Another summer, and another great trip to Virginia. This year was particularly special since we were taking our son Leo on his 'Meet the Grandparents Tour". The first stop was my Mom's house in:

Staunton, VA

We were just in time for the 4th of July, and Leo was prepared lots of big smiles and red white and blue baby gear.

Leo greeting his Grandma with one of his bright smiles.

The little guy slept through the 4th of July parade in Staunton's Gypsy Hill Park. Nothing gets in the way of nap time.

Leila carries Leo in a Mobywrap- downtown Staunton.

Going for a walk near my Mom's house and Gypsy Hill Park.

My Mom, me and Grandson.

 

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We also drove up to visit our friend Diana in:

Washington D.C

Leo taking a nap at the Lincoln Memorial.

With our friend Diana at the Lincoln Memorial- in the distance the Washington Monument.

We braved ridiculous traffic getting out of D.C and back down to:

 

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Richmond, VA

Leo hanging out with my Dad and his 'Grandpa-Dude'.

Leo with Grandpa-Dude and his Grandma Kay

Leila and Leo in Dad and Kay's backyard next to the wilds of the fish pond.

We just don't have greenery like this in the west! At Maymont Park in Richmond Virginia.

My Dad fixed up a classic Swedish stroller for us. The original wheels rotted away, so Dad put these double thick cart wheels on the stroller- it was perfect! It made it an 'off road' stroller that we could take anywhere. It was great for long walks around my Dad's neighborhood, which is near the James River- seen here in the background beyond the field.

At the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond. Along with a lot of interesting and beautiful art, was the Fabergé Revealed exhibit. 

 

 

 

 

Near the entrance at the VMFA.

 

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During our stay in Richmond, Leila, Leo and I took a day trip to:

Colonial Williamsburg/Jamestown, VA

Much of the Jamestown area features archeological dig sites. It was fascinating to watch the process at the above site. When I was younger I wanted to do this type of work myself. I kind of wanted to grab a dig tool and join in… if not the the heat! The closest I ever got to this sort of work was working as a technical draftsman for an archeology firm in Fresno, CA from 1992 to 1994. Other people went out to sites and dug up artifacts- I got to make detailed highly accurate pen and ink drawings of the found items. I actually got a pretty good education in the documentation of historic artifacts from that gig.

 

Leila and Leo in the wooden frame of a Jamestown structure.

 

The aerial view of what Jamestown originally looked like. This was a large scale model in the visitor's center.

We took the Jamestown/Scotland Ferry over to Surry, Virginia. Above: driving onto the ferry. A worker waves me onto the boat and shows me which line of cars to park in.

On the top deck of the ferry with Leo.

 

At a country store somewhere near Surry, Virginia.

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Back in Richmond enjoying some ice cream and an afternoon out in a hip section of the city known as Carytown.

We always have a great time visiting our family back home in Virginia, and this year was easily the best of all!

Back on July 1st, 2010, Leila and I flew back to Virginia for a visit with my Mother in Staunton,VA and my Dad and Kay in Richmond, VA. It was part of our 10th wedding anniversary vacation. Just as with our previous Virginia Adventures in July, 2007 and August 2006, we had a fantastic time, and it was great to see my parents and family and a few friends. Some highlights of the trip:

Mom and me at the border of Augusta and Highland Counties, Virginia

In Staunton, the 4th of July was celebrated with a parade in the park on Saturday, the 3rd of July, which was perfect because it actually allowed us to celebrate the 4th twice- first with my Mom, then later on the Sunday the 4th with my Dad and Kay.

"Saturday in the park, I think it was the 4th of July…"  Actually it was the 3rd, in Gypsy Hill Park in Staunton.

An area of downtown Staunton,VA near the old train station. It always amazes me how lush and green the surrounding foliage is back east, compared to the 'Golden State'.

Dinner with my Mom and cousin Carolyn at the Depot Grill at the historic Staunton train station.

My Mom and some of her neighbors. In the dark green shirt and shades is my childhood friend Steven whom I've known more than 30 years.

On Sunday, the 4th of July we bid farewell to my Mom and traveled to my Dad and Kay's house in Richmond, VA. The Estonia Flag was on display- my Dad called up the Estonian Embassy in Washington D.C. and requested one since his daughter-in-law is Estonian. They sent him one!

It wasn't as hot and humid in Richmond as it had recently been (in the 90's with high humidity), but it was still nice to cool off along the rocky banks of the James River.

 

We had a Bocce ball rematch in the front yard. I think Dad and I won the 2007 match against the ladies. In 2010, we once again took the top spot. Our victory beer was ice cold!

Kay and Dad spoiled us with yet another amazing dinner, this time the main course was ribs cooked to perfection on the backyard grill.

Dad and Kay had a new addition, their cat Henry. Leila snapped this photo of him in one of his less-shy moments.

Lilies in bloom in the backyard pond.

 

It was another great trip home to Virginia. On the early morning of the 5th Leila and I flew out of Richmond for Atlanta, GA, and on from there to St. Maarten in the Caribbean.