The 10 F's of our Fabulous D.C. Trip

• Fast - Time went by so fast on our trip! Sadly, we left without seeing everything that we wanted to, but then again, can you ever really see everything in D.C.?
• Fascinating - The Library of Congress was great as well as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The Lincoln and Vietnam Memorials are very stirring. One can't help but feel a little emotional. Especially at all the War Memorials.
• Frightening - We stayed very close to the National Mall. That means that we stayed where all the action was, including several shootings that we either heard or saw the law enforcement aftermath. We can't go on a trip without a little excitement!
• Fantastic - One of my favorite stops was Mount Vernon. George and Martha did it right! I could sit on their back porch in a rocking chair and stare at the Potomac forever!
• Friend - A friend that Eric used to work with in the Maricopa County Courts moved to D.C. and still works in the Public Sector. We met for lunch and had a great visit. The boys had a hard time saying Mary's last name without butchering it. Calling her Ms. Mary was much safer!
• Frustrating - One word. SECURITY! Everywhere we went there was stiff security. Can't go here. Can't go there. Countless times my backpack was searched and x-rayed, and we had to go through metal detectors. I was even restricted on how I could wear my backpack! After a while, it takes the fun out of things.
• Fuddruckers - Boy was it nice to find a restaurant that we knew and liked that was close to where we were. McDonald's was getting OLD!
• Flight - The Air and Space Museum was a favorite with the boys. We spent almost a full day there. So many things to see in that place! While waiting for our Flight out of Washington, we saw Barak Obama's private plane land at our terminal and saw him get off the plane and drive away with full Secret Service detail.
• Feet - Miles and miles we walked. Our feet felt it by the end of each day. Although, the boys weren't so tired that they couldn't swim whenever we could fit it in!
• Fun - All and all, it was a great, fun-filled trip. We had a wonderful time and hope we can go back again some day!

400!

I officially hit 400 miles this morning. I've been at this since about March 1st and I'm pleased with how far I've come. I started out walking 3 miles 3 times a week and now I'm either walking or running 4-5 miles 7 days a week. I feel better and -25 pounds later, I think I'm looking better too. I'm closing in on my end of the year goal of 1000 miles. I need to come up with a really good reward for myself once I hit 1000. Any ideas?

Rituals

Anyone who knows the Ciminski family knows that we are severe creatures of habit. We find what we love and stick to it. Although after careful consideration we do try new things now and again...it helps us find new favorites.

• Now that it's Summer, one ritual that can't be missed is the weekly "Movies in the Square". Frisco has a town square and each Saturday night they show a family movie on a big blow-up screen. You bring what you want to sit on and at 9 p.m. the fun starts. If you are a local, check it out! friscosquare.com Last Saturday was "The Wizard of Oz". It made me think of my best friend Dawn who grew up in Kansas. (I forgot the Tootsie Rolls Dawn!)

• Before we go the the Square, we stop and get a snowcone from The Snowcone Lady. She has been selling snowcones in Frisco for 25 years and shows no sign of slowing down. The Johnson family introduced us to The Snowcone Lady soon after moving here and it's been downhill ever since. Ummm Cherry!

• Ahhhh the neighborhood pool. We go just about every afternoon. The trees there provide great shade when I decide to knit instead of swim. I didn't realize how much I knit at the pool until today after more than one person mentioned to me that they ALWAYS see me knitting at the pool. I must be approachable because people like to watch, ask me questions, and take a close look at my work. I take it as a very nice compliment.

• Quiet Time. Boy do I love Quiet Time. The kids do too because that was one of the first activities we decided upon again this Summer. Each day for one hour the boys spend time alone in their room doing whatever quiet activity they want. Reading, knitting, quietly playing, napping, etc. Last year it was brought to my attention by my sons that it would only be fair if I participated in Quiet Time too. So I tried it and I see why they like it so much. I'm a believer. It's a great time to read or knit. And hey! A daily siesta never hurt anyone!

• Lastly, the ritual that tickles me the most is one that we just kind of fell into. Each night after dinner I dish up some Blue Bell Ice Cream for the boys and they go ouside to eat it. Just the two of them. They sit under the arbor on some lawn chairs and visit while they eat. They have invited Eric and me to go out with them but we feel like it would be intruding. I don't know what they talk about, all I know is that they enjoy laughing and visiting together and I could watch them through the window forever. The boys are the best of friends and each night they are making memories that will be remembered for the rest of their lives.

300!

Today I walked my last 3 miles to make my monthly goal of 100. That makes 300 miles for the year so far. I am well on my way to accomplishing my goal of 1000 by the end of this year. Yippee!

On Baptism, Knitting, and Fireflies

• What a great weekend. Yesterday Heber was baptized. It was a nice day spent with family and friends. It was pretty low key and that's how we like it. Heber has been looking forward to and preparing for his baptism for quite some time. I think words are inadequate for what a mother feels during times like these. It seems like just yesterday my boys were born. It's amazing how life sneaks up on you like that. Before I know it, they will leaving on their missions, marrying delightful girls, and having families of their own.

• On to knitting. A couple of weeks ago I finished Eric's zippered cardigan. It's a perfect fit and he really likes it. I look forward to seeing him wear it. Leave it to me to finish something like that during the Summer months! Pictures are to follow once I have a photo shoot. On another knitting note, THE most wonderful thing happened today. Both of my sons asked me if I would teach them how to knit this afternoon. Of course I agreed and they are hooked! I started them on a simple scarf and they took to knitting as fish take to water. They are both naturals. We walked to the park near our home this evening to sit on the benches under the trees and they brought their knitting with them to work on. We sat and visited as they knit until it was too dark to see. I brought some socks to work on, but I was so pleased just to watch them that I didn't knit a stitch. By bedtime, they each had knit about 12 inches of their scarves. I've been waiting for the day when I could pass something creative and artistic that I love on to them. Today was that day. Oh happy, happy day.

• Lastly, the fireflies are back for the Summer. On our way home from the park we walked through a small wooded area where the fireflies call home during this time of year. It's such a treat to watch them. I'm so glad they're back. I love fireflies.

A Few Things....

• Last Tuesday I completed my second 100 miles. It feels good to accomplish something like that and I have started on my third 100. My goal is to hit at least 1000 by the end of the year. I threw a wrench in the gear works by spraining my left foot last Sunday. After working through it for a week I finally decided to go to the Doctor. At first I thought it was a fracture, but the x-rays indicated that it was most likely a sprain. Hairline fractures wait until they have started to heal before they show up on x-rays and as of now my x-rays are clean. It feels better to run than to walk and as I have started running again I'm tempted to overdo it. Don't worry though, I'll take it easy.

• Last Friday two new Temples were announced. One in Gilbert and one in the Gila Valley. These are the first to be announced since President Monson has become the Prophet. Arizona will soon have 4 operating Temples. How exciting! The last place we lived before moving here was Gilbert and I was raised in the Gila Valley. Needless to say I am just thrilled.

• Lastly, while I was in Utah visiting my friend Dawn, she introduced me to some new spices. These are fantastic and I am addicted. They are comparable in price to regular grocery store spices, but are so much more fragrant and flavorful. Penzeys is the best! They have a store here in Dallas as well as an online store. Check them out! You won't be sorry! http://www.penzeys.com/

Salt Lake City

I am one lucky girl. On April 1st I was out and Eric called me and asked if I wanted to go and visit my very good friend Dawn in Salt Lake. It's been nearly 18 months since I've last seen her. At first I thought it was an April Fool's Day joke, but Eric was serious and in two days I was on a plane going to Utah!

It was a nice long weekend filled with fun and running into people I never thought I would! First, while waiting to board my plane I looked up and who was there but Dawnelle Hambly from my ward. I was so surprised, and even more surprised to find out that she was on the same flight to Salt Lake that I was! We had such a nice visit on the way there. It was fun to travel with a familiar face. Speaking of familiar faces, Dawn's husband picked me up from the airport and we met at the checked baggage claim. Who did I happen to see but my friend Audrey Schmidt from my old ward in Gilbert! What are the odds? Wait! It gets better! So, on a whim we decided to try to go to Conference. I was so excited to go and while we were waiting in line to get in, who came out with all of the translators but Arturo Alfaro! His twin brother is in our ward here in Frisco and Arturo and his family attend in our building as well. What made it even crazier is that the night before, Dawn and I were talking and I found out Dawn and Arturo served in the same mission in Venezuela! Talk about a small world! We got in and were seated waiting for Conference to start when we spotted the Barney's from our old ward in Gilbert! We were able to visit with them a bit and catch up a little before the session started. The session was great. I really, really enjoyed it. As we were walking out of Conference I saw and visited with Ramona Lines and her daughter Jaron. Rick and Ramona Lines have been good friends of my parents for many years and were in my ward in Safford. Jaron was a beehive when I was working with the Young Women, and she is all grown up now! It was nice to talk with them. Out of the many thousands of people that attend Conference, I felt so fortunate to be able to see the people I did. But wait, I'm not done yet! I think that this is the craziest story of my weekend! This one trumps them all. On the train ride home, an elderly lady sat in front of us and we started to visit with her. The topic came up as to where I was from and I said Dallas, Texas. She then stated she knew someone from the area and wanted to see if I knew them too. I was thinking, but NEVER would have said it aloud, "Do you know how many millions of people live in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area?" She asked me if I knew anyone by the name of Rabe. HOLY COW! I DID! I was sitting across from a good friend of Rochelle Rabe's grandmother! THE Rochelle Rabe I sit with in Sacrament Meeting each and every week. THE Rochelle Rabe I am currently teaching to knit. I had a paper and pen with me and so she jotted down a little note for me to give to Rochelle to give to her grandmother here in Dallas. It was unbelievable.

Eric asked me later if I was disheartened after seeing all these people I knew from Arizona. Especially since we live in Texas and are far away the happenings there. I right away said no, but as I thought about it later, I thought about how I never would have known all these people if I wasn't willing to move to new places and try new things in the first place. I look forward to meeting new people and possibly living in new places as my life progresses. The Lord has blessed me greatly with many acquaintances and friends. I feel truly blessed.

After all of this rambling, my weekend was great. Dawn and her family are always a treat to visit. Dawn and I had a ball.

Not bad for a self protrait at arms length, eh?

A princess tea party!

I'm so glad I went!