Since moving to Washington, DC a few weeks ago, we have enjoyed exploring this city and have been able to spend some quality time with long missed family and friends.
Ironically, we were here for just one day before heading up to Long Island, NY, to see Mom and Dad Gaines. We timed our drive with the Nor-Easter that also came up from DC and had a horrendous seven hour drive in heavy rain. We were greeted by loving parents who had prepared a Thanksgiving Day meal and stayed up until 2:3o am to feed us. We had a wonderful time with them out at WHB and celebrated Teri's birthday with chocolate cake and a presidential debate.
On the way back to DC, we couldn't resist driving back through NYC and even picked up some good old friends along the way!
On Teri's birthday, Matt made a deliciously unhealthy breakfast of french toast and chocolate pudding.
We spent the rest of the day walking through Georgetown. We even walked through a lovely old house we would love to buy when we make our first few million dollars ;) The trees here are starting to change colors and the fallen leaves on red brick sidewalks allow for great appreciation for this part of the world at this particular time of the year. 
Later in the day Matt treated Teri to a sushi dinner at the best sushi place in town. After dinner we headed down to George Washington University to hear David Sedaris read some of his latest compositions and generally hilarious quips on all things political.
We ended the night with a stroll past The White House, a phone call from our niece Lucy, and a gang of Segway savvy tourists.
The following weekend we attended the Redeemer affiliate church, Grace Pres, here in DC and reconnected with one of Teri's old friends from Texas A&M. Steven and his wife invited us to attend their "Community Group" (DC lingo for Fellowship Group for all of you Redeemerites), and we have gone twice now. The people at the group have welcomed us with open arms and we are starting to feel connected here. The church is located next to Chinatown, so we treated ourselves to some delicious noodles at "Chinatown Express".
Among the new friends we've made, we have been able to meet up with some old friends and family here in DC. Teri has been meeting with her old friend Jen from NYC who coincidentally lives about three blocks away from our apt. here in Dupont Circle. She also spent a day walking around the city with Aunt Lynne who is here visiting from Switzerland. Aunt Lynne is somewhat of an expert on Christian iconography and Teri spent some time with her learning about the mosaics of St. Matthew's Cathedral where Pres. Kennedy's funeral was held.
This past weekend we headed back out of town to attend the wedding of two dear friends, Sara and Matt Sullivan, who tied the knot in Portland, Oregon. The wedding was beautiful and was met with equally lovely weather. We met up with some of Matt's very best friends from Colby and talked of the grandeur of Portland.
The next day we met up with Matt's cousin Sonda and finally met her beautiful daughter Solvae. We spent the morning with Sonda, Cameron, Solvae and Mita (the friendliest dog around), drinking coffee, eating bagels, and enjoying fresh donuts from a tiny donut stand in their neighborhood. This was Portland at its best.
Since we have planned to culminate our world travels in Portland, Matt arranged for us to meet up with a real estate agent and explore some houses around the city. In true Portland style, the houses were old, warm and full of charm. By day's end, we felt hopeful that this could be a place for possibly "settling down" when the time is right.
Our day concluded with a Pho dinner at the home of our dear (and newly engaged) friends Paul and Cam. It was great to catch up with them and we even got a visit from Matt's cousins Sonda and Karis.
We were sad to leave such wonderful friends and fam, but we were also excited to get back to DC and explore our new "home" here amidst the changing leaves and Colonial brick houses.
Last night we, again, met up with the group from Grace Pres. and had a wonderful time discussing courage, fear, and the audacity of boldness. Tonight we are invited over to Matt's cousin's house for wine and cheese, and the opportunity to meet up with ALL of the Parta's whom we have not seen in a couple of years. Teri is meeting up with her friend Jen today to soak up some sun in the last days of warm weather(its 81 degrees!). And, hopefully, we will be able to meet up with Pat and Karoline Shannon this weekend to meet the newest addition to the Shannon family, little George.
