Birthday Month

October is always a great month. Still enjoying good weather, changing colors, general conference, and of course, my birthday! This year, we took a break from plane rides for the month, but still got out and enjoyed a beautiful fall.

October 18 fell on a Friday this year, which made for a lovely birthday weekend. Mike was pretty busy on my actual birthday, but we managed to get away to New York the following weekend to enjoy some fall foliage in the Big Apple.

October started off with a pre-General Conference run. A faux half marathon: Chapel to Temple (13.7 miles)

Then the government shutdown happened. Somehow, my agency stayed open and I didn't get a 10 day paid vacation, still a little upset about that. Plus all the parks and memorials were closed, which is a major bummer for DC.

 October 18: BIRTHDAY

 Next comes my birthday!  Telework half day, run, pedicure, and then headed to dinner with friends

I'm lucky that two of my best friends live in the area. Alison and Liz joined us for dinner and then we had a girls outing to Georgetown where we shopped and sipped on frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity. Pot roast at Founding Farmers and frozen hot chocolate (more like a giant delicious milkshake)- what more could a girl want on her birthday!

Belated Birthday Weekend in NYC

We drove up Friday night and stayed in Brooklyn, then made our way through the city. New York is so big that to do it right in a day, you have to choose just a few things and not cram it all in. On my list this time: Grimaldi's pizza in Brooklyn, High Line Park, and Magnolia Bakery for some lemon bars and banana pudding. A few miles of walking smashed in between some delicious eats! Perfect New York day!!!

We wrapped October up with a Halloween concert in DC. Truthfully, I hated the concert (Drake- so not into rap), but Mike had free tickets because his company designed and sold a ping pong table for Drake's tour, so we went. Let's just say I am definitely not the right demographic for this kind of concert. Case in point: my best "clubbing clothes" were brought to you by Ann Taylor and Banana Republic.

Drake aside, October was a wonderful month and we had a blast!

Back to my roots

Yep, still six months behind and I'm not even apologizing. Life and travels just keep coming!

In September we took a trip back home to the Blessed State (aka Washington) to visit Seattle and attend my parent's mission farewell.

 Beautiful Puget Sound

 Ferry Ride. I was in heaven!

 No trip to Seattle is complete without a trip to Ivars on the water for some fish & chips! 

 Visit with Grandma Jensen and Aunt Ann

 Mike gets to meet Grandma Jensen, looking good at 90 years old!

Seattle Temple. Yeah, the sun was quite intense. Who says it rains every day in Seattle? We had four PERFECT days in Seattle with clear blue skies and 70 degree September weather.

 View from the Space Needle (Washington native and it was my first time up!)

Mike's first trip to Pike Place Market. Let's just say it was love at first visit.

And who could forget beautiful Safeco Field. Now I just have to go back when the Mariners are in town!

Elder & Sister Didenhover Farewell

My parents entered the MTC September 30, 2013, to begin their mission to the Alpine German Speaking Mission, serving in Linz, Austria. I am so proud of my parents and their decision to serve a mission. They have already been out six months and are loving it. It's hard to have them so far away, but I know they are serving the Lord and providing a great example for all of us. We had a wonderful weekend in Spokane to celebrate them and help to send them on their way. We were missing the Utah Didenhovers and two of the Kemeny men, but all in all, it was a solid showing. Plus, the Didenhover women were all there!! Love my mom and sisters!

Notice Jaime and Ava's matching shirts!!! Love those girls!

 Drop off at the airport. Farewell Mom & Dad!! We love you!

That wraps up September and our trip to Washington. Hopefully, I can get October pictures up before another six months.

Summer Travels

Summer 2013 was the summer of weddings!

Good things happens in 3 threes, a friend always reminds me. Well, this year, 2 of my best friends whom I've known since Freshman Year at BYU also got married. Whitney got engaged a week before my wedding and Alison only about a month later.

From March to November, I traveled to Utah 5 times!!!

March- plan my wedding
April- My Wedding!
July- Whitney's Wedding
August- Alison's Wedding
September- Mike's College Reunion

The trips were quick, but so much fun! I had a chance to visit family, meet up with friends, and watch as my best friends got married. It was a lot of flights back and forth between DC and Utah, but I loved every minute we spent in Utah. I have wonderful friends and I'm so happy for them!

My mother-in-law Petrine, me, my mom Angie

The night before my wedding we had an informal dinner in lieu of a wedding luncheon. It was a fun night for families and wedding party to meet. Luckily, my brother and sister in law were gracious enough to host us at their beautiful home.

Alison, Steffany, Liz

Mike's groomsmen: John, Mike, Hunter, Ryan

The Generous Hosts! Alisa & Kurt (and two nephews Aidan, Jake)

Liz, Brittney, Brea

Alison, Brea, Steffany (long time roommates)

In-n-Out, best pre-wedding meal! (okay, so it was the day before the wedding)

MOVING DAY!!!!

Hard to come back to rainy Maryland after a week in Hawaii, but at least we were coming to OUR home! By the way, we have a spare room and it's ready for guests!!!

First meal in our new apartment!!!

1 month anniversary (I know this has nothing to do with a trip to Utah, but I just wanted to give Mike a shout out. The balloons and flowers were all Mike!!!)

Okay, also not a trip to Utah....San Francisco. I headed to Oakland the last week in June for a HR training for my new job! I accepted a position (promotion) with the Public Health Institute. I'm still with USAID, but my hiring mechanism changed as well as some of my job responsibilities. I had an afternoon to enjoy the pier in San Francisco before flying out to Portland to visit my new niece!!!

Sweet baby Claire Christina Kemeny was born June 10 and was only 3 weeks old in these pictures.

Tour of Temple Square on 4th of July

Watching the Stadium of Fire Fireworks in Provo from the MTC fields

Whitney's Bridal Shower/Bachelorette Party (pink was the theme)

Starting with my own wedding, eating In-n-Out has become a Utah wedding tradition! In between the sealing and reception, an In-n-Out trip is an absolute must! And while the burgers are good, I really go for the chocolate shakes!

DC Reunion at Whitney's wedding (Nick, Steffany, Ally, Paul, me, Mike)

Whit's wedding

I know it wasn't our wedding...but why not!

Alison and Steve's wedding at the Draper Temple in August

Alison's reception with old roommates and friends (ignore the crazy eyes)

Trip #5 to Utah!! Over Labor Day we headed back once again to the Beehive State, this time for Mike to meet up with his college buddies. These guys all met at BYU their Freshman Year and hadn't been together in years. We enjoyed some family time, BBQ, BYU football, and a baby blessing. For the BYU game, we endured our second lightning delay, but this was better than the UVA game since we won! 

Lots of trips to Utah this year and all for good reasons. I'm not sure when we'll be heading back, but as I have a nephew on the way and a best friend's baby, it probably won't be too long! Summer 2013 was quite an adventure!