And Lilly meets Uncle Bobby!

At 5:45pm on Thursday August 28th we started our 820 mile trek to Panama City Beach, FL to visit with my little bro Bobby and for him to meet Lilly for the first time. We drove from MHC to Wilmington, NC to pick up a minivan we rented for the trip (I can see why people have minivans-they are roomie!!) Then started our all night drive to FL, Fitz drove for 2.5 hours, and at 11pm I took over and drove until 1:30am, then my Dad drove until 4:30am and we all took a nap at a rest stop past Jacksonville, FL. I woke up around 5:30am, and kept my mom awake until Lilly woke up around 7am and needed to be fed. So we stopped at a rest stop for a break from the car (see first photos). We had not showered or anything so there were some interesting smells going around. We then finished the drive in to PCB, but not before realizing that the van we were in, had an expired inspection sticker. My folks said the guards at the base might be in very picky moods and make a big deal about the sticker, so we made a small detour to the PCB airport to get another van (not nearly as comfortable as the Toyota Sienna, but the Chrysler Town and Country). Then we had to get on base, check in to the officers quarters (my Dad was in the Navy for a few years), and get Bobby. We all took showers, met up with Bobby and then headed to Hooters for a bite to eat. After the food and some naps, we headed behind our officers hotel to take a dip in the bay with Lilly. Then we had a early evening to try and catch up on some of the missed sleep from the trip down. We spent the rest of the weekend, just hanging out and visiting with Bobby. We got a tour of PCB, of the base, of Bobby's school house, of his run courses for PT, and ate at all sorts of places. Then we left on Sunday evening and drove to Savannah, GA and stayed in a Days Inn and then finished the drive on Monday morning to afternoon. All in all it was a great trip, the long drive was worth spending some time with Bobby and letting Bobby meet Lilly. I think he is in love with her....she really flirted with him (see photo three), he is much less scary when he is clean shaven-required by the Army. Bobby has less then 3 months of AIT Dive training to go, and is doing GREAT!! I am so proud of my baby bro...and I can't wait to see him again at the end of November. Until then, he will be working hard and making us all so proud. Here's to you little bro...stay tough!!