Camp Lejeune and FMTB-East Moms, Families and Friends

I've got a brand new 8404 sound asleep in my hotel room!! Wow, what a day, so happy I could be here...even if I"m starving and he's out cold lol

I love that pic !!!! He looks sooo happy !!!

What's extra sorta sweet is that's the moment he first saw his mama on base - he's still hanging up his cellphone! oorah ;)

How precious Marcy !!!1

Dixie - Thanks for sharing your day and your sons.....

Prayer has already gone out !!! How exciting for them....

It's awesome to be a Camp Lejeune mom !!!

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY !!!!

Dan just left for CL with his cousin. They should be there in about eight hours. Mom is already going through his room crying.

Hmmmm I do see Uli.....

Dan checked into Lejeune this morning and was promptly put on hold until tomorrow. Hurry up and wait, at least the Navy is consistent.

He's heard the same rumors but I'm choosing not to worry about it. Deployment could mean anywhere.

Just found out Dan will be with the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion. I went to their web page and got scared sh_tless! But he is happy with it.

I guess so, I hope they won't have him blowing things up!
her's the link to their webpage...
http://www.iimefpublic.usmc.mil/public/iimefpublic.nsf/unitsites/2dceb

I asked if he was happy with the assignment and he said he was so I'm happy for him.

What did Ja get Christine? Dan thinks he wants his car now. Says he could come home July 4 weekend if he had it.

That sounds great Christine. I wish Dan got that, he seems to have the worst luck.

Uli, it seems that question is tailor-made for you!....Topsail Island would be your best bet, and Uli knows that area well.

Kyle's mom, Emerald Isle has lots of nice rentals. We're looking at going down soon to bring Dan his car, we're looking for something for a long weekend.

Marcy, where did you stay?

I wanted to be near the base so I stayed at the Baymont Inn and Suites on Western Blvd http://www.baymontjacksonvillenc.com
I booked it through Hotwire.com and saved about $30/night. They offer a continental breakfast too. Room was well decorated and comfortable, and there's a nice pool area. It worked out very well, I was pleased with it - quick and easy to get to Camp Lejeune & Camp Johnson, and everything (restaurants, even Walmart) are right there.

*just a note - when booking through hotwire.com you aren't told the name of the hotel at first. I opted for the highest rating offered (2 1/2 stars) and price, and got the Baymont. I just booked for one night, then when I checked in and liked it, I extended by rebooking on Hotwire.com.

Melissa is leaving for CL tomorrow !!! Ruthella are you still visiting Raymond ??? Uli she will also contact your special cub too... I have Jury duty all week ..Yay ! Empty Nest here we come !!!

Not to worry Ruthella, three days in Jacksonville do not an expert make! I did get to be expert at driving to Camp Johnson - and even stopping at the Sonic Drive In across the street - a certain corpsman I know has a penchant for root beer floats :)
One more thing John - just after you turn from Lejeune Blvd onto the road that leads to Camp Johnson, take an immediate left into the Beirut Memorial and Vietnam Memorial area to visit both. Beautiful and of course very emotional for this mom.

By the way, in March I stayed a night in Wilmington NC at the Coastline Inn (a Best Western I think) - right on the river, great views. The lobby is small so the complimentary breakfast is delivered to your room with newspaper, all in a wicker basket (you choose the items the night before) - a nice touch to get breakfast in bed :) What a lovely, charming, historical city!!

The day before graduation, I got my visitor's pass at CL's visitor center, then drove over to Topsail Island and had lunch at a spot called Buddy's. Watched the surfers from the deck while enjoying an oyster po'boy sandwich. Then returned via the back gate through CL, toured around and saw the beautiful officer housing and small marina at Courthouse Bay. CL is an impressive place!

Watching surfers from the deck at Buddy's -

All booked for the Baymont at $55 a night, Thanks Marcy! We would have liked to be on the beach but that was a little pricey last minute for two nights. We're going to look for a place to rent next year for a week though.

For a quick stay I think you'll like the convenience vs a good 45 min drive to the beach, and if all the rooms are decorated as mine was, you'll be very happy. The bed and linens were as good as much pricier spots. This was my first time using Hotwire - not bad, hm? :)

Sign just inside the back gate to CL - be prepared!

Wow Marcy Melissa is there now !!!

It was a little nerve wracking hitting that "book now' icon without knowing where you'll end up. Your experience made it much easier. I'll let everyone know what I think but if a mom approves I'm sure dad will, we have much lower standards for these things. :)

You'll be just fine; enjoy!

That's why I only reserved for one night at first; I was so glad to be able to unpack and stay on. Plus it's a great rate, and breakfast included saves time and $$.

Kaboom!

(Camp Lejeune May 2010)

WOW !!!!! What a sign

Needless to say I didn't stop :)

Hmmmmm Melissa is there I wonder what she would do ?

Seen on base...cute!

Says, "Love My Grunt xoxoxo Proud Marine Wife")

Sue - My son is stationed at CL and while he was in AFG his packages would sometimes take up to 6 weeks..I think it just depends I have heard 3 to 4 weeks too...

Marcy - I love that pic !!!!

Charlotte, is he at FMTB?

If he has a car, it could be easiest to get a mailbox at a Mailboxes n More - type place for now. When he's at FMTB, the address is on their website, he'll just have to give you his platoon number - or keep the other mailbox. He'll have to do pushups to get his mail, you know!!

Yes, pushups at FMTB, but my son thought it was funny, said it's not a big deal when you're doing them all the time anyway ;)

Perhaps you can send c/o one of his buddies...

Gosh you ladies !!!! How lucky we are to have all of you...Info Plus !!!

Charlotte - You will be surprised though !!! My son is a California Kid...LOL He had the summer and then the winter in Chicago..Poor guy... Now he's been at CL for over a year and well right now he's loving it !!! My daughter just told me it's 100 degrees there... He just got back at the end of May and now he's in training again.... My kids only really know 75 degree weather...

MM, at least the beach is close by, hopefully yours can go and have some fun & cool off. When I was there in May, though it was a bright sunny day, fog drifted across the beach road at Topsail Island as I was driving back to CL about 1 pm, seemed so odd that time of day! Wish I could be at the beach right now, 103 here...

You're absolutely right! (about the pool AND needing help haha) I even have a new floating lounge thing. Bye!!! splish splash Can you finish this line? "She wore an itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow _____ ___ _______" :)

Ladies Melissa has been spending a lot of time at the beach with her cute nephews.... Lets see if she posts any pic on FB.... She said it was 100 degrees ...