Virginia

I had been hoping to make another trip out to Virginia before the summer, but with work schedules and costly plane tickets I figured we wouldn't be able to make it happen. Then one day my mom randomly emailed me with a great price on a plane ticket to come out the next week - I couldn't pass it up!

The thought of being away from these kids for 6 months was so sad, I'm glad I haven't had to do that yet.

And look at these two - it was so fun trying to get them to smile.

Katie and mom went right to work making pies.

We got to kick the soccer ball and take a walk around the property. There is so much room to play outside their house.



We got to do a lot of sitting around, talking, playing and snuggling the kids which is all I had in mind for this trip. I feel like I got some really good quality time with everyone.

Poor Duncan is still warming up to the new house. He would find the most creative places to hide away.



We took a walk along the Shenandoah River. 



They had a little map with various things for you to look out for along the way like an eagle's nest or bat houses.

I can't wait to walk along here this summer, I imagine it will be even more beautiful when the weather warms up.



We skipped rocks down by the river.




We tried to take turns helping Katie with the stroller, she has quite a haul.



We enjoyed some tea out on the balcony and the sun finally came out!



With a new house means new adventures - lawnmower rides!




We went to a park nearby that was completely empty, despite having a lot of great amenities. I'm sure when the weather is warmer this place sees a lot more people.





The yard is also perfect for Easter egg hunts. I can foresee this getting much trickier as the kids get older. There are so many places to hide eggs!





It actually warmed up quite a bit the last day we were there. We spent a lot of time just hanging outside in the yard.




The girls needed to get some energy out so we told them to run all the way the the farther fence and back. I'm pretty sure they were a little winded after that.



We enjoyed dinner together before everyone had to take off.

Katie and the kids got packed up and on their way. I was sad to see them go, but I'm so thankful we already have another trip planned this summer.

Eric took me to see our old house now that it's almost empty.

Seeing it empty brought back a lot of memories from when this house was new to us, before we had much furniture or things hung on the walls.

This was my first bedroom. I remember sleeping in our sleeping bags on the floor our first night, setting up a secret hideout in my closet (complete with lamp and 'desk', a shelf), and when Grammy and my mom put up beach-themed wallpaper. 24 years later, the beach is still my favorite place.



I remember when this basement was still concrete, roller-blading around in circles, and hiding out in the closet trying to prank the workers as it was being finished.


And the tulips outside that bloom every year. It was such a wonderful house for us to grow up in with so, so many happy memories. It served us well and I hope it can provide a whole chapter full of memories for the next family to live there.

Thankfully I didn't have to fly back alone! My mom flew back to California with me so she could spend some time with her family as well.

It was so nice to have a few days with family. I'm thankful my mom convinced me to come out and I'm already looking forward to the next trip in July!