At last...

We FINALLY got our VISAs today. For something that took so long and caused so much stress and anxiety, they are pretty unspectacular, just a piece of paper pasted into our passports. But, they look beautiful to our limbo-weary eyes. We have made hotel reservations, shuttle reservations, plane reservations, temporarly lodging facility reservations. We leave Saturday at 6 pm. I don't think I'll believe it until I lay eyes on Big Ben, but it seems that we are really going!

Getting away from it all...

We were able to take a few trips while we were here in DC.  These are the highlights:  Colonial Williamsburg, Kent and Alyson in Germany, K and A in Philly for the King Tut exhibit at the Franklin Institute, a girls' cruise in Mexico, Philly again with the Slabaughs for the Star Wars exhibit (we went back yet again for a Chronicles of Narnia exhibit...we love that place), Hershey Park, Niagara Falls, Chicago (with the Meldrum cousins and the Slabaughs), NY for the Bounce House and Strong Museum, and--last but not least--Disney World with the Mianis.  Fun!

While We've been in DC...

We've gotten to soak up a lot of history and fun while living in the nation's capital--here's just a sampling:  4th of July fireworks at the Washington Memorial, Peering through the bars at the White House, Dipping in the fountains at the WWII Memorial, cozying up to Abe, our first half-marathon around DC, at Mt Vernon on President's Day, at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, enjoying the Cherry Blossom Festival, contemplating again at WWII, with FDR at his memorial (Alyson's favorite),  at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, and in front of the Temple.

Will we ever leave?

Still in Maryland...

Well, after MANY missteps, bad advice, and constant pestering of the visa staff, we are still waiting for our UK visas to come through.  They are (supposedly) in Crystal City being processed before being sent on to the British Consulate General in NY.  We are hoping for a quick turnaround!  We have pushed the movers back yet again, and are now planning on them coming July 15, 16, and 17.  I refuse to change this again!  Limbo is tiresome.