Visiting Virginia

Yet another visit back to Virginia has come and gone. It was yet again a wonderful trip.  We've found that on the trip down it is far easier to stop along the way and split the trip into 2 days.  This way we are a bit better rested and we are able to keep Lil more on schedule so we can all enjoy the visit more.

Thursday - This time we stopped in New Jersey, just outside of Philly and decided to take a little day trip/ detour before completing the trip.  We stopped at Longwood Gardens, a huge outdoor and indoor garden.  George and I had stopped here almost 5 years ago on our honeymoon journey from Va to MA and decided it was time to return.  We (and by we I mean George, Lillie, my sister Meghan, and myself) arrived around 11:00 and intended to leave around 2:00. Well, we got a little lost with the time thing and dragged ourselves out around 4:30 in the afternoon after playing in the gardens, climbing the treehouses, and splashing in the fountains.

Friday - We went to the new spraypark at the Lee District Rec Center.  We expected Lillie to love it but she kinda flipped out instead.  She hadn't slept too well the nights prior and may have been hungry.  It was a great little park and we will definitely be going back on our next summer visit.  We all enjoyed a great little picnic with the Ketchem's afterwards and then went home to play with Nana and Grandpa C.

Saturday - We took Lil up to the pool with Megs.  She absolutely loved the water this time.  Then after dinner George and I went with Megs to the Kennedy Center where we met up with Paul and Rachel to watch Wicked! The show was great and it was kinda nice to get out on our own for a bit.  (We think Nana and Grandpa C enjoyed their grand-baby sitting time too.)

Sunday - Dramafia Reunion.

Monday - We went to visit Lisa and Chris at their new house in the morning.

Then we went to the pool again.

Then we had a fun trip to Mike's for dinner.  (A trip back to Va isn't complete without a visit to Mike's.)

Then we ended the day watching fireworks on the TV before packing up for our early pre-dawn departure for home.

Tuesday - Lil didn't sleep well which means I didn't sleep well.  She kept waking up and crying so I took her to sleep in the family room so George (aka- the driver) was able to get some shut eye.  Around 4:45am or so I started hearing the rustlings above so we got moving and made it on the road by 5:30.

Sleeping on the living room floor clearly leads to exceptional bedhead!

We only stopped 3 times (at least an hour each time) for food and stretching (little legs needed lots of exercise.  We dropped Megs off around 5:30 and made it home ourselves just a little after 6:00. All in all it was a great drive with almost no traffic.