The Kofford Guide to Survival: East Coast Part 1: Richmond, VA

Simon and I decided to make a trip back East this year to visit my old stomping grounds. It had been ten years since I had been back to visit my childhood home. I arranged with two of my childhood best friends to meet us in Richmond the weekend we would be there. One came from Baltimore with her husband and 2 girls and the other came from Winston-Salem with her husband and little boy. It was such a fun trip. It was so good to see everyone and catch up.

We flew into DC because we found a good nonstop flight and just rented a car. We drove down to Richmond that night and got in at about 2am. The next day we slept in, went to Ukrop's now Martin's (sad day for any of you that remember and know of Ukrop's), ate some mediterranean food, and then headed to the Romans house (where we were staying). We caught up with Suzie for a little while and then headed out to walk around downtown Richmond. We stopped at the James River Pony Pasture where I used to go swimming when I was a teenager. Then we headed to Carytown and looked at the shops and then got some dinner. Later that night we met Rachel and her husband Brian for dessert. It was so good to see them! Lindsay and Regan got in at about 12:30am that night with their little boy Carter. We chatted for a few minutes and then headed to bed.

Simon's view from the plane heading in to DC

At Martin's formally the much better Ukrop's

Simon's pita for lunch at Zoe's Kitchen

My chicken kabobs, rice, pita, and fruit

The chapel I went to church at growing up

The England's house, my mom's best friend and where I spent a lot of time and every Thanksgiving

Pony Pastures

Me and Simon

Shadow Simon

The Byrd theater... they have an organist every Saturday night, went here quite a bit growing up

Simon and the box office

Saturday was Simon's 27th Birthday. We celebrated by walking to Martin's to get breakfast with Linds, Reg, and Carter. We had some biscuits and gravy and breakfast pizza. So yummy. After we went home and chilled for a bit. We then met up with Rach, Brian, and their two girls (Jilly and Mattie) and went to lunch at Chipotle and then went go karting at some putt putt place. It was hot, but we all had a good time. Later that day we dropped the kids off with Rachel's parents and all went to dinner at Chuy's. It was so fun. Then we had cake and ice cream at Suzie's for Simon's birthday and Rachel's parents came over to join.

Trying to figure out the best ticket options

Linds getting ready to race

Simon

Waiting to go... me, Linds, and Regan

Me trying to pass Simon

Rach and Jilly

Simon

Simon... pure joy

Carter, Regan, Linds, Rach, Jilly, and Simon... Brian was inside the arcade with Mattie because she was not tall enough to ride the go karts

Linds and Carter on the bumper boats

Simon and Regan

Brian and Rach riding motorcycles w/ Jilly and Mattie

Such naturals

The soaked bumper boat crew

Simon blowing out his candles

Me, Simon, and Suzie

Rach and Linds

Me, Rach, and Linds

Sunday we went to my old childhood ward. It was fun to see lots of people I grew up with. One of the speakers in sacrament even called me out in his talk and let everyone know I was sitting on the back row. Ha. I used to baby-sit his kids. After church we had lunch with Greg and Suzie, took a nap, and then went to see a bunch of historic sites in downtown Richmond. We drove down Monument Avenue, popped in to see the Jefferson Hotel, walked around the capital building, went to St. John's Episcopal Church (where Patrick Henry gave his famous "Give me Liberty, or give me death" speech. It was closed so we could only see the outside. Then we stopped by my old middle school and old high school. It was a nice day.

The Romans house... where we stayed and where I spent a lot of time in my childhood

Monument Avenue

Houses on Monument Avenue

Simon

Love it

VCU

VA is for LOVERS!

Jefferson Hotel

Inside the hotel

Capital building

Washington getting a face lift

Me and Simon at the capital building

Governor's house

So pretty

"Give me liberty, or give me death!"

Fan district

Burger

They were so kind to welcome me back

Such a dumb mascot, ha.

The location of my first real job... working at Ukrop's

Monday we packed everything up because we were going back to DC for the last two nights. We said goodbye to Suzie and headed on our way. We had such a good time staying with the Romans. We made one last stop at Martin's so I could get the Ukrop's fudge pie and we stopped at Casa Grande so I could get some tacos. Both so delicious.