Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Post - Potomac Mills

Monday, at about midnight, we got home from our two day shopping spree at Potomac Mills. It was a lot of fun. Both days were filled with a lot of shopping... I mean, obviously, that was the point of the trip.

We left on Sunday morning, right after we picked Lib up at CCD, so around 11:45. We got to the mall at around 12:20. Since the mall closed at 8 o'clock on Sunday night, we did the shorter side of the mall that day. We finished all the stores that we wanted to go to before 8. We then shopped at "And That!" (The Christmas Tree Shop), which was open until 11. We didn't stay there until 11 however. Instead, we shopped there for a bit and went to The Silver Diner for dinner. First day: have to

On Monday, we ate breakfast at our hotel and headed to the mall shortly after it opened. Although, at times, we were worried we wouldn't finish all the shops in time, we finished by around 9 and the mall didn't close until 11. Even though it was the longer side! For dinner that night we went to Red Robn and ate far too much food. It was delicious though! Day 2: have lots more fun and eat crazy amounts of food - check!

This year we all had a really great time, as usual. I got some presents checked off my list, and picked out a lot of stuff for myself XD! I'm really glad we are always able to go on this trip and have so much fun and I hope that this tradition hangs around for a long time!
Until next year, Potomac Mills!

Happy (almost) Holidays!!
Check back soon,
Kendra <3

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Pre-Potomac Mills

On Sunday, just three days away, the girls in my family are going on our Annual Pre-Christmas Two Day Shopping Trip! We always go to this really big outlet mall called Potomac Mills. It's about a thirty minute drive to get there. It's an awesome way to get a good bulk of our Christmas shopping done in just a couple of days. Normally, we do half of the mall the first day, stay over night at a hotel, and do the other half on our second day.

So, the plan this year is to drive up on Sunday after Liberty gets home from CCD and hopefully get to the mall around 12:30. I think it closes early on Sunday night so if we feel like getting more done, we'll hop over to the target that's close by. Then we'll sleep at the hotel and eat breakfast there in the morning. We'll head back over to the mall when we're done with breakfast and hit all the stores on the second half. When we finish going to all the stores we want to, we'll drive back home sometime Monday night.

I'm not much of a shopper. Actually, I'm not really a shopper at all, I can usually stand about thirty minutes of it and then I'm done. But, I always look forward to this trip. I'm not sure why, since the whole trip is about shopping. Maybe it's the fact that we're not staying at one store for a long time, rather jumping store to store, or that it really doesn't matter what we're doing, but it's always fun to go out with the girls in my family. (Love you too, dad! :))

I think I'll write a Post-Potomac Mills post to let you all know how it went and what we did!

Check back soon,
Kendra <3

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Piano

I have been playing the piano for a long time. I don't remember how old I was, but not being able to remember must mean something. My two older sisters have always played, so that's why I started.

We had the same teacher until about two years ago. His name is Marty Fahey. He was a great teacher. He was surprisingly patient for someone who had to tell me the same thing each week, "Kendra, you should really practice a little bit each day." "Did you even practice this week?" and such. What can I say, I was young and reckless. Luckily, I've grown out of that ;). I wouldn't be nearly as far as I am without him. Unfortunately, he moved to Arizona two years ago, so we had to get a new teacher. On a good note, (get it... piano - notes ;)) our new teacher, Rebekah Lewis, is AMAZING! I think she studied music in college, so she is really smart when it comes to her music facts... I mean, I'm sure she's also really smart in other areas, but I KNOW she's an expert in piano. Of course I miss Mr. Fahey, but I'm really glad we were able to find another great teacher!

Over the years, probably because I've gotten better, I've come to enjoy playing piano a lot. I do hope that I continue to get better at playing the piano and can continue to enjoy it.

Check back soon,
Kendra <3

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Mount Vernon By Candlelight

One of my family's annual pre-Christmas traditions is to go to Mount Vernon. We've been doing it for as long as I can remember. We only live about thirty minutes from there, so it's a pretty easy trip to make.

Around Christmas time they add some special tours. Although you can still go for the day-time tour, they also invite you to take a night tour. It's called Mount Vernon by Candlelight. Your tour guide walks you around and through the house, while giving you a brief description of what it was like for The Washingtons around Christmas Time.

After your tour, there are a number of extra activities you can participate in. Some of our favorites are Dancing, Caroling by the Fire, and Cookies and Cider. Basically, "Dancing in the Green House" is in a green house on the premises that is closed off for just dancing. The people that work there will teach you a certain type of dancing from a LONNGGG time ago. Caroling by the fire is pretty much exactly what it sounds like, some people that work at Mount Vernon lead carols while you warm up by some fire pits outside. Last, but most definitely not least, is getting cookies and cider. There are tents set up in a field that have Mount Vernon's specialty gingerbread cookies and apple cider. OH MY GOSH IT IS SO GOOD!! We walk into the tent and grab dozens of cookies and a few cups of cider each time we go.

They also have an outstanding restaurant on site called the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant, which we always make an effort to eat at after our tour. They serve some less common food from "older times", and the food is AMAZING! But, you may not want to step on the scale the next day, if you know what I'm saying ;)

I love going to Mount Vernon, and hope we can continue this long-standing tradition!

Happy almost holidays!
Check back soon,
Kendra <3

Pentatonix

Pentatonix is a five person acapella group. They started on Youtube in 2011. Shortly after they started, they were then on a television singing competition called The Sing Off. They won The Sing Off, got a record deal with Sony, and that's where their rise to fame and glory really began. Now, they've had many tours and concerts. Their Christmas album is in the Top 3 Albums on iTunes! It is absolutely amazing!

A few days ago, my mom, two of my sisters, and I went to Tyson's Corner and saw them live at a free concert. It was so cool! THEY'RE REAL PEOPLE!!!! When you watch their Youtube videos, you would think that they record different sections of their music at different times, but in person they do it all at once and it's awesome!

Each of the singers has such an extraordinary voice. Their bass singer hits such low notes that at the concert, the ground of the entire room literally shook. I WANT TO BE THEM!! I would absolutely love to see them again if we get the opportunity. But, if we get to see them again, hopefully my sister Aubrey, who wasn't able to go the other day, would be able to go!

If you haven't ever heard of them, you should look them up RIGHT NOW on Youtube. It will blow your mind! Let me know what you think of them...
Check back soon,
Kendra <3

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Aubrey Is Home!

Tonight, my sister Aubrey got home from college for Winter Break.

She is a Senior at the Savannah College of Art and Design, in Savannah, Georgia. It's about a nine hour drive, or a two to three hour plane ride. So, she doesn't get to come home as often as any of us would like.

Unfortunately,she didn't get to be with us for Thanksgiving because she was in Kentucky with her boyfriend and her family.

But, she is here for all of December, and she'll be with us in Punta Cana for the first few days of January.

Luckily, we get to be with her for Christmas. I don't think our family has missed a Christmas together yet. And hopefully we won't have to break that tradition anytime soon.

I'm pretty excited that she's home for so long. Hopefully we don't annoy each other too much during that time.

Check back soon,
Kendra <3

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Christmas Chimes Night

Today is Wednesday, December 3rd. That also happens to mean Christmas Chimes Night was tonight.

The Chimes are an acapella group from Georgetown University. My dad joined the group when he attended Georgetown University in the 80's. But, it's the kind of group where if you were ever in it at one point, you will always be in it. The chimes have been a huge part of my life and definitely will be forever. We try to go to as many of their events as we can.

Once a month, they have a little show called "Chimes Night". The actives in the group perform at a restaurant called The Tombs, in Georgetown. Unfortunately, they are now scheduled on Wednesday nights at the same time as my dance classes. So, we don't get to go too often. But, we do try to make some, especially the "important" ones.

Tonight's was Christmas Chimes Night. It's a regular Chimes Night, but it's close to Christmas so they  sing Christmas songs as well. At the very end of each Christmas Chimes Night, my dad leads everyone in song and dance to The 12 Days Of Christmas. It is so much fun!

After the show is finished, many people go upstairs to the Chimes House and hang out for a while. They normally sing more up there. We always bring some kind of dessert so that they HAVE to like us!
Merry (almost) Christmas!
Check back soon,
Kendra <3

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

December!

It's finally December and that's great! I love December and it's one of my favorite months. Not only is it Christmas time, but it's also a snowy time of year where I live, and I LOVE the snow!!!

I like Christmas because, well, who doesn't love Christmas?!?! You get gifts and you get to see the look on people's faces when they open the gifts that you, and others, give them.
Ahhh, the music.... Christmas music is FANTASTIC!! It always leaves you with that tingly feeling inside.
Ohhh, and the decorations! Halloween decorations can be a bit tacky, but Christmas decorations, if done correctly, can be beautiful.

Then, aside from Christmas, there's the weather. In Virginia, where I live, we normally get snow in December, January, and February... ( Um... I feel like those are the usual times of year for snow?!) Obviously, there's no guarantee that it will snow, but it's one of the months during winter that my family is in town for, so that's always helpful.

I hope you have a great December and please decorate your house beautifully and don't make it too tacky ;) <3
Check back soon,
Kendra <3

Monday, December 1, 2014

Thankful

In years past, I've sometimes put this list into a poem or a song. But, it doesn't particularly matter how you say it, it's what you say...
I'm thankful for a lot of things. THE END!
Just kidding! Although that is true, I know I should give you a little more detail.

I'm thankful for my mom and dad and all the times they yell at me. Even though none of us like it when it's happening, I know it helps me in the long run. I'm thankful for my loving, insanely annoying sisters for teaching me that it's necessary to be patient and level-headed. If you would like to keep them around, that is. 
I'm thankful for my true friends that I know I can always count on. I'm thankful for all the trips we're able to take and places we visit, which I know is because my parents have worked so hard. I'm thankful that I'm able to help others, whether it's serving the homeless Thanksgiving Dinner, helping organize food at my church, or anything else I've been, and will be, able to help someone with. I'm thankful for my extended family, even though we fight and annoy each other quite a bit, we have a great time when we spend time together. I'm thankful that God has blessed my family and friends with good health and long lives. I could never write EVERYTHING I'm thankful for, so I hope this will suffice. I hope that I can continue to be thankful for these things and be thankful for much more...

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
Check back soon,
Kendra <3