Back to Atlanta

Mark had to leave for training right after we got back from D.C. I tagged along for the week and had a great time.

We met up with Bev and Dusty again this trip for Dinner at Taco Mac's.

One day I met up with Naty and Bev for lunch and some puppy looking. We visited a pet store and Naty took me out to a rescue shelter to take a look at pups. Such a fun day!

I also got to meet Bev and Dusty's dog Blakely! She is such a sweetie and we had fun playing together. Here's our Christmas picture. lol

That weekend we drove over to Mark's sister's house to visit our newest nephew, Alexander. He is such a sweetie!

Thanksgiving pt. 2

Towards the end of the week, we hung around Old Alexandria. It's such a cute little town.

We stopped by a cute little bakery/coffee shop for some hot chocolate. I loved all of their fall cookies.

We stopped by a little candy shop called Candie's Candy. They had every flavor of saltwater taffy you could ever want! Annnd free samples :)





I was so excited when we just happened upon a Paper Source! I've stalked their website for years. I had no idea Alexandria had a store. I loved every single thing inside and was dying to buy everything! I refrained..my indecisiveness and poorness kept me from walking away with more than a couple of things.

We had lunch at Gadsby's Tavern. It's been open since the late 1700's. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson are just a couple of the famous visitors.

We visited National Harbor in Alexandria for Bryan's birthday dinner. They had a massive Christmas tree!

After dinner Bryan, Ashlie, Mark and I took a water taxi back across the river. We waited an hour and a half to catch the last ride out at around 10pm. It was freezing outside and cost us $7 a person. It was worth it though! We were the only ones on board. It was really cool riding the river and seeing all the city lights.

Bryan's birthday cheesecake back at the hotel

On Thanksgiving day, we went to Arlington. I don't have many pictures there, but it was so moving. Very humbling to see so many graves and know that they all died giving their lives for our freedom. A good reminder of how much we have to be thankful for.

We had Thanksgiving dinner at Josh and Elizabeth's apartment. A huge spread of delicious, fattening food, then headed back home on Friday.

It was a great trip!

Thanksgiving in Washington, DC

We threw our usual Thanksgiving tradition out the window this year. My grandmother wanted to take us all to DC as a very very generous Christmas presenst. My little brother, Josh and his wife, Elizabeth have been stationed there with the Coast Guard for about 9 months now. We'd never been to DC, so Granny thought it was the perfect time to go.

My mom, grandmother, other brothers, Bryan & Justin, Mark and my brother's girlfriend Ashlie (yes that's 7 grown adults) piled into my grandmother's mini van and made the 15 hour drive to VA. Let's just say it was a rough trip! We did the whole thing in a day. Longest.day.ever.

Needless to say, we were ecstatic to finally be in Alexandria, VA.

I took a million photos, but it would seriously take a

lifetime to load them all on here..Here are just a few highlights.

Mark and I ready to go do some touring!


So was Justin :)



The gang ready to take the Metro for the first time.

Justin, channeling his bum side

Mom and Grams on the Metro

Tons of beautiful buildings right as we got off the Metro. The sky was the bluest blue!

Washington Monument

The reflecting pool was frozen solid!

Lincoln Memorial

Vietnam Memorial

Our uncle was killed over there. He was 22 and the oldest of 10 kids. He was at the end of his 3rd tour when he died. Justin and Bryan made a sketch of his name. It was kind of ironic that his name was so high up on the wall. My brothers who are 6'3" and 6'8" stood on their tippy toes to get it. Everyone on my Dad's side is very tall, so it was kind of funny that it really had to take an Allums boy to reach his name. :)

Korean Memorial

Pennsylvania Ave. I loved all the red, white and blue everywhere.

The White House!


Captiol Building

D.C. by far as the fattest squirrels I've ever seen in my life. They hung around all the little snack shops just hoping for people to give them food. They would practically climb into your lap. We saw one run off with an entire chicken finger that was bigger than he was. They were out of control! We found this little guy by the Capitol building. That's right..he found an unopened granola bar...bit that wrapper open and went to work.




We got a chance to meet up with Allen and Serena. Allen and Mark were roomies at Auburn. They got married 2 weeks after us and moved straight to Alexandria, VA. We went out for a delicious dinner then back to their place for Rock Band!



Out at ChiCha a hookah lounge in DC. I had never hookahed before. I didn't really care for it, but I loved the place..very loungy and look how pretty our hookah pipes were!

Elizabeth, Josh and Bryan..and yes, that's a nakie lady behind them.....

the front side version of her was right next to us....Awkwarddd

That sums up the DC part. A few pictures from our day in Alexandria next!