I'll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams....

I love that Christmas song, especially now that I come home for Christmas from so far away. Being home for Christmas is a dream, but getting here was kind of a nightmare.

Normally, I'm such a good packer...I put all my liquids in a ziploc in my carry on, I have my clothes neatly folded in my suitcase, and I follow all of the TSA guidelines. Well, this trip definitely wasn't normal. I procrastinated a little on my packing and didn't get organized before my departure. I rushed home from work with 30 mins. to pack and get to the airport. Plenty of time, right? Only if you consider throwing a bunch of clothes (including some damp ones out of my broken dryer)and the family's Christmas presents into a couple suitcases. I didn't have time to bag my liquids so I threw all my makeup, hair stuff, contact solution, brushes, flat iron, etc into my checked bag and took off for the airport. I made it to the airport just in time to rush through security and wait 2.5 hours for my delayed flight :)

My flight to Cincinnati was late taking off from DC, and as soon as we landed I turned on my cell phone and was relieved to hear that my connecting flight to SLC was delayed! I ran through the terminal (New Years Resolution...go to the gym!) and headed to my gate (on the other side of the airport). After all that running, I found out I was too late and they wouldn't let me on my plane, which was just sitting there (and that wouldn't take off for another 30mins) :(

Bright side, Delta put me up in a hotel for the night and put me on a flight to SLC for the next day (with a very long layover in Atlanta). Not too bad right? That's what I thought, until I discovered I couldn't get my checked bag, with EVERYTHING I needed to get ready! Of course, the one time I'm not super packer I have problems! Have no fear, Delta is here. Check out the sweet goods in their little overnight bag!



Notice the XXL SkyTeam shirt, the fold out brush (the only thing I had to do my hair the next morning...scary), the handy dandy toothbrush (only useful item), some detergent, deodorant (it smelt worse than me), and other little goodies.

I slept in wet pajamas, used my $14 meal vouchers to buy contact solution, and arrived at the hotel at 11pm only to leave for the airport a mere 5 hours later. I had a lovely time in Kentucky! I realize it could have been a lot worse! But when you have to call your lil sis (the one you took the red-eye flight to SLC to see) and tell her you're stuck in KY and won't make it home for another WHOLE day, and she cries herself to sleep...it kind of makes you want to cry yourself to sleep too :)

I spent the next morning Christmas shopping in the Atlanta airport, looking like a homeless person! I eventually made it to Salt Lake...just a day later than originally planned. And then it was on to Tremonton...and with my luck, we got stuck in a traffic jam from Ogden to Brigham City of all places-haha! 4 hours later I arrived HOME for CHRISTMAS...and it was all worth it!

A Christmas Carol...

I've spent my whole life thinking "A Muppet's Christmas Carol" was the ultimate rendition of Dicken's classic...but I turned over a new leaf and saw it on stage this year! And oh boy, while Kermit does a fine job, there's nothing like seeing real people (not a frog) act out this beautiful story. If you haven't seen it on stage, I highly, highly recommend you do!

A Christmas Carol testifies of redemption, forgiveness and the opportunity/ability to change. I came out with renewed hope that I, like Ebenezer, can become a better person, help those around me and look outside myself! Nothing better than A Christmas Carol to get me in the holiday spirit!

Gotta love a man in a skirt...

Here's some highlights from the Scottish Parade in Old Town Alexandria. It was freezing...but worth it to see those men in skirts :)



Bless their hearts...they came all the way from Scotland!

You Call THIS Mexican???

I'm really not a Mexican food fan...it's mostly just beans and rice to me. Bleh...but, I'm told the Mexican out here is sub par in comparison to Utah's Mexican. We've tried a few different spots...and have come to the conclusion that we're giving up.

Although, more than anything, isn't eating out about the experience? Forget the food, we're all about the fiesta :)

Up, Up and Away...

I screamed like a little school girl for the first time in my life! And who, you might ask, warranted such a reaction? Keith Urban? Nah. Justin Timberlake? Nope. George Clooney? You're getting closer...a different George! How about President George W? Ding ding!


My good friend Mike works at the White House and always hooks me up with awesome experiences...this time it was a Marine One (the President's helicopter) take off ceremony. The President, Mrs. Bush and daughter Barbara were headed to Camp David for Thanksgiving, and we got to see them walk out, wave and take off in the copter. It was awesome! They roll big red landing dots out onto the White House's front lawn and the helicopter comes and lands right on them. It is pretty wild how much wind there is from the helicopter. I'm not sure if I can blame the helicopter or the President and Co...but I was blown away!

Oh, and to make it that much better. My girl Dana Perino, along with Charles Gibson were also taking off with the President. Love it!

Stockton to Malone...

They're not quite as fan-friendly as in the Stockton to Malone days. But the Jazz still hold a special place in my heart, so I couldn't pass up an opportunity to see them play in DC. Wayne, Tabbi, Di and I sat on the second row from the top, paid $5 for a coke, cheered our little hearts out and had a great time...til the last 2 minutes. Not even wearing the good ole' purple and gold (old school Jazz colors) could spur them to victory! The Jazz blew it in the last 2 minutes and lost 95-87.

Pickin Crabs...

Our little trip to Annapolis was quite educational!

We discovered the best little crab shack, Jimmy Cantler's. It's a little bit outside of Annapolis and off the beaten path, but totally worth it. Cantler's has a little dock, so you can come by land or sea-how fun is that?!? Oh, and what would a restaurant be without ducks?!?


We learned that "pickin" your crabs does not mean choosing them out of an aquarium :) "Pickin" means you have to crack the shell and decipher between meat and guts to find the edible stuff...eek. I think I'll stick to crabcakes...much, much more appetizing!


After our photo shoot on the dock, and the boys hanging with the ducks, we headed back to the heart of Annapolis and the Naval Academy!

Mace (my long lost cousin. I'm finding lots of them out here, and I love it!) took us on a tour of the Naval Academy. He's finishing up his last year at the academy, and got us into all the cool places. (We even saw John McCain's son...looks just like his dad!)
We heart Annapolis!