New Yorkers, Ahoy!

Was it really two years since Charles and Jenn last visited? It didn't feel like it. They rode the train down from NYC to spend Columbus day weekend with us in Charlottesville.

And is there a better board game for a train fan than Ticket to Ride? Carrie taught Charles and Jenn how to play when I took Shane to soccer. It was a big hit.

"We buy a new game after every visit," Jenn said. 

We went to Duck Donuts for breakfast. 

Jenn loved it. Her family is from Oregon and she's a University of Oregon alum. The Ducks were scheduled to play Saturday night, too (we streamed it).

The ladies and Shane napped it off later (even the cats, and they weren't there!). Charles and I played Ticket to Ride while the house slumbered.

Then the bridge building began. 

Charles is the engineering type. He likes buildings and architecture.

Carrie is competitive. She never backs down from a challenge.

Shane likes toys. He also likes to wiggle and weights forty pounds.

I sat him on the bridge, because I like trouble.

It didn't hold.

Version 2.0 took home the gold.

 It was the most fun we've ever had with K'Nex.

The football game didn't go so well (Sorry, Ducks).

The next morning, we went apple picking on Carter Mountain. We tried to go Saturday, but the line of like-minded fellows was incredible.

A certain someone wakes up early regardless of the day, so it was no trouble to visit before nine.

I love the view from up high.

Our mountains aren't as tall as the Rockies, but the trees make up for it.

The weather was perfect for apple picking.

And apple eating. Shane couldn't wait.

We picked winesaps, jonagolds, and golden deliciouses (I think).

Shane and I left for church aftewards. Carrie drove Charles and Jenn down the road to Monticello. 

Charles, the stinker, didn't tell anyone he'd already been. Jenn, Carrie, and I thought that he'd love the tour since he's a history and architecture buff. When the tour guide asked, "Has anyone been here before?" Charles raised his hand. 

We spent the afternoon at the house. Carrie cooked pumpkin pie. After Shane's nap, we went en mass to the barn. Jenn and Shane played with the dog while Carrie rode.

Carrie rode (of course).

Jenn got voluntold to hold on to Pixel later. She's quite the animal fan.

Shane had his normal run of the barn. He enjoyed telling Charles where to take pictures. 

There were hot air balloons everywhere! We saw two take off while we were at Costco. I've half a mind to track down where it is they're launching from. 

Meanwhile, Jenn and Charles were fascinated by how 'empty' our Costco was. Compared to New York City, it was a ghost town. I parked up front.

The next morning, I dropped Jenn and Charles off at the train station on the way to work. We loved having them visit and we hope that we don't have to go two years in between until the next time!

PS - It's amazing the difference a good camera can make.

My picture:

Charlie's picture:

Charlie could zoom in and see the people riding on hot air balloons. Blew both Shane's and my mind.

It blew my mind further when Charlie let Shane take pictures with his camera.

Shane's aim wasn't always the greatest, but the camera did a lot of work for him.

The cats also got to pose.

Charles could make dirt look good with his gear. I don't plan on upgrading from my phone anytime soon, but I can appreciate what Charles' can produce with his skill and equipment. I'm glad he posted a selection, so I could raid and re-post them here.

Charlie's Wedding Weekend

Carrie spent the 4th in Eugene, Oregon. Charlie got married!

She also got to recite part of a Klingon wedding speech. British accent included at no extra cost.

Carrie flew back on the red-eye and was exhausted. She said there was turbulence the whole way. She crashed off and on throughout Sunday. When she woke up, she did tell me one perk of flying on the 4th: Carrie got an aerial view of all the fireworks in Portland!

Star Trekkin

Can you guess who went to see the new Star Trek movie on the IMAX screen at the Air and Space Museum?

One of Carrie's oldest friends, Charles, came down for the weekend with his fiance, Jenn. Charles and Carrie used to be part of the same Star Trek sim-ing club back in the day (under 14.4 baud!) My wife arranged for a babysitter, and we (mostly) enjoyed the new Star Trek! It was a fun bang-'em up lights show that I'd rate a B to an A for any non-fan.

Carrie and Charles both had their own strong opinions!

My wife insists that the first reboot is a good 'fan fic.' Way back when (in a galaxy far away), my wife and I went on a date. It was later than 8:00 PM, and we went to see the first Star Trek reboot premiere on the IMAX at the Air and Space Museum on a work night. While the rest of the theater cheered at the end, my wife turned to me with tears in her eyes. She told me that the movie essentially destroyed everything canon from all the subsequent series, because of the way time travel works in the franchise.

No Next Generartion, no Deep Space 9, and especially no Voyager.

Carrie was one unhappy camper.

She eventually came to the "it's a good fan-fic" resolution, so that she can enjoy the reboots while knowing the real timeline is still in effect elsewhere.

God, I love my wife. Thanks for sending her my way!

I believe one of the best solutions to deal with any situation is enthusiasm. The more you have the more epic things get.

My wife engineered the whole adventure. My sole contribution was "Let's go get a picture in front of the shuttle!"

PS - Carrie actually enjoyed the movie for the most part (in case you're wondering). She was pissed about switching the ethnicity of a certain character and swore the original actor was "rolling in his grave!"

PPS - Charles is welcome to visit any time. He introduced Shane and I to elevated train tracks. Shane was calling his name out and dragging him over to the train table every chance he got! My train track engineering skills have risen to a new level, as well!