Thanksgiving in Woodbridge

I thought I'd try to get some of our trip pictures posted. This first one is giant paper airplanes that decorated the entrance to the underground tunnel at Cleveland Hopkins airport. We had to take the tunnel from one terminal to another to make our connecting flight coming home. We didn't have to use the tunnel on the trip out, but we could have explored it thoroughly, since we were in Cleveland about an hour longer than we were supposed to be. They kept telling us that our plane had an indicator that needed to be checked, and they were trying to get a techician to attend to it. When they finally got that busy person to stop by, he told them that it was a false indicator, and nothing was wrong. They probably didn't put their gas cap on correctly. That's what makes my check engine light come on.




















But the rest of our trip out featured trains. When we arrived at the Baltimore airport we caught the shuttle to the train station. There we got on the MARC (Maryland Area Regional Commuter) train for the trip to Union Station in the heart of
Washington D.C.

Once we got to D.C. we got on the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) for the trip to Woodbridge. Both trains were electric and very quiet. And a lot less stressful than the traffic on the streets. I think DC stands for "Drive Crazy"








When we got to the Woodbridge station Andrew and Grant were just pulling up - perfect timing. After a stop at the grocery and picking up some Chinese take-out for supper, we finally arrived at 3710 Beaver Ford Road. Boy, was it good to see everyone again! It seems like it has been a long time since July. Little Keara was only 3 weeks old the last time we saw her.





I set my alarm every morning so that I would be up when the first little grandchild peeped. The first one was always Jordan. She and I would have breakfast together, and would just be finishing up about the time Grant got up. Jordan would shout "Bubby!" and run over to give him a big hug. She loves her big brother.

Jordan hasn't forgotten how to push the buttons on Oma's phone.

We got lots of breakfast pictures - Jordan usually on my lap

I think we were watching "The Cat in the Hat."

Notice the sock monkey slippers.

Little Keara sure has grown since July.

Here are Jordan and Opa at breakfast.




Then it was out for a morning walk for Opa and Jordan, while Andrew went for building supplies, Oma stayed in with Keara, and Amie and Grant went to the theater to see "Tangled."

Opa took this picture of the wild life in Andrew's back yard.

Keara ready for bed.

Jordan and Grant helped me make muffins one morning.

While we were there, Opa helped Andrew put a new mantle up around the fireplace in the family room, and they put down laminate flooring in the basement. The mantle will still need to be painted. And the carpet will be put down in the rest of the basement soon, and then I think most of their big projects will be done, until spring and time for some landscaping.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and Monday it was time to come home. Andrew dropped us off at Union Station. It is pretty mind-boggling to take a morning drive that goes past things like the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial. This picture shows the view out in front of Union Station.

This is the front of Union Station
While we were walking around I was on the lookout for someone famous.












Just across the street from the station, just out of view beyond that red and white bus, is the Smithsonian Postal Museum. Since we had a few hours to kill until our train left, we had breakfast, and then went to the museum. As an employee of the USPS, I thought it was pretty interesting. As we were finishing up looking at the exhibits, we came back to the atrium area of the museum, where a program was going on. A semi-big wig from the postal service was addressing a group of parents and school children, with Santa and a few helpers in attendance. and then what , or who. to my wondering eyes should appear, waiting to go on, but Al, the "If it fits, it ships" guy from the TV commercials. I love that guy! We get a lot of business because of those commercials. And the commercials are actually pretty clever, which is surprising. Clever isn't the first word that comes to mind when I think of the USPS. Check out the toy clown commercial on youtube. That's my favorite. But I think the commercials work because the guy who plays "Al" does such a good job.

Well, anyway, I was all excited. As soon as Al was done with his part of the program, I got up my nerve and went over to ask him if he would sign an autograph for my postmaster. He said he would be glad to. He signed a blank postcard I had in my purse that I was going to send to Micah. Sorry, Micah. Maybe next trip.

Then I asked him if he would mind if my husband took a picture of us, and he graciously posed with me. His mother should be very proud of him. He seemed like a very considerate, kind young man. And he says he uses priority mail!

So I got to see a famous person up close. What a way to end our trip!

I don't know if this video will play, but if it does you'll be able to get your laugh for the day.

Next post - bedroom upgrades