Travels

So we spent a week over Thanksgiving visiting family and friends out east.

Maryland and DC to be precise.

It was wonderful to spend time with everyone.

We hiked Patapsco State Park which is a hop, skip and jump from my sister's place.

Various members of our family investigated ruins of the old St. Mary's College, now affectionately known as "Hell House". There's quite a bit of interesting history there.

The kids got along great and played outside quite a lot--carving canoes out of branches, dinking around with a trebuchet, building shelters and getting fine and wet in the creek.

While visiting with HE's sister in McLean Virginia we hiked Scott's Run Nature Preserve. It was beautiful with all of the brown leaves carpeting the forest floor.

Until we weren't quite sure we were actually on any kind of path....

In the end, we made it out alive with a few minutes of daylight left.

We ate incredibly well at my sister and brother-in-laws on Thanksgiving day. And everyone was dutifully stuffed.

Cooper, their adorable dog, was a delight as always.

We visited the new Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport. Also known as the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

It held a wide variety of air things.

And space things.

Unfortunately we had tired (and I think somewhat bored) kids at this point so the visit wasn't as informative or enjoyable as I think it could have been.

Still, they know how to ham-it-up for the camera.

This little man had somehow found his way back into our house.

From wherever did he come?

It was a great trip. And good to get home again.