Summer Vacay: Part 3

**Seriously Long Post***

So as soon as we arrive at Charlie's parent's house we get ourselves settled in and although it has been 3 years it is still so easy to step right back into the space.  I walked around the back of the house and was actually teary.  You have to remember I have spent much time here for the last 21+ years.  Charlie and I used to eat some horrible Rice A Roni and delivery pizzas many days after school and while my parents live only 10 minutes away there is more room here for all of our things so we always stay here in this house. I realized one night while there that I am easily able to navigate the house...the basement at that, in pitch dark...to get myself a water.  I've known Charlie as long as he's lived there so I guess I know it almost as well as he does.

We walk in the back door....and immediately the smell of this home sends me back years. It smells clean but warm and inviting and it smells like you think Europe will smell..like lavender and I don't know what but it's just good! We make our way to where we know we will congregate for most of the time we are here....the "playroom" as my kids call it.  (When my in laws were building this addition the kids would play with their toys here but as you will see it's probably the nicest playroom a kid could play in but the name has stuck for them.) 

As we hit the passage way we all start getting excited....

I know walking down here will take me to.....

here {this couch matches the bed that President Eisenhower slept in (back when he was just a general) and that Miles now sleeps in}...

and walking up this spiral staircase will take us here....

....aaaaahhhhh...it's the only bedroom on this side of the house and it's where Charlie and I will sleep.  It's where I will sleep like a baby because I feel at home and also because I won't be able to hear my kids in the other house.  My poor in laws will have to listen to that but for the week or so we are here it will be so quiet while I sleep. Major peacefulness!!

While we were here we got a chance to go to the Marine Corps Museum. The museum was still being built before we left and opened after we moved to Alaska.  It is free but seriously so impressive it would be worth a fee.  It is very well done. If ever you are in Virginia near Quantico, it is a must!

Just look at it...it's shape mimics the Iwo Jima....

here is one of the exhibits about the marines in the Korean War...the room is significantly cooler than the rest of the museum to underline the conditions during the war.  Pretty neat.

 
Now being a big lego family,  we also thought this was cool... Iwo Jima in Legos in the gift shop.

Here are some things we love about staying at my in laws:

hanging laundry on the line.  Seriously I kid you not....my HOA says I can't have a clothesline but honestly I love clothes that come off the line.  This is one of the things I enjoy while I'm there...plus I love hydrangeas and there is one right there to the left.

The kids love playing ping pong in the back yard...

...the candy jar in the kitchen which always has M&M's in it and always refills itself...

...the hot tea my mother in law makes each morning...which lets me try a variety of teas I wouldn't buy myself and the tea cup I usually use....

...the hydrangeas everywhere...they are seriously my favorite plant...LOVE them!!

All the paths that take you here....

here...

here.....

and here.....which by the way is technically to nowhere but it's just fun going there...

these are all the things that come with a home that's been there for a while and a yard that's been tended to and a space that isn't smack next to your neighbor....yes I do enjoy it!!!

OK so one of the reasons that we came was to retrieve all of the stuff we left here when we sold our house a few minutes away and moved to Alaska.

And nothing says fun like hauling a U Haul behind your vehicle.  The good thing was as we were unearthing the things we left behind we found so many treasures....

 important things like this one.....

oh yeah....this is one of the major benefits/detriments of having been high school sweethearts...evidence of years gone by.  Aren't we sexy?  Aren't we awesome?  Aren't we so.... so.... so... hysterical!!!  And I think I should point out that this is a full poster size print.....we rock!!!!  I'm not sure who had the more awesome mullet but I do know it's been quite some time since my back side was in a pair of Guess jeans that tiny.  Aaaahh...the good old days....high school!  Did I mention how awesome we were??!!??

Here's another treasure we found....

it was given to Charlie at our wedding reception by his brother along with a very clever poem he read as part of his best man's speech.  It was filled with "emergency type items" for our wedding night.  Let's just say we didn't show it to the minister. 

Here are some more reasons we love being in Virginia....

the grandparents....here is Brooke with Charlie's mom making one of several Barefoot Contessa desserts....great memories and some pretty awesome brownies and cupcakes!

And there are things to do with grandfathers too....

like smoking moles out of tunnels with Dzia......

dangerous...probably...but great memories...the kids talk about this all the time!

Oh look, more hydrangeas..... 

and this poor hammock which got a new net this year.  I'm pretty sure it's gonna miss us!!!

I got to hang out with my sister Heather...who is clearly pregnant...

....we got to play yard games like Diablo. We don't own this game so the kids are always laughing hysterically trying to find the rhythm of it again.

Miles was learning....

Charlie was good....

but Charlie's mom was FANTASTIC!!

There are so many more things to share...maybe another day.  These are just some of the reasons I love being home again.

Our stay in Virginia was fun and I wish we could have stayed longer but we needed to get back because my sister Deanna and her family were coming from Hawaii to see us and we had to be here in time to greet them. This has been the summer of family and friends...for sure!