pheGNOMEnal vacation: final days

Tuesday morning we got up early to catch our bus to Washington D.C. to visit John's cousin's family. That rainy morning we got on the Bolt Bus for the long drive across 2 states. Due to the rain, the 4 hour bus ride took 6 1/2 hours!

Johnny worked/studied (as usual) and I slept (as usual).

After what seemed to be a gazillion hours, we arrived at Union Station in D.C.!




Check out the beautiful sky!


Even as you wait for your ride, you get a great view! Do you see Capitol Hill?

We finally got to see John's cousin, Gloria, her husband, John, and her 3 boys. They took us to the most delicious Peking Duck place, ever. Ever. I guess I was super tired and hungry because I didn't even think about whipping out my camera. So sad because seriously that meal was bomb.com. I guess others agree; the walls are covered with pictures of celebrities, politicians, and presidents that enjoy peking duck!

The next day we slept in and got a late start to wander D.C. We thought we could just drive around the capitol without a map/GPS, but we were wrong! After going around in circles we decided that it was way too much to handle. I was able to take a drive by picture of Washington Monument, though.

We were able to get to Georgetown and we just wandered the streets for a little.




We weren't too bummed we didn't get to see all monuments and all the touristy things during the day because we were so happy that we got to spend time with the adorable boys!

John (aka Jack) and John.

Gloria (unni) and her husband, John (senior) were nice enough to give us a night tour of the capitol after a way yummy dinner.

You'll never guess what's in the small bowl. Bacon jam! So good! I love me some bacon.

We're lucky that John (Gloria's husband, not mine) works as a lawyer at the Department of Homeland Security. We were able to get a night tour of the capitol. They'd drop us off, drive around the block as we took pictures, and pick us back up! So awesome! I'm totally lazy-mclazy.

Our last day, we decided to spend it in VA just chillin' with the family.

Can't forget more eating! Gloria unni bought me an entire box of macarons!

Pictures of pictures don't always look great, but eh, this is the best I could do.

That brings us to the end of our pheGNOMEnal adventure. Hope you had a pheGNOMEnal time too!

pheGNOMEnal vacation: day two

The day started early in the morning with Nick bringing over a cake to our hotel and wishing John a happy birthday. OOPS! Totally forgot it was Johnny's birthday! Nick wished him a happy birthday before I did... Horrible wife...

Chocolate mousse cake for breakfast. YUMMERS!

Then off to church we go!

Redeemer! John (and I) was blessed... even WITHOUT hearing Tim Keller speak (gasp!)

After church, of course we have to eat lunch!

The best pizza I have ever had in my life. EVER. John, who doesn't even like pizza, could not stop talking about how yummy it was! So GOOD!

Our new friends Natalie (Nick's gf) and her friend Liz.

Everyone loves Gnomie!

Then off for some rice pudding!

This is our kind of store!

Whoa. He's hot.

After trying a few flavors, we thought it'd be too heavy of a snack so we just walked out. Yes. We're those people.

Just walking around and shopping in Soho. I found a Brandy & Melville store! I hate trying on clothes at the store and always just buy it, bring it home, try it on and most often not, return it. This store, majority of the clothing is one size fits all. SO AWESOME! ... but I digress.

We were off to see the Statue of Liberty! We met up my friend Tang again, and we caught the free Staten Island Ferry to do a "drive by" of the statue.

My mantourage.

We met in 8th grade and we've been friends ever since. :)

Then some more walking....

I spy Gnomie...

Then some more walking to see Grand Central Terminal. This picture is so poorly taken, but it captures John and Nick so perfectly. Weirdos, I tell you.

Did you know about the "whispering station" in Grand Central Terminal? It is so cool! You whisper into the wall and the person, clear on the other side, can hear you!

Then off to our next stop! Hot dogs!

"When you're hungry, broke, or just in a hurry!"

They serve up each hot dog with sauerkraut and onion sauce. Nothing fancy, super simple. All washed down with fresh papaya juice. I die. So. Good.

A little more walking, and a quick stop at Lavain for their massive cookies!

It looks huge, like a scone, but it was delish cookie all the way through. YUM! A oatmeal cookie for John, a chocolate chip cookie for me.

Then off to dinner! My dear cousin, Jennifer, moved out to NYC to attend Parsons. I'm so proud of her! She's all grown up now! I remember her being so tiny, with a cute little bowl cut, following me around. I used to carry her around like she was a doll! And now, she looks older than me!

Sarah, one of John's youth group students, also moved out to NYC to attend Parsons. When I heard they were both going to Parsons, I thought "Hmmm. How cool would it be if they knew each other." Not only did they meet by randomly being roomies but they are like long lost bff's! So glad they are friends!

The sweet girls brought us some Insomnia Cookies! This place delivers cookies til the wee hours of the night for all those college students pulling all nighters. Or in the case of my cousin and Sarah, for those college students who have an insatiable appetite.

For dinner, we had Recipe, a small restaurant that Nick likes. The restaurant was so cute! It was decorated like Ruby's house! Vintagey and cozey. Just perfect. I wanted to walk out with the table; it'd be perfect in my imaginary cottage house that I'm dreaming up.

My pork chop.

John's veal.

After dinner, we walked about a block or so for some tea.

Have you see You've Got Mail? Does this place look familiar?

After a long day out and about, we finally got back to our room to get some sleep!

Our amazing view! Thanks to John pulling the "it's our anniversary" card, we got an amazing room upgrade!

I wasn't joking when I said Day 2's eating was out of control! It doesn't stop there... Day 3 was just as insane!

P.S. Happy birthday to my amazing husband and bestest friend, Johnny! Oh, how I heart him so!