Retreat

This is where we've been all week...

...crammed with family and friends into a beach house- fishing, swimming, sunbathing, eating, and thoroughly relaxing. (But more on that later.)

On Monday we snuck away to Wilmington to celebrate our anniversary. 

USS North Carolina

Downtown Wilmington

For the night we stayed in a bed and breakfast in Hampstead. Really we were just sleeping upstairs in a sweet woman's adorable home (with breathtaking views of the waterway). It felt like a stay with a grandma we'd never met. In the morning she left us a wonderful breakfast and afterwards we went out for a paddle.

(Or rather Dustin paddled while I snapped pictures.)

Getaway complete.

Just 5 years ago...

August 15, 2006. 

Salt Lake City.

It's crazy how fast 5 years can pass and how much can happen in between.

Since then... 

we've lived in Provo, Portland, Connecticut, and Richmond.

we graduated from BYU in 2008.

Dustin applied, reapplied, was accepted, and has almost finished dental school.

I decided to become a nurse, completed nursing school, and am now an RN.

Dustin decided he wants to stay in school forever... and become a pediatric dentist.

Also unexpected...

Jessie started cooking. A lot. And this little project came about. 

We became an aunt and uncle. Twice.

We doubled our square footage and gained a backyard.

We grew a garden.

We fell in love with Richmond. 

But a few things haven't changed...

I'm still blonde. (Quite surprising considering my history.)

Dustin still complains that I steal the covers and crank up the heat. 

We're still together.

Just the two of us.

Still in love.

It's funny how on that day you hope, but you have no idea... 

of the joyful, sometimes painful, yet absolutely beautiful life that awaits you

and how in five years you'll look back and think about what a rewarding decision you made.

Weekend

Back to "the district" for the weekend, with friends.

The U.S. Botanic Garden (right next to the Capitol). We took half a tour and it was fascinating. We wanted to make off with few exotic plants to glamorize our own garden (but then we decided it might not be worth a visit to federal prison).

Some of you in the medical field might recognize this one...

Did you know that black, white, and pink pepper pods all grow on the same vine? Have you ever seen a cocoa tree in blossom? Or how about a root beer plant?

Then on to our favorite lunch spot on the Hill. I dream about Market Lunch crab cakes. 

And our first visit to the National Cathedral. Stunning and huge. Inside and out.

Due to some unforeseen car trouble, I got to spent an hour laying on the front lawn with this view.

Now I wish we could rewind and do it all over again.

Growth

In April I planted my mini garden and crossed my fingers that it would grow more than just a hundred jalapenos this year...

Come July it looks like a jungle back there. It's loving this hot sticky mess of a summer.

Can I interest anyone in some basil... or perhaps parsley?

The best reward... tomatoes galore.

Well Spent

There are few ways I'd rather spend my weekend than...

at a crowded Food Truck Festival in D.C.

sampling the city's best curb-side cuisine.

Or strolling through Historic Old Town on a Saturday morning.

The farmers market = my heaven.

Or standing in a line that trails out the door of the newest Cafe Rio. In Manassas. It's a crazy wonderful miracle.

Happy 30

Yesterday Dustin reached 30.

So we celebrated with a few of his favorite things...

Starting with rock climbing. Despite his years, this boy is still very lithe and agile.

And then we tubed down the James... 

With my super-tan family. (I chose not to appear next to them in this photo. The contrast is frightening.)

And since Dustin adores pasta, we dined on platter-fulls at Edo's Squid. The food was amazing.

Happy Birthday, guapo.