October, November, and December 2010

 When you see what we've done these last three months, you'll understand why I got behind in my blog and never caught up.  Enjoy, we sure did.

October:  We headed into Dallas and our son Scot decided to check out Ft. Worth, Texas for a possible move.  Here he is with Addie and Asher.

 Uncle Scot and the kids.

Rachelle's house in Fort Worth.

Scot's apartment over Rachelle's garage.

Rachelle Weber, Scot's cousin by friendship, is living in Germany but has a home in Ft. Worth, Texas.  It is being renovated and the process had been moving slowly, with Rachelle away.  So Scot was thinking of moving into her apartment over the garage to help oversee the renovation.  We suggested he visit before he committed.  So that was the reason he met up with us in nearby Dallas.

While in Dallas, we visited the Children's Museum, Addie our budding scientist, checked out a microscope.

Addie played check out with a new friend.

Papa, Heather, and Asher here at the Dallas Zoo.

 We stayed at Lake Lavon, East Fork in Wylie, Texas.  The Wilson's joined us to celebrate Heather's birthday, at our campsite. Here are the two proud grandfather's of Addie and Asher.

Addie and I planned Heather's birthday party.  Of course it had a princess theme.  Heather got her mom a crown for her birthday.  A perfect present for a perfect mom.

After Heather's birthday, we took off toward California.  One of our stops along the way was Monahan Sandhill State Park.

As you can see it was all sand and a few hills, but at night the stars were incredible.  Pralines didn't care for this campground as she got cactus in her paws and I had to spend a lot of time pulling them out with tweezers.

A quick stop with Mom in Tucson, Arizona and then on to California.

We stayed on the beach at the Rincon.  Pralines and I were glad to be home, or at least close.

Back to beautiful sunsets and lots of shore birds.

We moved to Faria Beach, after 7 days on the Rincon without hookups.  Faria was $50 a night but it was worth every penny.

We spend two weeks visiting with friends.  Here we are at one of our favorite fish and chip places at Ventura Harbor.  The Henards, Webers, and Kathy.  It was a great night.

 We weren't in Dallas for Halloween, but here is Addie as Dora the Explorer and

with her friends, J.J. and Ben and Addie this time as a piece of sushi.  Isn't my daughter creative.

November:
One of the reasons we had returned to California this time of the year was to join Charlotte Wakenhut and her family for a camping trip to Refugio.  Twice a year, Charlotte reserves the group site at Refugio.  We'd been invited several times, but never had been able to join them till now.

 What a beautiful campsite, overlooking the ocean.  There was about 11 RV's and about 40 people.

Bob is with Joan and Charlie Karp and Debbie Drake who I worked with at CSUCI.  Joan retired when I did and they had been on the road all summer.  We had a lot of stories to share.  Sorry I didn't get a picture of Charlotte.

From there we head toward Desert Hot Springs for a week before heading to Tucson for Thanksgiving.

 In Desert Hot Springs, we stayed at the Sand RV Park.  The sites were a little too close together, but it had the best dog park, according to Pralines.

 We of course went shopping in Palm Springs and at the college swap meet.  I loved this shirt but didn't buy it because I wasn't sure grandmother's really should wear it.  While here we visited with Larry and Judy Drake and had dinner one evening with Johnny and Ruth Larring.  It was fun to catch up.

We also visited Joshua Tree National Forest.  We liked it so much we spent two days.

 The rocks here are rearranged as this park is on a fault line.  They looked like building blocks on top of each
other.

 This is a Joshua Tree, in case you have never seen one.  We enjoyed our time in the high desert.

As we pulled out of the Sands RV site, Bob was watching the left and he ran into a small palm tree on his right, that did a lot of scratching damage but no hole this time.  It also hurt our awning.  Another story.

 You know you are back in Arizona, when you see the Saguaro Cactus.

 Our home for two weeks was Catalina State Park.  This was our second visit here.  We love it.  The mountain view is unbelievable.

Remember that Pralines had issues with cactus at Monahan Sandhill Park, well, she also had issues in Tucson.  So we bought her boots.  She really doesn't like them.  She will wear them, walking a little funny but she won't go to the bathroom in her boots.  We got these at REI after trying a cheaper pair at Petco that she wouldn't wear.

 My sister and her husband flew in from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio for Thanksgiving with my mom and Bob and I. We have been spending Thanksgiving together with mom for several years now.  It's a tradition we all enjoy.

 Traditionally we take a walk on Thanksgiving morning at Sabino Canyon.  It is always beautiful but this morning it was cool.  Bill and Charlene are hikers.  Bob keep up and I just complained.  Maybe if I am lucky they won't invite me next year.

 After Charlene and Bill left, Mom, Bob and I went to Holiday Lights at Tohono Chul Park.

Mom is a member and on the weekend after Thanksgiving they put on a light show.  Music and crafts to share.  All to benefit the park.

We walked around and enjoyed the lights, music and felt like it was a good introduction to the Holiday Season.

December:  We headed back to Dallas, because Craig and Heather were going on a cruise and Bob and I and Vicki and David were scheduled to babysit.

On the way to Heather's, we stopped at an Escapee Park in Benson, Arizona called Saguaro RV Park.  One of the residents at the park told us we needed to see the Sandhill Cranes at the Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area.

These birds come in flocks of hundreds all landing at once.  It was amazing to see. When we return and we will, there is enough to see in this area to spend several days. On this visit we had plans to visit Tombstone and Bisbee, so we only stayed a few hours.

We drove on to Tombstone, but didn't even stop  Very commerical and it didn't peak our interest.  We did move on to Bisbee.

 Bisbee is a mining area.  Known for it's copper and turquoise.

 Looks like stripe mining to me.

 We had lunch in town.  The town seemed to have been hit by the poor economy.  Many places closed.

Houses here built on the hillside.

On to Dallas for Addie's birthday.

Addie had her 3rd birthday and celebrated like all princesses with a ball.  All her family and friends were there.

No one was suppose to bring presents, only family, you can see why.  Is there enough pink princess stuff???

Birthday out of the way, Heather and Craig left for a cruise.  They needed the rest.  After we babysit we understood why.

I bought Addie fairy wings at the Dollar Store. She was thrilled!! Her only disappointment was she still couldn't fly:(

Asher liked the wings also.

Papa took Addie to the drug store.  She got a blue lollypop.  She takes after her Uncle Floyd.  Family joke, see Floyd's picture on Facebook.

 Addie and Grandma made a Gingerbread House.

For those of you who might have thought I lost my mind and baked.  This was a kit.  It was fun but messy.

Papa and Asher spend a lot of time together.  Bob is reading Asher's favorite book.

We had the children for three days, then Dave and Vicki took over for the weekend.  They were bravery them us, taking them to the Lakehouse and out to eat.  We didn't manage to leave the house with children, except for Bob's journey to the drugstore.

Heather and Craig had a great trip and we retired to our motorhome to recope before Christmas.

Our motorhome had it's own decorations.  A Jim Shore Nativity Set that was on a steering wheel table that Shellie Weber made for me plus the tablecloth and dolle.

Christmas Eve we went with the children, Scot, David, and Vicki to church and then out to dinner.  The next morning would come early.

Christmas at the Wilson's 2010.

 Asher enjoying his John Deere Tractor, Grandma enjoying Asher.

Asher got musical rattles from Discovery Toys.  Did you know Discovery Toys were still around?

Addie loves to dress up, so she got a Cowgirl outfit.  Her hat does say Arizona, for Great Grandma Emery.

Addie and Dad playing with Marbleworks.  Not sure if this gift was for Addie or Craig, but I know they both enjoyed it.

"Give me a minute and I will have it figured out," says Addie.

Aunt Shellie send new pieces for Mr. Potato Head straight from Disneyland.  It was for Asher and Addie but I am not sure whether Addie is willing to share.  At least not Christmas Day.

Bob's present was a day at Texas Motor Speedway, including driving a race car.  He was surprised!  He thought he was getting a bike.

Heather out did herself for Christmas dinner.  I was supposed to bring stuffed mushrooms.  One dish I know how to make.  I forgot.

Last but not least,we had a birthday cake for Jesus.  Notice  Scot in the background.  That's what happens when you are upstaged by children and dogs.  He did move to Ft. Worth.  Already found a job and is happy he made the move. Loves being closer to family. He got an electric piano for Christmas.  He had to sell his piano in his move, so this was a must at his new place.

That's it.  We are in New Braunfels, Texas tonight.  Tomorrow we head to Falfurrias, Texas and on Wednesday to our winter home, in Mission, Texas.  I see if I can keep this up.  At least I feel you got a taste of 2010 with the Gilmores