the blackmons in chicago

Thomas Jefferson Memorial

Baby it's cold outside!

Andy and Patty on King Street, all decked out for Christmas!

A view of DC from the Kennedy's grave site.

Standing at the Kennedy's graves.

Robert E. Lee's former plantation home at Arlington Cemetery.

Arlington Cemetery

Bleeker chomping at the bit to get to his doggy stocking!

A Blackmon Christmas!

An Early Christmas in DC with the Blackmons

This past week, we had the pleasure of Brad's parents visiting with us. Andy and Patty flew in from TN on Saturday night and were able to stay until Wednesday night, so it was the chance for a really great visit. To our understanding, the weather in TN hasn't exactly been winter-like, but here in DC, we've had some seriously cold days already. So, for the first time, they finally got to feel like it was Christmas. On Sunday, they wanted to visit our church so they could meet all the people we're always talking about and see where we attend. It was perfect because they got to meet our pastor and the friends we've made and seemed to really like it. That night, we decided to have our Christmas with them, so we made the traditional holiday hors d'oeuvres, lit the fire and opened gifts. It was a great night spent with family and watching Bleeker open his stocking from them is always entertaining!

On Monday, I had an appointment with the doctor to check on me and the baby. Of course, they were thrilled to be able to go this and hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time. You have to love Patty for getting very emotional during this! It was precious. Everything looked great so far and I got the okay to travel to NC for Christmas and our 1st baby shower this weekend. That afternoon, we did a little shopping and made a trip to the Arlington Cemetery to see the wreaths that had been laid on the tombstones and to visit the Kennedys' graves. It was absolutely freezing but breathtaking nonetheless! Afterward, we had to head home in time for Brad and I to go our childbirthing class. Due to a class being canceled because of the snow a few weeks ago, we had to attend a make-up session. So, Andy and Patty doggysat Bleeker for us...they love this job so that wasn't a problem! Tuesday, we spent the afternoon walking the streets of Georgetown and Brad and I got the chance to spend some of our Christmas money that we got from his parents this year. Of course we had a great time doing that! This was the first time they had been to Gtown and they really enjoyed the English high street vibe that it has.

The highlight of the trip was our White House tour that we had scheduled on Wednesday morning at 8:30 am! Brad's parents worked really hard to get us tickets from their TN Congressman and we were relieved when we heard that they squeezed us in! We had just watched the HGTV Christmas tour of the White House on Sunday night so to see it in person was amazing! The theme this year was Holiday in the National Parks http://www.whitehouse.gov/holiday/2007/index.html. The massive tree in the Blue Room was the most impressive. It was fully decorated with round glass ornaments that each of the national parks across the country created so each one was very unique. And the gingerbread house this year was coated in white chocolate and weighed 200 lbs more than last year, I think totalling about 500 lbs!! So, although the tour was shorter than expected, it did not disappoint us. Brad's parents had to leave later that afternoon but it was certainly a great visit and a wonderful Christmas in Old Town!