It was sooooo.....hard to say good-bye to Megan and Carlos on Sunday and Kyle, Heather, and the girls on Monday but we are ready for new adventures - on our way to Palm Springs, CA. We drove 8 hours today and didn't even make it to El Paso!
12-28 Two full days of driving and we finally got out of Texas. Spending the night in Bowie, AZ. The campground was $15/night - does that tell you something? "Mountain View RV Park" would be more aptly named "Train Whistle RV Park!"
12-29 We arrived in Yuma, AZ today. I found a beautiful RV resort online that was running a "special" - half off for new renters - so we decided to stay here until Friday when we drive to Palm Springs and the first of the rallies we are attending.
12-30 We spent the day cleaning - in and out. I rented a rug cleaner and we did the motorhome carpets, the throw rugs and the car rugs. Roger cleaned the motorhome and the car. Jobs well done!
Heather and her friend Stevie took their girls to lunch at the American Girl store today. Samantha and Emily were so excited - it just happened to be the day they announced the new doll of 2014 - Isabel, a ballet dancer!
12-31 They had a great New Year's Eve party here - live band, food, deserts, champagne! You know Roger and how he loves to dance - couldn't talk him out of it! We had a nice time and even made it to midnight! We haven't been to a New Year's Eve celebration in years!
1-1 Today is bike day - cleaning and getting them ready to actually use! Watched the Rose Bowl parade this morning - had forgotten how gorgeous the flowered floats are! And of course, 3pm brings us the Spartans in the Rose Bowl!
Friday, December 27, 2013
Christmas 2013
Megan and Carlos came to Heather's on Sunday night and we had three wonderful days of "family." We played games - it is fun because the girls are old enough to play games that are fun for us all - Uno, RLC, and new ones they got for Christmas. We are so blessed!
We went bowling on Monday afternoon - the 3 guys against the 5 girls - whoever lost had to do the dishes that night. Girls Rule!! The funniest part was that the girls actually did pretty good and we had to struggle to beat them! But, they got to use the "bumpers" to prevent gutter balls and we didn't!
On Tuesday we went to Lankford Market for lunch. Roger saw it on "Diners, Drive Ins and Dives" and had to try their "Fire Burger." He and Carlos both ate one - covered in jalapenos and habenero cheese sauce - Roger was proud he hung in there with Carlos and the hot stuff!! But, he did admit later that it "maxed him out!"
Then we went ice skating at an outside rink in downtown Houston. It was cool but a beautiful sunny day - unfortunately, the ice was melting and wet. I love to ice skate and was really tempted but after I saw a kid fall in a big puddle I was less enthused. Plus, the last thing I need is another broken bone! So Kyle and Samantha were the only brave hearts! Samantha is actually pretty good - must have a lot of Grandma Kate in her!
Santa and his elves surprised the girls and decorated their playhouse - it is so cute - and they love it! They got a pretend cappuccino machine so it has turned into a "coffee house" - complete with entertainment as Emily plays the guitar Santa gave her!
Santa left Samantha a gymnastics bar but, he didn't have time to install it so, he left a note asking if Daddy would do it. We played the "high - low" game at dinner and Samantha said "My high was getting my gymnastics bar and my low is not being able to play on it for 3 days until the cement dries!"
Heather asked Emily to say grace before Christmas dinner and she decided to play her guitar and sing "Happy Birthday, Jesus" instead! The guitar did not come with a pick but Judy sent them some plastic food to play with in the playhouse and Emily uses a piece of the plastic lettuce as a pick! Too funny!
We went bowling on Monday afternoon - the 3 guys against the 5 girls - whoever lost had to do the dishes that night. Girls Rule!! The funniest part was that the girls actually did pretty good and we had to struggle to beat them! But, they got to use the "bumpers" to prevent gutter balls and we didn't!
Then we went ice skating at an outside rink in downtown Houston. It was cool but a beautiful sunny day - unfortunately, the ice was melting and wet. I love to ice skate and was really tempted but after I saw a kid fall in a big puddle I was less enthused. Plus, the last thing I need is another broken bone! So Kyle and Samantha were the only brave hearts! Samantha is actually pretty good - must have a lot of Grandma Kate in her!
Santa and his elves surprised the girls and decorated their playhouse - it is so cute - and they love it! They got a pretend cappuccino machine so it has turned into a "coffee house" - complete with entertainment as Emily plays the guitar Santa gave her!
Santa left Samantha a gymnastics bar but, he didn't have time to install it so, he left a note asking if Daddy would do it. We played the "high - low" game at dinner and Samantha said "My high was getting my gymnastics bar and my low is not being able to play on it for 3 days until the cement dries!"
Heather asked Emily to say grace before Christmas dinner and she decided to play her guitar and sing "Happy Birthday, Jesus" instead! The guitar did not come with a pick but Judy sent them some plastic food to play with in the playhouse and Emily uses a piece of the plastic lettuce as a pick! Too funny!
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Playhouse Diner
The girls invited us to be at their house at 6pm tonight for a "surprise." We figured they were going to do a Christmas program or something similar but.......
We were escorted by two waitresses, in their pink uniforms (Flo and Alice!) to the "Playhouse Diner" for a "Builder Bash." Twinkle lights, fancy table cloth, candle, china and crystal - provided a romantic setting for a dinner for two served by Samantha and Emily. We had name cards and a printed menu and very attentive service. Wine, walnut salad, salmon and asparagus with chocolate, peppermint cheesecake for dessert - it was delicious!
The girls were so cute - Emily told us all about our silverware - which was our salad fork and which was the one to use to eat our "pink fish." She also told us to please talk quietly because there was a "wedding party in the room next door!" Samantha told us the food was free but we could leave a tip if we wanted - "Mommy told us not to ask for a tip - so, I'm not asking for one - I'm just telling you about it."
They have been to enough restaurants to know all the lingo and are hilarious in how accurate they are imitating the waitresses. I got them some receipt books to play with and so they write down our orders and everything - although, we often have to spell for them!
We were escorted by two waitresses, in their pink uniforms (Flo and Alice!) to the "Playhouse Diner" for a "Builder Bash." Twinkle lights, fancy table cloth, candle, china and crystal - provided a romantic setting for a dinner for two served by Samantha and Emily. We had name cards and a printed menu and very attentive service. Wine, walnut salad, salmon and asparagus with chocolate, peppermint cheesecake for dessert - it was delicious!
The girls were so cute - Emily told us all about our silverware - which was our salad fork and which was the one to use to eat our "pink fish." She also told us to please talk quietly because there was a "wedding party in the room next door!" Samantha told us the food was free but we could leave a tip if we wanted - "Mommy told us not to ask for a tip - so, I'm not asking for one - I'm just telling you about it."
They have been to enough restaurants to know all the lingo and are hilarious in how accurate they are imitating the waitresses. I got them some receipt books to play with and so they write down our orders and everything - although, we often have to spell for them!
Boomer Dinner
We went to Austin last Friday, had dinner with Carlos and Megan and then drove up to Waco, on Saturday, to see the Madison Mavericks football team (the high school the girls attended) play in the state semi-finals. A cold but clear day and a great game until the end when Pearland scored in the last minute and won!
We went to San Antonio on Sunday afternoon and stayed at the townhome for a couple days getting some things done before we leave for the west coast. Roger checked in with the guys at work and we met friends for dinner.
Monday night was Boomer night - always fun to get together with our RV crowd!
We went to San Antonio on Sunday afternoon and stayed at the townhome for a couple days getting some things done before we leave for the west coast. Roger checked in with the guys at work and we met friends for dinner.
Monday night was Boomer night - always fun to get together with our RV crowd!
Playhouse - Phase 4
Almost done! Just a little landscaping, flowers in the window box and decorating the inside!
I "set" the stick on floor tiles but they did not turn out well. Not sticky enough to stay flat but too sticky to pull up and re-do! Roger says it's because I'm not used to doing any "blue collar" work! I say it's because we weren't smart enough to use additional glue!
Family Furniture
It is fun for me to visit the girls homes and see family furniture with a "new life."
Megan took the top from the round, oak table that was in my grandparent's kitchen for as long as I can remember and made a new coffee table for her living room. The wrought iron legs are from one of Carlos' relatives.
Heather took - well, to tell the truth, I forced them on her! - the two mauve swivel chairs that were in our formal living room on Briardale and then in our Spring Branch home - and had them recovered for their new family room. They are really comfortable chairs and look great in their new fabric!
Megan took the top from the round, oak table that was in my grandparent's kitchen for as long as I can remember and made a new coffee table for her living room. The wrought iron legs are from one of Carlos' relatives.
Heather took - well, to tell the truth, I forced them on her! - the two mauve swivel chairs that were in our formal living room on Briardale and then in our Spring Branch home - and had them recovered for their new family room. They are really comfortable chairs and look great in their new fabric!
Roger and I bought this chest before Heather was born and used it in her room - with a changing pad on top. It was painted in many pastel colors. I can't remember all the places it has been in the last 40 years but, here it is in Heather and Kyle's guest room!
Monday, December 9, 2013
Samantha Kate's 8th Birthday Party
Samantha's birthday isn't until December 17th but that is always too close to Christmas for friend parties so she had four classmates over yesterday for a "Fairy" party. They made fairy gardens to take home - had a scavenger hunt to find fairies that were hiding in the house - ate ice cream cake and had a fun afternoon. Hard for us to believe she is 8 years old already!
Christmas Tradition
We made our traditional gingerbread houses this week-end - always fun to decorate with the candy and frosting that is left after all the tasting!!
Heather has had fun decorating their new home for the holidays!
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| The "kids" tree |
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| Emily calls this "the adult tree" |
Playhouse - Phase 3
The playhouse is almost done! Roger installed the door today. Kyle and Heather volunteered to have it painted - hopefully, the weather will allow it to be done tomorrow as scheduled. Then the shingles, door hardware, inside shelving and the floor tiles.
The girls are already playing "drive through restaurant" - you place your order and pay at the side window and pick up your "latte" at the front window! Starbucks beware - competition is coming!!
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