this fence and it was all covered in overgrown weeds and such.. and a small sign said "henry's towing" I said there it is! Will said no that can't be it..but after he had made a couple of U-turns he said well I guess that it IS... So he pulled into a gravel parking area.. he was like this can't be it we are on a gravel road..I did not even know that Fairfax County HAD gravel parking lots...Will was like where is the office.. I said I think it is that trailer.. he said that CANT be it that is a TRAILER.. I said oh no I think that it IS it.. I said that I would get out and check.. Will was like well take your cell phone cause this place looks sketchy.. so I go into this trailer and it is like 100 degrees in there and there is a guy behind this door with a hole cut in it at a really weird angle.. I was like Hello my car got towed.. and this guy was like ....yeah.. and I was like so.... I am here to get it.... he was like yeah... I said so ..what do I do.. He was like go find it.. I said well I see it.. he said well bring me your license and registration .. so I did.. then he said it would be $90 I said.. OK ( even though on the phone they told me it would be $125.. I did not mention that.. I said OK.. So I went back out and told Will and he said I will pay because Julia and I never told you to get a visitor pass. So I said well yeah that trailer is the office and that guy lives in there.. and it is like 100 degrees and he has a refrigerator in there and a plant and crushed pineapple... So Will goes in and says that he is going to pay with his card and the guy told him that he could not pay because he was not the registered owner of the car.. Will was like so what??? and the guy was like how do I know that you wont cancel your transaction the minute that I put it through.. Will was like well how do you know that the registered owner wont do that?? So the guy said he wanted $90 .. So I said I had $100... He was like well I don't have change.. so then he pulls up his pant leg and take this big roll of money out of his SOCK and said all this is 100s.. so I don't have change.. Will was like I DON'T BELIEVE YOU! I don't Believe you have $ 2000 in your SOCK.. the guy was like well I wont show it to you but yes these are all 100s I have no change... he said that I should just pay him the 100 and give him a ten dollar tip... then he laughed to himself...we said NO.. he said that if we did not want to give him a ten dollar tip..then we could order him a pizza...we said NO...
I said you got crushed pineapple right there all you need is a crust and tomato sauce and ham and you got a pizza..He told me that was disgusting and people that put pineapple on pizza "just aint right" He said that we needed to give him a $10 tip or order him a pizza..a kind that he likes.. because he had no change...he also wanted to know why Will and I were in such a good mood and why we were not more mad or more sad.. we said we did not want to go through life like that.. and we wanted to be optimistic...
so I called the number I originally called and they said that he could not give me change because the money was in a safe.. I was like it is not in a safe.. it is in his sock.. they were like no that is not right..they did not believe me.. they told me that I had to go and get change... I said OK..
So Will and I went and got change then I went in and paid him.. Will said I don't even know how to DEAL with people like that.. like I don't even know how to TALK to people like that... When I went back in the guy took my $$ and told me that I was the strangest person he had ever met... I said what about the guy I was with .. he said no he is normal but you are strange.. the strangest person he has ever met..I went and told Will and he said he thinks YOU are strange??? well he is the strangest person I have ever met...
that was just crazy... and I now park in visitor parking...

My Birthday 2011 part 1

For my birthday in 2011, I visited my friend Danielle in VA Beach. I went down on a Friday night. On Sat. We went to Norfolk, VA and went to this historic house http://www.hermitagefoundation.org/index.asp It was only $5 to tour. The people that lived there were really into art and they had everysingle surface of their house carved and decorated. They also had a secret passageways and rooms.. ( who doesn't want those in their house) upstairs they had a small art museum. The tour was only Danielle and I and another couple.
Outside they had beautiful gardens and trails that we spent awhile walking around and looking through and taking pictures. There was also a place to picnic. Danielle said she wanted to bring her BF back there at some point. I hope that she did because it was so pretty. I was not expecting much from this house so I was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was and how beautiful the grounds were I am glad that we went.
Check out the pictures in my mobile uploads section on FB!!

field trip

In June 2011 I took Oliver, Fletcher and Desmond to the Museum of Natural History in DC.
We took the metro down and only did one floor. Desmond clapped when we went into the room with all the big dinosaur bones. Fletcher and Oliver were like LOOK AT THAT!!!! and kept pointing things out and talking about all the different animals.
It was  really hot day and it was in June there were a TON of tourist's down there. When I got back to Arlington,I felt like this was a huge accomplishment to take three kids all by myself on the metro to DC and to a museum...even if I did not get any pictures and only did one floor I am still so happy that I did that.

spiritual Keli

In June 2011, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir came to Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA..since that is in my stake, my stake was in charge of helping the VIPs and such I recieved an email that said if I was willing to help people park then I could get a FREE TICKET..
YES PLEASE!!!!
one of my friends said .."but you have to help people park" I said BUT I GET A FREE TICKET!!!
so I dressed in a white shirt and black skirt and black sandles. I took Grace Shamilian a 13 year old in my ward with me so she got a free ticket also.
When we got there, we met with Marcus Faust and a few other mid-singles from the area. Grace and I went down to the road with a placard that said parking and an arrow.. and a list of VIPs in case.. any of them forgot their parking pass.
......I gave my friend Kelly a parking pass...cause she is a VIP IMO....
we later moved farther up and pointed people in the right direction of where they needed to go.
all the mid-single women got VERY EXCITED when they saw SHERI L. DEW...who is the patron saint of mid-single women... I was starstruck.. I did not know what to say like do I say SISTER DEW!!! I AM SINGLE!!!! like OK........
We also saw Senator John Warner who later conducted part of the concert.
When we were done with our duties, we each got a goodie bag with a fan in it..which I promptly broke from fanning myself from the heat SO HARD...
and some treats..which I also ate right then and there...
When we went to our seats we found out we were sitting IN THE FRONT WITH THE VIPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! which was an AMAZING EXPERIENCE...!!! we were so close...
.... I took a picture of Sister Dew's head... I was so giddy we were sitting that close to all those VIPs..
hearing the choir sing was BEAUTIFUL and SPIRITUAL!!! I am SO GLAD I HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY and reccommend it to everyone!!!
Alex Boye came out and sang... He has an "Im a Mormon" video.. and he was a GREAT PERFORMER.
I am so grateful for all the talented LDS members in the world that are willing to share their talents with the world!!
the picture above is my friend Amy and I. Several of my friends also went and saw the concert and were able to have this wonderful experience too ..

cooking with Keli and Elaine

In June 2011, Elaine and I got together and made an orange chiffon tube cake with an old tube pan I found in my mom's kitchen. It turned out great. Here is a link to the recipe we used

missionary Keli

I shared this story last week in Relief Society and wanted to share it here also,
we were talking about charity and I shared that it is also important to be able to accept charity and I shared this experience from my mission:
when I got my mission call to Ventura, California. I had NO IDEA about weather there. It was before the internet was that big of a thing ( yes I am THAT old)  so I asked people do I need to pack a coat to go to CA and everyone told me no you don't need to pack a coat..
so I get to my first area Bakersfield, CA and it was cold..cold enough for a coat. I had NO IDEA how I was going to get a coat or who to even ASK for one.. Even though my parents had enough $$ for a coat I did not feel like I could ask them.. So I was just cold. One night my companion Sister Weight and I were at the church and a member said " Sister Wright do you have a coat? I said "no" She said " well will you let me buy you one" I was overwhelmed... that someone would want to be that nice to me. I talked to another member. I said " why would she want to buy me a coat" she does not even know me"  This other member told me, "you need to let her serve you" you are a missionary" she will be blessed from serving you"
the member took Sister Weight and I out and bought us both coats.. I wore that coat the rest of my mission and for awhile after. I felt so much warmth from that coat not just from being warm..but the warmth of love for someone noticing a cold sister missionary and serving her in a time of need.. I hope that I can and will see the needs people have and be able to serve them.

field trip

In June 2011, I took Oliver, Fletcher and Desmond to the C&O Canal historic park in Georgetown. I have been to Georgetown a LOT of times and had no idea this place even EXISTED which makes me feel I admit ..a bit sheepish..
after paying only EIGHTEEN $$ to park ( ridiculous) and walking uphill in the heat with a double stroller..we arrived at the park.
There were people costumed like they would have been when the canal was running. Fletcher was able to sit on a mule. I took a ton of pictures but they are on my camera and I accidently left that at Kevin's.
We got on a canal boat that was hard to get on with a double stroller, since they just had a piece of plywood going down to the boat.
we were on the boat with, some tourists and a group of senior citizens from Lorton,VA.
The tour guide told us stories and historical facts about the boat and the canal..which was actually PULLED BY MULES.. it went about 8 MPH... when the water came down from the lock Fletcher got very scared because he thought that the water was going to come in on us.. He was like I WANT TO GO HOME!!!! ...but he survived..:)
after our boat ride Oliver and Fletcher did a jr. ranger program with my help and got badges.. while I was turned around Fletcher put stamps from the jr. ranger thing ALL over his face and arms and hands and even stomach... hahahhaah...!
The boys got badges and certificates it was a great day :)

milestone

In June 2011, Alexandra Victoria Summers graduated from Potomac Falls High School in Sterling, VA. She is the daughter of one of my BFFs from HS Beth Summers and Beth's ex-husband Eric Gibilaro.
Alex got accepted to Susquhanna University in PA and is now attending there hoping to become an art major. I am so proud of Alex for going to college! :)YOU GO GIRL!!!

church stuff

This week at church in Relief Society we were talking about charity and service and things and I made the comment about how even if we don't have money or time we can serve where we are, just by being ourselves: here is a story I shared, 
While riding the bus home after a long day in Chicago, there was no room to sit.  I started a conversation with some young guys that were starting at the Univsersity of Chicago for their first year, One of them was Persian so Kevin continued talking to him, I saw an available seat and went and sat down.
I was sitting by a young black girl that was texting a guy on the phone.. He was answering her back, then she said " do you want me to come over and spend the night?" and he did not answer her...she then called him and said " did you get my text?" She was like "well what is your answer?" and from the sound of it he just changed the subject and gave her the run around.. She was like "I am on the bus, I need to know so I know what stop to get off on!" then she said " it doesn't matter why I am on the bus, I just did not want to drive today" ..and things like "what does that have to do with me?"
When she hung up I said to her.. " Hey that guy is NOT worth your time...seriously" ...she had tears in her eyes and said..." I know:( but he has been around since 7th grade and now I am 18". I said "well he doesn't have to keep being around"..She said " I know" I said " you are a beautiful amazing woman" you need someone that is going to text you back and give you straight answers and be a real friend to you" I told her that she deserved that in her life..that all women deserve that. she said "do you have a daughter?" I said " no..but I am old enough to be your mom"
She then said "one day..you are going to be a great mom."
                                إن شاء الله
insha'allah- if it is God's will :)