DC/Virginia Visit

The last week of our trip to DC was busy because Brian was able to join us. The first weekend we attended the high school reunion and Brian was a guest player for one of my friends in a surgeons golf tournament out at Stonewall Golf Club. We visited "downtown" Vienna for some frozen custard at Nielsen's after going to Cox's Farms (Vienna branch). Although Brian was flabbergasted by the price of pumpkins ($0.59/lb) at Cox's, we still bought 2 big ones and 3 little ones for the low price of $38.00.

We spent a long day in our nation's capital visiting the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum and Museum of American History. At the Natural History museum we visited the live butterfly exhibit which went well with Lilly until a butterfly landed on Brian's arm as he was holding her. All hell broke loose when she saw the butterfly resting too close to her, so we had to exit in order for the shrieks to stop. We also saw the dinosaurs, the Hope Diamond and the sea creatures. At the American History museum, Brian thoroughly enjoyed the exhibits on steam pipes, automobiles and Julia Child's kitchen. We also walked along the Mall, the Washington Monument, the World War II monument and gazed at the Reflecting Pool and Lincoln Memorial. Lilly did quite well on this long day (besides the butterfly incident) and enjoyed riding the metro.

One day we drove out to Leesburg and visited yet another pumpkin patch, "Pumpkinville" which also included a petting zoo. It is by far the most interesting petting zoo we've ever visited. There were the typical llamas, alpacas, chickens and turkeys (which scared Lilly when they stormed her) but we also visited with lemurs, the African porcupine and servals. The hay-slide was pretty awesome (it was a normal sledding hill with hay).  We walked around historic downtown Leesburg which was very quaint and had lunch at a wonderful Italian restaurant, Palio's. Everything was homemade and delicious.

Brian and I joined the Virginia sisters at Restaurant 3's Bacon Week festivities one evening and we went to the zoo again, this time with Dahlia and Brian. Friday morning Graham, Lilly and I attended a "Mommy and Me" class at our local Whole Foods. It was a long class with lots of activities and yummy organic treats. The emphasis this month was on Halloween and Lilly really took to the pumpkin making and painting craft.

We headed  down to Williamsburg for WM Homecoming Friday afternoon and had a nice evening at the Fund's volunteer reception in the Great Hall of the Wren and Family Fun Night at the alumni house. Auntie Arisa was kind enough to drive down after work to be the nanny for the rest of the trip. Saturday morning Brian was off early to participate in the Homecoming parade and Lilly was dressed with all of her Tribe Pride on display. We're raising a future member of the Class of 2031! We visited the Kappa house and went back to the Alumni house for the Family picnic. Nanny Arisa, Lilly and I left for Vienna after that while Brian stayed behind to enjoy his 5th reunion activities. Unfortunately Brian fell ill and spent the majority of Saturday evening in his hotel room. I too fell ill, but Arisa took the Bug to her place for a sleepover.
Sunday, once we were all back in Vienna, we went to dim sum and got to see Sommer who came in from Bermuda for the week! Although we were supposed to arrive back in Grand Forks that evening, we were delayed and got to spend the night at Uncle David's in Minneapolis before finally arriving in GF Monday afternoon. It's been a long fall in VA and now we're back in GF just in time for the brutally cold winter!

Hey there VA fam! We miss you guys too and can't wait to see  you in just three weeks! Lilly misses her breakfast of champions with Tha every morning!