grandma in jacksonville...

june was the slowest month but somehow flew by at the same time.  bizarre right? well grandma karen came out to visit right at the beginning of the month... and her time her flew by and then the rest of the month dragged on... and somehow after she left we didn't do much of anything.. haha probably rained a lot and its so hot and humid we really hate ever leaving the house.

while grandma was here we mostly hung around the house and played with daniel all day.  he sure loves his grandma.  puts on a good show for her doing all his tricks.  they laugh and tickle sing songs... its a real party.
on saturday we did venture out and go to the local zoo here in richlands.  its small but i was actually surprised at how many fun different animals and birds it had.  and we hit it at the perfect time... the whole place is shaded by trees... there was a slight breeze and it wasn't too hot at all!  here are some of our favorites...

this emu was pretty interesting.. ugly... but interesting..

i loved this strange buffalo... it had long curly hair that came down over his eyes... 

daniels favorite of course was this singing flamingo

 i loved this zebra... the stripes are just so neat!!

i also loved this miniature horse... seriously the cutest thing ever... its a horse but tiny.  and chris really liked this cheeta.. or bobcat... ha! i can't remember what it was.  and then this giant gerbil looking animal.... freaky.  

love bright colored birds

these monkeys were so fun... the mama has a new little baby that just clung to the front of her as she walked around.  and when the mom stopped moving she would sit and just clean the little baby.  the crazy dad just jumped at the cage walls warning us to get back... asserting his manhood by showing us his bright blue... you know  hahah  i also love the little monkey on the left.

the zoo keeper and his daughter kept bringing out other animals that we could touch and pet.  these were my favorite.  

and then we fed the goats... which daniel thought was hilarious.  he loved having them lick the corn off his hands.

while mom was here we were also able to take a trip out to the beach one afternoon when chris got off work.  it was a beautiful day out there... just enough of a breeze to make it comfortable and the water was warm and we found quite a few sharks teeth.  i didn't get any pictures... but we did have a good time.  i of course cried like a big baby after we dropped her off at the airport.  miss seeing my mom everyday.... miss home and family.  it was really great to have her come.  

father-son campout...

chris was so excited when our stake said they were having a father/son campout this month.  he decided first thing he was going to take daniel.  we got daniel his own little toddler cot to sleep on and i had a small sleeping bag he could use.  they joined up with another family of boys in our ward and drove out to the camping site.  there were all sorts of small cabins that had bunk beds inside.  there was a lake and larger cabin where the food was served.  they got there and first thing daniel face planted getting super dirty.  it was perfect way to start... dirty! haha  the boys found a little sand box that had trucks in it and they enjoyed playing in the dirt with the cars...  after dinner (provided by the stake) they had a campfire and sat around with some friends chatting and watching to make sure no kids fell in the fire.  chris didn't have to watch too closely as daniel was a little afraid of the fire... he generally stayed back from it.

the night chris and daniel had their own little cabin.  chris pulled daniels little bed right next to his... they both just slept on top of their sleeping bags as it was super hot that night.

the next morning they got up and had breakfast with the stake and then took a canoe ride on the lake... after that they loaded up and headed home... they had an awesome trip....

showing the lake, where they canoed, and where they ate food

cherry point air show and maynia...

sometimes being a military family and living in a military town has its perks... especially with the weather being so nice right now... we headed out to cherry point to see the airshow friday night show...  we walked around and checked out some of the planes and helicopters they had out on display and climbed in a few.  we got some awesomely bad for you fried chicken, funnel cake, corndog and fries to have for dinner.... followed by some ice cream.  we sat and watched the show for a couple hours.  it was really fun. daniel kept yelling out "airplane"  as they flew by.  the first guy was really neat... all sorts of crazy loops and dives, and rolls and stalls... really fun to watch him.  then there was a wwII style plane that did some tricks for us and man it was pretty loud.... but really fun.  then a team of jets... diamond something... but they were cool... once the sun was down we didn't stay too much longer... the last plane we saw was way too loud and hurting our ears and scaring daniel really bad so we left and watched the fireworks from our car in the parking lot... it was a great evening and free (except for the cost of food which was a lot)

the next day we got up (after sleeping in a little) and headed on base for MAYNIA!!! it was a free carnival.  we had fun riding a few rides... and they had a bounce house area that daniel had a ball in.  i was really proud of my timid little guy actually climbing up and going down some of these slides... and he's finally getting the hang of jumping.  his favorite ride was this tiny motorcycle ride... it had a bunch of motorcycles that rode in a circle.  there was never a line so he would just sit and ride time after time... so funny... at one point a little girl joined on the back of his motorcycle and i had to laugh... his little girlfriend riding around with him.   we also went on the farris wheel as a family... not my favorite... apparently i have become more afraid of heights as ive gotten older.  chris and daniel also had a really good time riding down this giant slide on a potato sack.  they rode it at least twice. 

it was a great weekend... and super exhausting.  we ended this day with some panda express and naps.

the family that golfs together...

we've been having a lot of fun lately getting more into golf... we decided to take daniel with us and go play 9 holes on the golf course on base.... this was the first time i had ever played real golf.  i had been to putting greens a couple times and driving ranges but never an actual 9 holes.. i was a little nervous if i would be any good at all.... surprisingly i was not bad!  i am a decent driver... chris was surprised how far i could hit it.  and putting i did ok... it was the stuff in between that was a little more comical.  but by the end of the day i could chip it pretty good... the other stuff will get better with practice.

daniel really enjoyed riding on the cart... throwing the balls around and running up and putting them in the hole for us... or completely blocking the hole by sitting in front of it...  thanks bud!  haha he also really enjoyed running around in the sand.... and washing off the balls for us... he thought turning the crank was so funny... 

after we got home chris and i decided it was time to get me my own set of clubs... after searching for a couple days i found the perfect ones... they are womens left handed petite.... yes... super hard to come by... its bad enough that i'm super short and the petite helps just a bit.... but add in left handed.... makes it tricky.  excited to get out there and start using them!!

charleston or bust...

i am part of an organization called Naval Officers Spouses Club... we are a non profit that raises a little money that is used for military families... mostly NOSC is an organization for support and entertainment and fellowship of fellow navy wives.... which is much needed as we are so few on this very large marine base we live on.... we decided to take a girls trip down to charleston, sc the last weekend of april...

five of us loaded up into my awesome mom moblie van and drove down... we talked the entire time and had many laughs and several bathroom breaks.. haha... 2 more ladies met us down there later that evening... we stopped into our hotel quickly to check it out then quickly caught the free trolley and headed down town... we strolled the shops and nearly broke things in really expensive antique shops... and our favorite was this jewelry shop... it was all used or whatever you call that.... it had previous owners... so fun to see the different styles of estate jewelry.  then we headed back to the hotel to change and get all dolled up for dinner and drinks... it was Sarah-Louise's birthday so we had a good reason to celebrate... dinner was sooo good and i tried as much as i could to be adventurous and eat some true southern food.... yum!! the outdoor bar we went to had a live band and these fun little seating areas.... we danced a little and enjoyed the nice weather... then we got back to the hotel and got in jammies and met up in my room (roomed with sarah-louise and linda) we chatted and for some reason were all starving so we ventured to the vending machines and had some chips and some wasabi peas i had brought with me...

woke up and had the breakfast at the hotel and then headed to the city market to get on a historical carriage ride.... the tour guide was so good... local boy all grown up.  he had a lot of fun things to share about the city and history... i took pics with my nice camera on that ride... the houses are just so fun... will always be my favorite thing about the south...

we then ate lunch at a little place down by the city market... and i ate my first fried green tomato... yum!!!! seriously so yummy.  then we went shopping in the city market... first we found this guy selling silver jewelry and he had several different styles of little anchor charms... so we all picked one out since we are navy gals... then i also bought an ornament for my collection and a sweet grass basket... its the thing of charleston... these really pretty hand made baskets that are crazy expensive... so i bought a little one... after that we headed back to the hotel to change for dinner... we went to magnolias.  so yummy!!!! i had lobster, scallop, and shrimp grits... i was nervous since i had never had lobster or scallops... but wow.... it was soooo good  i ate every little bit of it.  then we walked around for a bit and i was hugged/mauled by a very drunk bride to be... this city is the center for bachlorette parties.. 

next day we packed up had brunch at 82 queen... just a cute place with yummy food... then we checked out rainbow row, the market place where they used to sell slaves... and of course the pineapple fountain... 

whole group: me, Dill, Laina, Sarah-Louise, Linda, Mimi, Noskia

it was such a good weekend and we had such a good drive home and many memories.... hopefully we can meet up again in charleston in our future when we have all gone our ways....

april... and all things golf... cont...

first thing in savannah we drove to the apartment we had rented for the next 4 nights.... and wow... it was beautiful.  right in downtown savannah.  it was the basement floor of a building.  beautiful original floors and bricks... nice new kitchen and bathroom.... just really nice....

the couch had a nice pull out bed which jeff slept on the first night there and chris and i and daniel took the bedroom... we spent the evening getting a few groceries and then we walked to the nearby park... forsyth park... the whole downtown area is a grid and has 24 parks throughout the whole area.   this park is the largest... by far.  it has a play ground and fountain and large grass field.  and the trees!!!! you haven't seen anything like it unless you have been to savannah... they look like they are dripping with history.  haha

the next morning we dropped jeff off at the airport and we headed to this small childrens museum.  it was built out doors at this old railroad depot.... the setting was so cool with these brick walls and old trains.... daniel had a good time exploring... kicking giant balls around... going down the slide and of course playing with the cars... the funniest was he latched onto this small toy of a girl in a wheelchair and pushed it around for a long time... so funny... he also had fun just running around crazy and chasing his dad....

i can't help but take pictures of trains when i see them and they will always remind me of grandpa!!

after the childrens museum we walked around down town. found a place to have some lunch and then head back to the apartment for daniels nap time.  i think for dinner that night we just made something in the kitchen.  after his nap we just enjoyed the incredible weather and walked all over downtown... 

the next day we got up and went to the park... daniel played on the playground and then a stranger woman asked us to fly a kite with she and her daughter.  it only flew for a minute... just not enough wind to get it in the air... then we walked down to this restaurant down by the water that was a pirate house... good southern food... people dressed in costumes... just really fun.  then we walked over to our favorite part of downtown called the city market.... they had this fountain for kids to play in... daniel was scared at first but pretty soon running in and out no problem and getting soaked... he had so much fun chasing his dad in circles.... after his nap he had a picnic dinner in a park and then walked down to the city market again for a little dessert and entertainment...

today we visited an old house that general sherman had used for a bit while in savannah... the family had offered it to him so he wouldn't burn it down since he had been burning everything else in georgia.. it was a neat house... then we walked over to a cemetery.... i love old cemeteries... well, my sister emily loves cemeteries and always makes us see them on any vacation... so i have learned to love them... these ones were neat with a lot of above ground tombs. 

we then walked down to the river walk... got to see a giant shipping boat go by... huge.... and then checked out shops and the little market place by the river.... afterwords we ate lunch outdoors at a cafe.... then we headed back to the apartment for nap time and lots of masters watching... that evening we went back down town for one more visit to the city market area... we just loved it... we also found the park where the bench scene from forrest gump was filmed... 

forrest gump park...

one of my favorite things about walking around are the houses... they are just so fun... so much character and beauty... seriously just love it... here are my two favorite homes...

 the next morning we slowly packed up and cleaned a little and headed home... i drove and chris and daniel sat in the back... we drove the 6 hours straight never stopping and it was perfect... daniel is such a trooper in the car... 

the rest of the weekend we watched the masters on our tv.... and let me tell you.... i was so excited when my favorite bubba pulled ahead and then managed to hang onto his lead to finish as the winner again!!!! and this time so cute with wife and son there to congratulate him!! we even took our traditional masters photo of chris and daniel watching together... we also made french toast and then daniel decided that afternoon to be cute and pretend to cook himself... but of course he was cooking cars...

love these shots with bubba and his little family

this one cracks me up with his finger in his nose.. haha