Let’s Re-Do This Weekend: Duty, the Stomach Flu, and a Tropical Storm
Hubby recently came home from a long time at sea, and we wanted to celebrate by taking the camper out for the long weekend. He’s been gone a lot this Spring so the camper hasn’t seen much action. I booked us a quaint spot at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah. I didn’t consider how busy campgrounds would be on Memorial Day weekend! All of our favorites were booked solid. Hunter was new to us and we were excited. As soon as Hubby got out of work Thursday, we loaded up the camper and drove north to Savannah.
The campround was small but very nice. Right across the street sat the Savannah Mall… complete with a Bass Pro Shops! Hubby was thrilled to see that. It’s his absolute favorite store and we don’t have one here in Jacksonville. As soon as we were settled into the campground, we headed to the mall for dinner at Texas Roadhouse and a trip to Bass Pro Shops.
Thursday night, things started to go wrong. Derek woke up with a violent stomach bug. Poor guy. It was everywhere. Hubby and I cleaned everything up and wrapped up all his bedding in garbage bags. This campground had no laundry facilities. Derek was up for several hours before being able to go back to sleep.
On Friday, Hubby got called in to work… in Jacksonville. Evidentially, he had been scheduled for duty for both Saturday and Monday. Our trip was about to be cut really short. We spent lots of time hanging out at the camper and visited the little parks on the air base. There was a small lake and surprisingly cool playparks. The kids liked running along the nature trail, climbing the play toys, and pointing out little fish in the lake. There was even a kids’ obstacle course! Derek was unusually tired and slept a lot throughout the day.
Early Saturday morning, we were back on the road and headed home. We learned that a tropical storm had formed off the coast… and was headed straight for Jacksonville. Great. It would arrive a day after us. Hubby went to work, the kids rested, and we washed all the laundry. I got all the storm supplies ready in case we lost power. You never know what to expect with a tropical storm!
The morning of the storm, Alex woke up with the stomach flu. Poor girl was down for several days. She couldn’t eat anything and slept a lot.
Tropical Storm Beryl rolled through Sunday night just 4 mph shy of hurricane strength, fierce and powerful with wild rain and wind gusts 70+ miles per hour. The sound of the rain was amazing. We didn’t lose power and had no damage. By the morning, the entire yard was covered with fallen branches and Spanish moss. The rain continued for several more days.
Monday night, I came down with the flu and was very ill through Tuesday. I’m doing better now and hope this is the end of it! I’m sanitizing everything today! We seem to be getting sick every 2 days… I’m hoping no one is up sick tonight!!!
May has been a month full of germs in our house. My kids rarely get sick… but when we get something we all share it and it seems to last forever. We had an upper-respiratory virus for two weeks of the month, then the stomach flu. Ug. I didn’t take many pictures this month, as we didn’t go too many places when everyone was sick. I hope that June brings health to our household!
I think that our weekend needs a re-do. We need a family getaway that doesn’t involve duty, the stomach flu, or a tropical storm. Perhaps we can try it again this weekend, if no one else comes down with the flu. Fingers crossed!
Related articles
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A Week Away From Reality– RV Camping in James Island County Park
Spring break 2012 was really rockin’! We drove up the coast to Charleston, South Carolina, for the week and camped at James Island County Park, the closest campground to downtown Charleston.
In addition to all the great touristy activities, we had a blast camping. Just minutes from downtown, James Island County Park is a 643-acre oasis. Super-well cared for and maintained, there were countless things to occupy our hours.
The kids spent hours digging in the dirt and catching caterpillars. Those things were everywhere! We were picking them off our clothes all week! There were three great hiking trails we walked numerous times and a gigantic playground. The RV lots were large and semi-private and the camp store had all sorts of neat trinkets as well as bug spray, fishing supplies, and basic food supplies. This may just have been the nicest campground we’ve stayed at thus far!
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My brother and sister-in-law and their kids came out to visit us several times and we had a ton of fun camping together. The kids played and got completely filthy. Everyone stayed up way past their bed times, ate lots of sugery smores, and burned off the energy on the trails and playground.
We love camping. It’s way cheaper than a hotel room in a good hotel, plus we have all the comforts of home right at hand. If the kids may a huge disaster, it’s no big deal. We spend way more time outdoors than we do at home and get more family time too. We love our RV!
Escaping Reality One Internet-Free Day in the Woods at a Time
We love camping. Plain and simple. One weekend in the RV seems like a week and sometimes we just need to escape from reality. Not only had it been a few months since we had last been camping as a family, but some unfortunate drama left me stressed and in dire need for a break from the every day. After Hubby got out of work Friday afternoon, we packed up the camper and headed for the beach. Now that is just what the doctor ordered.
Playing Outside is Fun!
Mama's Hiker!
We love Kathryn A. Hanna Park, next to NAS Mayport, and have camped there three times now. It’s less than an hour from home and the campground is wooded with hiking trails, a lake, and the beach within walking distance. Perfect! The kids love the hours of outside play time and exploring and I love the fact that we’re all so much more active than normal. Saturday alone, we hiked for over 4 hours!
Look at those waves! Stormy Seas
It's Windy!
I love you, Daddy!
This weekend turned into an unexpected Internet diet. Once we were settled, I booted up my laptop and attempted to connect to the Internet. I’m doing Weight Watchers Online and wanted to log my afternoon snack. To my surprise, there were no networks to be found. I told Hubby, and he said, “There’s no Internet. Did I forget to mention that?” Hmmm. Not the end of the world. I shut down the computer and recorded my food log on paper. It was surprising how much more family time we spent together with no Internet! An Internet-free diet is exactly what we need sometimes.
We hiked to the beach on Saturday morning but didn’t stay long. While it was merely breezy in the Florida forest, the wind was scathing on the beach. It practically blew me over! We weren’t there more than 5 minutes before heading back inland. The weekend was overcast, breezy, and a bit chilly, but we didn’t mind too much. In the woods, the wind was very bearable. At least we didn’t have to worry about sunburns this time!
Relaxing in the RV
The day seemed to go on forever. We played inside and hiked outside. We all took naps and read lots too. We roasted smores over the fire in the evening and just plain relaxed. That was so nice. Our everyday life is so busy and hectic, we don’t often have the time or opportunity to just relax. That what makes camping so great. Rather than run around getting things done and surfing the Internet, we talked and spent the entire time together. Family time is great.
This was our first time out as a family in the new RV. We upgraded to a larger camper with a bunkhouse for the kids (4 bunks for 4 kids!). Our first camper had 2 bunks and we thought we could put 2 kids in each bunk. Unfortunately they wouldn’t stop goofing off and kicking each other. The new RV also has a deep slide so that we have a living area. This is so nice! Now when Bella throws tantrums on the floor, we can walk around her rather than step over her. 
The added space makes camping so much more enjoyable. We all slept much more soundly and were less stressed.
Playing in the dirt never gets old
Smores!
Roasting Marshmallows!
Mommy and Derek Lovin'
RV’ing is a blast. If you’re thinking about it, though, keep in mind that it is a lot of work. The inside and outside of the RV require a lot of cleaning and maintenance. Be prepared for washing the outside walls to keep them clean, as well as lots of housekeeping inside. The kids tracked in so much dirt and sand it was amazing. I’m glad that the new couches are leather, though, because they are much easier to clean than the cloth furniture we had before. I had to scrub down the furniture several times during the weekend. There’s also an endless stream of dishes and laundry, plus beds to make, food to supply an prepare, and much more. Camping is fun… and a bit tiring for mom and dad! As we loaded the last of the food, supplies, clothes, toys, etc into the RV Friday evening, my neighbor joked and said, “You guys already look exhausted!” Funny thing was that it was true! It is a lot of work prepping for a camping trip with 4 young kids! I was tired before we even got on the road. Whew!
Is it worth it? Definitely. I certainly prefer going out for longer periods of time because we can spend more time camping and less time on prep and clean up. It took me all morning Friday to prepare all the supplies and then all Sunday morning to clean the camper inside and out. Our only real day to play was Saturday. It was still nice to get out and I’m sure it’ll be easier as the kids get older and can help out a bit more with the chores. Camping with kids can be crazy, but it’s also a ton of fun.
I’d definitely recommend RV’ing to anyone who is up for an adventure. Just don’t expect it to be all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a lot of work and can be frustrating too. RV’ing forces you to work together and overcome challenges, and also opens up a whole new world of exploration and outdoorsy fun. We love camping. It’s one of the highlights of our lives. I can’t wait to see what other camping adventures 2012 has in store. Perhaps a cross-country road trip?
Our Living Room
Ethan stands in the kid's bunkhouse
Day 7: Unpleasant Frozen Surprises and Alex’s Seventh Birthday!
Seven years ago today, we welcomed a tiny, 6 lb 3 oz bundle of screaming, blonde-haired girl into the world on a cold, icy day in Kansas. She’s grown into a vibrant, smart, funny, and sassy little lady. Miss Alex celebrated her seventh birthday today!
Quite fittingly, it was also a cold and icy day in North Georgia. Quite unfortunately, our fresh and gray water pipes had frozen. What does this mean? We could neither empty our sewer or dirty water (sink and bath) tanks, nor get fresh water in. This is not good. Not only is it highly inconvenient and rather smelly, but it adds a ton of weight to the vehicle and we needed to check-out of Stone Mountain Campground. The RV started smelling like an outhouse and the sink was full of dishes I couldn’t wash. Outside, the frigid air registered at around 22 degrees. Brrr! Alex and I hurried to the campground showers for some cleanup time. A plus was that the hot water there actually lasted longer than it does in the RV! When we were fresh and dressed, we secured everything we could inside the RV for travel and hoped for the best.
We got on the road shortly after 9 am, hauling an extra 600+ pounds of frozen water and sewage. The poor truck was really grumbling climbing those hills! It sucked but we didn’t have a choice. We hoped that the warming temperatures would help everything thaw as we drove. The roads weren’t too bad at all and we didn’t encounter any ice.
Hubby wanted to stop at Bass Pro Shops in Macon, Georgia, for a break about 1 1/2 hours into the trip. We pulled into the back of the parking lot where there was a ton of space, shopped for a while, then made a picnic lunch in the RV. After a bit of air freshener, it wasn’t too bad. I opened the windows for air and made everyone sandwiches, yogurt, and milk. One awesome thing about traveling with an RV is that it’s so easy to stop and have a picnic! All the food and supplies we needed were readily available, as well as a table and chairs to sit and a contained area for Bella to wobble around in like a crazy lady. Once everyone was full and ready for a rest, we loaded back into the Armada and hit the freeway once more.
All 4 kids napped a bit on the drive to Metter, after Bella came to the sad realization that she wouldn’t be let out of her car seat no matter how many times she yelled, “Out!!! Mama, Dada, Out!!!!!” Poor baby. We got into Beaver Run Campground a little after 3 pm and were very happy to find that the nasty, frozen mess waiting for us had thawed! We quickly hooked up to the sewer line and drained everything. Then we ran through lots and lots of hot water to make sure those pipes were cleared of ice. Tonight we’re running a bit of water through constantly to try and avoid the same problem. Live and learn, right? Live and learn.
The kids played outside the rest of the afternoon. Alex’s big birthday bash was yesterday even though today is technically her birthday. She played with her Rebecca doll all day long. The highlight of her afternoon today was helping wash the loads and loads of laundry at the campground laundromat and building houses and castles out of pinecones. Yes, we are terribly exciting people. Hubby made a yummy chicken dinner, we all washed in a working shower, and turned the heat on high. It’s amazing how one takes the small things like running water and a working bathroom for granted… until they’re gone. I am very, very thankful for running water and not having to run through 22-degree-morning-air to use a shower!
Alex’s seventh birthday was full of traveling. I think she’s really enjoying a week’s worth of celebrating. It’s a coincidence that Hubby’s Christmas leave period fell on the week of her birthday, but it has worked out well. She’s already asking to spend next year’s birthday in the RV as well. We’ll see. I don’t think I’m overly fond of camping in sub-freezing weather. I guess it largely depends on where we are in the country next January. Regardless, it has been a birthday to remember… for all of us!
Related articles
- Day 2: Stone Mountain, Georgia! The RV Adventure Continues! (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
- Day 6: A Very American Girl Birthday (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
- Day 1: Beaver Run Campground in Metter, Georgia! (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
- Day 4: A Gorgeous Antebellum Plantation, Long Hikes in the Wilderness, an Awesome New Playground, and Smores in Stone Mountain, Georgia! (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
- Day 3: Sledding and Snowball Fights, Perching on a Mountain Top, Exploring Winter Village, and Late-Evening Fireworks! Happy New Year from Stone Mountain! (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
Day 6: A Very American Girl Birthday
American Girl Atlanta!
Alexandria and I are huge fans of the American Girl collection. I adored them as a girl and she shares my passion. I love that the books are educational and teach her about history. She adores the dolls and has been asking for one for a long time. We don’t have an American Girl Store in Jacksonville, but there is one north of Atlanta in Alpharetta!
This was both of our first trips to the American Girl Store and we were very excited! Hubby went too because he didn’t want us to spend a living fortune. He practically had a heart attack every time he saw a price tag. He he he. They are a big pricey! The store was truly awesome. Every doll, accessory, and book imaginable lined their shelves. Alex and I were in girl heaven!
Alex poses next to the Kit Collection
Please, please, please?
How about Molly?
Well, I guess these will do!
We found a new book series to enjoy, a set of Kit paper dolls, and a few other small things. Hubby wouldn’t agree to a doll. “They’re just to expensive, Alex,” he said. She was a good sport about it and was happy for the books and paper dolls but a bit dejected she didn’t get a doll. She wanted one so badly.
We went to a lovely German restaurant in Stone Mountain Village for lunch and returned to the RV for rests. I told Alex I had one last birthday gift for her. When I handed her the long, wrapped box her eyes lit up with pure joy. She knew exactly what it was. She hurried to pull off the paper and screeched, “Rebecca!” Her very own doll looked back up at her with twinkling eyes. Alex was so happy she was almost crying. “This is the best birthday ever!” she cried with joy.
Alex and Rebecca
Alex and her doll are inseparable. They spent every second together the rest of the day. I hope she has some great memories in store with her doll. Every girl needs one.
Mommy and Alex
Birthday Cake for our Snowflake Princess
Happy 7th Birthday!
I want some too!
Today was bitterly cold in the mountains, hovering in the 20′s and breezy. After our trip to the American Girl Store, we stayed in the warm RV until Hubby built us a roaring fire outside. It was blissful! When it got dark, we came inside for some birthday cake and bed time. Alex asked to stay up late because tomorrow’s her birthday and we agreed. She’s been busily playing with her Kit paper dolls and Rebecca doll for hours now. It’s been a very American Girl birthday and one she’ll not soon forget. I hope it was as special to her as she is to us.
Day 5: Atlanta’s Georgia Aquarium and Bass Pro Shops on a Freezing Cold, Winter’s Day
The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta’s Georgia Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the world, with over 60 exhibits, a musical, choreographed dolphin show called Dolphin Tales, and a 4-D Under-the-Sea presentation complete with splashing water and other effects. It opened in November 2005. There are more than 8.5 million gallons in its tanks and 120,000+ sea animals. Impressive, right? We couldn’t let our time in Northern Georgia pass without a trip to the famed Georgia Aquarium.
We drove to the aquarium first thing in the morning in hopes of beating the crowd. It was sooo cold! Barely above freezing and windy, we bundled up tight against the bitter winter air. The poor kids were frozen! We were shocked when we reached the aquarium and there were huge lines of people both waiting to buy tickets and waiting to get in with prepaid tickets. Our winding line had at least 100 people ahead of us. We stood out there for a good 30-45 minutes waiting to get tickets before proceeding through a purse check and a metal-detecting body scan. Interesting. If you go, keep in mind that the Georgia Aquarium is really, really expensive. Adult tickets are $29.95 each and children’s tickets are $23.95 each. Even after our military discount, we dropped a lot of money to get in. Ouch!
We were given specific times we could go to the shows, so we immediately headed upstairs for Dolphin Tales. The musical presentation opened earlier this year and is amazing. The story of the “Star Spinner,” a man who spins stories into the stars and whose ship was sunk by an evil sea monster. He must defeat the sea monster to raise his ship. Dolphins leap from the 1.3 million tank, dramatically flipping and magestically taking their trainers on high-speed rides across the tank. We were up close in the packed-auditorium and the show was truly amazing! The kids loved it. I think it was way better than Sea World!
Bella checks out the dolphin tanks before the showA dolphin!
Unfortunately, there was no photography allowed during the show. We’ll just have to keep it in our memories. I’m glad we went!
Next, we headed to our 12:00 show, “Deepo’s Undersea 3D Wondershow.” It was actually a 4-D presentation because there was splashing water, falling confetti, flashing lights, etc. “Deepo’s Undersea 3D Wondershow” was the story of Aquarium Guide Deepo, who knows nothing about the undersea life he teaches others about. He meets a orange fish and is magically turned into a fish as well. They go on an undersea adventure, meeting all sorts of sea life and learning all about living in the ocean. The moral of the story is cute and the characters are adorable. The kids loved it and it was just long enough to capture their attention.
After lunch in the aquarium (very expensive!!!), we began touring the exhibits. Cold Water Quest was first.
Derek and Alex check out an exhibit
The Beluga whales were fun to watch!
Cold Water Quest is home to four funny Beluga whales, two of which were competing for a play ring next to the exhibit’s glass. The large male, Beethoven, and the young Qinu both wanted the ring and stole it back and forth from each other. Beethoven loved swimming through his ring! A speaker also taught us all about the Beluga whales, their life cycles, habits, and needs. It was crowded but educational! We also saw penguins, lots of fish, an octopus, and more.
The Ocean Voyager Exhibit was absolutely awe-inspiring. We walked through an acrylic tunnel where we could see sea creatures all around us. These weren’t just your average fish! Giant Manta Rays soared overhead. Giant sharks and groupers amazed us. It was something you really have to see to believe! There were giant viewing windows all around the tank as we continued through the exhibit, allowing us to see a huge variety of creatures. The boys loved the sharks and shrieked every time one swam by. I liked the graceful spotted eagle ray. Alex liked the colorful fish and Bella fell asleep in her stroller. It must have been too much brain stimulation for a little girl! This was definitely my favorite part of the aquarium.
Ocean Voyager
Look at that!
Tropical Diver was so crowded, we didn’t enjoy it as much as we could have. Seriously, it was so thickly packed with people we had to wait a good 5-10 minutes just to get near to a display and then fight our way out. Some displays were so crowded we couldn’t even get near them! Of the things we did see, we enjoyed the jelly fish and the garden eels a lot! The colorful fish were fun too.
The River Scout exhibit was neat. I liked the intricate tree-like woodworking through the exhibit and the crawl-through portions for kids. The animals here weren’t much different from what we see at the zoos in Florida, including an albino alligator, a boa, otters, and fish.
Georgia Explorer offered lots of hands-on activities and a play area too. The kids touched horseshoe crabs, starfish, stingrays, and shrimp. We saw sea turtles and lionfish too. The play area was so cram-packed we didn’t even try it.
Overall, we loved the Georgia Aquarium. Although very expensive, the exhibits were well-kept and flush with sea life, the shows were world-class, and the facility was sparkling. It was an amazing experience! The only drawback was that the aquarium was sooooooo crowded. Looking at reviews on travel sites, this is a common complaint. I wish it had been less crowded because we would have had more time to enjoy the exhibits. We spent about 5 hours exploring the aquarium. By the time we left, the boys were tired and getting naughty. It was a good time to call it a day and head back to camp. Each of us had a great time.
If you’re ever in Atlanta, you should definitely check out the Georgia Aquarium! It’s something amazing, a true feast for the senses.
The temperature continued to drop throughout the day, and by evening it was below freezing. With hiking and outdoor play out of the question, we headed to Bass Pro Shops Atlanta after dinner. We love Bass Pro Shops and don’t have one in Jacksonville. It was a drive, but a fun way to spend a cold evening! After all, we needed something to do to keep the kids from driving us crazy in the RV all evening long! We explored, looked at some animals and fish, and had a shoot-out at the shooting arcade.
Alex warms up by a roaring fire!
Derek says, "Daddy, can we buy this?"
Daddy instructs the kids at the shooting arcade
I can’t believe how cold it was! The night was 22 degrees with a chance of snow. The kids slept snuggly in their beds, piled with blankets and tired out from an exciting day on the town. I think we made some great memories today! Atlanta is a great place for family fun! We’ve had an amazing vacation.
