From a Georgia island to Rocky Top

After the goodbyes in Florida we started our big adventure northward to see family.  Not too far north though... our first stop was St. Simon's Island, GA.  We'd never been there before but a family graciously allowed us to stay in their guest house for a couple nights to rest after all the craziness of the last few months.

It was exactly what we needed - sleep, good family time playing many new games we'd never had before in the comfort of such a lovely home.  Refreshing.

They had a skateboard in the shed so the kids took turns rolling down the road on it.  Meisi holding her puppy while doing it. :) Please don't scold me for no helmets - they truly were each on the board for a couple seconds and Brian was holding onto them. :)

It really is such a lovely island.  It reminded Brian and I of Cape Cod where we spent our 2nd anniversary.   Even has a lighthouse!  We didn't go into it, just admired from outside.  

My monkeys couldn't resist climbing this HUGE tree.  

The big kids and Brian went crabbing.  Meisi and I just came out for moral support. :)  

They really didn't have much luck with catching crabs but caught a HUGE flounder. 

The kids enjoyed it so much they went back out with Brian after dinner to try crabbing on the main pier.  They caught the coolest thing- a baby octopus!!!  I don't know how to put videos on here but it was pretty cool to see it move across the pier.  It brought excitement to many on the pier that eve.  They came back late that night, smelling like fish and sweat but full of excitement.  Definitely a highlight of our little adventure. :)  

The next morning we got up and started our way a little more north - to Rocky Top... really!  They renamed the town where my grandmother lives from Lake City to Rocky Top, TN.  No kidding.  

Yes, I sang the song over and over (in my head because out loud ain't so pretty).  

Always great to see my sweet Nanny gal (yep, that is what we have always called her).  Love how at 90+ she still enjoys playing with the kids and making jokes.  

It was a wonderful treat to have my dad there for that visit too.  :)

There is something to be said for not having internet or cable or loads of toys... 

Our kids had so much fun running around playing outside together, making up their own games and using their imagination in ways I don't think they have done for a long time...maybe ever.  

Having fun just being kids without a screen in front of them. 

So thankful for this very special time of visiting family...

doing things I did as a kid right here in this yard, brings back many great memories. 

Moments I hope our kids will cherish and look back upon themselves. 

And our adventure continues...

next stop - Big Blue Nation. :) 

Leaving the sunshine state :(

Ok...so we left Florida a few weeks ago now and I'm just catching up on blogging....

I could blame it on the lack of internet we've had  

and it has been that partly.

I started to try to put words on a page while looking at pics and just had to stop.

I'm not a great writer as it is,

trying to express the love, the friendships, the difficulties in goodbyes...

not something I can do with justice.  

I just love these folks so very much. :)

Love their silliness too. ;)

 And their kiddos...

OK... not gonna get into the goodbyes so much...
Let me just say it was tough.
Of course, this doesn't even include ALL the precious families who mean so much to us, just some that we happened to get photos with...
So thankful for each one of you (even if you aren't pictured here). :)
We are so very excited about the journey ahead...
humbled to be on it and more so to have such an amazing family to walk alongside us.

ahhhh....
In the midst of all the goodbyes, we celebrated 16 years. :)
Wow - 16 years!
It keeps getting better.
I truly love my handsome hubby more today than I did then. :) My cup overflows.

While finishing up errands and appointments we snuck in some last visits to our zoo,

Brian and Aili had a very special daddy/daughter date trip,

We travelled with some wonderful middle and high schoolers to party at Universal Studios.

 We stopped to enjoy breathtaking views of this beautiful land
(creation is amazing isn't it?)
This beach was about a mile from the home we were graciously allowed to stay in for the remainder of our time here in Florida.  The heart of the big family that provides such a lovely place of rest...blessing upon blessing we ask be poured out on them. :)

Took our first trip to a spring with precious friends,

 We DID actually do a little school... I mean, how often do you get to pan for shark teeth?

 Met friends at the Aquarium,

 Spotted some wild creatures while there....

 Meisi even got to visit with Brobee from her FAVORITE show Yo Gabba Gabba. :)

Ahhh... sweet, wonderful moments...

Such tough goodbyes...

And the traveling, the goodbyes only just began when we drove away.

For those wondering what it looks like to live out of your van for 6 weeks, 

though we were not in Tennessee shooting at some food, just call us the Clampett's. :)

Celebrating in Virginia

Our time in Virginia was so precious.   New friends who we look forward to seeing in the coming weeks and special time with family.  

Since we were not with Aili on her birthday she asked for a special daddy/daughter day. :)   They went to places she enjoys - Jamestown settlement, kayaking, eating seafood -our big girl can throw down sea creatures...  I still can't believe she is 10!!!

She and grandma made a cake. 10!  Double digits already??

Karen also did a great job with a Star Wars cake for the boys.

                                                   

 Thankfully, we hadn't used our final free day at Busch Gardens - so to BG Williamsburg we go!

One last fun day for the big kids - fishing with daddy.  They liked it so well, they stayed ALL Day long!  :)

Time for our big journey to begin... 23 more places to stay in the next 6 weeks - but who is counting right?