3 Giullians in Washington D.C.- Part 1

So, about 6 months ago we decided to plan a trip to Washington D.C. to see our friends Jared and Danica, and of course Bennett and Jazz. Brandon had a 2 week vacation between rotations of school, and it worked out perfectly! We planned it all out with them, and then found out a week later my parents were going on a mission. So to be honest we probably would have gone to Oakley to see the Giullians during that time instead if we had known we would be going to my house the next week, but this was a trip we will always remember.

We loaded up the car early Friday morning because Brandon was going to class and I was going to pick him up afterwards to get straight on the road. Cora was loaded up with her favorite Elmo and a snack, and I checked out the Lord of the Rings on CD (which turned out to be the radio BBC version, not the book on tape like I thought). We also got a ton of snacks and a loaf of bread/peanut butter to avoid spending too much money on meals on our driving. And we were off!

Poor Cora was crammed in there. And it was HOT. Thank goodness for Elmo and sippy cups!

We had to stop after about an hour because Cora was getting hungry and the name of the game was Keep Cora Happy. So we found one of our favorite road trip restaurants- Taco Bell. Buying a meal for everyone for less than $8? Success. Cora loved it too. 

  After that we just kept driving until we got to our hotel in Brunswick Georgia. Cora was such a trooper for getting there at like 11 (6 hours of driving). She only cried a little bit.

If this isn't the cutest morning voice you've ever heard, you're wrong.

 The one state that neither of us had been to on our trip was South Carolina! It is also the 19th state we have been to since getting married.

We stopped for lunch in Florence South Carolina. We looked up a park only to find out it was a skate park with not a lot of fun places for a baby to go.

 But she loved sitting in the shade and being fed peanut butter sandwiches!

 All the way through South Carolina we saw giant billboards for a place called "South of the Border". We assumed it was the border of South Carolina and North Carolina, and we were super excited to check it out. It did NOT disappoint!

 I mean it was a giant Mexican themed resort. Sweet!

 Cora slept all the way through North Carolina, so we did NOT stop. It only made sense!

 

 Virginia is big Marlboro country. It didn't make sense to me until Brandon reminded me of what Virginia was founded on.. tobacco.

We stopped by the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, which used to be Jefferson Davis' house. We got there only about 2 minutes after it closed and it was raining, so I just ran over and took a picture.

 We stopped by and surprised Jared Danica and little Lottie! I wish we could have stayed longer but we still had about 2 hours to go. Brandon and Danica were the ones who master minded this, and Jared was SHOCKED.

 

We finally made it to Maryland and it was COLD! Poor Cora woke up and was just shivering when we got her out of the car. But she perked up when she saw Sadie. She loves dogs.

 Maryland is so beautiful.

 She was so tired of tripping on her dress so I tied it up with a hair tie. So stinking cute.

 Cici is so cute, she loved just sitting there and smiling at everybody.

 2 diaper babies!

Sadie quickly figured out where the food was coming from, and parked herself at the high chair every time Cora ate there.

We went and had a picnic dinner on Bennett and Jazz's workplace at the naval base. It was beautiful but COLD.

While we were there, Bennett gave us the run down of the different types of airplanes that flew overhead and we saw on the ground. We even saw one that was rumored to have top secret missions inside it. (I wasn't allowed to take a picture, obviously).

Next up- going into the city!

First half of May 2016

The first half of May was pretty uneventful. Which is a good thing!

It started with a walk on the beach that turned into watching a helicopter and about 8 police boats on the move watching out for something. We didn't find out what it was. Drugs? Immigration? Always exciting!

Cora has become quite the dancer!

We do occasional runs as a family. It always makes for fun times,

 And it is always SO hot so Brandon sweats a ton!

 Cora hates when I got to the bathroom. Look at this!

Cora is obsessed with drinking out of my Camelback water bottle.

So we got her her own little straw sippy cup! She LOVES it.

 Don't worry she isn't tired. 

 Cora really struggled with learning to fall asleep on her own after we got back from California. Even though this was weeks ago! So one day Brandon got home early and sent me out because I was losing my mind. I went and read at the beach. Heavenly.

 We do fun things too! Cora still LOVES the swings.

 These are vintage shoes that I used to wear. She loved them because they helped her get further up the slide.

For Mother's Day I told Brandon that I wanted to run a 5k. The only problem was that they were all on Sunday (obviously), and I didn't want to spend $30+ a person to run a race virtually. So on the Saturday before Mother's Day Brandon told me to start hydrating (which means a run). I went to change and came out to Cora wearing this felt medal that said 5k. Brandon knows I love collecting my medals. I squealed and said it was the cutest thing. Then we went on a 5k run! It had a beautiful view and was so thoughtful of Brandon to remember.

We live in an unconventional ward, so it makes sense that we would have an unconventional Mother's Day party with a DJ and strobe lights. They don't do things half way!

 Mother's Day with this one is great! I guess we look alike.

 Brandon made pork chops and an Asian salad for dinner. It was fantastic. We rarely get red meat because it's more expensive than chicken, so this was a real treat!

 Cora is pretty naughty during story time at the library. It's hilarious!

 So really quick, note the amount of food on the ground and the look of regret on Cora's face.

 We figured Cora was having major separation anxiety and couldn't fall asleep because she was so freaked out, so we introduced Rabies the raccoon and Wiggly Bun Bun the bunny. She loves sleeping with them.

 We are starting the "puppy dog" stage where she stands and begs whenever we have food out.

 We move in December. There are so many reasons why I can't wait to, but so many reasons I know I will miss it so much!

 The app Snapchat has some pretty funny filters you can turn on, that show up on your face. 

 In the day of social media, anything you do as a parent (or person) can and will be judged. Well, here you go guys! I let my daughter ride backwards in her stroller! I will add that I never take my hands off the stroller when she's like this, and if she makes ANY movement to stand I turn her around and strap her down. So no I'm not fully ready to turn myself in to the mommy blogs.

 Megan, Ashlee and I are competing in a virtual event where you run (or walk) 100 miles in 60 days. Right now I am trying to get 100 miles of running in... but since it is so hot I MAY end up adding my walking  miles in at the end if I haven't run enough.

Sleeping with Bun and Rabies. My heart.

So as you can see we didn't do too many things, because we were preparing for our big trips!