Some Selected Photos

We added some photos that were taken this summer. Kelly and the girls went to Spokane to visit for a month and was able to see Kristin/Jesse/Landon, Kimberly/Lilly, my mom and Kelly's parents. When Kerri delivered with our 3rd grandchild, Eisley, I flew up to Long Beach and met up with Kelly for a quick visit. (please note my new tattoo); Goofy asleep in a hammock with the inscription at the top, Eisley, Landon & Lilly's Grandpa. I plan on now adding all the future grandkids until I get real old and I can't get any more tattoos!

Virginia Beach

Some additional photos from Virginia Beach and a quick last minute trip to Busch Gardens. We can't believe the water temperature is in the mid 70's!

On the way to Gulfport from Virginia Beach, Va.

I was transferred from Virginia Beach to fill the Senior Enlisted Advisor position at the Navy Mobilization Processing Site in Gulfport, MS. We just had to drive to Florida and visit Universal Studios! We made a couple of stops along the way and arrived at Patrick AFB in Cocoa Beach, FL. They had a great RV park, right along a river full of Dolphins and those goofy looking Manatees. Honestly, regressing from my detective days, those Manatees look worse than some of the "floaters" I had encountered in a few lakes and rivers! Sorry...anyway we will add some more photos, as Nikki has been taking pictures non-stop since we left.

We arrived in Gulfport on 01OCT and we are living in the RV park on base.We did find a townhouse that is right along the "beach" and will be moving in there next week. So the girls will get a "break" from living in the RV and I can again take naps like my Dad on the carpeted floor in front of the TV.

The girls have already found a dance studio, with Nikki & Lindsay starting ballet. Kelly told me she is going to enjoy the new townhouse and she won't have to load any more quarters into the washer and dryer!

26 December and 14" of new snow!

It looked like we were driving down our driveway in Deer Park when we got home late on the 26th. We played in the snow a little, but after driving so long we all went to the Navy Lodge to stay the night. I returned the next day and did some shoveling before bringing the girls back home.

Christmas to the Bahamas!

We had never been on a cruise, so the girls sort of talked me into a Christmas cruise to the Bahamas. We left Baltimore, MD on the 19th of December and made ports of call at Port Canaveral, Fl, Nassau and Freeport Bahamas and several days "at sea". Although the temperatures were somewhat mild for December, we did enjoy several days in the mi-70's while in the Bahamas. On Nikki's birthday, we took a power-snorkling trip while in Nassau. Nikki and I had a fun time, as the water was aqua-blue & clear and we were able to swim around an hour over a reef full of colorful fish. While we were gone, Kelly and Lindsay did some shopping and saw the sights. Overall, we really enjoyed the areas in the Bahamas and now, since we are so close living in Virginia, we will plan another trip to stay several days. The beaches were clear, the water blue and no cell phone reception! Ya-hoo...

There were many activities on the ship for everyone to take advantage of when we were underway, which included specific activities for the girls. "Most" of the food was free, so I took advantage, storing the needed calories for the winter much like an Arizonian chipmunk does in November.

We did miss the Christmas holiday, as Carnival Cruise lines believes they have to be politically correct by having only two Christmas trees and imparting the cordial, "happy holiday" to everyone. Not the Fenns, we responded with "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" and under my breath I said, "don't be a pinhead"...:)

We arrived back in Baltimore the day after Christmas (the holiday season for Carnival Staff) and within an hour we were in an Eastern Washington State style blizzard for several hours. Our trip back to Virginia beach took 9 1/2 hours (normally 4 hours). I was undauted by the weather as I was operating the award winning 2008 Chevrolet 3500 crew cab 4X4 with the optional Duramax Diesel and Allison 6 speed transmission. I waved as the goof-balls drove past me on the highway, then waved again as I passed them as they were tactically parked in the ditch.

Important Note: For those who have never driven on the East Coast during a snow-storm, light dusting of snow, mild rain shower or mist, please use caution and plan accordingly. Every business, rest area, gas station and restaurants close if anyone mentions "snow". It is the most bizzare thing I have ever seen....everyone just goes home and leaves the motoring public up to the tow truck drivers and state troopers who just point toward the Virginia state line!

New Granddaughter update

Lillianna Grace Fenn was born October 22nd, to Kimberly Fenn and Tim Martin in Seattle. Kimberly has been posting updated photos almost daily via Facebook, but we also wanted to show some of them on our blog as well. Mommy and Daddy are doing well and Lilly is growing more each day. Kelly was able to fly out to Seattle shortly after Lilly's birth to help Kim and enjoy time with our new granddaughter. I hope to fly to Seattle in February to see Lilly and also stop in and see Kristin, Jesse & Landon before heading south to California to see Dad & Sandy, my sister Liz & family and Kerri & Jay in Long Beach. It is very hard to live so far away here in Virginia Beach, while all the family is so far away! I'm hoping to get orders to San Diego or Port Hueneme next year so we can be much closer.

Hey, we wanted to go to Greenbluff too! Kristin, Jesse and Landon (20 months) had to go shop for some pumpkins and apples at our favorite place in Greenbluff. I think they found some good pumpkins and we all wish we could be in Spokane this year to "trick or treat". Send more pictures Kristin!