As this R&R comes to an end I look back on the last 2 weeks and I wouldn’t change a thing…

Here is the synopsis of our vacation time and the time spent with Geno while home on leave…

Geno landed at the Fayetteville Airport on Thursday, July 26th. We spent the afternoon together then headed to get Xavier from daycare.  We packed Thursday evening for our trip to Ohio for the annual Lolli Family Reunion and to pick up Derrick who had been staying with Grandma Incorvia since mid-June.  We got to Ohio early evening on Friday and had dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Lolli, Frank, Karina and Keegan.  Saturday morning Geno, Karina and I ran a 5k. I was able to beat my time which made me VERY happy. I would like to thank Geno for insisting I find one in Ohio and Karina for running it with me…  Saturday afternoon was the reunion and after a blast playing the Lolli 1st Annual Kickball game we headed over to Uncle Paul’s for the pool table ritual.  Sunday morning we had the Lolli Reunion breakfast and then a group of us headed to the Reds game.  After the Reds got their butts kicks by the Cubs Grandma Lolli met us at the Hyatt Hotel to pick up the kids so Geno and I could have a night alone.  We went to Mitchell’s Fish Market on the Kentucky side, which is my FAVORITE restuarant, afterwards we headed to the room for some champagne and relaxation

On Monday morning we picked up the boys and headed back to Fort Bragg.  We took the long way and ended up seeing some very beautiful scenery, minus the sudden down pour and hour traffic jam.  We arrived late Monday evening back at Bragg and didn’t even bother unpacking the car - we went straight to bed.  Tuesday Derrick got his spacers and we started packing for the beach trip the next day.

Wednesday we headed to Myrtle Beach - first stopping at the outlet malls - I may have had Geno drive the wrong way but we did get there!  We bought some really nice stemware so we wouldn’t use our wedding glasses anymore, along with some sportswear, college signs (Ohio State for me and Longhorns for Geno) and also some shoes for Derrick.  Then we headed to Montary Bay Resort where we spent the night.  We woke up Thursday and went to Mammie’s Kitchen for breakfast - they have the BEST breakfast buffet. The owner even recognized me from when I was there a little over a month ago - I told him at my first visit that I would bring Geno there so he was happy to see that I did.  He even gave us a couple tshirts.

We then headed up to Ocean Isle for the remaining time at the beach. It was very relaxing and quiet.  We spent most of our time at the beach or pool and just being lazy.  We ate at the Giggling Mackrel (my favorite) and the Isle Restuarant.  The Isle Restaurant was nice but it was over priced for the amount of time we spent waiting for a waitress, the food and Geno’s dessert (we did get his dessert for free because of the long wait).  I was really sad to leave there Sunday but knew we’d be going back - we are even thinking of possibly buying a condo or house there someday.  We headed up to Wilmington Sunday for a ritual of lunch at George’s and dinner at the Deck House.  After a slight hiccup involving locking the keys AND cell phone in the car(that was my fault) we headed to George’s which I will say is officially OFF the list. I found a cockroach in my She-Crab soup and they acted like it was no big deal.  They did take an entree off our bill - XAVIER’S (how crazy is that, the cheapest one).  We then rode around Wilmington stopping and getting “For Sale” flyers for ideas on what kind of house we want.  Afterwards we headed to the beach for one last short walk.  We decided to head over to the ferry and walk the rock pier. We quickly decided it was too slippery when Geno slipped and got a couple small cuts on his foot.  After tending to the wounds we made our last stop was to the Deck House for dinner, where they NEVER let us down. Then headed back home.

We arrived Sunday evening and the rest of this week is being spent relaxing and recuperating from our travels.  We are also preparing for Geno’s return to Iraq as the time is fast apparoaching.

Today Geno got 3 new tattoo’s. Geno had a good idea and we got our wedding dates tattooed. Now he can’t forget our anniversary. Geno had it put on the underside of his left wrist and I added it to my dragonfly that I got on 7/7/07. Geno also got his meat tags and a latin proverb.  Derrick also got his braces today. He should only have them on for a little over a year.

So today is Tuesday(8/7/2007) and we have 3.5 days left before Geno returns to Bucca.  The boys have really enjoyed having him home, as do I, naturally. It’s nice to think that he could be home in 90 days (depending on if they get extended or not)… In the beginning the time went by slowly, which was nice but now that I have less then 4 days with him it seems to be speeding up - how fair is that?

Tomorrow we are spending the day relaxing and Geno said he’s going to pamper me …woohoo!  We are dropping the kids off at camp and daycare, heading out to breakfast then coming back home to relax, watch movies and just be plain lazy…

I will think of some of the funny stories that have happened over the past 2 weeks and post them in a seperate blog - I’ll need to sit down with Geno and Derrick to remember them all…