Festival of Lights at DC Temple!

We had the opportunity to go to the awesome display of lights at the temple. It was so gorgeous! It's cool because it starts Dec. 1st and lasts the whole month. They also have an activity every night that you can watch which includes many people with different musical talents. We are excited to take our neighbors who arent members because they know very little about the church. Who knows... maybe it will strike a fire. :) We will definitely be going several more times before it's over.

Oh Happy Holidays 2010!

Reasons why to love Christmas:

•  The birth of Jesus Christ!
•  The temple is gorgeous during December!
• You have a lot to be thankful for!
•  You get to be festive and put up lights!
•  Hot cocoa is the best!
•  You get to display/decorate a tree! 
• Homemade candy cane cheesecake is delish!
• You can wear an ugly x-mas sweater!
•  White elephant parties!
•  Snow!

Our Christmas Tree

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The Wreath I made.

Christmas 2010

Guns make a picture better.

Actual x-mas card pic.

Mrs. Grondel

Mr. Grondel



Life in Washington DC!

We've been here for about 3 months now and have had so many adventures. We finally have reached the point that we feel settled in. We went sight seeing a little when we first got here. I'm just now getting around to putting some pictures up. We walked thirteen miles this day in the horrid himidity. I wore flip flops thinking they would be comfy. Very very bad idea. :( There's so much history here and we are eating it all up! We live on Fort Belvoir (on the Potomic River) in a three bedroom/three bath town house which is located a couple miles down the road from George Washington's Plantation. Living on base has been wonderful, safe and convient. I dont know how we would survive financially elsewhere.The culture here is definitely different, takes some warming up to and lots of time! Our friends in our new ward have went above and beyond and are awesome. Let's just say we didn't have to plan any meals the first month and half that we were here. :) It was great for me but a lot of work for others, considering they had no clue how much my husband can eat. All in all things have come together for us. We are so grateful for this great opportunity and journey together.

 Arlington National Cemetary

 Cool water fountain we came across.

    Cool shot I took

   Hot Hubby

       Me

Lincoln Memorial

  Washington  Monument

  Some cute birds taking a bath

Last day in spokane...

Our adventure in Spokane has finally came to an end and we are beginning our new journey to Washington DC tomorrow. This week has been crazy, busy, and full of lots of fun! We were very busy trying to make our rounds to say our good-byes...sorry to those that we coudn't get to.We had the opportunity to attend the temple today with the whole Grondel /Parrish family and ended the evening with the a delicious BBQ. We are so grateful to have had great friends and moral support for first three years of our marriage here in Spokane. We are sad :( that we won't be able to go rock climbing, water rafting, cliff jumping, or four bying but will be back to visit and continue doing those things. In the end we are very happy and excited to experience life together and start a family in DC...so here we come....!!!!!

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