Family Travels

Kelly: I just returned from a week of visiting family. I spent two days with my family before Matt joined me for a going away party at my parents' house. I truly enjoyed spending time with my sisters and adorable niece, and I don't think that I would've had this opportunity to spend such dedicated chunks of time with them if I weren't moving to a foreign country. Goodbyes are always tough, but saying goodbye to Ava and my grandpa were definitely the most difficult!

Matt and I then set out for Connecticut. We took a meandering, spontaneous route visiting Ithaca and several scary little towns in Connecticut (yes, I didn't know CT could be scary, but it can!). We had a so-so night (chain restaurant and interstate motel) in Waterbury and then spent the next day in New Haven. What a great time! We took advantage of the free cultural experiences and thoroughly enjoyed the Yale Art Gallery (from classic Monet to contemporary shovel hanging from the ceiling) and the Yale School of Architecture Green Building exhibit. Both were fabulous and the latter stoked Matt's desire to live in a prefab/green home. The serenity of the day came to a screeching halt with the arrival of our niece and nephews. It was a very busy evening of bracelet-making, book reading, and Wii-playing. Mark gave me flowers and Matt a drawing. Meghan gave me lavender scented dryer bags. Despite the hectic evening, it was great to see them, and it made our arrival at the healthy, eco-friendly Green Rocks Inn even sweeter. Set in a very nice area of CT, the quintessential cedar-shake sided home breathed relaxation. I soaked in a wonderful bath, we slept on a comfortable bed, and we chatted with the friendly hostesses. My only complaint was the limited gluten-free breakfast choices despite calling ahead and arranging gluten-free options. We left rejuvenated and ready to tackle the hours of traffic and calls to credit card companies that were ahead of us.

I had a great trip, but saying goodbye highlights how quickly our departure is approaching!