First off, after what will be only a brief ten months in Virginia, we're moving to Charlotte, NC, next month!
Why so soon?
Northern Virginia = $$$
North Carolina = $
That's why. We need a two-bedroom and we already pay an ABSURD amount for a one-bedroom, so as soon as Ralph had enough seniority as captain to hold a spot at his company's base in Charlotte, we jumped on the chance. We found a cute little brick house to rent with a big yard and a giant storage room/garage for me to store all my...Christmas decorations....and other things.
And *BONUS* Scott and Alexis and my favorite nephews/niece will only be an hour away! This may have secretly been my #1 reason for wanting to move there...I realized today that with the exception of about three months, Scott and I have not lived in the same state since I was in 5th grade and he went to college. Reason enough to move, no? Oh, and this:
She said to come back soon, soooo....I do what I'm told.
But living near DC and on the East Coast has been a blast. Here's a brief pictorial recap of our adventures for your viewing pleasure (and I don't pretend that these are high quality pics. It's just for documentation, okay?):
Leesburg, VA. We also happen to live here. It has a darling historic "Oldtown" that we love:
I miss Fall. Speaking of pie, I made an amazing peach pie this week. Ralph had two pieces, said it was delicious but that he thinks pies "demolish the peach." I responded that I think they magnify the peach. He wasn't convinced. More pie for me!
Nichols' Hardware Store in Purcellville, VA. Been around since 1914 and one of the last of its kind. I'm not so into tools, so I bought cookie cutters and this rad memoir about a Quaker kid who grew up in Loudoun County (where we live) back in the day.
Historic White's Ferry. Totally worth $5.
Monticello:
Supreme Court! Justice for all!
Library of Congress. I was pretty stoked about them books.
Capitol building tour:
Visit to North Carolina and Great Wolf Lodge with this darling gem of a girl.
Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum. And Ralph, standing next to the fastest plane in the world.
CHRISTMAS!! We cut down our own tree at a local farm BECAUSE THAT'S HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE. Take note, fake tree lovers.
Speaking of fake trees....this real one may have fallen over and scattered pine needles EVERYWHERE.
I MADE THESE AND WAS BEYOND PROUD OF MYSELF. Still am, actually. :)
Historic Oatlands Plantation in Leesburg, VA:
Ralph and I spent some time in NC with Scott and Alexis and the kids right before Christmas. He went back to work and I stayed for Christmas morning!
Caroline and I went on a scooter ride. She got a few chuckles from passers-by. For obvious reasons.
We reschedule holidays for when Ralph is in town from work, so this was around December 28. I may have dropped a very specific hint about what I wanted. He drove around most of Virginia looking for that cookbook. Whoops...
I got him a camp stove so he can cook pancakes for the family like his dad did. I put a baggie of Bisquick in his stocking as a hint and he was like, "Bisquick! I love Bisquick...." He's a really good actor.
Christmas dinner
American History Museum! Julia Child's kitchen!!!
I knitted this rug. It was not cheaper than buying a store-bought one.
We went to tour the Naval Academy and then walked around Annapolis, MD. It was, like, 8 degrees out or something. Hence the bundling. OH, and the frozen water.
And then the snow buried our car. Not gonna lie....shoveling out that car was one of the funnest things I've ever done.
We went to Mt. Vernon on President's Day....along with about 9,000 other people. Terrible idea.
I made this masterpiece - challah bread with dates, olive oil, and sea salt. ISN'T IT PRETTY???
Ralph's brother and sister-in-law came to visit with two of their kids. We museumed with them.
Alexandria, VA:
George Washington went to church here and sat in this pew. Pretty cool.
Biked on the Washington and Old Dominion trail during cherry blossom time. Actually we biked for about 10 minutes and then my very old tire split open and we spent the rest of the time in a bike shop. Totally worth it, though.
Gettysburg. There were some cool sights but apparently I burned out after photographing a barren battlefield with nothing on it. Oh well.
Another visit to NC for Mother's Day:
Watching planes land over a park next to Reagan airport. We had tried to go a few other times but, according to Ralph, the "planes were landing from the wrong direction." Because apparently these things change.
Burke came to visit!! Sure do like him.
White House. In the distance. This is as close as you can get to the front. Thank you, terrorism.
Harper's Ferry, West Virginia:
Two people commented on the terribleness of my hair in this picture. Just throwing that out there.
Look at his sweet little profile!
Went home to Seattle. That view never gets old. Seriously, you'll never convince me that there's anywhere prettier than Washington. :)
Sailed to Lopez with Dad and Uncle Joel, and then went to two family reunions that I didn't take any pictures of. ??? I used to be so much better at documenting my life...
Baby shower in Salt Lake. Love these people!
Highlight of July - I finally flew on one of Ralph's planes! It actually sort of happened accidentally. That's him checking out the flight release. He couldn't get me in first class because it was full, but got me in the first row behind it "because that's where the air conditioning is the best." Not something I would have thought about...he takes good care of me. ;)
He pulled me into the cockpit to take a picture and then apparently was trying to work or something...weird. He's gesturing to the dude outside the plane.
So here we are. I'm 6 months pregnant with a baby boy, Ralph loves flying planes and always comes home happy, and we're getting ready to move to NC. Life is good and we feel super blessed! :) Come visit us in North Carolina!
