Summer Fun in Virginia

Lindsey, Tatum, and I can finally say that we are truly settled in to our new home in Norfolk and just in the nick of time because I officially return to work tomorrow at the hospital.

The Naval Hospital Complex in Portsmouth

Since returning from Mexico 2 weeks ago, Grandma Smiley and Aunt Kara came to visit from St. Louis. It was a busy week with trips to Norfolk Botanical Gardens, Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, and the Ocean Front to relax on the beach. This was Tatum's first trip to an amusement park and she enjoyed some of the kiddie rides and in addition to this, she loved watching Mom, Dad, and Kara ride the roller coasters.

Lindsey, Kara, and Tatum at the Botanical Gardens


Mom, Dad, and Tatum enjoying a ride at Busch Gardens

Tatum "enjoying" a ride by herself!

Dad and Tatum flying in a Dragon at Busch Gardens

After our family went back to St. Louis, we had a nice quiet week of relaxing and getting Tatum back into a much needed routine. We did have plenty of time for fun with trips to the beach, zoo, and daily visits to the playground.

USS Wisconsin in Norfolk

Bubbles at Town Point Park in Norfolk

Mom and Tatum in the Park

Tatum popping bubbles in the park

Hola from the Riviera Maya!

After what was a crazy 2 month stretch that included the move from Maine to Virginia and deploying, we just returned from a much needed vacation to a resort in the Riviera Maya for 8 nights. This is a stretch of Mexico south of Cancun and north of the Belize border. We went on this trip with Melanie, Brad, Roman, and Brad's parents. Tatum and Roman love each others' company and we all had a very relaxing trip with a lot of sun, some alcohol, and plenty of food!

Tatum enjoying the breeze on the beach.


Lindsey and Tatum in the resort lobby waiting for her cousin!


Tatum testing our patience in the ocean.


Family photo in the lobby before dinner.

Tatum also enjoyed the assortment of animals on the resort grounds that included peacocks, parrots, turkeys, fish, turtles, flamingos, and these strange monkey/rodent creatures! Here is a video of Tatum feeding one of the peacocks in the lobby of the hotel.




There are more pictures located at: http://picasaweb.google.com/mrsmiley1979/Mexico2009#