There and back again

No, not Middle Earth but Virginia (partly in the 18th Century).  :)

I didn't say anything on the blog about our upcoming vacation because I wasn't sure with my husband's accident if we were able to go.  His doctor thought he'd be fine but we had the check up to be certain he was healing enough to spend four days in a car.

This is our second family vacation (the first when we met in Amish Country in Pennsylvania a few years ago) gifted to us by our wonderful and generous New England Contingent (that being Stephanie and her hubby "aka: The World's Best Son-in-Law").

It all started as an idea about a year and a half ago when Stephanie stayed at a hotel in Williamsburg, Virginia on her way home from one of Sally Clarkson's conferences. Stephanie told me all about the shops she was visiting in Colonial Williamsburg (via cell phone) that evening and decided then and there that we must see it together.

Fast forward about a year as she researched the opportunities online and found it would be very reasonable for us all to have a vacation there during their September Homeschool Week when there are excellent group rates for hotels, tickets, etc.  She also made reservations for the two of us to attend the most amazing cooking class-gourmet dinner combination and to visit a lovely tea room in a nearby town.

It was all so magical (Narnia magic) that I found myself going to sleep last night after a grueling two day drive wondering if it were all a dream?  But I have the pictures to show it was real. 

It is not something they can afford to do often as they know we have NO extra cash at all and they even pay the gas money and our meals on the trip but what an investment in memories.  Especially when we only get to see each other once a year.  It is a good thing when you raise your children to feed and house you.  ;)

I'll tell you all about it and upload the gazillion pictures I took starting tomorrow (Tuesday) but today I'm exhausted.  Other then stopping by the Post Office for our mail and the grocery store so we have food in the house... I'm not doing anything extra today.

I did use this time away to re-post favorite economic posts (your favorites and mine) and I will be re-posting more.  I also hope all settles down here soon so I can work on the Recommendations List and get it typed up and posted.  I had a call from the Insurance Rep while in Virginia and I will talk to her again tomorrow.  My brain is not functioning today.

Oh, in case anyone wonders... Miss Victoria was in quite a snit even though Christopher had stopped by a few times to take good care of her.  We have had to give her a fervent assurance that (barring any emergency) we will not be leaving her alone again soon.