Visiting Virginia

So we're up to our usual travels again. :) This weekend we're in Virginia with our good friends Anne and Chris Lograsso. We got to be friends in Phoenix and have stayed in contact for the past 3 years (blogs help!) and the minute we got here, it seemed like no time had passed at all since the last time we saw each other. Great friends are like that! We are having a wonderful time with them- and their beautiful daughter Grace. :)

The real purpose for this trip is more than social. For the past several months, both Brad and I have been really feeling an inner pull toward the Virginia area- we really can't explain it, but when we think about places to live, we get so excited about being in this area! So we are here, partly to catch up with friends and partly to get an idea of whether we might actually relocate to this area of the country when Brad's done with residency. It's exciting and scary at the same time. Brad has a couple of interviews on Monday with some practices in Fredericksburg- about an hour south of where Anne and Chris live in Springfield- a bit out of the city in a more loosely populated place, but with a big hospital and pretty close to a lot of history and cool things to do. So we'll see how that pans out. I get to go with him on Monday and Carolyn is staying here with Baby Grace for her nap- so I imagine there will be more to think about after Monday. Pray for us if you think about it that God's leading would be very clear. Sorry Michigan- I'm really rooting for Virginia! It is an awesome place!!

Last night we pulled out the strollers and WALKED to the park- and not a boring walk either, there were all kinds of beautiful big trees and a nice shady path. It was a lovely walk. I need to live close to a park like this someday.
Also, I hope very much that I will be able to have the great joy of being mommy to a 9-month-old again- they are so JOYFUL!

It's been fun to watch Brad and Chris together- Brad especially is too busy at work and with everything else we have going on to have much guy time, so it is really fun for him to have another guy to hang out with!
Here are our precious girls, having their after-breakfast story time.

Today it was lovely outside and we went to see Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. It was so cool to be able to just drive 20 minutes and see something so fun! We didn't actually go inside the house because the 50 minute wait to get in the door, but we stood outside for a picture all together and went over to the working farm side of the estate so Carolyn could see the animals.

I love how these pictures of Carolyn came out. There was a lady spinning wool and while Carolyn didn't like the sheep (too noisy), she was fascinated by the wool spinning lady and the spinning wheel!
I think she should be in some of the promotional material for Mount Vernon she is so cute! :)

She also very much enjoyed peering over the fence at the sheep in the fields. They were not so noisy as the one that was being sheared in the barn area.
Our family. :) I was so glad to finally get a good family picture! It's been awhile!