Myrtle Beach

After we got back from Mexico we turned around and went to Myrtle Beach! We met GW, Sarah and their kiddos there. Mike and Michelle were gracious enough to share their timeshare with us. Thank you, thank you! We had such a great time just hanging out and seeing the sights while we were there. We played a lot of 42 and Settlers of Catan which is becoming a little tradition. It was such a great retreat for the our whole family to be together. It just happened that some friends of ours from Jax were there at the same time as us so we got together with them. It was so great to see Joe and Alison and get to spend some time with them. I wish that we were able to these kind of retreats more often.

Daddy feeding Sladen cereal for the first time!

Kenan and Aunt Sarah snuggling

So pitiful

Engrossed in tv

GW and Ethan

Sydney cheesing! Like mother, like daughter! So beautiful!

Aunt Sarah Cheesing

Alison, Camryn, and Joe

Sladen hanging out at the beach

Alison is cheesing

Aunt Sarah and Baby Annsley

Sydney body surfing

Goldie wrangling the kiddos

Camryn

Sleepy boy

Our little sugar cookie, Kenan

Hanging out

Sladen worn out from the exciting day at the beach. Daddy taking advantage of snuggle time.

The water park for the kiddos... so awesome!

Uncle G and Kenan

Kenan sliding

Again

Ethan sliding

Sydney sliding

Enjoying the pool

Lunch time

That is one cute kid!

Mexico

Goldie and I took 5 nights away by ourselves and went to Mexico! (Thanks mom and dad for watching the boys!) This was a welcome home, 10th anniversary, time away from kids (for me) trip! It was awesome! It was just the respite we both needed. We went to a fabulous all inclusive resort that had all the amenities and then some. Neither one of us had ever taken a vacation this luxurious and we ate it up! The service was fantastic, the rooms were great, and the food was phenomenal! We also managed to squeeze in some spa treatments! We were able to relax and focus on each other. It was just what the doctor ordered.

Our private pool and the view from our room!

Our room

Our Bathroom

The toilet and Bidet

Bedroom

Our Room Name, Zanzibar

Goldie Relaxing by our private plunge pool

The plunge pool

The View

The Spa

Lunch

Dessert... YUM

Our Beach hangout

Dinner

La Canoa Restaurant

The Mariachi Singers... they were so good!

The Grill

Our nighttime turn down service

The sunset Catamaran Cruise

The Dock where we had our couples massage in the rain!

Three of the many macaws on the property

View from the lobby

Iggy the iguana

The resident gator

The Roman tub

The bathroom was awesome

We ordered room service every morning because we weren't up and dressed in time to eat in the restaurants. Did I mention that they had 24 hour room service and it was FREE! It was awesome!

Here is a list of everything that was included with our package.

Endless Privileges™ are welcomed by and available to all guests. Providing:
• Personalized, private chauffeured airport transfers
• Concierge services and 24-hour front desk
• No check-in or check-out time (based on availability in high season)
• Luxurious accommodations with Bvlgari bath amenities, multi-functional rechargeable outlets, aromatherapy pillow and linen scents, Frette linens and bathrobes, a complimentary handmade beach bag and oceanfront suites featuring terraces providing direct access to the private beach

• Fresh bottle of champagne and basket of fruit daily
• Welcome bottle of Tequila
• Currency exchange
• Computers with Internet access in the library
• Daily shopping excursions by boat
• Hydrothalasso pool and aqua gym
• Complimentary Visia® analysis, a digital complexion analysis that uses a multi spectral imaging system to identify problem areas of your complexion anti age
• Complimentary cell phone with unlimited worldwide calls and concierge service
• Complimentary 24-hour laundry service
• A relaxing 25 minute reflexology massage per guest
• Temazcal ceremony (every other day) recognized as a ritual that improves both spiritual and emotional health
• Access to sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi and cold plunge pool
• Complimentary anti-aging medical diagnostic to identify your health characteristics, risk factors, goals and expectations
• Daily afternoon tea time featuring real live plants for tea infusions
• Gathering areas for reading, meditation and relaxation
• Ocean Front air conditioned fitness center – open daily, provides a full range of cardio- conditioning fitness equipment including free weights, treadmills, lifecycles, stair climbers and cross trainers
• Daily exercise and fitness activities such as Yoga, Pilates and salt water aqua gym
• Mayan and Spanish lessons
• Weekly Mayan rituals
• Library with the latest best sellers and history books of the Mayan culture
• Complimentary daily newspaper
• Water cellar featuring a variety of both still and sparkling waters from different countries
• 5000 bottle wine cellar and private dinning room for special occasions, romantic dinners with space for 10 people
• Aromatherapy with essential oils offering both psychological and physical benefits
• Complimentary golf at Playa Mujeres Golf Club
• Meeting rooms

So Glad to Have Daddy Home!

Here are a few pictures of the few days after Goldie got home! The boys were so excited to have daddy home! As you can see they were having a good time!

A little Wrastling!

Daddy time

Sladen hanging out with Da'Dunn

Kenan entertaining Sladen

Kenan and Daddy coloring

Even Rock was glad that Daddy was home!

Just hanging out together as a complete family!

Daddy Came Home

I know it has been a long time since I have updated. We have been going and going.

At the end of July Goldie finally came home after being gone on deployment for five plus months! We were so glad to have him back in our arms safe and sound! We were very fortunate because he was able to come home a few days earlier than the ship.

It was so wild that Sladen was five months old the first time that Goldie laid eyes on him for the first time! Sladen took right to Goldie. He now believes that he is not adopted since he looks just like his daddy. He questioned that for a while when hanging out with all the dark haired dark eyed "Dunns" while in Texas. They have a great bond and are so cute together!

Kenan was so excited to have daddy home. His wrestling buddy is home and he is getting lots of play time in with his daddy. Goldie is amazed at all the new things that Kenan had picked up while he was gone! Kenan was talking so much more for one thing.

I finally feel whole again. I always seem to be a nervous wreck when he is gone. My knight in shining armor is finally home and it is amazing how easily we just fall back into life together again. I think the Lord used this deployment to teach us both some amazing things and we definitely improved our communication.

If I had a penny for every time somebody said, "Wow! I don't know how you make it as a military wife." I would definitely be rich. However, I am not special! I am not stronger. I don't have more courage. I am just a normal woman striving to be a Godly woman, a good wife, and mother! I don't always just accept it as my role and go with it. Being a military wife is definitely a hard job and life but I think that God gives you the strength that you need to make it. I also feel very fortunate because it is often during these times that I experience Him in a greater way! I cannot do this life on my own! However, God has given me just what I needed when I needed it to survive!

I am so grateful to serve beside the most wonderful man. God has blessed us so much and our relationship grows closer with every tour, deployment, and move. ;-)

I want to say want to say thank you to my parents for being by my side while Goldie was gone! I appreciate all your help with the boys. I also appreciate you letting me live with you and mooch your groceries. Thank you for making the trek from Texas back to Virginia. Y'all are the best parents a girl could ever ask for and I am truly blessed by your selflessness.

Thank you to P-Mo and Pop-Daddy for taking care of the two furry kids while we were in Texas. Thanks for letting us come visit. Thanks for taking Kenan for the weekend and spoiling him.

Mom and Dad's sign for the homecoming!

My sign for the homecoming!

Kenan patiently waiting for Daddy!

Our fellow Aggies reunited, also!

Daddy seeing Sladen for the first time!

Sladen reaching for Daddy! So sweet and not a dry eye around!

Daddy holding Sladen for the first time!

Sugars from Daddy!

His cup is overflowing!

Our house sign!