Rivalry Week!!!!!!

So we are just pumped up for the game this weekend. I pick up Nate last night and he was telling me how he got off at 5, but didn't leave till 5:25 because he got sidetracked looking up Ute rankings, highlight you tube videos, you know all of the hype. I laughed because I told him I got a little distracted that day looking for rankings, trash talk, you tube videos too!
We are wearing our Utah shirts to bed every night this week. I was wearing my Provo Canyon Half shirt, and he said, " YOu can't wear that this week, bad luck!" Seriously though.

BCS RANK
UTAH 21
BYU 19

AP RANK
UTAH 22
BYU 18

Quite the matchup...

Record
UTAH 9-2
BYU 9-2

GET PUMPED for the game this Saturday 5:00 eastern , 3:00 mtn time.
Here is some good fuel for the fire!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryDzRPOy8N8&feature=related

We are just hangin out here in D.C. We are excited for Nate's Birthday this weekend!

Good Food, Good Week, Great Company!

Last week was great! We had two fantastic visitors! Los padres! Kimball and Elaine came visit us here in NOVA. We felt like we were on vacation too! We ate so many delicious meals, and tried to hit up all of the tourist sites we could. Some highlights were,

Riding up to the top of Washington Monument (550 FT) The view was great!

• American History Museum ( they have a fantastic exhibit of Stars and Stripes, the FLAG that hung over Ft. McHenry when Francis Scott Key wrote our National Anthem... just gives me the chills)
• Lots of history trivia, and mind you this was a smart crowd, they know their stuff!
  
• Lots of rain, ok so not a highlight, but it was flooding here.
• White House tour, so legendary, I love the stately decor! Nate knew a lot of good stories from the White House. Did you know that Pres. Buchanan sold a lot of the furniture because it was not tasteful to him...but Mrs. Kennedy tried to track it down almost one hundred years later. She found one couch in a Detroit car shop... nice.


• Hard Times Cafe...mmm good chili
• D.C Temple




• Old Town Alexandria for dinner
• Williamsburg, I won't go off on another history rave, but this place is the birthplace of liberty, way to go Virginia House of Burgess!! We are proud to live in Virginia!


• Williamsburg, yes I wrote it twice, because we were so captivated here! Did you know, The President of the First Continental Congress lived in Williamsburg? Peyton Randolph. He was the Speaker of the House of Burgesses, and we learned about him on a tour of his home.


• Nate gave his Parents a personal tour of the Capital, and Nate gives a mean tour!
Good Weather on Sunday! We had picnic right before they left to the airport. It was the only good weather day they had!

All in all we had a great week! We appreciated them taking the time to come see us! Thanks!

Philly Cheese Steak and Football

Philadelphia, ah... the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence, the crown jewel of our Republic! History happened there in the old Philadelphia State House, better known as Independence Hall. This very building is home to the deliberating of the Dec. of Independence, and the U.S. Constitution.

It was in the state room the Richard Henry Lee stood and spoke the words,

"Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved"

This idea was debated and accepted by the colonial delegates, and they motioned 5 men to draft a Declaration of Independence. We all know it was Jefferson who wrote the bulk of it. It was not till August 2, 1776 that it was signed. Yet, it was accepted July 4, 1776. The first of its kind! Legendary, if you don't feel fired up, do read the document.
Then 11 years later delegates from every state except one... Rhode Island... met once again to discuss a new basis of law for the Country. They met in the same room, in private. They chartered our beloved Constitution. It was so fantastic to be there, United States History at its finest.

Ok sorry about that total history nerd raving. We really feel privileged to be able to visit these places that mean so much to us. I am studying to teach the very history that I get to experience at these sites. It is special for me and for Nate.

Rand met us in Philly and it was really fun to see him. He stuck with us for all of the historical stuff, but after awhile he said he really needed to watch some football and eat a Philly Cheese steak. We found a legit place to grab some delicious phillies and we watched Iowa get beat by Northwestern. Sweet. It was a great Day!

A Boorific Halloween!

Yea! So let us show you our truly Boorific weekend. Lots of 1sts:

1. Nate and Dani's 1st pumpkin patch (it was Gracies too.)

2. Nate and Dani dress up like each other for Halloween

3. Utes wore their BLACK uniforms for the first time this season and beat WY.

4. Donut on a stick game was a hit, Clark beat Dani, and Kara beat Nate. (Rematch next year!)

5. B&O Railroad, Elicott City, it was the 1st railroad station for that line!

6. 1st time eating at Lapa Lapa, needless to say, we only left a $1.11 tip. (maybe the last) Elicott City was great though, they had trick- or- treating!

7. Nate and Dani carved their first pumpkin together as marrieds! 8. Gracies 1st Halloween! RARR
9. We had our 1st guests from Utah! It was fun to see the Merrills and eat dinner with them!