Eight incredible things that happened when 114th Congress convened

By Chad Merda

Republicans assumed full control of Congress on Tuesday for the first time in eight years in a day of pomp and circumstance beneath the Capitol Dome.

And if you weren’t following along or watching C-SPAN, here are some of the more incredible things that happened:

1. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, received a vote for House Speaker. Yes, Sen. Rand Paul.

AP Photo/ Richard Shiro, File

(So did Colin Powell).

2. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, gave everyone a thumbs up and a twirl:

3. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-California and Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio:

No caption required pic.twitter.com/ihhW0pbYJZ
— Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) January 6, 2015

4. Another awkward kiss, this time from Vice President Joe Biden:

5. Rep. Danny Davis, D-Illinois, apparently had some trouble keeping his eyes open.

Rep. Danny Davis is asleep in his seat in the House chamber.
— Alexis Levinson (@alexis_levinson) January 6, 2015

6. Biden, exhibit B:

Biden to Durbin's mother: "Mother of 10. No purgatory for you!"
— Domenico Montanaro (@DomenicoNPR) January 6, 2015

7. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, had a special gift for new Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.

Lindsey Graham just gave Joni Ernst hog castration equipment pic.twitter.com/BTc8V3Kxuf
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) January 6, 2015

8. Biden, exhibit C:

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