Jessica's Visit to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building...

Jess says:
"I went to a briefing in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building...it was neat. On the left, Jovita Carranza, Deputy Administrator of the Small Busines Association. In the middle, Ivette Fernandez, Associate Director of White House Public Affairs. The man on the right, whose name I can't remember, is the Director of Specialty Media at the White House.They were pretty great."

THE EEOB!!!

Again, Jess says," I love living here."

Jess' Tour....A Flash of Washington, DC....Part I

Capital "hill" ....now I know why they call it "Capital Hill!" Jess dropped us off in front of the Capital, so we could get in line for our tour she had booked for us at the newly opened Capital Visitor Center. She ended up parking her car at her work in front of the Department of Education building and then walking/running back to the Capital building.

Standing in line waiting to get into the Visitor's Center. (Jess still wasn't back from parking her car. We were hoping she would get back in time to enter with us.) We were the next group to enter the building and she came down the steps to enter in time with us!

the dome

Portrait of Pocohonatas' Wedding

Nancy Pelosi's office

In the crypt...

Looking down onto the main floor of the Visitor's Center

Visitor Center Gift Shop

Looking up and out from the Visitor Center

Inside the Library of Congress

Standing next to a Christmas tree in the Library of Congress

One of Jessica's favorite places: The Library of Congress

Inside the Library of Congress, they had an exhibit of Thomas Jefferson's personal library. Very interesting to see his whole collection of books.

The construction in front of the Capital for the Inauguration on Jan. 20.

These signs were everywhere there was construction going on.

In front of the Capital Christmas tree.

Jessica's Tour: A Flash of Washington, DC.....part 2

Looking at the Washington Monument...a view from the front of the Capital building
Botanical Gardens

more Botanical Gardens...

Cactus

View of the Capital at dusk...

Food court inside the Native American Museum

This is the space Jess had her event in from work. She helped plan an event for Hispanic Business Association of Washington DC. There were over 200 people in attendance.

This is the building: Native American Museum where the event was held

From the Native American Museum, we took the metro at Union Station to near the White House. This is the building next to the White House; the Eisenhouwer Executive Office Building. This is the building where Jessica visited January 7 with people from work that did

work on the event at the Native American Museum.

Welcome to the White House

There was all kinds of construction going on right in front of the White House in preparation for the Inauguation on January 20 of President-elect Obama.

You can't see it very good, but we are standing in front of the White House.

The White House at night

National Christmas Tree and Washington Monument at night....We walked around the back of the White House where there was a long line of people standing in line waiting to get into the White House. Apparently, there was event President and Mrs. Bush were hosting (that, as Jess said, "We weren't invited to." haha...)

From the White House, we walked back to where we got the train and rode back to Union Station. There we visited the Starbucks where Jess gets coffee on her way to work in the morning. We also got to see a little sandwich shop (below) where she often has lunch.

Inside Union Station

Sandwich shop where they have yummy food.

Having ourselves a very Merry Christmas....

After a good night of sleep, we opened presents on Christmas morning.

It's always Jess' job to pass out the gifts.
We found this shirt for Jess, which she loved! She has been watching alot of MSU
games with one of her new friends. Yet, she's still a Michigan fan. :)

A new shirt and tie for Keith from Jess.

After our gifts were opened, we had to get the final preparations finished up for dinner. This is what the placesettings looked like. Nice napkin holders that were made by Jess. So, pretty!

Our guests arrived, and while we were finishing up waiting for the food to be baked in the oven, they entertained themselves playing cards in the living room. I believe one of the games they were playing was Dutch Blitz. This picture shows Alan, Erika, and Evamarie and Bethany, friends of Jess.

Alan and Erika, on the left and Gabe and Evamarie on the right.

Bethany and Hannah are in Jess' prayer group at church.

Our family

We sure had ourselves a VERY Merry Christmas in Virginia 2008!

Preparations....

Peanut butter pie was one of the tasty desserts Jess made. mmmm...
Cranberry sauce from scratch for the little individual molded salad cups she made. Yum!

Cheesey potatoes are all ready to bake.

I did ALOT of dishes that day...helping Jess with cleanup after she prepared the dishes.

Keith did some "deep cleaning" which he's great at!

After the food preparations were finished, Jess started making

her placecards to complete the table decorations.

Here are the name placecards all completed....it was

EARLY EARLY Christmas morning by that time. ;)

We were so proud of Jess and the nice dinner she prepared. She made all the food with the exception of the ham, which Erika Cropsey brought. We really enjoyed sharing Christmas dinner with her new friends. Everyone enjoyed themselves and, we had a great day together.

Lot's of great memories of Christmas 2008! (Thank you, Lord, we were able to make this trip!)