Google maps says this trip takes 10 hours. But Google maps does not have a route that you can click on for a family with a nursing infant and an energetic, potty training toddler. So the trip up, which we began at about 1pm, took about 13.5 hours to complete, and the trip back, which started at 10:45 am... well, let's just say we had some rather extended rest stops between our two kids' differing needs and pulled in to our house in Blacksburg at about 1:30 am.
It was a great adventure, though, in which we learned that our kids can travel (on the whole) much better than we thought or feared they could, and also in which we made this happen:
Dad and Kate finally got to meet their granddaughter, 15 week old Adele of Wonders :-)
I got to see my hometown again. Early March is as I ever remembered it here, muddy with occasional snow. I was rejoiced to be able to drive through the city when I took Jon to do some research at the U of R to see the various new constructions downtown. (Kodak or no Kodak, it looks like urban decay is on its way out! But that's another topic of more particular than general interest.)
Anyway, Miles was happy in the attention of family he had not seen in a long time. He got to see some of his long-lost buddies, Aunt Claire and Uncle Matt!
Adele is being test-driven here; the next day Claire and Matt gave us the gift of a photography session from Mendick Photography, some of the gorgeous fruits of which will be displayed on the next blog entry. Stay tuned...
Miles soon found that this new environment meant a greater adoring set of adults : Miles ratio. He took full advantage.
...and so did his parents! :-)
Miles also made great progress in learning to assert himself amongst dogs who, though bigger than he is and heavier, are gentle and obedient. He learned faster than I did what commands would communicate his wishes to them. He also now knows what it means to "be brave." And he is.
I was blessed to have a real vacation to spend reconnecting with my husband and kids. Here's my girl in her sling, at her ease. We're so stuck on each other.
My Uncle Doug very kindly arranged that our visit to him would also include a visit with my grandparents and cousins! What a beautiful surprise!
Adele meets Great Grandpa and Great Uncle (or perhaps he would prefer Awesome Uncle?). Great Grandpa loves babies; always has.
Miles had a productive floor romp with cousin Rebecca, visiting from college.
And here Adele met her Great Grandmother Cornell (her meeting with Great Grandma Revell will have to wait until Summer). I love that she got to meet this strong lady who I would love her to emulate. There is, of course, one face missing in this generations photo. We do not forget her, but we live hard, to make her proud.
On a less serious note, Miles had the opportunity to earn a chocolate mustache face. He didn't even finish the bon-bon, so I suspect most of it ended up on his face and hands. He's been saying "I'm a man!" a lot lately, so perhaps he accepted the chocolate as a means to get a mustache.
Alas, all good things must come to an end. On Tuesday morning, we said our goodbyes.
One more head-bonk with Grandpa Jim.
One more hug with Silly Morai.
A fond farewell to Adele, who will be very different when they see her again in summer.
And we were off! Miles amused himself very impressively on the way back.
His only real complaints were when Adele was screaming her way through some gas at around 6 pm when he requested that we turn her off. He settled for turning up the volume on his music.
And we have returned, to Blacksburg, in time to welcome spring. Now I have seen snow three times, I can really delight in the warming days and first flowers.
My walk to work these past days during the remainder of spring break has been a joy.
Miles senses, I think, that he's about to be released from his long winter captivity.
At Lenten soup supper last night, he must have run the labyrinth five or six times (very prayerfully, I'm sure). Spring is something you can smell right now.
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