The Day of the Valentines

I haven't had someone on Valentine's Day for a very long time.  And that's ok; I am not one to feel sorry for myself, or even lonely on that day for Lovers.  I would always make something fun out of it.  Let's be honest.  It's an excuse to have a party with your friends, or go out to dinner and/or eat treats, right?  So I felt pretty good about it, whether I had a Valentine or not.  Well, this year, I had one.  And he knows me well.  Lilies, a candle, and Reese's Peanut Butter cups in the shape of a heart (they are always better around the holidays.  Bigger. ;-))  

 

I was thrilled and touched by his card telling me I was his "best decision."  We went into DC to the National Portrait Gallery that afternoon, and to dinner afterward.  There were all kinds of fascinating portraits of famous people there, including Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, but somehow, the only portrait I actually documented was this guy.  

 

I don't even remember who he is, but he reminded me of a dwarf from the Lord of the Rings movies.  

I have no answers for you, except this is why we are together.

The next day was Sunday, and the actual date of February 14th, and it was my turn.  I made Danny dinner and gave him a framed picture of the two of us. 

 

 I also sent him this song from a new musical, called Waitress.  I think of him every time I hear it. It's called "You Matter to Me."  Back in February, I was in a place where I knew I loved him, but was still very scared of the commitment that could mean.  So on days when I was feeling a little scared and confused, I could go back to the fundamental, simple truth that I loved him; he mattered to me.  And I to him.  And that was all I needed to know at that moment.  Sometimes that was all I could handle.  Also, Danny has always been very good about trying to understand my past and meet me where I am emotionally.  So this song, to me, encapsulated all of that.

Happy Valentine's Day, my Favorite.  The first of many.  

Snowzilla

Overall, the winter here was actually pretty mild.  We had some snow, but for the most part it didn't stay long, and the temperatures were higher than average.  And then there was Snowzilla.  Yes, that was the official name for this storm, so named by all the news outlets.  It was projected to be two feet of snow, which apparently shuts down all of the DC metro area.  Danny was on a business trip all week, and I was worried about him getting back in time.  Friday I was given the day off in preparation for the storm hitting, and Danny was supposed to fly in to Philadelphia that evening, not able to find a flight arriving at a closer airport.  All flights were cancelled otherwise.  I decided to go up to get him at the airport, a two and a half hour drive away.  It was risky, as the storm was supposed to hit right around the time of our drive back, but I didn't want to spend the weekend without him in case he got stranded.  So off I went.  I picked him up just fine, but driving south that night was slow going as the snow was going full force by then.  Thank goodness for my CR-V with all-wheel drive!  

 

Anyway, we got home safe and sound.  Danny grabbed some clothes and we settled in at my house for the weekend, knowing we would be snowed in.  And we were.  In fact, Danny's roommates Colin and Marcus came over in the morning, hiking through the snow, and just stayed.  

 

My roommate Eleesha's boyfriend Travis also came to town for the weekend.  We just all bunkered down.  Church was cancelled on Sunday, and then work was cancelled both Monday and Tuesday, because public transportation was not running. 

Colin wanted to snuggle.  It was fine.

And it was an awesome weekend!  So relaxed and nice, because we couldn't go anywhere.  We all had a great time together, and Danny headed up the mission to dig all of our cars out of the snow.  

Jenny and I felt the need to rate Danny's form.  A perfect 10!

What I loved about him was that he didn't just dig mine out.  He dug out my roommates too.  What a gem.  I pretty much knew I would keep him that weekend.  

Snowzilla made some serious havoc, but to me, it was a fantastic weekend!

A Balcony Downs NYE

The end of 2015 found Danny and I back in Virginia, and back at Balcony Downs.  The theme for the NYE party was cocktail dress, again, but this time I convinced him to dress up with me.  And I’m so glad we did, because man, we looked good! ;-) It was also the first time I referred to him as my boyfriend on social media with this picture (below), so now we are official!  Ha ha!  It was so funny; that post blew. up.  

Also looking good with my roommate Eleesha

 

Anyway, it was a lovely weekend with lovely people and great food, again.  The only bummer was that Danny was getting sick, and so he didn’t feel very well.  But overall, it was a unique and fun way to ring in 2016.  

 

Oh, Christmastime. How I Love You So.

My December feels like a little bit of a blur.  Maybe because it was 6 months ago?  Yikes.  Pretty far behind on this here blog.  Some highlights:

Having a car so I didn’t have to walk everywhere in the cold.

An unseasonably warm Christmas season (which I had mixed feelings about, truthfully.  I wouldn’t have minded it feeling a little more like Christmas).

 

The girls- Jenny, Pam, and Eleesha

 

Roommate tree-decorating night, with a little impromptu photo shoot thrown in...too bad we didn't actually make those Christmas cards. 
Laying wreaths on graves at Arlington National Cemetery.  Definitely humbling, and a beautiful morning.  

 








Going to see the lights at the DC Temple.  First-timer over here, and it was beautiful! And the company was great too. :-)  

 

Unexpected flowers delivered to my office from my new boyfriend!  Oh man, that was awesome.

 

 

Potomac Ward Christmas party- The dress was “seasonal or cocktail.” Danny and I were not about to dress up, so we sure did make Ugly Christmas Sweaters, and rocked those things at our party among everyone else in their dresses and suits.  We were a hit!
The Tree at the Capitol.  Don't mind the Capitol covered in scaffolding in the back.  Buzzkill.  But the Christmas Tree was pretty.

 
 
Brook visiting for a weekend.  And taking yet another successful selfie.  Sorry.  It's a thing now.  It just happens, and I give all credit to her, because I'm terrible at them. 
Target runs with Danny.  



 

 

Going home for Christmas, as usual.  Not a highlight- being sick for the first few days of that.  Boo.  

 

MOTAB Christmas Concert watching Amanda with my people!



Getting to be an aunt again and fawn over the cuteness of family, family, and more family!

Decorating cookies with some nieces and nephews!  Eeeeee!

 

 

 

 Seeing my dear friend Jeff for the first time in a long time.  So good to catch up.

 

My first Payson Temple trip with my parents, eeeeeaaaaarrrrllllyyyy in the morning. 



My Christmas Eve baking extravaganza.  Nobody complains about the results, and I kind of love it. 



Christmas Eve, where Grandma and Grandpa were Mary and Joseph, with Rudolph as the donkey and Mom in the robe I gave her from Victoria's Secret.  It won Christmas. 



 

Christmas Day.  I'll say it again.  Family and Home.  It's pretty much all that matters.
















Celebrating Mom's birthday, of course!
Oh yeah, and being the favorite aunt.  Always.

 

And best of all, Danny came to visit and meet the family.  We had only been dating for a few months, but we are both practical people, and didn’t know when we would both be out on that side of the country (he is from Washington state, and went home for Christmas himself).  Also, I think we both knew there was some serious potential here, even though it was still a little early on.  So, why not?  He was a rock star.  My mom hugged him as soon as he walked in the house, and then hugged him again…it was great and a little scary to bring him into my world like this.  I have dated a lot since my divorce, but had no serious relationships.  The fact that this was all happening was awesome, but scary.  Definitely.  But totally worth the risk, because the visit went great, and we even saw some of his family too.  Danny was fully engaged in my family the whole time, just wanting to get to know them as much as he could.  He met half the family at Christmas, and will meet the other half at our family reunion before our wedding. #spoileralert

 

 

A successful Christmas, I would say.  It’s always wonderful to be home.  Who knows where I will be this year?

And PS, there is always this lady in Old Town Alexandria, playing her harp in her witch costume.