Relaxing in Richmond

We have survived one week without Ben. Four more to go. We spent a few days in Richmond this week visiting our good friends, the Dyckmans, who recently moved there. It was nice to get away and enjoy good company and good food. Amelia and Ethan had so much fun playing together and Elsa and Jonah enjoyed following all the action. Amelia has had so many good friends move away so she's very excited that Ethan is not too far away.



We spent a lovely afternoon at Maymont...a huge, gorgeous park. The weather was so delightful and everyone enjoyed being outside.





























Our second day in Richmond was threatened by rain, but it stayed away and we were able to take the historic canal tour. We were the only ones on the boat. Unfortunately, our boat driver/tour guide was extremely paranoid about children falling overboard. He wouldn't let the kids move around, or even kneel on their seats and look over the edge at the water. The boat was moving at a snail's pace so this seemed highly unlikely. Apparently, he had no trust in us as parents to prevent our children from falling out of the boat. (I'm pretty sure they would have had to jump out...falling out would have required some effort.) But it was a lovely scenic ride nonetheless.












(I'm sure this was making the tour guide very nervous.)

After the canal tour, we walked over to Bottoms Up, a delicious pizza place in an amazing location. We ate on the upstairs patio and once again, we were the only ones around. The freeway goes right by the patio, as well as some train tracks. It was quite the view. Plus, freeway noise is an excellent way to muffle the sound of your child crying.




Coloring is serious business.


Check out the train going right above our heads!

Thank you to the Dyckmans for a lovely time.