Rainy Memorials

Trevor finished his first year of grad school and we were all SO happy about it. He didn't have an internship lined up right away, which was a little stressful for him but super nice for Rosie and me. We were able to have Trevor to ourselves for a whole month! We played a lot and he was able to work on my long honey-do-list (the nesting phase started early for me this time around).

He did end up finding the right internship. He's working at a cool political tech start-up. They do data driven software and services geared towards campaigns, PACs, and other political organizations. The only downside is that it's in Arlington, VA. With his internship only being for a couple of months, and since it's so expensive to live up there, we decided it'd be best for Rosie and me to stay behind in Williamsburg and for him to go up alone. We were lucky enough for him to find a pretty sweet set up for him to live. He's renting from an empty nester couple that he found through our church. It's cheap rent, close to work (no awful DC traffic to deal with), and he gets his own room and kitchen-like area. So it's pretty perfect. It's been hard being away from each other but we make sure to video chat often and visit on the weekends.

On the first weekend we were there, we decided to tour the monuments. I did it once before with Trev way back when he was interning there for his undergrad, but for some reason I was decided to visit DC the week of Obama's inauguration...so it was CRAZY busy, freezing, and some of the monuments were either blocked off for different events/concerts, or getting maintenance. So I thought it would be fun to do the monument walk re-do. Plus this lazy pregnant lady needed some exercise.

Me: Take her out so she's standing next to him
Trev: No, if we leave her in her stroller they can both be sitting in their little seats
Me: *eye roll*

I had looked at the DC weather forecast before packing and it said thunderstorms. But since Rosie will only wear dresses and I'd rather wear nothing with it being so hot/humid, I didn't pack anything for the rain...BIG mistake. Once we got to the Jefferson Memorial, which is almost the farthest away from the Smithsonians, it began to POUR. I honestly don't know what I was thinking not packing for the weather on this trip. It never seems to just rain in Virginia, it only pours, so I don't know why I was surprised. So we ran as fast as my pregnant body would allow us to the closet Smithsonian. The only problem was that EVERYONE wanted to take shelter - duh. So we stood in line, in the pouring rain for about 15 minutes waiting to get in. We were drenched, cold, and very uncomfortable. Except Rosie, who was snug and dry in her blanket and stroller!

Five-Day Weekend

We spent most of last week up in Moscow, Idaho, for the Idaho Republican State Convention. Trevor's been planning it for almost a year and then spent the last month working 24/7 on it. We were lucky if we got to see Trevor for dinner. Rosie and I both really missed him. So, even though we knew he was going to be busy at the convention and wouldn't have time for us, we decided it'd be worth it to go just to be able to spend time with him on the 5.5 hr drive up. Which just so happens to be one of the prettiest drives out there. Idaho's a gem.

We were there Wednesday-Sunday, which gave Rosie and me more than enough time to know every detail about our hotel. I became buds with the hotel staff AND the construction team working on the hotel. I don't mind moseying around a hotel room, but Rosie didn't want to mosey. All she wanted to do was climb up and down the staircases. I think she has an unhealthy obsession with stairs. She could seriously climb stairs all day long.



I had some heavy things to unload from the car, so I asked Cindy, the woman in red, to hold Rosie for me. Governor Mike Huckabee was there and she made sure to get Rosie in a pic with him! Funny thing - since I had given Rosie to HER to watch, she didn't feel comfortable having Rosie be out of her arms, which is why Gov Huckabee and Cindy are BOTH holding her. Ha!



Then the next night I got to meet and get a pic with Senator Rand Paul! He even shared a photo collage with a pic of us on his Facebook page! Rosie's pouting because we won't let her play on the stairs. No joke.

Even though I could have worked while up in Moscow, I decided to take the 3 days off from work and it was JUST what I needed. I haven't had a vacation from work for a REALLY long time. Even when we travel I'm usually connected to work in some way, but I was totally off this time. I didn't answer ONE email. So for 3 days + the weekend, I had no work obligations and no housework obligations and I was able to totally zone in on Rosie and we were able to have some really sweet moments that I'll remember forever!

Day Trip to Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon was the plantation home of George Washington. The estate was huge and so beautiful. We got to tour the house but were not allowed to take pictures. But it was so cute and colorful!

The pretty green house and flower garden

Chillin' on the back porch

The President and Martha's tomb

The blacksmiths. Not sure if the beadrs are historically acurate.

It was a full day and all of the history really tuckered Rosie out. She fell right asleep right on Nana's shoulder. Awww!

Big News

So in February we found out Trevor had been accepted to the the MBA programs at William & Mary (Virginia) and at Boise State. We were torn on what we should do. Stay here in Boise or go back East. We both thought there were pros and cons to each decision so we went back and forth for months. We prayed and fasted on what we should do but kept getting the same answer: "They're both good decisions so whatever you want to do is great." UG! Don't you find agency annoying sometimes and you just want someone to tell you what to do?!

Finally, last month we made the decision – William & Mary. Once the decision was made we both felt good about it and were relieved to have one less decision to think about. Now that we're parents I feel like we are presented non-stop with decision to make for Rosie - vaccinate/not to vaccinate, clip her tongue/don't clip her tongue, let her cry it out/don't let her cry it out...I could go on and on but I'll save that for another post.

Anyway, right when I'm about to blog and tell you all our plans, Trevor was offered the position of Executive Director. When he first told me about it, I was really confused. Was he really considering taking on the job? Didn't we just decide on William & Mary? So we were forced to make yet another decision, but this time we were only given a few days to decide. And the decision is...(drum roll)...He's deferring from W&M and taking the job! Woah! He's now THE guy at the Republican Party in Idaho. Pretty exciting. It's going to be tough and a lot of work, but he's going to do a great job and I'm already so proud of him!

Grad school is still in our future, but we feel like this is a good thing for us right now. And that's what's new at the Thorpe residence…

Gov's Ball

Last weekend was the Governor's Ball. Everyone gets all dressed up and partys hard core (uou know how Republicans are). I actually really enjoyed the ball this year. That might be because this time I purposely showed up late. That way Trevor could spend the first part talking and socializing with everyone that he needs to speak with, and then by the time I showed, he could spend the rest of the time with me!

The end of the night - that's why it's so empty.

The ball ended and we headed to the Young Republican's after party. This event was also better than previous years. They had poker tables set up with free poker chips and Trevor played for a bit while I watched. It started getting late and I was getting tired so he bet his whole hand so he could lose and we could leave...but then he won the whole stash! So we stayed a little bit longer. I can't believe this pregnant body was able to be out on the town partying until 1 AM! What?!

Cantor

Since Romney's got Idaho in the bag, we're not too busy with presidential campaign stuff, but that doesn't mean Trevor isn't crazy busy with all of Idaho's state elections. He's gone all day and all night. He goes to work, comes home for dinner (sometimes), then leaves for different debates and fundraisers EVERY NIGHT! If it's a debate on a topic or race I'm interested in, then I'll go with him, but most of the time I just prefer to stay home :]

But whenever a big name comes into town, I definitely tag along. A little bit ago I got to see Anne Romney (love her!), then this week, Eric Cantor. If you don't know who he is, that's alright, I probably wouldn't either if Trevor didn't have a major crush on him. He's the House Majority Leader and Representative for Virginia. "He's MY representative" and "I voted for him" are two things Trevor often says with a big, proud grin on his face.

Well, the other night Trevor got to meet him! I thought it was just going to be a quick handshake, but once Trev said he's from Richmond too, Cantor stopped and started chatting with him. There were other pictures with both of them smiling, but they were all blurry. It was adorable.

Super Tuesday - Mr. Caucus

The caucus is over. Now I can have my husband back. He’s been the Idaho GOP's Caucus coordinator, which means he’s been really, REALLY busy these last few weeks. In one newspaper, they called him “Mr. Caucus”!! We got a kick out of that title. He’s been running around to meetings, doing radio and newspaper interviews, and then the night of the Caucus he was on the news! And after all of his hard work, he wasn’t even able to attend any of the caucuses. He had to be at his office handling the results.

I thought our county caucus turned out pretty well. Ada County was held in ONE location…with 9,500 people. They’re saying it was the largest caucus ever to be held to be held in the nation. Kinda cool, but I would rather it have been at multiple locations…because it took FOREVER!!! From when voting started till the last vote was counted took 2 hours! Luckily, it only went one round. Hallelujah.

Thank you Mr. Caucus.

New BFFs

Boise had THREE pres nominees in one week! Which is super great because Idaho is usually not on anyone's radar. But this year, since Idaho is doing a caucus now, we're getting some attention! Santorum, Paul, and Romney all showed up. Gingrich, where you at? We went to see all three and enjoyed seeing the difference between the crowds at each rally. Kinda funny.

So on Valentine's day we hung out with Santorum...so romantic right? Trev had to go for his job, but we would have gone anyway. It's really fun with Trevor having this job, because I feel so important wherever we go. For instance, we got to skip to the front of the line and go to a meet and greet with only 50 other people. Santorum talked with us and answered questions then posed for pictures. He was much more likable here than in the debates, not so skittish, no offence Santorum.
Crowd: He got a huge turn out. It was mainly an older crowd.

Friday Romney came. We didn't get any special treatment at this one. Well, I guess only I did not get special treatment, Trevor got to stand with the TV crews while I had to be in the crowd with the common folk...JK. The picture above was the best picture I could get. That lady kept her sign up THE WHOLE TIME!!
Crowd: Mainly young couples with their young kids. It was a smaller crowd, but it was in the middle of the day. It was still more than the last time he came.

Yesterday was Ron Paul. We got a little bit of special treatment for this one. Seats right up in the front. He was kinda funny - he was having mic problems but they were able to solve the problem quickly. He then said, "Good thing they got that figured out or we would have come up with some sort of conspiracy theory." I like it when people can make fun of themselves.
Crowd: Roudy! Hoopin and hollerin. People of all ages, but a lot of young adults. And a lot of long hair ;)

Sooooo if you're in Idaho don't forget about the caucus March 6th!! If you have any questions - ask Trevor :) Or you can ask me and then I'll ask Trevor.