Jill, Dan, and Jacob in Seattle (Oct 2011)

Hello from the west coast! i'm going to try to keep you posted on our news from here... as you can see, i didn't get around to much blogging in DC (where we've been since Aug 2009 - between Aug 2008 (last post on here!) and Aug 2009 we were in Uganda, Richmond, Bethesda, and Rockville... long story, maybe for another night?)

As of Sept 2011 we left DC and took a road trip across the country with Jacob (now almost 3 years old!) to make it out to our new house in Seattle, WA in time for me to start my new job at EPA - although it's in the same building where I used to work before I left for Peace Corps 10 years ago - so it's like an old job, but not quite the same :) and a new city, but not totally new... the exciting thing is that we're here! And, i'll start talking about our trip across, but probably won't finish up tonight, so i'll have to do it in spurts. Here we go:

Sunday September 11, 2011 - a somber and reflective day, can't it's been 10 years! i was in Richmond on my way to Peace Corps in 2001.... (that's another post all together as well) So anyway, we ate breakfast with Grandma and Grandpa in Rockville and hit the road for Cleveland around 9:30 am. Although we made a number of stops before we actually got OUT of Rockville.... filled up with gas (always good) and stopped at Target for PullUPs (didn't want to have to wake Jacob up if he actually fell asleep) and once stopped on the side of I-270 to fix the cartop carrier strap that was flapping around. Did I mention that I was driving? I didn't like stopping on the highway, but Dan fixed it so off we went... for good this time... and it was about 10:30 or 11:00 when we finally got moving! We didn't stop till lunchtime in Cumberland, MD - and Jacob ate an entire Personal Pan Pizza (never seen anything like that before) while flirting with the nice lady in the table across the way ( I see that all the time :) We pulled in to Alyson and Matt's in Cleveland around 5:30 so we made really good time. And after a yummy dinner, we got the girls and Jacob ready for bed. Sang songs, read stories... and then talked with Alyson over fresh mint tea and my first ever yellow watermelon. Long day, but a good one. Which felt like all will be well for the stretch ahead. What a wonderful way to start! Let's see, can I write around the pictures? not sure....

Monday September 12, 2011: We got up and left Cleveland right around 9 am and started driving around the Lake towards Chicago. However, I realized by looking at the map that we were as close to Ann Arbor as we were going to be for awhile, and maybe Dan would want to stop in and see how Michigan was doing these days... after all, he graduated about 20 years ago and hasn't been back! Well, he wasn't excited about detouring and adding time to our day... but I gave a pretty convincing argument in favor of checking the campus out.... and we had such a good time! A quick stop for lunch, sunny and warm outside of Zingerman's Deli - and ice cream at XXXXX and a stop at the campus bookstore for baseball hats and t-shirts... as we learned from my parent's search for a 2T Michigan shirt that you can't get them just anywhere!...

After a few hours' break in Ann Arbor it was back on the road again, so we could drive ACROSS MICHIGAN and into Indiana then around to Chicago by 5:30 - our estimated time to meet up at Erin's and have dinner with Erin, Jeff, and Sachin!! Not to mention get to meet the soon-to-be Panzer in the oven (so exciting!) Jacob drew pictures and kept us company while we all stood in the kitchen and caught up while Erin made an amazing dinner (beet risotto and asian slaw salad!) and we drank wine and had a wonderful time. Mazal tov to Erin and Jeff on their beautiful house, and on a successful year in Ethiopia and on the baby to be. Can't wait till you all make a trip out this way! On Tuesday, September 13, 2011 we got up in Chicago and made it to Madison Wisconsin, to visit friends who just had a baby! Ewan came into the world a few weeks early, so we were very lucky to get to meet him as he was home from the hospital with his proud mommy and daddy! Jhin and Jung Im hosted us and showed us where to go to grab a quick lunch, before we drove through Madison's "campus" - Honestly, I have to say I've always had visions of lakes, and grassy lawns.... I don't know why. But University of Wisconsin at Madison is pretty urban! Not what I was expecting at all! We drove through to see it and then it was 6 hours straight from lunch - straight north up to the top of Wisconsin to visit my cousins in Washburn on Lake Superior. I drove and drove... and we stopped once at Minocqua to stretch and have a potty break and quick drink. Beer for me, Chocolate milk for Jacob. Dan was driving at that point - so he just had a sip :) We kept going... and going... and pulled into Craig and Jane's by around 7pm. That was a long day across Wisconsin! We ordered pizza delivery and put Jacob to bed - he camped out by the turtle tank and was totally in heaven. Ok, I've gotta go. I'll write more soon - We're only a few days into the trip right now... but here's some fun pics to give you some smiles as you scroll down. Gotta figure out how to integrate the pictures a little better next time...