A Turkey Trot and Some Pie

Before I start our love of Thanksgiving, I have to share the best new east coast Indian restaurant. Dishes of India. You know when you put food in your mouth and the world stops spinning for a moment because it is so good? Yep, this happened for just about every bite. We got the usual Tikka Masala and some good salmon but the BEST dish was the Malai Kofta. They were basically little potato rolls filled with cheese and spinach and covered in this smooth sauce. We will definitely be going back! 

We waked along the streets of Alexandria after we finished eating and I loved the lights and feel of the Christmas spirit (but we definitely give Thanksgiving it's time in this family according to Kyle....although I think I'd sometimes like to get the tree up before Thanksgiving). The night ended with prepping the crust for the next day's apple pie. 

My favorite Thanksgiving tradition that we started last year is our SOME (So Others Might Eat)Turkey Trot 5k. The organization that puts it on raises a ton of money for meals for the homeless. I was able to be in charge of getting the donations and runners for the U.S. Chamber this year and I'm so glad I was able to be a part of this neat cause. 

Last year was FREEZING but this year was a lot warmer. They also hold a costume contest and there were a couple of great ones including this baby dressed in a full turkey costume. 

Kyle jokes that last year, there was a guy dressed up like a Christmas tree just laughing and happy to be running. Kyle said he even had a cooking apron on and was running with a spatula and whisk. He said there was no way this guy was passing him! 

My favorite costume this year was a squirrel. Yes, a lady dressed up as a full blown squirrel carrying acorns. Kyle ran ahead and said "If you don't win best costume, I will put up a fight." Her friend was supportive with a turkey hat but she definitely won for most creativity. And that tail! 

 It's not every day you see a squirrel running a 5k in Washington D.C.!

 No matter how long I've been here, it never gets old to see the Capitol. I love it so much.
And please note the lady with a turkey on her head in a fish costume. 

It was such a beautiful day with lots of energy and endorphin filled racers.

Kyle and I usually like to aim to get a good time and cross in under half an hour but we ran with friends this year and enjoyed the trot. 

We went to Thanksgiving with a bunch of friends in a darling townhouse in Alexandria. I was proud of my apple pie but was missing my mom's pie even though it's the exact same recipe. There is just something about her pie that makes my mouth water. Holidays are hard to be away from family which is why I am so grateful for good friends and passed down recipes. Kyle made his brown sugar maple ice cream and good old fashioned vanilla ice cream (drooling even thinking about them).

We're so grateful for good friends and food, healthy bodies and each other. Happy Thanksgiving! 

Master Kyle

He is GRADUATED!
After 2 years of classes, projects, internships and a whole lot of other fun nights, Kyle walked up on that stage and got his MPA!

Of course they would have a bagpipe processional in honor of the McOmber Scottish heritage!

He walks the walk AND talks the talk in EVERYTHING!

Kyle's parents flew all the way out for the weekend and we had a lot of fun. Gosh, I married into the  best family!

A little throwback to Kyle's orientation two years ago when we were bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and ready to take on the world.

 Same spot, two years later, with a whole lot of experience and knowledge.

Throwing it back again to his first day. It's amazing to think of all that has changed since that moment.

These Azalea shrubs were begging to be in a picture. 

I love this guy!

I had to grab this picture of Kyle's dad. He's always been awesome and cool at everything. So there was no way he was cutting that cool to replace his sunglasses with prescription glasses.

We, of course, spent the weekend eating at some amazing places. We took them to our favorite gelato place, Pitango. 

We also took a trip out to National Harbor for Rosa Mexicana. They made Guacamole right in front of you and I was tempted to take that whole thing for myself...it was so good! 

The BEST chicken enchiladas. 

After the graduation ceremony, we went to brunch at Vermilion in Alexandria. Katharine got some amazing Salmon Eggs Benedict while I stayed on the extreme sugar side and got the brioche french toast.

So there you have it! We now have a master on our hands! And I am so proud of him and all of his hard work! 

So what's next, you ask? 

We'll see. I've loved my job at the U.S. Chamber and we also have loved the East Coast. We do miss family back in Utah but we feel like we still have some time that we need to spend out here. Kyle's going to start looking for a job in the education sector and we'll see what turns up. While it has been stressful making the rent each month with only one salary and lending Kyle to American University, I'm so glad he accomplished his dream of getting his MPA and I'm happy I could be in the passenger seat for the experience. 

I will miss: 

making the drive every now and then to American to pick him up in the evening

bugging him while he tries to study

taking the time to make a nice dinner that he could enjoy after his late classes

seeing him reading his smart education books 

celebrating with him when he has finished another semester of classes

I struggle with change but I realize that with ever change comes a new season of life and we are ready to take this one by the horns (or by the wings I should say since it's the AU Eagles). So... thank you American University for being a great school and the reason we started the beginning of our married life in Washington D.C. And thank you Kyle for having high ambitions and working hard to be your best self!

Master Kyle....Congrats!

Old Town, Alexandria

I feel like there are still SO many things that we haven't seen out here surrounding the district AND the East Coast. It gives me slight anxiety because I don't know how long we will be out here...so I decided that we would take a night and explore a little bit of Old Town, Alexandria. King Street is a major street with a lot of treasures and old historic buildings. I did the research and took my history lover along to verify the facts. I'm sad we didn't get down there until later and took up time by eating dinner at a place that would have been qualified to be on 'Restaurant Impossible'. The night was still so charming, regardless of the fried food, and I'm glad we got to see a tiny bit of the east side of the Old Town. (By the way, King Street has a trolley that runs up and down all day which is not only adorable but free!) 

We started out grabbing dinner at a place that was cheaper (being the millionaires that we are). And oh boy, was that a bad decision. I think it's so smart to be mindful of money BUT when it comes to having a dining experience where you haven't been, it's almost worth it to have a nice meal and experience the culture surrounding you. The picture above is NOT of our dining spot, but was a sweet little flower shop that I'm sure came all the way over here from Great Britain. I loved it.

After getting through our dinner, we stopped by this cute gelato place and shared double chocolate 

goodness. 

I love these cobblestone streets found back east! This was "Captains Row", named after the captains who docked their ships at the Alexandria wharves. 

Old Town Alexandria has the most adorable Christmas shop selling....yes....all things Christmas. It kind of made me want to just skip over fall and go straight into December...but then I remembered how much I love fall and stepped back. Plus, the few Halloween decorations they had there kept me in the right place including this wonderful cat mask Kyle modeled for me. 

Next was some more sampling of ice cream on King street. It was between "The Creamery" and....

And "Pop's"....which won in the end for their variety of flavors and Christmas lights strung throughout. More ideas for Kyle's AWESOME hobby. 

The inside of Pop's. 

Filmed with the 8mm iPhone camera app. I'm sad the music can't be heard that well because it which completely added to the whole mood of the '60's Ice Cream/Soda Pop Parlor feel. 

I love the old historic buildings with hanging bushes, outfitted with all different kinds of shops and restaurants. 

I also love the old fashioned oil lamps hanging everywhere. 

This is Alexandria's City Hall and Market Square. They say the farmers market still held here today, is the oldest continuously-operating one in the nation! George Washington sent wagon-loads of produce from Mount Vernon to sell in Old Town. They also say Washington drilled troops here for the French and Indian and Revolutionary Wars. I love the huge American flag draped from the center.

Our next stop was visiting George Washington's Old Town House. It was built in 1769 and he would stay here (even though his house was at Mt. Vernon) some nights if the weather was bad.

A bust of Washington himself sits in the window. 

Since it was getting dark, we weren't able to go to all the stops on my list, but the one I wanted to see more than anything was the Spite House. Built in 1830, this is the NARROWEST home in America at only 7 feet wide! It was originally an alley but the owner of the home next to the small space built this tiny thing to keep horse-drawn wagons and loiterers out.....hence, built for spite. 

Yep....7 feet. 

We ended our night at the Christmas Village looking at all of the intricately designed drinking glasses for each state. Wouldn't it be cool to own all of these someday? It's like a little state history lesson while drinking your orange juice at breakfast time. Lots of treasures in Old Town. I can't wait to head back down when the leaves have changed and are falling onto the cobble streets!