C-A-P-S CAPS CAPS CAPS

We decided to hit the Verizon Center one more time this year, well we didn't know if they would still be playing when Rob returned in May. So Wednesday, April 6 we attended the first playoff game of the Washington Capitals vs New York Rangers.

We didn't have the best seats in the house but who cares, you are a the game at least!!

(last time we had to look up to see the TV screen!)

Lovin' the fact we can be here together!

Yes that is the wall behind us. Just above there were the TV announcers!

The going into overtime look!

A little weird & nervous!

CAPS WIN!!

With just less than 2 minutes left in overtime!!

The look of relief!

The exit.

Everyone was cheering C-A-P-S Caps Caps Caps even going down!

It was SO LOUD!!

For all the ladies who read this: There is one picture I didn't take that I kind of wish I would have....The line to the men's bathroom. I had never had the chance to walk right into the women's bathroom take my time and not feel like I was holding anyone up until this night. Not so with the men....WOW it was funny! Now, I guess I shouldn't be surprise, in our row of 25 people there were 2 females!

Another funny fact is that I had to teach the next day, because of the overtime we didn't get home until 1 am. Good thing Rob could stay awake the whole time. I slept on the subway & in the truck both way, I know most of you are not surprised!!

Tea Time!

On Sunday I had the special treat of meeting some dear girls for an English High Tea at the Willard Hotel in Downtown Washington DC. The Willard is located on the corner of 14 Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.


Johanna, second lady from the right side, talked about some of the history of this Hotel. She had mention that this Hotel was were Martin Luther King was staying when he finished the "I have a dream" speech. Johanna also talked about how this is the Hotel where the term "Lobbyist" came from. Because it is only one block form the White House dignitaries would stay here, citizens that wanted to speak with one of them or other political figures would wait in the lobby for just that chance.

All in all it was a wonderful time with some beautiful friends.
ps. the tea was delectable as well!

Spring has come!

Spring means a lot of things to me and Rob, probably the greatest part of Spring is seeing new life. We can't help but think as everything is coming to life again, ourselves included, of the new life Christ has given us. "I am the resurrection and the life", he told that women in the book of John. Simply beautiful.
One of the many ways we LOVE to enjoy the outdoors is in the kayak. So on the first day off I had when Rob was in the beginning of April we loaded up and set out. It was beautiful.....take a look for yourself!

Here's me and my life kayak partner!

A look down the river, we launched in Brunswick, MD on the Potomac.

My Love, the one that keeps us going straight!!

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle- we would see a total of 4.

(1 mature & 3 immature)

I love turning around and seeing this. Rob has an ear and eye for seeing birds far away (well the binoculars help) and identifying them. He really gives most of credit to Aunt Barbara for making him so interested. On this trip down the river he commented many times how he wished she could be there with us, "she would know what that was!" he would say. I think here he was looking for a King Fisher he kept hearing. We did end up seeing him, he is really small so it's hard to get a good picture.

An ad for my Keen sandals!

See the turtle? We saw LOTS of turtles sunning themselves, just like us!

A pair of Wood Ducks

A muskrat

Just lovin' this.

It was a beautiful day and we of course had a wonderful enjoying each other and God's beautiful creation!

These are the Tulip trees that line the driveway to our place- BEAUTIFUL!

Storms

So I have always been a chicken when it comes to thunderstorms. That was the great advantage of moving my room to the basement when I lived with my parents, but alas I don't live in the basement now.

One morning I woke up to some serious loud thunder, enough that it shock our whole house. For some reason I had gotten out of bed and then another loud blast came that made me jump off the floor, I know some of you are thinking, "it doesn't take much"....still it felt a little close!

Anyway, I had then gone to work that day and when I returned home as I walked to the mailbox I noticed that a tree had a spilt down the center all the way to the ground. At the ground there was bark missing. It looked to me that the tree had been struck by lightning and I could see where the lightning had entered and then exited. I also noticed that if the tree fell it could land on our landlord's office. So I went inside and told Gabe about my discovery, he is the one that works in the office and helps me whenever Rob is gone (like changing my tire!). So me & Gabe went out to see the tree, he had not notice the split. Interestingly enough just as we were walking away the tree's spilt became wider and a large branch fell!!!

It was a little bit frightening....but that's when the rest of the story started! For the rest of the night I had to stay home because the next minute I looked out a fire truck was pulling in our drive. I spent the rest of the evening just watching what was going to happen next and keep Mom in Law up to date!! A fireman came to talk with me and make sure I was ok. They put up tape so everyone would stay awhile from the truck.

Later, Gabe came up and told me I should move the truck down below so I could get out in the morning. He told me they couldn't find anyone to come that night and cut it down, everyone was booked because of the storms. About 2 hours later I was talking to Rob's Mom and heard a loud noise, of course I had to go and investigate! A huge part of the tree had fallen as the winds had picked up throughout the evening.
The next morning as I was walking to the truck to go teach I had to finish the story with final pictures. Praise the Lord no one was hurt, no vehicles or buildings either. In the end it was a fun little drama for me to watch!

The week of the 30th year

The week started out with dinner in Tyson's Corner with my GREAT FRIEND Debie! It was WONDERFUL! She had the waitress surprise me with this piece of sponge cake with a candle, it was a sweet idea the cake- Debie and I didn't care for!!! The waitress even sang me Happy Birthday by herself in Spanish. What a lovely start to the week!

After picking up Rob on Tuesday, who was now home for the next 15 days, we went on Wednesday to pick up MARIA who was coming for a nice long weekend!

Before leaving for the airport Rob wanted to give me one of my birthday gifts. He was just SO funny.....he keep asking me, when I was drying my hair & such in the bathroom, "do you want to open one?" I thought WOW great open a gift early. Then he would say, "no wait I didn't even wrap it." Anyway, in the end he put part of the gift onthe table and said I had to guess what it was. This is what was sitting on the table...

But yup I guessed it. That is a basic for a GPS, the fact that it said Garmin on the side gave it away. (Johnny Roossinck alway talked about GPS & Garmin's when we were sailing!)

We left the airport around 9pm and needed some GOOD Baltimore seafood. I had made a list of restaurants that sounded interesting to try. We ended up at Shuckers. IT WAS DELICIOUS!! Right on the water in an old part of Baltimore, very interesting little drive to get there. Good thing Maria and I had a great driver!!

Here we are enjoying some of God's WONDERFUL sea creatures!

Oysters!

My Surprise Birthday cake from Rob! So wonderful- a Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Cake Cold Stone style (my favorite!! Here's the best part, Rob let us eat it before dinner!!!Then it was onto the Birthday Surprise Event. Everyone in the vehicle knew what was going on except for me. Well we arrived at the Birchmere in Alexandria, VA to see the Jesse Cook was in concert. (I didn't have a clue who that was but I REALLY enjoyed the show!!) THANKS ROB!

Afterwards Rob and I got a chance to meet Jesse Cook! It was a great show and an ending to a wonderful birthday, spent with some of my favorite people!!!

On Friday evening we had the chance to go to Sushi with our Sushi friends, Steve & Erika Ruga. IT was great to have Maria in on the yummys! (Too bad I didn't get a picture of us, but hey here's the food!)

And of course Maria and I did some shopping....mostly just walking around. I took her to couple malls around us. It was wonderful.

I just couldn't believe it when it was her time to go home. After a stop at Rita's on the way to the airport! We dropped her off and it was strange...was she really here, time flies so FAST!

Come again soon Sister, I LOVE YOU!!!

A weekend with GIRLS!!

I was so honored one day after school when I saw a text message from Erika saying that her friend was coming down for the weekend and they both wanted me to go with them on their outings. Erika's husband was out of town for work and Johanna's husband was not coming with her, so it was truly a girls weekend (Rob was out of town as well)!
We started Sunday afternoon with lunch in Alexandria with our friend Meaghan.

Then grabbed some coffee and walked the streets. We found this adorable shop just across the street in this picture that had wonderfully fun girlie things!! It truly was a blessing to me to spend this day with girls.

Then Monday came along and we found ourselves at the outlet mall in Leesburg!! Here is Erika with all our bags in the back of the truck!!

That evening we grabbed some salad at Costco and headed to Erika's to watch, of course, a girlie movie. It had started to sleet and rain outside, I knew I should go but I didn't want to....finally I did and the Lord helped me home but I didn't want the fun to end!
What a blessings these girls were to me. Here I was missing my MI girlfriends and the Lord gave me some new East Coast girlfriends to be with. He is sooooooo faithful!

Love Day

It was a special day, being able to have my Valentine home for most of day made it extra special !
I added a few hearts to our table's center piece.

Rob, my dear Valentine, gave me these beautiful cookies.

Then I made him this dinner, which after setting off the smoke alarm three times, didn't turn out too bad!

We did remember one year ago that Valentine's Day was spent in Denver. I was finally able to fly out on the evening of the 13th.
This Valentine's Day ended with me bringing Rob to the airport.
Of course, the most wonderful part of Valentine's Day or Love day is remembering our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. No need for Hallmark, His Book is full of precious words to warm each of our hearts.
Hope you live in the full knowledge of His love today.
Love from the RCLyle's to you!