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!

80's in October!!

What a great Columbus Day! Even though the Indian's were here first and did "discover" America, I'll be more than happy to celebrate and take the day off! I waxed the truck, the girls played at the park, Kelly re-sorted "stuff" in the house and our cat fell asleep while I was working on one of my projects. We hope to make several more trips to the beach, including one more trip to Busch Garden's before the weather gets too cold.

Kimberly is now 34 weeks along with our granddaughter (girl of course) and she is feeling pretty good. She is past the morning sickness and now well into the expansion of her mid-section. She is due toward the end of November and it will be fun to have another girl in the Fenn Family. See ya soon!

October Photos

It's been way too long since we have updated our blog...needless to say a lot has been going on here. The girls now have braces and interfere with the HD TV signal in our trailer everytime they smile! Kelly and I had the opportunity to go to the Navy Ball celebration on Friday night. Doesn't my bride look great? She is so hot that I literally have to disable the smoke detectors in our 5th wheel! Anyway, the distinguised, older gentleman standing by her is me...we had a great time at dinner and the Navy birthday celebration is part of our heritage. The girls had fun when we visited the Outer Banks in N.C. That is only an hour a way from where we are living and plan on coming back many more times. The water was warm and the beach was clean! Well, off to church now and will update soon!