Spring Break 2008

Jeff and Anna at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola NAS

Motto to Live By: Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body; but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming, "Woo Hoo! What a ride!"~~Sign in a shop in Fredericksburg, TX

Meridian, MS

We left shortly after lunch on Friday and arrived in Meridian, MS, several hours later. There was no particular reason that we chose Meridian other than it looked like a good half way point on our way to Arlington, TX. We stayed at a Meridian East/Toomsuba KOA Campground. Like the majority of KOA campgrounds, it provides an adequate place to stay the night. I couldn't imagine making any KOA campground a multi-night vacation destination but they suffice well for a quick overnight stay that is easy access to the interstate. However, there is one huge positive about this particular KOA. It is not located right next to the interstate so you won't hear traffic noise in our RV as you sleep at night. We were up early on Saturday and on our way to Arlington, TX, to visit with family members who live there and nearby there.

Arlington, TX

We arrived in Arlington around 3 pm. We checked in to our campground, Tree Tops RV Village. This RV park was very nice and a place that seemed like many called home. There appeared to be several RVs that were full-timers. And, the park was set up more like a small subdivision with cul-de-sacs than a typical RV park. We called our family members to notify everyone that we had arrived safely and began settling in. However, when Jeff tried to put our driver side slide out, it seemed to be hung up on something. After closer inspection, he found a bolt that had come loose. Luckily, there was a Lowe's nearby. Our Uncle Ed went with Jeff and as luck would have it, they had the right size nut and bolt that we needed. We were so grateful that this didn't happen in a more secluded area or finding a replacement wouldn't have been so easy. Everyone met at our camper for the evening. Our Aunt Lena, who lives in Sanger, TX, drove to Arlington to visit with us. Our Uncle Ed, Aunt Barbara, Cousin Christopher and Grandma all met us at the camper for dinner. We grilled out hamburgers and hotdogs and enjoyed a nice evening relaxing and catching up.

On Sunday, we ate breakfast at Uncle Ed & Aunt Barbara's home and then we attended church service with the family. We ate lunch at Red Lobster after church and then we visited Grandma's apartment complex. Grandma moved here a couple of years ago from Princeton, WV. This was the first time that we had seen her new home. It was lovely and we can understand why she has settled in so well here. Grandma gave us a tour of the apartment complex which was quite nice...complete with a chapel, theater, game room, restaurant, etc. The girls especially enjoyed the game room.

We returned to Grandma's apartment for some cake to celebrate Christopher's 17th birthday a bit early. It seems like just yesterday that Chris was the little tyke running circles around us. Now, our two were running circles around him.


Later, we went back to Uncle Ed & Aunt Barbara's home for the evening. One of Uncle Ed's friends stopped by later in the evening with a new Lotus that he just purchased. Jeff and Uncle Ed both got to ride in the new Lotus. Now, Jeff wants one. He is getting close to 40 so I guess it's about time for a mid-life crisis sports car purchase.

I forgot to mention, Maggie, Ed & Barbara's dog. She is a lab and Rachel and Maggie became friends very quickly.

On Monday, we visited a local entertainment place called Alley Cats where we bowled and played video games with Uncle Ed. Rachel had a great time playing Deal or No Deal. I think we need to register her for the TV show. She did a great job playing. We had dinner at Uncle Ed & Aunt Barbara's home and then we watched Christopher's Junior Varsity baseball game where Chris pitched the final few innings of the game leading his team to victory.
We left on Tuesday morning to our next stop, Fredericksburg, TX.

Fredericksburg, TX


We arrived in Fredericksburg by early afternoon on Tuesday. We quickly settled into our campground. Our campground was very nice with easy access pull through sites. The comfort station and facilities were also pristine. And, it was very convenient to downtown Fredericksburg. After getting settled, we drove to the historic area of Fredericksburg to browse the shops and select a place for dinner. Before dinner, we had dessert. We visited the Chocolat shop on Main Street. They specialize in liquid filled chocolates which I did try. I have to say that their fudge was much better than the liquid filled chocolate that I sampled. My sample had bourbon in it. If you like that kind of thing, you would probably enjoy it. I prefer plain chocolate, thanks. You can't visit Fredericksburg and not eat at a German restaurant. We chose the Auslander. The food was great. I probably gained 10 pounds tonight alone. And, the main item we shopped for were cowboy hats for the girls. Anna had to have a red hat; her favorite color. And, Rachel had a pink one; her favorite color. Of course, we don't mind dressing them up like this. We know these days are numbered. They enjoy it too. Plus, it brings a smile to most adults who pass them that notice their ensemble.


We decided to hike the Summit Trail at Enchanted Rock on Wednesday. I didn't mention earlier that Jeff and I had visited the Fredericksburg area moons ago. It was B.K. (before kids). I believe it was 1995 so it's been a while. We also hiked Enchanted Rock on that visit but it was during the summer and was certainly a lot hotter than it was on this trip. Rachel and Anna enjoyed the hike. Usually, they do reasonably well on hikes as long as it is not hot and that was the same for this.

Enchanted Rock is second in size in the United States only to Stone Mountain in our home state of Georgia. Rachel wore her pink cowboy hat while hiking. At one point, a group of Air Force men were hiking up Enchanted Rock and the Sergeant goaded them by telling them that a little girl in a pink hat was hiking quicker than they were. Of course, they were on the second trip up at that point and they were carrying 50 lb backpacks but that didn't matter. And, after reaching the top, the sergeant dropped them for some push ups. Hearing those men and seeing them reminded me of boot camp years ago. I can honestly say I was grateful that I was on vacation and not them at that particular moment. We were done with our hike by lunch time and we decided to go back to Fredericksburg for lunch. We selected a different restaurant; Wheelers. The food was delicious here also.
After lunch, we visited the Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park for a short hike before returning to our camper for dinner. We did notice that there were campsites available at this park as well. However, it is located next to a small airport. I don't know how much noise is experienced from the airport but the park was nice and within a reasonable distance to downtown Fredericksburg.

I had purchased some steaks that we grilled for dinner at our RV. Then, we played putt-putt golf. The putt-putt course was located right next to our campground so it was an easy walking distance and we were the only ones playing so we had the entire course to ourselves. It was great! Of course, the only person to get a hole-in-one was Anna. And, the winner of the game was Jeff....he is still gloating about it.

On Thursday morning, it was time to hit the road again. We had a pleasant stay in Fredericksburg but it was time to start our journey towards home.

Lafayette, LA

We stayed at the KOA campground in Lafayette. Again, no particular reason other than it was a good midway point to our next stop; Pensacola Beach, FL. While there were some nice things about this campground, I have to admit, it was very noisy. It is located directly next to the interstate. We have a rig and we heard a lot of the traffic noise. I could not imagine how bad it would be in a tent, pop up, etc. But, it met our needs for the evening. We enjoyed dinner at the Olive Garden in Scott, LA. I know there are nice areas of Louisiana but the Lafayette area was not the most favorite place we've traveled through.

By now, Simba has gotten quite accustomed to being a traveling kitty. He sometimes rides in the very front watching the traffic or he'll peer out of the side windows watching the scenery as we drive down the interstate.

Pensacola Naval Air Station, FL

U.S.S. Alabama in Mobile, AL

We were up early and on our way to Pensacola on Friday. We drove through Mobile, AL, and we spotted the U.S.S. Alabama docked in the bay as we drove past.

Lighthouse at Pensacola NAS

We arrived in Pensacola around 1 pm leaving us plenty of time to get settled and enjoy the beach for the late afternoon. This was our first time to stay at the Pensacola Naval Air Station (NAS) and I must admit, it is very nice. The name is Oak Grove and it is located on the naval base so you must be affiliated with the DoD to be able to stay here. In addition to the campsites, they also have nice cottages right on the beach as well. We had a nice pull through site complete with full hook-up. And, the best part, we only had to walk about half a block to access the beach. And, there was hardly anyone else out there which made it even better.

We awakened to a torrential rain storm on Saturday morning. We were very glad that we had the opportunity to enjoy the beach the day before. After checking the weather forecast, we realized we were very fortunate to have missed bad weather in the other areas that we had traveled through. Since it did not appear that we'd be able to do much outside on Saturday morning, we decided to visit the Naval Aviation Museum located on the base.

I have to admit, we were very impressed with this museum. There are only two aviation museums that are larger: The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and the Aviation Museum located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. I have never been to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum but I have been to the Aviation Museum located at Wright-Patterson. We also have an Aviation Museum in Warner Robins. I have to admit that I enjoyed the museum at Pensacola NAS better than I did the one in Dayton. But, they are both very impressive nonetheless. We all enjoyed our tour of the museum and we attended an IMAX film after lunch. I asked Rachel after watching the IMAX film "if she was going to grow up to be a fighter pilot?" Her reply was, "no." I asked her, "why?" She replied, "because they fight." "And, sometimes they die. And, I don't want to die." You can't argue with that logic. I don't see her deviating from her current plan to become a veterinarian to becoming a fighter pilot any time soon. Although, she did flash a smart salute in this photo below. Makes an Air Force mommy's heart smile. Did I mention she wore her pink, frilly cowboy hat while at the museum? You wouldn't believe the number of comments and smiles she received. :-) Of course, my favorite times were when Jeff was relegated to hold her hat and Anna's orange purse while we visited the restroom. Poor guy....you can tell he's a father of girls. It just doesn't seem to phase him anymore.

Even the restaurant, the Cubi Bar & Cafe, located inside the museum was excellent.....great atmosphere and yummy food.

Cannon at Fort Barrancas

Around 3:30, the rain finally began to clear out so we took the opportunity to visit Fort Barrancas. This fort is also located at the Pensacola NAS. The ranger working in the visitor center was wonderful and particularly attentive to the girls. She even shared a cracked and empty baby bird egg that she found on the trail earlier in the day. Rachel was on cloud nine after receiving this very special gift. I hope to have the girls participate in the Junior Ranger Programs offered at many state and national parks and historic sites now that they are older. They learn so much during our visits and I know they would love one of their summer camp programs.

What was also humbling was the vision of almost 40,000 grave markers at the Barrancas National Cemetary which is also located on post. I have been to other national cemetaries including the Arlington National Cemetary in Washington D.C. and Andersonville which is located very near to where we live. It is always humbling to me to see these. It is a stark reminder that "freedom is not free."

Unfortunately, we were unable to view a Blue Angel show while visiting the Pensacola NAS. They were performing in Texas during our visit. However, they do perform regularly in Pensacola which is their home. If you've never witnessed one of their performances, it is really a "must see." I remember viewing one as a college student. I was at the beach and they performed directly overhead. It is definitely awesome to witness! You can view a show schedule on their website if this is something of interest to you.

On Sunday morning, the weather was still cloudy but no rain. We were able to enjoy a nice, long walk on the beach before packing up and heading home. We definitely enjoyed our stay at the Pensacola NAS and we will try and make another trip here again.

I have to admit, it does feel good to be back home but we had a wonderful spring break vacation trip. Rachel and Anna were sad that our family members are so far away in Texas and they wanted to visit again. We hope to make another trip out there some time in the future. But, now it's back to the grind. It's hard to believe that there are less than two months left of school for the girls. Wow! Summer break is almost here.

Update Before We Travel

We were spared illness for the most part during the winter months. No such luck now. I thought we were all battling seasonal allergies. I should've known something was up when Rachel was lethargic at gymnastics last week. But, she hasn't run a fever or otherwise acted ill other than sneezing and some sinus drainage. I brought the girls to the Pediatrician today (I think they need to start a frequent visitor rewards program; we'd rack up plenty of points) due to the ongoing coughing and continuing nasal drainage. Rachel tested positive for the flu. Anna did not. And, her feet continue to heal nicely which is a blessing. I visited my physician this afternoon and he believed my symptoms to be flu-like so he put me on tamaflu. Anna is also taking this in the hopes of preventing her from getting the flu. Did I mention I had the flu vaccine twice? A shot in the fall and nasal mist last month. A lot of good it did. I'm just hoping we'll all feel a bit better by Friday when we leave for Texas. And, I'm praying Jeff doesn't get it. We would all love a good night of sleep where we aren't all coughing non-stop.

Despite the illness news, I do have some good news to share....we got Rachel's report card from school yesterday. This is what her teacher had to say,

Rachel is reading 1st grade level books and continues to be interested in reading all kinds of books. She is writing "little books" about many topics in our writing work shop time. She spells many words from memory and spells words phonetically in her writing also. She can read her writing back to me and others as well. We will be working on writing poetry in our next unit.

I asked Rachel's teacher about when we might hear some feedback regarding Rachel's evaluation for the gifted program. She said the evaluations are continuing through the end of the school year and that I probably won't hear anything back until almost at the end of the school year.

Update on Anna


Anna is recovering nicely and quickly thus far. She had a check-up on Friday morning and her pediatrician said we didn't have to bandage her feet anymore. We bought her some shoes that are loose fitting and she wears those with socks. She can walk independently and she was able to return to school on Friday but is not allowed to participate in physical education for one week.

Jeff took the photograph above on Thursday. I wrote a thank you note for the emergency room staff and we included the photo of Anna. We wanted to thank them for their quick, compassionate, and professional treatment of our daughter. We figured those guys could use some positive feedback when their days and nights are many times filled with pain and frustration. Truly, they were awesome and we are so thankful for their treatment. And, thank you to our friends and family for your prayers, thoughts, and concerns for Anna also.

Last night I made popcorn again. And, as soon as I began to cook it, Anna asked for a fruit roll-up with a smirk on her face. It appears she inherited her parents' warped sense of humor.


Preparing for Easter and Our Upcoming Trip


We'll attend church service in the morning and the girls will participate in a Easter egg hunt at the church. I boiled eggs this morning and we dyed them this afternoon.

The rest of the weekend will be spent preparing the RV for our upcoming trip to Texas. We are looking forward to the trip and I'll share pictures, etc. after we return in April.

Until then, we wish our friends and family a blessed Easter and a safe Spring school break.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. ~~John 3:16

Angela and the and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Rachel's teacher invited me to participate in a class field trip yesterday. The field trip was to the Macon Grand Opera House to watch a play based on the book authored by Judith Viorst called, "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day." I had no idea that the title of this book would be applicable to my day too. And, Anna's.

Actually, the play was enjoyable. And, even after living here for many years, I had never attended a play or show at the Macon Grand Opera House. The only non-enjoyable part was the bus ride to and from Macon. Imagine yourself locked in a small room with 100 very loud 5- and 6-year-old children. This is what it is like riding in a school bus. I told Rachel's teacher that if they really wanted to torture prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, they would record this sound and play it to the prisoners all throughout the day and night. I developed a whole new respect for school bus drivers. They are either deaf and/or have the patience of Job.

And, it was interesting watching the teachers prepare everyone for the trip. Before we leave our home to go out, we are always telling the girls to use the restroom prior to leaving the house to avoid potty runs once we arrive at our destination. I have two children that I have to do this with. Now, multiply that times twenty. And, having twenty children tell you "I don't have to go." And, I heard the Parapro telling them, "Please try and go. There is no bathroom on the bus." It's like having twenty children to care for throughout the day. Truly, teachers aren't paid nearly enough money.

After spending the entire day with Rachel and her class, we took the girls to gymnastics in the evening. After we got home, Rachel was eager to watch her new Enchanted DVD. The girls requested popcorn so I made some. However, I don't cook it in the microwave. I cook it the old fashioned way....with oil, popcorn kernels, and a pot on the stove top. However, as soon as I brought the bowl of hot popcorn into the living room, started the movie, and sat down, Anna asked for a fruit roll-up. I asked her to have some popcorn instead and that I would get up in a few minutes to get a fruit roll-up. I just wanted to sit for five minutes to catch my breath after a long busy day. Jeff was out roller blading so he wasn't around to assist. Anna then decided she could not wait and proceeded to the kitchen to climb onto the counter tops to reach the upper cabinets herself. And, here is where my day (and hers) goes south. As Jeff once said, if we survive Anna....we'll have lots of interesting stories. And, here is one.

I heard her crying and I ran into the kitchen. She decided to climb onto the counter top on the right side and walk across the stove top to reach the cabinet with the fruit-roll ups on the left side. She stepped onto a hot stove top where I had just cooked the popcorn and burned the bottoms of both of her feet. I quickly put her feet into a pot with cool water to stop the burning but I could not yet determine how badly or exactly where the burning occurred. Yet, every time I removed her feet from the cold water she started screaming. So, I called the pediatrician and they recommended that I bring her to the emergency room at the local hospital. Thankfully, they got her in pretty quickly after we arrived. But, again, she would scream when her feet were removed from the water. They applied cream and wrapped her feet in bandages but it took a shot of morphine to calm her down. I imagine the trauma of the burn coupled with a hospital and the fact that it was way past her bedtime contributed to Anna being in such a state of panic. I was happy that they gave her the shot to relax her. She quickly fell asleep and after monitoring her for a while longer, they sent us home around 11 pm. They determined that her burns were second degree.

This morning I brought her to the pediatrician for a follow-up. He thought the burns were between first and second degree in different areas. Luckily, she didn't burn the entire bottoms of her feet. And, since the skin on the bottom of the feet is thicker than other areas of our body, this helped her to some extent. She has been able to walk for short periods by using the heel of one foot and the tippey toes of the other. She is by no means able to go to school or walk around independently for long periods. We have to change the foot dressings twice daily and we'll have to go back to the doctor on Friday to have her feet re-checked. Here is a picture of Anna taken today with her bandaged feet right before our afternoon nap (we both needed a nap).

It never occurred to me until now to put things down lower--a snack drawer, cups, etc. You know...easily accessed at a child's height. We've always gotten everything for them if they could not reach it. I'm going to set up an area down low with snacks and cups that is within easy reach so they aren't so dependent on us to get everything that they need and to discourage any future climbing on cabinets. However, I don't think either child will even think of climbing on cabinets after this experience. I just wish this had occurred to me sooner. And, like other parents, I'm left wishing that I had just gotten up to get the fruit roll-up like she asked. Hindsight is 20/20.

I'm thankful the burns weren't worse. And, I'm even more thankful that Anna doesn't appear to be in significant pain today. We were very fortunate.

Massee Lane Gardens

Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day. ~W. Earl Hall

I brought Rachel and Anna to Massee Lane Gardens in Fort Valley, GA, last year right before Easter. I decided to do that again for some candid photos. There were still quite a few camelias in bloom. And, the peach blossoms are out and they look absolutely beautiful. I just love the colors of spring but I have to admit, the pollen is just about to kill our allergies.

Here are a few of the photos that I took of our little ones in the gardens.

Our Imelda Marcos In the Making

The one thing children wear out faster than shoes is parents~~John J. Plomp

Anna is hard at work at trying to surpass Imelda Marcos with the amount of shoes that she has. The most recently purchased shoes were acquired last night. She saw some galoshes she just had to have...she dubbed them her "happy boots." It does not matter that these boots are made for rainy day wear. Anna will wear them as part of her daily attire. Why? Because she likes them.

And, did I mention she has decided she wants her hair to be long again? Unfortunately, it's in that in-between stage at the moment where it's too short to effectively use a rubber band or barrette yet too long and hangs in her eyes. It probably bothers me more than her. Of course, I hate that tween hairstyle that is popular right now with some local kids where the bangs are long and hanging over their eyes. Drives me bonkers! She is determined she is going to have it long again though so we are working through it.

Oh so tempting...........

Everything I know I learned from my cat: When you're hungry, eat. When you're tired, nap in a sunbeam. When you go to the vet's, pee on your owner. ~~Gary Smith

Jeff called me in the living room to point out something he found. That something was our cat sitting in our fireplace with his tail sticking out from in between the screen. Of course, after dealing with his lick-a-thons a few nights this past week, my immediate thought was, "where is a match?" But, in the end, I think I'll keep him around. If nothing else but for the entertainment value. In that manner, he fits quite well with this family. Plus, he likes to travel in the RV.

The Tooth Fairy Is Just About Broke

Now, Rachel is sporting the opened garage door look. She may be toothless but she's got money!

Rachel Lost Tooth #3

And, this is a top tooth. Just in time for her spring pictures at school tomorrow. The two bottom teeth that she lost last year have already been replaced by her new teeth.

Question of the Day

As I'm getting Rachel's snack ready for school yesterday morning, I hear her ask me, "Mommy, what are booby socks?"

Thoughts are running through my mind and I turn to see she is attempting to read the outside of a package of bobby socks that I had purchased recently and had left on the kitchen counter.

I smiled and replied, "that's BOBBY not BOOBY."

You've just got to love it when kids are mastering the art of reading.

Milestones

There are so many milestones in childhood. Each one is both a happy and sad moment; except for potty training...there was nothing sad about not having to change diapers anymore. I'm thinking more of their first words, their first steps, their first day of school, and now.....riding their bikes without training wheels.


Jeff decided to let Rachel try riding without her training wheels last week and she did beautifully. Today, he decided to let Anna try. Like always, you can clearly see the differences in personality in something as simple as riding a bike. Rachel is cautious. She takes it slowly and is methodical in her approach. Anna is wide freakin' open from the moment she took off. Jeff could hardly keep up as she wrecklessly zoomed down our cul-de-sac. I had the song "Born to be Wild" running through my head as she barrelled by time and again.


They both bear watching. Rachel hasn't quite learned yet to master the art of paying attention to her surroundings and taking the turns cleanly. While Anna can ride straight and stop independently, she still has much to learn about turning, etc.


What a happy and sad moment for us as parents. I was thrilled that they have mastered this new milestone. But, at the same time, I realize how quickly time goes by and it saddens me that they won't be little forever.


Here are some pictures of my wild women on two wheels. And, yes, the protective gear (helmets, etc.) came out quickly after these photos were taken.

Roosevelt State Park, GA

We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.~~Franklin D. Roosevelt

We made our first trip to FDR State Park in our RV. Jeff and I visited on a day trip years ago BK (before kids). This was our first trip to camp there. The camping area is very nice although it seemed a bit tight to navigate in certain spots with a 40' motorhome.

We received a nice surprise on Saturday morning. Rachel and Anna have been wishing for snow all winter. And, snow is just not something that we experience much in the middle to southern parts of Georgia. But, we awakened Saturday morning to a steady snowfall. The girls couldn't wait to get outside to play in it. Unfortunately, it didn't stay around for long. As the day started to warm, it quickly melted.


Jeff, Rachel and Anna walked on a trail behind our RV prior to us leaving on Saturday morning. They encountered a goose at the lake who was either very territorial or simply in a bad mood. Either way, what followed next wasn't a pleasant experience for Jeff. The goose approached Jeff. She was honking at him. Jeff, thinking it was entertaining, stood his ground and honked back. The goose proceeded to charge at him and bit his crotch. After that, Jeff was a bit more careful with this goose. But, she had decided she didn't like him and any time he approached the lake, she would follow him and honk at him and chase him. She didn't do this with the children. I was talking to another guy camping by the lake and he said this same goose bit his arm and flogged him. She must not like men. Here is Jeff with his new girlfriend on Sunday morning as she followed him along the trail.



After breakfast on Saturday (and after Jeff's pride healed), we drove to the Pine Mountain Wild Animal Park. This was our first time to visit this animal park. While they do allow you to drive your own vehicle through the wildlife preserve, Jeff had read this isn't a good idea as the animals with horns may accidentally scratch you vehicle, etc. We decided to pay the $11 fee and rent one of the park vehicles for one hour. We were the first people there and it wasn't crowded at all so we had plenty of time to drive through twice. In addition to the car rental fee, you also have to pay the admission fee. And, if you want to feed the animals, you also have to pay for food to do so. We did enjoy our visit and recommend it for our friends to try at least once. I was glad the weather was cool because there was not any unpleasant smells to deal with. There was lots of animal feces throughout the preserve and I can only imagine the unpleasant aroma along with the bugs that would accompany that in the warmer months of the year. Since we were the first ones to enter that morning, the animals flocked to our vehicle. I have to say that the zebras were our favorite. The different types of cows were very friendly too. You had to be careful with them though or they'd lick you or slime you with their drool. All animals would eat from our hands and many would allow us to pet them.





We walked through the rest of the park to see the animals that they had in the cages and then we drove to town and had lunch at the Purple Cow Cafe. We had dinner there on Friday night as well. The girls like it so much that we decided to return there for lunch on Saturday. Jeff ordered a grilled cheese sandwich Friday night. The girls ordered a ham and cheese sandwich. After we sat down to eat, both Rachel and Anna were looking at Jeff's sandwich and asked for a bite. After their bite, they decided they liked it better than what they had. Being the thoughtful Dad that he is, he gave up his sandwich to them. I felt badly for the poor guy but it was humorous at the same time. He wanted that grilled cheese sandwich so badly. On Saturday, the girls ordered their own grilled cheese and Jeff was finally able to enjoy the sandwich that he wanted on Friday.

After lunch we drove to Warm Springs and visited FDR's Little White House. Rachel and Anna enjoyed their visit there and learned some interesting things about FDR. I purchased a book at the FDR Little White House gift shop titled "Little Hands Celebrate America" authored by Jill Frankel Houser. This book is great for teaching young children about American symbols and traditions using crafts and activities.

Jeff and Rachel in front of FDR's Little White House

We drove back to the park after that and stopped at Dowdell's Knob. This was a favorite place for FDR to picnic at and the park erected a statue of his likeness looking out over Pine Mountain to remember his visits there. (That is the photo at the opening of this post)

The park was hosting several events to remember the era that FDR lived this past weekend. We visited the event where the park rangers provided period toys for the children to play with. Afterwards, the girls went outside and played on the playground with other children camping at the park.

We had dinner at our camper on Saturday night; complete with a nice fire. We grilled hot dogs. I made homemade hot chocolate and s'mores for dessert.

On Sunday morning, we relaxed at the campsite. The girls had a good time playing in the streams and trails behind our campsite for a while. We wanted to get back home early as there is plenty of laundry to wash and we'll have lots to get caught up on during the next few weeks while preparing for our trip to Texas for spring break.

The Rally

Yes, they actually have RV rallies. And, one of the largest in the country is near to our home town. It's called The Rally and it's in Perry, GA, each year. This year it is being held March 14-17. We have yet to attend one but we may have to try it out this year since it is so convenient.

This rally is a 4-day event including a huge RV show including product and service booths. It also has the most extensive seminar program offered at any rally. This year's highlights include more than 150 seminars, taught by industry experts, covering such topics as healthy cooking on the road, chassis systems, RV troubleshooting techniques and RV caravan travel. Exhibits showcase the lastest products and services to enhance the RV experience as well as more than 1,000 new rigs from top RV manufacturers.

They also provide entertainment and activities for children.

I'm not sure what, if any, part we'll attend but I thought I'd post the information here as friends who read the blog may be interested in purchasing an RV or already have one and may be interested in attending.

Volunteers

No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor is given by what he gave. ~~ Calvin Coolidge

We visited Veteran's State Park last July. However, the trip wasn't quite as enjoyable at that time due to the heat and the swarming gnats. This trip was much more pleasant.

We arrived on Friday evening. Jeff built a nice fire, we cooked hotdogs and s'mores and then turned in for the evening as we had a busy day planned for Saturday.

During our last visit, we took the Sam Shortline train. While we did enjoy this, the main complaint I had about it was that it didn't spend enough time at each stop to really enjoy them. One town in particular that I had wanted more time in was Americus, GA. So, we drove to Americus on Saturday morning to tour the Americus historic area and visit the Global Village & Discovery Center.

We went to the Global Village & Discovery Center first. They no longer charge an admission fee but do ask for voluntary donations which goes towards Habitat for Humanity. They show a video describing the work they do, then you tour examples of housing used by poor families all over the world. Then, you tour examples of homes that Habitat for Humanity has built in different countries. Children are given a map and when they enter each home for the various countries, they can stamp their map. It sort of reminded me of Disney's Epcot where you get a different stamp for a passport as you visit the different countries.

Habitat for Humanity is truly one of my favorite charitable organizations because it's not about giving a free hand out. I volunteered in college and helped build houses with Habitat for Humanity and it was truly an enjoyable and rewarding experience. I learned something new about Habitat for Humanity that I'd like to share with my fellow RV'ers. It is called "Care-A-Vanner." This is a program where people who own RVs can travel to help with Habitat for Humanity home building projects. To learn more about it, visit the link I have provided.

After visiting the Global Village and Discovery Center, we were ready for lunch. This time we decided to try lunch at the Windsor Hotel. This hotel was built in 1892 and it is absolutely gorgeous inside. We ate in the hotel restaurant. They serve a buffet which costs $8 per person. I'm not sure what the cut off age is for children eating free but Rachel and Anna ate free. The lunch included a full meal complete with salad, soup, and dessert. The buffet menu included fried chicken, roast beef, green beans, potato salad, rice, greens, and other items. The desserts included peach cobbler, lemon cake and banana pudding. It was delicious and definitely a bargain for what we got. Specifically compared to the restaurants at the Lake Blackshear Resort which I was told charges around $9 for a hamburger.

Shortly after lunch we returned to the park as they had a special program about raptors at 2 pm. The husband and wife team that presented the show normally do it at Rock City. They did a phenomenal presentation and we all enjoyed it. I even volunteered for one portion and Jeff got it all on video tape. The cost was $3 per adult and $2 per child; and worth every penny and more.

We spent a short period at the playground and then the remainder of the evening at our camper.

We enjoyed a special treat on Sunday morning. While in Americus, I learned of a special Sunday school being held at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, GA. For those who are unfamiliar, Plains, GA, is home to the 39th president of our country; Jimmy Carter. President Carter (or "Mr. Jimmy" as the locals call him) presented the sunday school lesson. We attended this and were very fortunate that we were visiting at a time of the year where the tourism is slow. We arrived about ten minutes prior to start time and was able to enter the church and get a seat with no problems. Well, we were able to enter the church after the Secret Service agents scanned us all to ensure we didn't have weapons and such. Rachel and Anna were amused by this. We did hear though that during the busier times, we would not have been so fortunate to enter and find a seat as easily due to the crowds. While my views differ in many areas politically with President Carter, I do respect him as a person and enjoyed his lesson. After church service, everyone was allowed to get a picture with President & Mrs. Carter outside of the church. I know our children didn't fully appreciate how special this photo below is but we sure do. It may be the only time in my life that I'm ever photographed with a United States President. I was extremely pleased with the photo. You only get one photo and I just knew the kids would have an odd look or one of us would have our eyes closed....you know, the typical family photo. But, not this one. We may have to use this for our Christmas card this year since it turned out so well. LOL!

We ate lunch at Mom's Kitchen in Plains. I'm not sure but I think it may have been one of the only restaurants there. Plains is a very small town. The food was good and reasonable. It was $6 for the meal and it was served cafeteria style. Again, traditional southern fare.

We had to return to the park after lunch to return home. There are still other activities in the area that we did not get to do this visit so I know we will be back. There were people flying their remote controlled airplanes in the park. They have an area for people to do so. The girls enjoyed watching these miniature versions soar through the air.

I chose the opening quote on this blog because I think it encompasses the spirit of the post; volunteers.

The state park that honors our Veterans who serve our nation to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Those who volunteer their services through organizations like Habitat for Humanity and others to help build better communities for their fellow man.

And, the couple who works to educate the public on birds to help protect our wildlife.

A former President of our nation who uses his position to help his local community and to help spread Christianity to people around the world.

I think all too many of us have such full plates that we can't see how we can give to help out. For those who have the money but not the time, give money. For those who have the time but not the money, give of your time which is even more valuable in many instances. And, for those who have neither time nor money, you can always still help your fellow man in small ways...recycling or picking up a piece of trash left by the roadside or providing a home to a stray animal, etc. There are ways we can all help make the world a better place.

And, in parting, I leave you with this thought from Winston Churchill:

You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give.

Anna's Birthday Portraits and Our Family Portrait

Here are the results from the recent photography studio visit. It had been quite a while since we had an official family portrait done so we had one made this time. And, I got several photos of Anna.

Mini-Me

Camping

Camping: The art of getting closer to nature while getting farther away from the nearest cold beverage, hot shower and flush toilet. ~~Author Unknown

This morning, Rachel began a conversation with me about the Girl Scouts. She saw a box of our recently purchased Girl Scout cookies and began asking me questions. So, I explained a few things about the Girl Scouts. One thing I mentioned was that she would probably love it as they also went camping. Rachel then asked, "Do they camp in tents?" I replied, "yes." I then asked, "Is that a problem?" She replied, "That would freak me out." Then, she asked, "Will they have bathrooms?" And, I replied, "Not always." Then she replied, "I don't think I want to be a Girl Scout." Have we created a monster or what? I figured Rachel would think of tent camping as an adventure. No such luck.

While I do love nature myself, I can't say that I'm that enamored with camping in a tent. And, the main reason is that I would dread the setting up and taking down of everything. I prefer to spend my time enjoying the places we stay at versus spending the majority of my time getting set up for the night and then dealing with an uncomfortable place to sleep. Yes, we are spoiled as our RV has all of the creature comforts. Can't say that I blame her much.

It wasn't until recently that my children would even urinate in the woods. With young boys, this usually isn't an issue as I think they find it entertaining to whip it out and urinate whenever the mood strikes. But, my little foo-foo girls were horrified at the thought of hanging their fanny out in the woods when they had moments where they needed to "go" and there wasn't a restroom nearby. However, during this past week, Anna had a change of heart. Gail and Harold took the girls on a hike at Sipsey Wilderness. While on the trail, Anna alerted Gail that she needed to poop. And, there were no bathrooms anywhere near by. Gail told Anna she'd have to go in the woods. Anna was adamant that she wasn't going to go in the woods. But, after walking a bit more, the urge was too uncomfortable and nature forced Anna to do the unthinkable. So, poop in the woods, she did. Rachel, of course, was offended at the thought. Rachel is my "mini-me." Now, Anna is not so prudish. If she's got to go, she doesn't mind squatting in the bushes if duty calls (Anna is Jeff's mini-me). In various ways, we can see bits of each of us with each child. But, the majority of people who know us will instantly say Rachel looks like me and Anna looks like Jeff. And, overwhelmingly Rachel acts like me and Anna acts like Jeff.

School Update

We visited Dauset Trails a few weeks ago. While there, Jeff videotaped all of the animals on the trail. Rachel's class is currently focusing on "Things I know about." So, Rachel wanted to bring the video to class to share what she had learned about the animals. Jeff put the video on a DVD for her. And, I printed pictures of the animals, bought her a poster board, and helped her develop a picture board to show the class. The board had pictures of the animals, their name, and a hint to help her remember a fact about each animal. For example, I drew a small mountain next to the photo of the Cougar so she would remember to tell everyone he is also known as a "mountain lion." She presented her poster board and video on Monday. On Tuesday morning, I stopped in and asked the teacher how it went. Both Rachel's teacher and the teaching assistant couldn't say enough good things about Rachel's presentation. She wasn't shy. She spoke clearly and matter of factly. She knew the animals and explained features of each. She took charge even questioning her classmates. Rachel's teacher jokingly said she was ready to go ahead and hand the class over to Rachel for the afternoon after her presentation. We were so proud of her. I'm not going to claim that I was the sole provider of any talent or intelligence that Rachel possesses. Jeff is, by far, much smarter than me. However, the way she approaches situations...specifically her type-A tendencies....that has "Angela" written all over it. Poor kid.

Portraits

We visited a local studio last weekend and got a family portrait and birthday portraits of Anna. Unfortunately, my scanner is dead. We have ordered another one that I hope to be in soon. Once it arrives, I'll scan the photos to share here.