The Stinsons Come to Virginia

We were very excited to welcome the Stinson family to Virginia the second week of March! It's been almost two years since they've come to visit us. It had snowed the day before they arrived, and Kiera and Savannah were soooo thrilled to experience snow!

We still have two small snow shovels, so Kiera and Savannah got to help with the shoveling.

Savannah probably regretted making her snow angel without wearing gloves or boots. 

 It's been many years since we had any children playing in the snow in our yard.

 Kiera getting a taste of the snow from the magnolia tree.

The snow didn't last too many days. As it was melting the girls made a few small snowmen with Granddad. 

 I had a fun daytrip with the Stinsons was to Jefferson's Monticello. We went on a day when Kent was at work.

 We couldn't take any pictures on the inside, but got a couple of different views of the outside of the house. The girls did pretty well on the tour.

Lissa and Jason took the bus to New York City for two nights and three days while Kent and I babysat the girls. One day of the days I drove the girls up to DC where we picked up Kent from work for a long lunch, and went to the National Zoo.

We especially wanted to see the panda bears, and we were able to see all three of them; the father, mother and baby Bao Bao. They were all in different cages and were all taking naps.

It was difficult to get a good photo through the glass. I think the one below was the best one, though Savannah has her eyes closed. We also went to the reptile house and saw lots of snakes, lizards and alligators, plus a few other animals.

 On Friday Kent had the day off from work, so we took the girls to the National Museum of the Marine Corps. It's only about a twenty-minute drive from our house and is an awesome museum with lots of neat exhibits.

 One place for the children had dress-up clothes from the colonial navy era.

 Here we are on a troop transport boat. (I think that's what it was.)

 Kent has made wooden swords to give to the grandchildren, and Kiera and Savannah played outside with the swords. You can see what a difference a week made in the weather--the snow is gone and the girls are playing outside without coats on.

Kiera and Savannah playing the antique piano in our living room. I've been giving Kiera piano lessons via skype, but it was much more fun to do it in person. We played three duets together and gave a little concert to Lissa and Jason after they returned from New York City, but Kent didn't take any pictures.

 This is about the cutest picture of these two we have from the week they spent with us.

We're so glad they came! I think they'll have some good memories of their visit to Granddad and Grandma Carson's house.