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!
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Downtown Charleston On Foot- History, Amazing Architecture, and a Little Bit of Magic
Charleston, South Carolina, is a picturesque and historic city in the Deep South. Palm Trees mix into the vibrant fauna and brick roads seem as natural as the paved freeways passing through the state. This is where the Civil War began and the home of many famous authors throughout American history. This is where the sun shines hot and history runs deep.
We drove up to Charleston for Spring Break yesterday and ventured downtown first thing this morning for a little exploration. Charleston is a walking city. Houses hundreds of years old line the narrow streets that were build for horses and buggies, not SUVs. I loved the iron wrought gates and the breathtaking architecture. There were flowers everywhere and immaculate, expensive homes lining the streets. The atmosphere was magical. If I could have bottled it for inspiration, I would have. When I’m a famous novelist, I think I’ll live here. 
A Revolutionary War Statue
This is a history lover’s city. I saw gorgeous pre-Revolutionary War homes in amazing condition as well as houses that have been in one family for over 200 years. I loved walking the streets and taking everything in. Every where I looked there was something amazing and beautiful. I loved the overflowing window boxes and the bright shutters. Each house was more magnificent than the last. I loved how many of them had little gates in front, holding back the world from their perfectly manicured gardens and fountain-laced yards. Gorgeous!
We covered only a small part of the city this morning and have several days left to enjoy the rest. There is still the shopping district to conquer! I think I’m having even more fun than the kids. What a toy shop is to the kids, a city full of history is to me!
I love the vibrancy and the easy, laid-back atmosphere of the South. In the Spring, it’s easy to forget the sweltering heat that awaits and to fall head-over-heals in love with the place.
After a little exploration, we headed back to the RV for lunch and rests. It’s very expensive to eat out with the kids and so cheap to make lunch ourselves at our home away from home. Plus I was dying to upload my pictures. We’ll head back out for more fun and adventures later in the day!
There are museums and plantations all over the place here. We’re going to visit the place where the Battle of Sumter began and perhaps a plantation. Tomorrow we’re going to go on a carriage tour of the city, something horse-loving Alexandria has been begging to do. Everyone is learning lots and making memories too. This is an amazing old city with a million possibilities. If you ever get the chance, check it out! /History comes alive and the air shimmers with magic and possibilities. You won’t regret it.
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 3: Sledding and Snowball Fights, Perching on a Mountain Top, Exploring Winter Village, and Late-Evening Fireworks! Happy New Year from Stone Mountain!
Happy New Year! I can’t believe 2012 is finally here! We’ve been talking about 2012 for years. Why? 2012 is the year we finally PCS out of Jacksonville. It’s been a far-off idea forever and now it’s here. Crazy! We celebrated New Year’s Eve by exploring Stone Mountain Park ALL day. Literally. Our first outing lasted over 5 hours! That’s huge with little kids! They all did awesome and each of us got quite a workout climbing these hills! Our legs are so not used to elevation (Florida is so flat!). We definitely got our 10,000 steps in today!
We started our morning at Summit Skyride, a steep ride in a Cable Car to the top of Stone Mountain, 825 feet above the rest of the park (there was a fence so we couldn’t fall off the mountain, don’t worry). The kids thought it was really cool to be up so high! We explored the rocky mountain top and saw Atlanta and the Appalachian mountains off in the distance. Stone Mountain is really tiny by Northwest standards, but it’s a neat mountain nonetheless. The Confederate carving in the side of the mountain was really neat! It was really, really cold up there, so we didn’t stay too terribly long. We caught the next cable car down the mountain and continued exploring the park.
Here's our cable car!
Arial view of Snow Mountain
Memorial Confederate Carving
The kids look out over the mountain
Shadow view of our mountain-top perch
The Kids Atop Stone Mountain
Atlanta Skyline
Next, we hiked down the mountainside to Winter Village, a city decked out with Christmas lights and selling all sorts of cool things. The hot chocolate was amazing and I found an adorable Father Christmas ornament for only 66 cents. We watched Polar Express in 4-D, complete with blowing wind, falling snow, spraying water, and shaking seats. Alex and Ethan loved it while Derek and Bella were a little overwhelmed.
The train tour was calling our name and we climbed aboard for a tour before lunch. We got adventure arm bands as part of our campground deal which allowed access to everything but the snow area (we had separate tickets for that). The kids love trains and really enjoyed the ride. I’m sure it’s gorgeous in the spring and summer when the trees have leaves. There wasn’t a whole lot to see in the winter. Bella fell soundly asleep in my arms for her morning nap. The older kids loved the bumpy ride.
Here comes the train!Weeee!
The boys love trains
Mommy and Bella
The winter landscape
After lunch, we headed to Snow Mountain! This was Ethan, Derek, and Bella’s first time with snow. Our passes gave us access to the sledding area from 1-3 pm and unlimited access to the free-play area. We hit up the free-play area first and the kids had fun making snowballs, sledding the small hill, and making piles of snow. It was kind of cool but when it’s 60 degrees out the coats and hats get very warm. Plus, the snow area was pretty small for the price (we got a great deal with the campground package but still). I hope next year we’ll be somewhere that has real snow.
Alex Loves Snow!
Hubby helps Bella walk through the snow
Ethan's snowballSnow!
Derek My Snow Baby
Derek had so much fun sledding!
The line for the giant sledding hill was huge and I wasn’t comfortable with Bella riding down it, so I kept Derek and Bella while Hubby took the older kids down Snow Mountain. They hadn’t been gone a minute when Derek said, “I done. Snow not fun.” Seriously? Bella agreed, holding out her cold, mitten-less hand, “Done.” Well, drat. We plodded out of the snowy area and back to the stroller. What would we do now? The conductor called, “Last call for Stone Mountain Scenic Train!” Derek’s face lit up and we ran to the train, dropped the stroller off in stroller parking, and jumped aboard just in time. Might as well! Derek was excited and it took up a good 30-40 minutes. We saw some deer this time too! Hubby and the big kids were waiting for us when we returned. They had so much fun on Snow Mountain!
We were all exhausted as we walked back up the mountain to the parking lot. My leg muscles were screaming! It felt so good to sit in the car and even better to collapse into bed in the RV. All the kids took a nice long rest. I slept too! I made the kids a quick dinner around 5:30 and got everyone ready to head back out to Winter Village for some evening festivities.
This time, the world was transformed into a winter wonderland. Everything was glowing with lights. The world twinkled brilliantly. It was truly the most amazing Christmas display I’ve ever seen and the perfect way to spend a New Year’s Eve. We watched a glassblower hard at work, drank hot chocolate, toured shops, and enjoyed the lights. We went on the train a third time to see the Christmas light displays adorning the mountain and listened to the Christmas story. When the train returned to Winter Village, the streets were packed with people. What was going on? We found a clearing and stopped for a moment. Music started playing and a Snow Angel flew down above the crowd! The kids’ mouths dropped open. She told a story and flew around a while….. and snow began to fall! Sure, it was artificial, but it was sure cool! The kids merrily jumped around catching snowflakes. Then a burst of colorful fireworks lit up the sky! The show lasted for several minutes and was spectacular. Derek was freaked out, “Mommy! Mommy! Save me!” I held him with my hands over his ears. Poor guy. For such a tough man, he’s sure scared of everything!
We got back to the RV hours past bedtime and with a car full of very tired kids. The evening was amazing. I unfortunately forgot the camera… but we’re going back again! January 1st is the last day and we’ll be there! This was the best New Year’s Eve we’ve ever had. Hubby and I were sound asleep by 10:30. No midnight revelries for us. We hiked for miles, chased kids through the snow, and had an absolute blast. Stone Mountain Park is an absolute treasure-trove of activities and family fun. I’m glad we made the trek.
Our Family in Winter Village
Stone Mountain Confederate Carving
Related articles
- Day 1: Beaver Run Campground in Metter, Georgia! (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
- Day 2: Stone Mountain, Georgia! The RV Adventure Continues! (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
Day 2: Stone Mountain, Georgia! The RV Adventure Continues!
After some running around to tire out the kids, some cleaning and storing stuff in the rv, and prepping for the road, we got back on the freeway around 10 am. Bella was sleepy and ready for her morning snooze (perfect!), Ethan quickly became absorbed in his coloring book, Alex played with a doodle pad, and Derek enjoyed his learning games on the iPad. We made good time and covered about 100 miles before Hubby made the mistake of mentioning food. You can’t tell a 1-year-old that we’re getting food “soon.” She doesn’t understand the passage of time and started crying for snacks. Thanks a ton. We drove past Macon (rhymes with bacon!) searching for someplace with parking big enough for RV’s and busses. That is really not an easy task. Anything too small and we can’t turn the behemoth around and get out. We finally spotted a Denny’s sign with “RV Islands” on the sign. Score! Unfortunately it was another 30 minutes down the road.. making it about 45 minutes after Hubby mentioned food. Bella screeched for snacks the entire time, which I kept feeding her, and the others complained they were “starving.” Maybe Hubby learned not to mention food until we physically see somewhere we can pull off? Let’s hope!
The terrain changed dramatically as we neared Atlanta, transforming from flat land covered in thin pines to rolling hills thick with firs. By the time we reached Stone Mountain, we were climbing hills so steep, I really didn’t think we’d make it with 5000 pounds attached to our rear. A vibrant lake peeked through the trees and Stone Mountain rose majestically overhead. We slowly climbed the hills and made it to the campground with about 1/4 tank of gas left (we had to refill in Metter… expensive!). The campground was gorgeous and nearly every lane was filled with RV’ers! Our site was a back-in next to the forest and within walking distance of a lake. Backing in was not fun and we almost hit a few trees but with a lot of patience and pulling forward and back we made it.
The kids immediately took off to explore the forest behind our spot, down a hill and next to a creek leading to the lake. It’s the perfect spot for a little exploration and imaginative play. Hubby and I hooked everything up (power, water, sewer), leveled the RV, and got out toys. We all walked to the lake, then plopped Bella into the stroller for some exploration. The hills were sure a challenge! We checked out the playground and went hiking. The kids ran themselves ragged but didn’t want to go in even when it was getting dark! Bella was so tired, Daddy carried her all the way back and Derek rode in the stroller to keep him from running off like a crazy man.
Campground Playground
Bella loved the slides!
Fun!
Mommy and Bella
Look how pretty the campground is!
Sassy Little Explorer
Hubby and I
The kids love running and playing outside!
We had hotdogs, beans, and corn for dinner in the RV and got ready for bed a bit early. Only Derek and Bella took naps on the drive and Ethan was quickly losing it. Hubby and Alex headed into town to get gas and pillows (we packed 4 and needed 6). I was happy to rest for a while too, going through pictures and reading a new book. A box of review books arrived in the mail the day before we left! Woohoo!
We’re excited to explore this great park. There looks like there’s so much to do! We’re going to have a blast playing in the Snow! Alex hasn’t seen snow since she was a baby and we lived in Kansas. The boys and Bella have never seen snow. This will be a real adventure!
Day 1: Beaver Run Campground in Metter, Georgia!
Our kids are pretty rotten when it comes to road trips. Everything starts our fine and dandy. They’re happy, engaged with their books and activities, and talking merrily amongst themselves. After 2 hours, they begin to get restless. After three hours, they are beasts. The crying and screaming are annoying. The toys fly throughout the Armada and the tempers flare (ours and theirs). Our RV trips thus far have been close enough that we drive 3 hours max. Hubby wanted to take a trip to Stone Mountain, north of Atlanta, Georgia, this winter and I was skeptical. Stone Mountain sounded amazing, but it’s over 6 hours away from home. 6 hours! Ak! Bella screams in the car for a trip to the grocery store. The thought of 6 hours of her screaming really didn’t put me in the mood for camping.
We made a compromise: We would make a trip to Stone Mountain during Hubby’s Christmas leave AND drive 3 hours a day. How? We chose an overnight campgorund stop halfway through the trip in Metter, Georgia. It took exactly 3 hours to get from Jacksonville to Beaver Run Campground, a small but cozy campground in the middle of nowhere. There was a cotton field across the street and a dilapidated 1800s farm house on the property. The park was sparsly populated and was situated around a lovely pond. The kids and I enjoyed exploring and playing on the small playground. We chose the park because it got good reviews online, because it had a playground, and because of the open space to walk and stretch our legs. We were not disappointed.
Cutie Pie Plays With Mom' s Empty Coffee Cup on the Ride
Are we there yet? Are we there yet?
The kids were so happy to be out of the car, they could have ran and played anywhere. Derek was absolutely bursting with energy. We played and went on lots of walks that evening, then again in the morning before driving to Atlanta. Those kids have boundless energy! I also went for a nice run first thing in the morning, then took the kids on a walk. My legs get restless after sitting long as well.
Life is hilarious!
Who knew tires could be so fun?
Hubby at the pond
Happy Campers!
This RV trip is unique not only because of its final destination, but because we’ve never attempted a staggered trip before. We usually chose a campground, hookup, and stay there. This time we’re camping in Beaver Run for one night, heading up to Stone Mountain for 5 nights, and then returning to Beaver Run for 2 more nights so that we can visit Savannah. Our next two nights there will be free because Beaver Run participates in Tents for Troops, an awesome program offering free camping to military families. Woohoo! Considering the RV parks near Savannah got terrible reviews and Beaver Run is only 45 minutes from Savannah, it’ll be just fine. It was clean, friendly, and had great wi-fi!
My Little Explorers
Daddy and His Boys
Beaver Run Campground wasn’t the fanciest campground we’ve visited. Nor was it the largest, the most activity-filled, or and coolest. It did, however, meet our needs as a quick stop. It was well maintained and inexpensive and we felt safe staying there. There weren’t any creepy campers and it was quiet. We’d definitely recommend Beaver Run Campground if you need a quick stopover and are passing through Georgia.
The adventure to Stone Mountain, Georgia, continues!
RV Adventures! Bugs, Bears, and the Best Time Ever
- Our Little Home Away From Home
One great thing about homeschooling is that you can choose when to take vacations. We did school all summer to beat the intense heat. It was time for a break. Public school started this week in Duval County, but we were nowhere to be found. Instead, the Melville kids were vacationing at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Camping Resort in Madison, Florida!
Since school was in session, we had the resort to ourselves (save for 1-2 other RV’ers). 125 acres of fun and adventures awaited us. There was a giant water slide, many lakes for paddle boating and swimming, trails for hiking, a pool, mini golf, games, two playgrounds, and lots of trees for climbing. We played for hours each day, getting absolutely filthy and loving it.
On our first weekend, the Southern Gunslingers were in town and put on some crazy wild-west shootout shows, complete with costumes and guns that fired blanks. The older kids thought this was great… the younger ones were terrified. Derek couldn’t stop watching, so long as he could do so from the safety of the RV. If we were outside at the time of the shows he would scream at the top of his lungs. Now he won’t stop pretending to shoot things. He’s a “pirate cowboy.” I guess that combines his two biggest interests.
The sandy shores of the lake were a huge attraction to the kids. They loved the playground, and also just plain playing in the sand. The lake itself was awesome, warm and inviting. The kids loved wading in the water and trying to “catch” fish with their hands. For some drier lake time we tried paddle boating for the first time… and second, third, fourth, fifth…. We saw lots of wild egrets and cranes, dragonflies and scores of butterflies.
The bugs were pretty ferocious, but that’s Florida in the summer for you. The bears… well… Yogi Bear did visit our campsite. Derek was initially curious but then retreated. We discovered a couple of great antique shops in the small, historic town of Madison and went on a historic tour of their downtown area. There wasn’t a whole lot to do in the area but enjoy the great outdoors. This was our biggest and longest RV adventure yet… and it was a learning experience. 23 feet of living space gets very, very cramped with 6 people! The little kids were constantly underfoot. This did have one benefit… we spent most of the time outside! Did we get completely turned off from RV’ing because of the close quarters, messes, hot and humid weather, and midnight laundry-mat run? Nope. We’re already planning our next adventure. Are we crazy? Sure, a little. You have to be a bit crazy to have 4 kids… and love the military lifestyle.
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Florida: http://yogicampingflorida.com/
A Lovely Shot of the Lake
Mini-Golf Was a Favorite Activity-- We Did It Every Day!
Derek Meets Yogi Bear
Brothers on an Adventure
We Did a Bit of School When It Was Too Hot To Play
