Go Fourth to the Capitol

Happy Independence (not dense) Day! That reminds me of a funny Andy Sandberg digital short.

We started off the weekend by going to Arlington National Cemetery and seeing the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We also went to Georgetown Cupcake and waited in line for 30 minutes to buy a little bit of heaven. I do love chocolate A LOT, but the wait was a little bit ridiculous.

(We all know you're really just here to see me, so it doesn't really matter that Henry's left eye is cut off. Isn't the right side of his face cute, though?)

(I thought it was funny that they swung out their legs before they stopped walking, so I was soo happy when I caught this lil' pic.)

Random science fact: Did you know that they exhumed the remains of the Vietnam unknown soldier and identified him through his mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)? mtDNA is inherited through the mother because the egg contributes the bulk of the cell (including organelles like mitochondria), while the sperm only holds DNA. Wowsie!

On the fourth we went forth to downtown DC and saw the big show.

(Random people we don't know)

(This is us looking up at the fireworks. They turned us into giddy, blissful children... no lies. I have a video with Henry exclaiming "WOW" with perfect child-like awe)

After the show, we were walking through the crowd to get to our bus-stop and we came stumbled upon a magical street performer.

But this was not just any street performer. And that is NOT Chairman Mao behind him (not a racist comment, but just a remark on the way I edited the photo). This guy was actually playing CLASSICAL MUSIC on the STEEL DRUMS. This guy was a mix between Marley and Mozart, Rastafarian-ism and Ravel, Dreadlocks and Debussy, Jamaica and Johannes..., sorry I just got on a roll there. I'll put up a video soon so you can see, and hear, for yourself (our internet is too slow and it won't upload right now).

'Twas a good weekend

#1. Our 6-month-versary was on Saturday and we went out to Moroccan food at Marrakesh. It was an all night dining experience with a seven course meal and a belly dancer who balanced a sword on her head. Pretty scary if you ask me.

#2. National Portrait Gallery. It's like a whole museum full of the stories of individuals throughout history. Simply amazing. It allows you to put faces to all those names that you've always heard. Our favorite thing was seeing the pictures of the presidents that were used on money (the penny, $1, $5, $100).

#3. KHAAAAAN! So if you haven't seen the Star Trek movie "The Wrath of Khan" (TWOK) then WATCH IT. We both loved the newest Star Trek movie, so we thought we'd go back and watch some of the old ones. We're pretty dorky, we know. Anyway, TWOK was actually pretty good. The shot of William Shatner screaming KHAN!! is well-preserved by the website above. And just so you know, this guy's chest is NOT a prosthetic (which makes him just a tad bit more creepy than he already is).
#4. Church was wonderful and uplifting as ever. We have a very diverse ward with members from many African countries (Mali, Cameroon, and Nigera, that I know of) and we really enjoy listening to their inspiring testimonies and comments. We also found a random connection through someone that knows Henry's family from Pueblo, CO. Oh Pueblo.

#5. Henry and I are still very much in love and enjoying our time together in this exciting city! Only 9 more weeks to go!
P.S. I just learned how to make words into links and am now obsessed. Funny youtube videos here, here, and here.

domo arigato mr. yogato

So we just had frozen yogurt at this place called "Mr. Yogato" this evening. Good yogurt, trivia challenges, free do-it-yourself toppings, and old school nintendo. While the extra chocolate sauce made my night, Henry was just ecstatic to play Mike Tyson's Punchout for 15 minutes.

Here are the RULES OF YOGATO:

1. If Mr. Roboto comes over the speaker system and you sing along,
   you get 10% off yogurt.
2. Try your luck with a trivia question. Get it right for 10% off, but get it wrong and 10% is added.
3. If you will wear a yogato stamp on your head, you get 10% off.
4. If you can recite the Stirling battlefield speech from Braveheart in a great scottish accent, you get 20% off yogurt.
5. Order a yogurt for 30 consecutive days and we'll name a flavor after you. View 30 Day Champions
6. If a customer suggests a topping or flavor which is then adopted, that customer receives a 5% discount for life.
7. If anyone can stump Steve on trivia regarding Seinfeld or "The Rock," 10% off yogurt.
8. Anyone wearing a kickball uniform and has played hard (evidenced by dirt on their knees) will receive an automatic 10% off yogurt.

We helped someone name five state capitals with two words (not including city). They are: Des Moines, Little Rock, St. Paul, Baton Rouge, and Santa Fe. Next time we're taking the trivia challenge.

the district #1

We've been in DC for a week and a half now. Here's what we've been up to:

- Meeting many of our friendly neighbors with their darling children
- Traveling by metro to and from work every day
- Going to some Smithsonian museums (Air and Space, and Natural History) with family, and alone (American History)
- Coming in to our bedroom (we are subletting from a woman in her 60s) for the first time and finding pictures of naked women on the walls (artistic, but still a bit shocking). They are now in the closet, so no worries
- Learning to live without a microwave
- Adjusting to humidity (and wavy hair on my part)
- Getting used to seeing diversity everywhere (a nice change from Utah)
- Taking the bus in the wrong direction when coming home from church (which only took an extra half hour... no biggie)
- Learning all about Ebola virus and antibodies (Tori), and about trust-busting and the legal system (Henry)
- Having a nice seafood dinner with Aunt Gail/Uncle Udell in Chinatown (not what you'd think of as a Chinatown) with an AMAZING chocolate cake dessert


If you've visited or lived in DC before, please send us your suggestions as to what to do (or what to eat)! We have three more months here so we're going to fit everything in.