Base Tour 2010

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We went on the 13th annual base tour last weekend and went as far south as Norfolk. We went down a night early to break up the drive and spent Thursday night in Chincoteague. We caught a glimpse of some wild ponies the next day and spent a few hours at the Wildlife Refuge and the NASA visitors center. The boys loved it. When we accidentally drove to the refuge in the dark on Thursday night Luke asked "if we were at the end of the earth"? It was adorable and in his defense it was a pitch black, stormy night so it did look like we were driving into nothing. Friday afternoon we met up with the rest of the caravan in Virginia Beach and then continued to our lodging at Fort Eustis. We stayed in "rustic" log cabins...no rustic at all--they had flat screen tv's. Jack and Luke were in heaven and said it was the best base tour ever. Saturday we spent most of the day in Colonial Williamsburg which is beautiful. Dan hadn't been there in years and I was never to the Colonial part. It was really beautiful. Jack and Luke were amused by the horse poop in the street and having Charlie along to monkey with.
We did visit some bases but it's just nice to go away with most of my family. Colleen and the boys couldn't make it in this year from Arizona and Chuck has yet to come. One of these years maybe they will be enticed...There are not many places that can accommodate the growing Cogan Family so we hang on to this tradition. On our way home we detoured west and went to visit friends of ours who recently moved to Midlothian. They have a beautiful southern home that could literally be featured in a magazine.
Quinn was a wonderful little traveler and true to form did not make a peep in the car until the ride home when we were within 90 minutes. He slept most of the ride and was so pleasant. Jack is full of questions and always seems to understand more than we could imagine. He seems to be the one always explaining things to Luke. Jack did tell us that if you want to be a soldier you have to 1. be a good sniffer 2. be a good listener and 3. be a good pay-attentioner. I have to say that 5 seems to be Jack's magic age. Everything just seems to be clicking for him and he is such a joy to be around. We have certainly had our challenges with him and his intense personality but right now he is just happy as can be. They are both loving school but Jack is truly happy to be there. Luke is starting to give us a problem taking the bus in the morning but is always happy when I come to pick them up in the afternoon. Quinn and I get some alone time in the mornings which is very nice..."just me and you kiddo" as I always tell him.