Homebody

I've gone on a lot of vacations over the last few years, but nothing is like going home.  There is something so special and amazing to be around and with people who share your history and share your memories.  People who know your soul and can read you like a book.  I am so blessed with amazing parents, big sister and life long friends. 

My college girlfriend (and life-mate!) and I celebrated our much too long separation by running our first half marathons my first weekend back in the states.  It was a wonderful accomplishment and we are already planning on doing another one together. 

Another weekend mom and I drove up to New Jersey to spend the weekend with my Grandma.  I got to see a lot of my aunts, uncles and cousins.  It was so nice to just hang out, watch old movies and eat lots of yummy food. 

My amazing mommy friend just had her 2nd baby and this little newborn girl is just too cute for words.  I love her to pieces!  It was so incredible to see her other little one so grown up.  Last year when I went home to visit he was a newborn and how he's walking and talking and looking like such a big boy.  So awesome.  And girlfriends are just the best.  Loved getting to hang out with my ladies. 

The last weekend I was home I crammed a ton in.  My sister came home from a year working in the Republic of Georgia and our family got to be all together again!  Mom and Dad had a nice get-together for our neighbors and friends.

 

Last year I didn't make it into the city and was super excited to get a DC day this time.  Mary, Kate and I went to one of my favorite places on the planet, the Willard.  We got fancy drinks at the Round Robin bar and I promised myself for the millionth time that I would stay in that hotel sometime soon.  We walked over to the White House for a quick hello to Obama and I just loved walking down those DC streets again.  Next we took a quick cab ride over to a German Beer Garden where we met Kate's dirndls and lederhosen clad friends for some beers.  So fun!  

I was pretty bad about taking pictures this trip.  I did so many amazing things, spent time with wonderful friends, did a lot of shopping (I bought something astonishing like 14 dresses alone), a lot of eating wonderful American food, and a lot of running through the trees around the lake.  I did a lot of rocking on my parents screened in deck.  I did a lot of thinking.  Did a lot of things that make me overjoyed and happy.  There really is no place like home.