Siena tapped her pink Robeez boots together three times and off she went to Virginia (yes, simply too young for ruby red slippers). Home to meet more of her family. We spent a week visiting with the Swings this month and got to introduce Siena to several new family members and friends. As with our trip to NY, Siena stole the show and charmed everyone she met.
We toured the ‘fords and the ‘burgs and visited grandparents, aunt and uncles and friends. We started visiting Lisa’s Mom in Bedford. There we started something new for Siena, a passport tour of the National Parks in the US. She now has a little passport she can get stamped as she visits different national Parks around the country. So she will know when and where she has been. I am guessing she will need the pictures too for a while as she isn’t likely to remember the ones we visited.
This all started at Appomattox Court House, where Lee surrendered to Grant and the Civil War began to come to close. As always, American history is more than you think it is. So if you haven’t been there, Appomattox Court House isn’t just a building, it is actually the name of the town. Also, Lee didn’t surrender in the actual court house; he did it in the Maclean family residence down the road. There is a lot to learn, and I now know I will need to brush up on my history over the next 5 years before it is incumbent on me to help my daughter succeed in school. It was here that the nice book store lady set the hook for the National Park Service passport program and we bit.
So, we also caught Booker T. Washington’s birth place while we were in the area since it is an NP also. Here Siena rang a bell and met her fist pigs and ducks. She was also quite taken with the sheep, Baa! Since she was in the “blah, blah, blah talking phase, sheep going baa were obviously speaking her language. Following a few days in the Roanoke/Bedford area visiting Lisa’s mom, we headed south to another ‘ford, Radford.
We actually were staying in a ‘burg, Blacksburg, so we could be near Aunt Elizabeth at Virginia Tech University and Uncle Sam in Christiansburg, the next town over. Our first night we spent visiting with Elizabeth and her roommate Lindsey. It was great to visit with them and see their cozy university digs. The next day we visited had a brunch with friends and family in Blacksburg and then headed Grammy and Grandpa Swings home in Radford. Siena of course was the main attraction and there was a lengthy game of pass the baby played that day.
During the south tour we had the chance to spend time with the Vance’s and got to celebrate their new little on the way (it’s a boy!!). We spent time with Uncle Sam, Robert and Aunt Elizabeth. We all did a little wine tasting at Chateau Morrisette and enjoyed some great meals together. Lisa also took Siena to visit her alma mater at Radford University and Siena got to visit with the "Grandma Club", Grammy Janes colleagues at the University. In all a great visit with people we wish we could spend more time with.
After a few great days we jetted back to the extreme storms of the west coast (anywhere else in the US this weather pattern is referred to as rain, since the news was slow in southern California and the house there are made with sugar cubes for roof tiles, this was reason to call out the National Guard). As you must be wondering, Siena was an absolute angel on the flights. As a frequent traveler I cringe at the sight of an infant on a plane, it is always unpredictable. But our little Siena is a good flyer and even gets compliments from travelers around her. Parents reading this are laughing right now knowing this may change as she grows up a little bit more. But for now, two coast to coast trips and no melt downs. I will simply consider us lucky and keep flying her around the country.
A really good trip. So Siena can now say, Bella, there’s no place like home.
