Another Trip North For Spring Break

WHEN: March 28 - April 2, 2013
WHERE: Virginia, North Carolina

Another year.  Another spring break.  Another year we went north for spring break.

 We have now gone north for spring break every year since 2006, except last year (we didn't go anywhere).

We're 7 for 8.

Spring Break 2006 (Minnesota)

Does this elicit the feelings, sights, and sounds of spring break?

Heading north for spring break 2013

First stop (Thursday night) was Farmville, NC, where we stayed the night with Stacie's old boss, Tracy, and her family.

Spring Break 2011

We also stayed with them in 2011, when we drove to Virginia to meet our (then) new nephew, Rhee.

Stacie with Sam and Caroline (December 19, 2007)

Sam was one of the two brothers she nannied for the entire time we we lived in North Carolina.  Caroline is Stacie's old boss' youngest daughter (in both pictures above).  Both Sam and Caroline were in Stacie's first pre-school class.

Farmville Presbyterian Church/School, Stacie's first job

Nothing too special here, other than we had our car serviced here (in Farmville) once.  It also shares the initials of our first names.

We drove in to Greenville on Friday morning to revisit our old stomping grounds and relive some memories.  It was our second visit since we moved away in September 2009.  It is somewhat surreal to visit those places you have spent chapters of your life and made memories in.

  

Our first "home" as newlyweds and where we spent the first 2+ years of our married life and away from the only life we had known in Iowa.

Second day of our new lives in Greenville (July 18, 2007)

  March 29, 2013                                                    August 10, 2007

The view from our front door

March 29, 2013                                                 September 8, 2007

This is Pirate Nation!

They repainted this water tower while I was going to ECU.

I found the maps (below) while writing this post.  There is no description for either of these maps on the website (they broke a cardinal rule in cartography), but I think they represent the number of alumni living in each US state and North Carolina county (at least those they have record of).

ECU alumni per state

 

 ECU alumni per North Carolina county

We are the Pirates of E-C-U!

View Larger Map

"Brewster"... the jail building where I spent two years slaving over classes and working on my thesis.  There were good memories for sure and I am proud of my accomplishments here but I am sooo glad this season of my life is over!

180° view of Dowdy-Ficklen (football) stadium
A 7,000-seat stadium expansion (seen here under the new score board) was completed in 2010, after we had left Greenville.

View Larger Map

Of course, the fiberglass pirate statues that can be seen scattered around Greenville and on campus

Standing watch at Wal-Mart

On our way into the campus book store to stock up on ECU gear

We continued our trek north Friday afternoon into Virginia, where we also have many memories.

An exit near Richmond, Virginia, leading to another season of our lives.

Downtown Richmond

Rhee was more than excited for our arrival.  He ran circles around our car when we pulled up, then proceeded to hop into the driver's seat when I got out. :)

Playing with Aunt Stacie in his room, both of them sporting our other Purple & Gold college spirit.

Making faces on Aunt Stacie's phone

Nicholas Hans Palmer, the newest member of the family (born 12/12/12).
Of course we wanted to see everyone, but he was the main event of our trip, since this was the first time we got to meet him.

He's a smiler

And he really likes his Aunt Stacie

Not to be out-done for attention, older brother Rhee party had a birthday for everyone to celebrate.

Catch a theme?  This boy is ALL about Toy Story right now.

Playing catch with the birthday boy

"I'm not so sure about this. She's a girl...what does she know about football?"
(Trust me Rhee, she knows more than your Uncle Jesse.)

Lemon face?

Blue Steel?

His best face...The Peaceful Sleeper

Playing with Rhee is his room

So impressionable, even at this age.
I hooked the letter 'C' around my ear and Rhee was quick to stick letters on both his ears (without me showing or encouraging him to).

That's some serious sleeping

So excited for pictures?

Stealing the show

Like father, like son, like nephew
Go Hawks!

"The Brasses"
(Tip: turn the TV off if you want a better chance of capturing children's attention during pictures.)

The parking lot
Leta and Jay got the silver minivan shortly before we came up...

...and we bought their Ford Fusion!
A new car!  What?  Our other two cars are 40 years old cumulatively.  This one is 3 years old.  It is a very welcome sight at our house.

Playing outside with Rhee and his own car

We got him a Tonka Truck for his birthday.
I remember well, playing with a Tonka Truck just like this one when I was not much older than Rhee.  Classic boy toy.

Going for a walk down the street with his Uncle Jesse.  He pulled his wagon the whole way (he did not want to ride).  I love his hat here.

The last day, we spent the afternoon walking around downtown Fredericksburg.  Rhee held my hand and walked next to me the whole time, block after block, store after store, picture after picture.  He was not letting go!

Picture with Rhee...

Picture without...nope, Rhee came running back into the picture and grabbed my leg when we tried to get one of just Stacie and I. :)

This is how everyone watches TV, right?

Wearing daddy's hat and saying goodbye

He definitely wanted to go with us (he hates goodbyes).

Driving back down memory "lane" (I-95)...

...and back down south through the land of the pines, beaches, and light houses.

Fan of Duck Dynasty, Darius Rucker (a Charleston native), or bluegrass music??
How about all together?

Darius Rucker - Wagon Wheel

 

Home Sweet Home

And this is what happens to your office when you are on vacation over April Fool's Day.

Stay tuned for where we go (north) for spring break next year!