NASCAR and the Harris Invasion

Phew!  We are into May.  Concerts are behind us, JRS is done, Dave is done at UR....our schedule has suddenly become a lot more open!  We also survived the week and a half Harris Invasion!!!  :)  It was a fantastic time and we are blessed and honored that they would come all this way to visit.

The first to arrive was my sister.  She came the Saturday of our JRS concert weekend having taken a red eye from Phoenix the night before.  She hadn't seen little Jeffery since October (an eternity when it comes to how fast he is growing and changing) and we were so excited to have her.  With it being concert weekend, we were, admittedly, a little busy but if anyone is going to understand that...it would be someone from my family.  She babysat little Jeffery that Saturday night, professionally dealt with one of the most massive diaper blowouts EVER (welcome to VA, Aunt Julie), and helped us on what is normally a VERY expensive weekend where it concerns paying babysitters.  THANK YOU JULIE!  She then came to our concert on Sunday and helped keep tabs on the monkey during the after-concert party which she attended with us.  It meant SO much to us for a family member to be in the audience at a JRS concert.  We work so hard and it means so much to us.....it really meant a lot, Julie, that you would come!

Sadly, it was unseasonably chilly when she was here.  We even turned the heat back on.  :(  We went to the Virginia Historical Society to walk through their History of Virginia exhibit....and found that Jeffery is obsessed with the trolley car there.  I lost count how many times he went up and down the stairs, in and out the car.  We also satisfied her craving for Buzz & Ned's BBQ (a must for any visitor to RVA).

At the new Buzz & Ned's BBQ

Jeffery LOVED having her here.  They read together, chased each other around the house, pet the cats together, and just had a wonderful time!  I'm so glad she could come!

Story time with Aunt Julie

The morning of the day she was set to leave, we visited the Ginter Botanical Gardens....to give her a taste of beautiful spring.  And it was beautiful!  The tulips were all in bloom and even though it was chilly and cloudy, we had a wonderful time.  Julie even got to see "perfect Jeffery" have a complete meltdown when mommy said it was time to leave the sandbox.  :)  Ahhhh....the many moods of Jeffery!

The sandbox...one of his favorite places

It was WONDERFUL to have her visit (even though we lost to her at Mexican Dominoes.....grrrrrrr).  But we barely had time to collect our thoughts when she left before the second wave of the Harris invasion began!  My mom came the following afternoon (Wednesday)!  On Thursday, we enjoyed the beautiful sunny morning by visiting Maymont Park where my mom finally (after 3 spring visits to Richmond) got to see the beautiful tulips in bloom!

Like father, like son

She and I sat outside in the front yard and enjoyed the sun....and cheered on Dave as he mowed the lawn and just enjoyed a beautiful day!  The next day (Friday), my dad arrived in the morning, having taken a red eye from Phoenix the night before!  God bless those red-eyes and the people crazy enough and generous enough to take them!!!!  Instead of taking one whole day to travel, you're here in the morning and have the whole day ahead of you.  AND, you can nap when Jeffery naps!  :)  

Jeffery and Daddy

He's such a little boy!

Back at Christmas, when my parents were last here, one of my dad's presents to us (and himself) were tickets to the Spring NASCAR race here in Richmond.  So, for the 2nd year in a row, Jeffery stayed home with Grandma and me and Dave and my dad (and the Stig in tow....he's been to a race even before his big brother!) went Racin' at Richmond International Speedway!!!!!  :)  

The day had been beautiful.  Most of it had been spent sitting outside with my parents, enjoying the warm sun (I got a little too much) and beautiful yard, talking to neighbors, smoking cigars (for the boys) and just enjoying be with each other.  MUCH different from last year's Race Day that was rainy and downright cold!

With sun filling the sky, we took off for the races....brimming with excitement and Easter Joy (as Dave put it!!).  :)  And we had a blast....no surprise!

Dave and me in front of my dad's driver's car

Me and dad in front of the #2 car

Dave and me in front of Dave's driver's car

Dave Bob and Jeff Bob...at the track again!

Entrance to the Speedway

We found Buzz & Ned's at the Track....sorry mom....the hush puppies were AMAZING!!!!!

Happy after stuffing ourselves with hush puppies and pulled pork

And they're off!

It was a GREAT race....especially the last 100 laps.  And....we got home in good time and were in bed by 12:30am.  Fantastic!!!!  The next morning, my parents came with me to St. Benedicts for church and, as they have met Jim Dorn (the music director) before...in AZ of all places...and know him, they were cajoled and roped into singing with me and the choir that morning!  It was great to sing next to my mom and have my dad across the way in the tenor section!

Home from church

Monday and Tuesday took a turn, weather wise.  It was chilly and misty and rainy so we're all glad that we took advantage of sitting outside when we did.  It was a perfect time though for napping and visiting the Botanical Garden.

Only the 3rd time he's fallen asleep on someone (since he was 2 weeks old)....and all 3 times have been on daddy!

Botanical Gardens

After the Botanical Gardens, we all went our separate ways.  Mom took me maternity clothes shopping (thank you mom!!!!) and we had a lovely lunch together.  The boys went to Bass Pro where they saw the big aquarium full of fish, had lunch (where Jeffery discovered French Fries)....and where Grandpa bought Jeffery a little ATV he'd been eyeing since seeing it in AZ.  It is now Jeffery's new obsession!  It makes noise, he can push it around, he can go fast on it with a push from someone.....and it is the only thing that matters to him now!  :)

Daddy and Jeffery trying out the new ATV from Grandpa

His new "Carrrrr"

Wheeeeeeeee

Dad insisted upon visiting Bottom's Up Pizza (since we chose Buzz & Ned's BBQ at Christmas) so we had their amazing pizza and watched THREE trains come by!  Both Jeffs and Dave were in hog heaven!  So, we then treated my parents to a dinner at The Roosevelt, one of our favorite places here in town!  It was a lovely adult evening (complete with a babysitter at home tending to the little boy!) and a perfect way to end their trip to VA.  Dad even tried the season delicacy of Soft Shelled Crabs.  He didn't like the legs but did like the middle meat.  I don't think he realizes what a regional tradition and delicacy they are!  :)

At The Roosevelt

We were home in time to have some more (indoor) fun with Jeffery before he had to go to bed.  He and Grandpa were down on the floor like this for over 1/2 an hour.  Jeffery would back himself up to grandpa who would then say "Read, Set...." and Jeffery would say "Go" and grandpa would give him a push and Jeffery would go wheeling across the living room.  It was so much fun to watch everyones' faces!

Four Wheelin in the Living Room

And then....the Harris invasion was over.  :(  It is nice to have our house back to ourselves but we were all sad to see them go and Jeffery was a little more needy of attention the next day.  He just kept going to the guest bedroom and opening the door....to find no grandma and grandpa.  They are now getting ready for the 3 week European Adventure to celebrate their 40th Wedding Anniversary this summer and looking forward as well to their annual trip to Colorado.  But....while it will be a while...there are already plans for them to be back out for the birth of little Stig in September!  We can't wait!!!  Jeffery is carrying around their picture from his bedroom and saying "Papa" and "Oma" and wishing they were back here!  We all wish that!  :)