RV Vacation: 1st Stop

Now that I have announced Bryan's deployment - I am sure you can see why a road-trip was in order. It wasn't the St. Lucia or Barbados pre/mid deployment trip that I was used to ... (call me a snot, I dare you) but this trip was PERFECT for our little family.  I know we didn't take an RV - we took a travel trailer. HOWEVER, "RV Vacation" rolls off the tongue a little easier than Travel Trailer Vacation, eh?

June 29, 4am: We were up and out the door on our way to our first stop - Cedar Island, NC. Once on the road, it didn't take long to realize the Sequoia gets shitty gas mileage while towing. I don't think we got out of Georgia before needing gas again.

 

1st stop for something other than gas? South of the Border, SC. The Walldrug of the south. We stopped for gas (surprise!) and a snack. Jack wanted to venture in as well. He wanted a leopard - and he got one for pointing to a pile of animals and asking specifically for a leopard. It was a you're one smart-cookie reward.

We drove through some very scenic southern countryside and coastal areas, our longest car ride of the trip, and ended on Cedar Island, NC (The gateway to the Outer Banks of North Carolina) at the Driftwood Motel & Campgrounds. We spent the stormy night inside of 'RV Vacation' (yes, that's a noun). But the location was awesome. It was on water's edge right next to the ferry; we were 1 out of 6 other campers that found this hidden gem.

Playing with Daddy in the RV Vacation

Next to the ferry launch ... I spotted 6 jelly fish while standing on the dock!

For cleaning crab (we hope)

Crab pots and shrimp boats. Lovely find.

Bryan & Jack watching the ferry.

4th of July

With all of us having recently celebrated the 4th of July holiday, I decided it was about time to spit it out:


Bryan is deploying to Afghanistan early 2012. 

In my twisted little head, I believed by broadcasting the news, it would make it 'real' - so I haven't muttered the words but three times since early this spring (one of which was a stranger on an airplane). I've been ignoring it, hoping it would go away.

But even Obama can't keep my baby home.

Emotions are running wild. I am terrified, angry, heart-broken, bitter and dispirited all at the same time. I instantly get a lump in my throat the second I think about another deployment. Another year without a husband or a father in our home. Jack's old enough to know his daddy is gone, but not old enough to understand. Another anxious, sleepless year.

Please pray for our family as we prepare to send our dearest, bravest soldier to the most dangerous place on earth.

Jackisms

I need to be better about writing down things that Jack says ... I'll call it a July-on resolution.

Lindsay came over to go to the pool She came ready to go in her swimsuit and a dress cover up. She walks in and says to Jack, "Hey Buddy!!"
"Lili has a lellow dress on."
"That's right, I have a yellow dress on."
"Lili's dress is pretty."
"Aw, thanks Jack!!"
"That's a BIIIIIIIIIG dress!"

"What?" as she looks to me for translation.
"Nothing, let's go."

. . .

Bryan and I were watching Shrek 3. Random, I know. It think we were watching it with Jack - Jack was uninterested, but Bryan and I were devoted. Jack walked up to the DVD player with Shrek's case, opens the DVD tray and places the DVD in the case.

"Jack! We were watching that - why did you take it out?"
"You can watch it later."

The Neal RV Extravaganza!!

 Well - I am currently packing up the RV for our trip up the east coast! Rick invited me to Google's Latitude and I thought it would be a fun way to track our progress (for any of those interested).

Check out http://www.google.com/latitude and find us under my email: smaneal [at] gmail.com

I will also do my best to update the blog. Bryan has a great trip planned out and I am really excited to see new sights -- my Flip & all of my memory cards are empty, ready to go!

 We rented an RV from Ft. Stewart's MWR (Moral, Welfare & Recreation) program. One of the perks of being active duty - cool things we can rent cheaper than anywhere else!

So we're taking advantage of the opportunity and checking out the coast on our way to Sandy Hook, NJ to see Bryan's family.

We leave tomorrow, bright and early, for our first stop - Ocracoke, North Carolina.

Wish us luck and pray for good weather!

Happy Father's Day

To Jack's Daddy. Parenting is a never-ending lesson. Lesson #345, white is never a good choice in clothing.

And of course, to my daddy, too! Sorry no picture. Trying to recover hard drive. :(

Wah.

Art of Expression

Outdoor Photographer is hosting a photo contest, The Art of Expression. Alyson & Melissa - you need to enter. While in Missouri, Alyson and I snapped a few shots of our cousin's cattle ranch (which was amazing). I decided to enter one of them as the theme's seemed fitting: One World in Focus and All About Light.

You can find the image at:  http://bit.ly/lcHrZi and http://bit.ly/kO9JcU

If you don't mind making an account, please rate it. They have awards for those, too. :)

Now, I'm off to find more photographs to submit. Entries are due July 15 ... so maybe I'll be able to get some awesome shots on our RV trip! And Boni - I'll upload the rest of the weekend's pictures today. :)

Jack in Missouri

Arriving in a gypsy wagon after a long day of traveling.

Crashed out on Mama's shoulder through an entire lunch at White Grill - best 'cheesieburgas' ever and Jack missed out.

Stylin' and Profilin'

Quiet plane ride to Atlanta with Monkey & sweet hair.

Congratulations Chauncy & Tracy!

Beautiful ceremony on their ranch! & Taylor, Chauncy's daughter was Matron of Honor - precious.

(When Jack saw Chauncy, his eyes got big and in astonishment he said, "Yee-Haw!")

One Big Happy Family

And on either side are even more family members! It's been years since we all were lucky enough to ALL spend an entire weekend with each other! My cousin, Chauncy, married his sweetheart, Tracy, this past weekend in Missouri. My cousin, Martina, from Germany was even able to make the trip! We soaked in the county life and made awesome memories with family and new friends.

Gracen's Brandon at work.

This morning on the way to work Jack asked,

"Where did Issy go?"
"Lissy is in Minnesota."
"Where did Nathalia go?"
"Nathalia is in Florida with Uncle Sean."
"Where did Tuck go?"
"Chuck is in Minnesota."
"Where did Boney go?"
"Boni is in Missouri, Jack."
"Where did Gracen go?"
"Gracen went back to Michigan."
"Gracen's Brandon at work."