Sharing My Weekend – Weekend Trip to VA

WARNING: PLEASE BE PREPARED FOR PICTURE OVERLOAD. SERIOUSLY. PICTURE OVERLOAD AHEAD.

This past weekend Hubs and I made a weekend trip to visit with some of my family in VA. We haven’t so much as taken a weekend off since our honeymoon in 2011, so this was much needed! (Even if it was just a weekend trip.) Hubs and I took Friday off and drove up Friday morning. The ride was only about three and half hours.

Once we got there we settled in and rested a bit, then headed down to the ocean front to walk the boardwalk. (We moved from VA in April of 2010 and hadn’t been back to visit since June of 2010.) It was really windy and cold (surprise, surprise) but it was still nice to be able to go. Oh how I love the smell of salt/sand. When I was growing up my family was military so we were always by the beach.

This Neptune statue was in the process of being built when we moved from here three years ago.

Am I “country” now that I wore BOOTS to the beach!? In my defense 1. it was COLD and 2. I didn’t pack anything but boots. Four pairs of boots… HA!

After going to the ocean front we went to a few other places (like my mom’s work) and we got…

TOE SHOES!

Now, I know this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea because they are WEIRD looking. But honestly, they are pretty comfortable! And they’re REALLY light. It’s like you’re wearing a sock with a sole on the bottom. Hubs had been really wanting a pair for when he goes kayaking, but they’re pretty pricey. At the Navy Exchange (where my mom works) they were originally around $75, the Exchange was selling them for around $60, they were on clearance for $32 AND were an ADDITIONAL 40% off. So they ended up being around $22! Can’t pass that up! (For those of you who don’t know what a Navy Exchange is – it’s basically a military department store where things are discounted and you don’t pay tax. You have to have a military ID to buy from there – or be with someone who has a military ID (and you’d have to pay with cash). The commissary is the same thing – it’s a military grocery store where things are normally cheaper and no paying tax, but you have to have an ID, etc.)
Why did I get a pair of toe shoes if I don’t have a kayak you ask? I was just being a copy cat. =]

Then we headed back to my mom’s house to hang out. My mom and Gma made Sinigang (Filipino dish) for dinner and it was SO good. Hubs and I ate so much food while we were up there this past weekend! I’m pretty sure we each gained about ten pounds.

Mom: “Where do you guys want to go out to dinner while you’re here?”
Me: “Go out? We’re not going out… you’re cooking!”

I try to make Filipino food at home ()kay, I tried once – that counts, right?) but it’s just not the same!

Then, Saturday morning we got up and went to a few stores, just killing time and hanging out really. We were supposed to go to my brother’s house but it actually started snowing pretty hard so we stayed inside. It totally stunk because I was supposed to meet up with a girl friend and that didn’t work out. Next time we will plan better!

Then Saturday night for dinner my mom made pansit and lumpia. If you know what that is – I know you’re jealous.

Pansit, lumpia, various sauces, Krispe Kreme donuts, marble loaf cake, shortbread cookies, and a box of chocolates. What more could you ask for? =]

The snow did end up dying down a little – not enough for my mom to drive around in her Mustang though, so my brother came to us! He has a big truck so he was more prepared to drive on wet, icy roads. (I bet he really came just because he heard there was pansit and lumpia, that trickster.) While Hubs and my brother talked “motorcycle business”, I played with the baby (my nephew)!

I guess my brother didn't get the "say cheeese" memo... — I guess my brother didn’t get the “say cheeese” memo…

Holding Gmas finger while I eat. — Holding Gmas finger while he eats.

Nephew on a pink blanket? Tsk tsk mom! Ha just kidding. =]

And THAT is how he feels about sleeping on a pink blanket! Haha just kidding – oh that face! I love it!

I call this the "baby death grip". — I call this the “baby death grip”.

On Sunday we went to the Commissary (military grocery store) so we could get some Filipino food to take home with us. My mom also bought me a Starbucks. =]

That night we went to my brother’s place so I could meet his girlfriend and visit with my nephew again!

I would like to introduce you to my brother’s families dog. His name is Tyson and he is… HUGE.

I think I'm a lap dog. — I think I’m a lap dog.

This dog really thinks he’s a lap dog. He seriously tried to get on my lap! He was really sweet. =]

I wonder if he sleeps this much for his parents at night?... — I wonder if he sleeps this much for his parents at night?…

Then my mom took some pictures of all of us. I guess between having a baby and a dog – there’s always someone who isn’t paying attention… Ha!

My brother must think he's tough... heheh =] — My brother must think he’s tough… heheh =]

Then my mom thought she would be clever and prop the camera on the table and set the timer so we could ALL be in the picture.

When we got home Sunday night my mom made Terron (banana lumpia) which is a dessert. It’s a banana rolled in sugar wrapped in a lumpia wrapper and fried. It’s SO good and I knew Hubs would love it. He was pretty much in heaven. I think he ate four.

This is my mom’s dog, Cocoa.

Of course, while we were there, I went through some old photo albums and I found this picture of my dad.

I have no idea how old he was in this picture. I’ll have to ask him.

We started heading back home Monday morning. It was a really nice trip and we had a great time! We want to go back when it’s a bit warmer and we can actually go to the beach and swim!

On the way home we stopped at Bass Pro Shop. I had never been there before!