Monticello

Jason and I left Molly with Grandma and Grandpa O'Grady for a couple of days so we could have some time to ourselves. We decided to drive up to Charlottesville, VA to tour Monticello, take in some history, enjoy a massage, eat a nice dinner, and sleep in :) Heaven.

Monticello was really cool -- a bigger tourist attraction than I would have expected!

Jason and Jefferson

My turn to pose with the man

Walking up to the house. Can you believe Jefferson was a self-taught architect?

One of the many gadgets around the place. Jefferson was obsessed with the weather so he had this gauge hooked up to a weather vane to allow him to check the wind twice a day from inside the porch

Side view -- check out the dome

Wine cellar. Jefferson spent a boatload to have crates of wine shipped in from France; he even tried to grow French grapes in Virginia. We sampled a bottle of Virginia's finest at dinner on Sunday night and enjoyed it quite a bit!

View from the veggie garden. Jason and I both agreed Monticello would be a nice place to live :)

And while we were enjoying our time away, Molly was having the time of her life with Grandma and Grandpa:

Playing

Tasting glass

Chow time

Obviously, Grandpa lets Molly do whatever she wants!

The first trip away from Molly was a success. However, the reunion was a little rockier than I would have liked. She woke up from a nap a few minutes after we got home and cried when I first picked her up, which just about broke my heart. Jason and I aren't sure if she was confused or if she was angry that we abandoned her. She seems to be over it now and I'm glad we have a month at home before the next trip! Time away is wonderful, but time with Molly is better :)