View from our balcony.

Welcome to the land of trees, rain and, of course, history. That's right, Virginia, my new home. Not sure how official we are, but I am sure we will transform into Virginians eventually.

Tomorrow makes two weeks in Charlottesville, Va., and so far we have visited Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home, and have most of the life essentials in place. When I say in place, I mean Cole spent hours screwing together black board from IKEA. That warehouse full of home decor was unlike any store, I've been to. It was definitely worth the visit.

Our other trip to Monticello turned out to be much more relaxing. Expanses of grass, groves of trees, plots of vegetables, strings of grapes and a house full of useful inventions overlooks our new home. We even get a locals discount and can go for free with an out-of-town visitor. So, feel free to visit. We would definitely go again.

Other exciting news: Cole starts law school tomorrow. (He's behind me checking his email and probably clicking on ESPN articles when I am not looking. He'll get in the study mode, especially when all of his classmates are as well.) He starts with contracts, followed by civil procedure and criminal law. Be jealous. And if you do think those sound even remotely enthralling, you should check out the bricks, I mean books, sitting here on the floor beside me. I am just glad they aren't mine. I still have to get his picture next to the law school sign, but a series of rain showers and eye dilating events halted my photo-must-haves.

In the meantime, here are some Monticello snapshots.

We toured the main floor of the house that began being constructed in 1769. It was completed in 1809.

Both a scientist and a gardener, Thomas Jefferson grew more than 250 varieties in his 1,000-foot garden terrace.

During our garden tour, Cole got to try some fig plucked straight from the garden.

Thomas Jefferson was bound and determined to have a vineyard and make wine, but he was never successful. Turns out, Virginia is a good place to grow grapes, he just didn't have the science down quite right. Now, the home has a vineyard and sells wine in the gift shop made from the grapes.

Today, the vegetables in the garden are for viewing and collecting seeds from. Not quite the same science and sustenance as in Jefferson's time.