First and Second Christmas

First Christmas - Houston December 19, 2009

Shane, Andrea, Gabe and Chase were in town this weekend and we decided to do an "Early Christmas" because we didn't know if we would get to be in McKinney at Christmas time. As it turns out it was a good move.

The boys had gone shopping at an Elf Land shopping event at school so both Vicki & I got really special gifts from both Gabe & Chase. Mamah got an angel tea light holder from Chase and a candle holder from Gabe. PeaPa got a Texas Longhorn "Things to do" pad to write down my lists from Gabe and a dozen golf balls from Chase. All appreciated gifts because of the thought and love poured out in choosing them.

Chase got a set of Legos and Gabe got a Dallas Cowboys blanket. Andrea and Shane got two loaves of Poppyseed bread. We enjoyed our early Christmas and always the visit of family.

Second Christmas - San Antonio December 25, 2009

We had talked about the 'Tour of Texas' (Houston-McKinney-San Antonio-Houston) but all the plans kept changing around us so we decided to do our "normal" Christmas - San Antonio with the Jordan clan. Was not an easy decision as Tyler, Hannah, Estee, and Coppelia actually were in McKinney for a couple of days including Christmas. But, we headed for San Antonio on Wednesday.

Got to San Antonio and were invited by Tommy to help celebrate Cortney's MBA graduation by dining at P F Changs.....great meal....great drink....and good way to start off a family centered holiday. Big Thanks to Tommy and Cindy.

Christmas was at 202 Renner....bedrock of the Jordan's. First serving was Mimosa's. Next was opening of gifts along with the traditional lineup of kids at the kitchen door. Problem is....we don't really have any "kids" anymore.....they have all grown up....but tradition rules....so the older (unmarried) kids lined up at the door before the gifts were opened. Click on this link for a look at past and present lineups.

Christmas Lineups

Gifts were handed out, gifts were opened, and for the third year in a row Dan failed to show for the Christmas gathering.

Afterwards some time was spent visiting and snacking waiting for our Christmas feast and close to 3:00 pm dinner was served. Meat was a 5 rib Standing Rib Roast with homemade noodles, gravy , green beans, jello salad and a variety of wine. We drank a lot of wine. Was an excellent meal

The next evening we all gathered at Bobby & Diana's house for the continuation of the Jordan Egg Nog Party. It was a passing of the "punch bowl" of sorts.....Bobby made the Egg Nog for the first time this year. The party began around 4:00 pm and was going strong when we made our early exit. The traditions continue.

Vicki got her wish by staying over until Monday morning and finally gave in to going back to Houston around 10:30 that morning. A quick trip to the cemetery to pray for our departed family members and then back to Houston.

Snow

Earliest snow in Houston's history.

Has snowed all day off and on.....hard freeze tonight....a few pics to complement.

Thanksgiving 2009

Okay....Thanksgiving 2009.

Where?

McKinney Texas - Andrea & Shane Collins' house

Who?

Andrea, Shane, Gabe, Chase, Tyler, Hannah, Coppelia, Estee, Lou Ann, Grandma Wanda, Vicki & Joe

To begin the Thanksgiving week Vicki & I suffered thru Monday Night Football at Reliant Stadium watching our Texans......well.....not win again.

#1 - We are thankful for.......sharing the cost of our season tickets with two other couples.

Tuesday morning we finish gathering what we need to take for our visit to McKinney. I found a recipe for cooking turkey in a dutch oven in my Louisiana Cooking magazine (Franksgiving: Turkey Roasted In a Pot) and asked Andrea if she thought we could try it. Answer......go for it....in fact you can be in charge of the turkey. So I was in charge of the turkey.

Loaded up the dutch oven, a chest full of spices, cranberry sauces, poppy seed bread, marshmallows, beans, knife and sharpener, big cutting board, and finished off with my PeaPa BBQ Buddies apron....it was full to the top. Then came the ice chest.....honey baked ham, 11 lb turkey, coffee, cream, one completely cooked PeaPa brisket, and topped off with "Janel Ice" (recycled plastic bottles full of water and frozen).

#2 - We are thankful for - owning a truck.

Next we headed west to pickup Lou Ann's mom, Wanda - better known in the family as Grandma Wanda - and headed for McKinney Texas.

Pretty uneventful trip.....couple of stops.....including Woody's in Centerville. Bought some Buffalo jerky along with some peppered beef jerky at Tyler's request, cheese bread, jalapeno bread, and if I remember correctly a pie was thrown in as well. Plus Vicki snuck a load of fudge in just as I was paying for the rest.

#3 - We are thankful for - Woody's not being our corner Valero.

We arrived at the Collins mansion in McKinney Tuesday afternoon and were greeted by our two grandsons Gabe & Chase. The twins were taking a nap at our arrival but got up soon after. Poor Shane was still trying to conduct "business" in a house full of people with his office completely stripped of any furniture other than one chair (Andrea got a DEAL on wood floors) and we all come screaming in as he retreated to the garage to complete a sale. Got to do what you got to do. As you already heard in the beginning there were a LOT of people at the Collins house....12 is the exact count.

#4 - We are thankful for - getting a real bed and not a blow-up

Wednesday was a layed back kinda visiting day. Grandma Wanda woke everyone up to the smell of bacon cooking and we started the day with a great breakfast. Big girls did some shopping. We got to play with Coppelia, Estee, Gabe and Chase making it a fun family day. The kids all went to visit Santa in the afternoon. Both Chase and Gabe had lists ready to help Santa remember what they wished for and the girls actually sat and smiled with Santa.

If I remember right, we had PeaPa's chopped brisket sandwiches for dinner. We went that night to a really neat hotel, Gaylord's Texan, and an ice sculptor display called ICE! featuring How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The hotel was decorated in Christmas season grandeur and the ice display was one of a kind. You go thru the Grinch theme and then exit with a full nativity scene including the angel Gabriel in clear ice.

Oh...and then there was the Ice Slide. Pictures don't do this justice.

#5 - We are thankful for - Bacon, Brisket, Santa, and ice.

Thanksgiving Day. Again.....awoke to the smell of bacon cooking...Grandma Wanda rules the kitchen at breakfast. She thinks everyone should eat the second their eyes open. We tempered her timing with a couple of cups of coffee first....and then opened our eyes.

One mention of Bloody Mary's sent Shane to the store on Thanksgiving morning for Bloody Mary mix. We love Shane....he delivered.

Gabe has become a very avid football fan....he was pumped all day about the Cowboys playing. I have a small problem with Gabe - he likes Peyton Manning like his cousin Mitch - Texan fans do not like Peyton Manning - he makes us look bad. With Shane's help, Gabe has become very knowledgeable about football.

The Thanksgiving meal was prepared. The turkey in a pot recipe turned out really good. Every piece of that turkey was moist. I made the gravy right in the dutch oven after removing the turkey and the flavor was great (Vicki even asked me to do another one because she didn't get her whole 'turkey fix'). Vicki make dressing, sweet potatoes with marshmallow topping (no brown sugar leads to Steens Pure Cane Syrup being used....much better I think), lots of wine, and lots of family. Good meal followed by pecan and pumpkin pies.

#6 - We are thankful for - being together at one table as a family to share God's blessing of his bounty and his gift for us of each other.

Friday sent Vicki and Hannah to brave Black Friday. PeaPa fixed whatever he could around the house without much effort (did cost Shane a trip to Home Depot), and that night ended with a game of dominoes. We found out that senior citizens apartment complex dominoes rules are quite different than Garner domino rules....but Wanda played anyway.

Tyler, Hannah and the girls left first on Saturday. Wanda rode back home with Lou Ann and Vicki and I departed soon after. Food bin and ice chest were much lighter than when we loaded them.

#7 - We are thankful for - the opportunity to be thankful.

Enjoy the pictures......

Click Here for Thanksgiving 2009 in McKinney Pictures

Evelyn Jordan's 80th Birthday Celebration

On Saturday, 12 September 2009, a celebration of life was held in San Antonio Texas for Evelyn Jordan's 80th Birthday.


The first of two parties that day began around 11:30 a.m at Paesanos on 1604 with close friends and immediate family. The meals were excellent and so was the drink. No one left unsatisfied.


Later that evening a second party was held at Thom & Janel's house with a much larger invite list. Much needed rain dampened a small portion of the evening but just as the first celebration everything went great.


The kids loved playing in the rain (and unfortunately the mud).


Larry Jordan put together a DVD that was shown at least three times that evening depicting the life of Evelyn Jordan. Larry did an outstanding job of producing this and everyone was quite impressed.


For the first time in who knows how long, Andrea actually rode with us to San Antonio from Houston where she meet up with Shane and the boys. As we were just passing the Memorial City Mall here in Houston I looked in my mirror and said "OK.....when are you going to say it?" Unprompted Andrea quickly replied "Are we there yet?". Somethings never change.


Good weekend for all capped off with Spaghetti and Meat Balls at the Christopher Columbus Italian Society near downtown San Antonio. After we ate, Shane and the boys departed for McKinney and we headed to Houston with Andrea.


We celebrated the blessings of family all weekend.

Happy Birthday Evelyn.
Everybody sing.......

Tip Tap Shape - Cope's First Tap Shoes

While the grandtwins were here Hannah found some tap shoes at a consignment shop and bought them for Coppelia......the following is what happens

July Surprise

Wow what a couple of weeks this has been.

On July 20th Andrea called Vicki at work and said that her Mom was really sick and she and the grandsons, Gabe & Chase, were on their way to Houston to help out. Turns out that Lou Ann, my children's mother, had to have some major surgery so my son Tyler and his wife Hannah along with the twins (Copellia & Estee) also headed for Houston to be with Lou Ann.

Vicki and I just kinda looked at each other.........said some prayers for Lou Ann....and then for ourselves and began to 'childproof' our house for twin 18 month old girls. We started by putting everything on coffee tables and within reach on top of bookcases and into our empty camping bins. I went to the truck and got every bungee chord I could find and began securing cabinets and TV consoles. It all looked pretty secure but only the arrival of the 4 grand kids would be the proof of our efforts.

Vicki & I tag-teamed days off from work to help with the kids as Tyler and Andrea spent the majority of their time with Lou Ann. Our house became much smaller as child gates were erected at the kitchen and hallway doors to keep the girls confined to a manageable space - our living room. While they were here, Estee & Copellia both learned how to climb out of the playpen beds creating more security problems for Hannah.

The living room became a Mecca for playing Wii, watching videos, dancing, fighting, running, hiding, wrestling. screaming, and disciplining (PeaPa did most of that and was constantly being referred to as 'cranky' - okay.....i was a little cranky :)

The boys and I went to T C Jester Park one day to play Frisbee golf. Hannah blessed us with 3 Dollar Store frisbees and off we went. I was hoping that this would last for a couple of hours and keep the boys outside......however.....the frisbee's didn't work.....it was hot and HUMID....and I threw everyone back in the truck and headed home. Again, a cranky PeaPa.

Hannah arranged for some creative art work that both Lou Ann and we got from the kids. She also saw to it that a swimming pool was available for the kids in our backyard. I made sure that my cactus plants were 'childproofed' but as it turns out I was a little too late as Estee got some spines in her cheek.

And while he was here Gabe lost two teeth. The tooth fairy must think that Vicki & I are starting a new family at 1718 Gardenia. This is the third time she has come to our house in the last month or so.

Vicki's mom Evelyn and sister Janel (Aunt Neelie) came into town from San Antonio to help out the second weekend and also to see the kids. Janel helped out by looking after the girls and Evelyn helped by bringing her homemade cookies, cleaning up after all of us, and cooking some special "Mamah Two" meals for all of us.

We celebrated Vicki's birthday on July 27th amid the chaos but I still owe her a special night.

Even Grandma Betty got out of the house to come over and see her Great Grandchildren. Hannah took the kids over to the Yale Street Grill to see their Great Aunt Barbara.

Things calmed down a little this week. Andrea was able to keep Gabe & Chase at Lou Ann's house some, and the girls go down early. They all left for a quick vacation to Gulf Shores Alabama yesterday early in the morning so all is quiet on this western front right now.

Sad thing is that cranky PeaPa misses them already.....they will be back and the whirlwind will return.

Enjoy the pics.

Garner State Park 2009

We arrived on the 3rd of July ready for our annual trek to the Frio River and found for the first time that we were the last group to arrive and check-in. Unloading was the easiest ever with plenty of help.

The river was low and the temperatures were HOT - 103 F, 104 F, and feel like temps around 110 to 115 F. But....there was always a breeze.....warm breeze but a breeze none the less.



We were in Cabin 15 and stayed until Saturday the 11th of July. Andrea, Shane, Gabe, and Chase were there when we arrived. Shane had to go back to McKinney on Sunday but we got a hike in up to Old Baldy (or Old Bobby as the boys were calling it) before he had to leave.

Andrea & I made a couple of bike rides up to the main entrance early in the mornings (she made a few without me). Going down that big hill is a blast. Coming back up was torture.

Traditional feedings of Joe McMuffins, Carne Guisada, steaks, and PeaPa's brisket were enjoyed by all and no one ever went hungry. Uncle Larry provided his now famous camping pancake breakfast with blueberries or chocolate chips. Uncle Bobby performed his rib cooking magic again at the river much to Chase's (& everyone else's) delight. Chase loves his 'wibs'.

Even with low water levels we headed for the Frio River everyday going to the Broken Bridge, Rock Beach, at the Pavilion, and even below the dam one morning.

Gabe & Chase both swung off the ropes for the first time at Rock Beach thanks to Uncle Larry and Andrea survived the whole ordeal like a champion Mom.

We only had two campfires because it was so HOT and the two we had were specifically for a quick round of Smores.

Andrea and the boys had to leave on Thursday so the last couple of days were not quite as exciting as the first but we still enjoyed the company of all that were there.

Pray for rain and cabin reservations for next year. We will return.

A link to my collection of pics......Click Here

Camping At Brazos Bend State Park May 2009

Shane & Andrea were celebrating their 10th anniversary in a very special place and had asked if we could watch the boys part of the time while they were gone. We of course said yes and decided we better find something for them to do (the 4 of us in 1718 Gardenia get real close REAL quick). The decision was to take them camping for two nights. The plans were on. We were lucky enough to get a shelter at Brazos Bend State Park for Sunday and Monday night....so we were going camping.

The camping trip began with great excitement and anticipation. Mamah & PeaPa picked up Gabe and Chase from their Nana's house around 6:30 Saturday evening June 6th. As any almost 7 yr old will do, Gabe was driving everyone crazy worrying about what time it was and hoping we had not gone without him.

Sunday morning we finished packing the truck and around 11:00 a.m. we hit the road for Brazos Bend State Park!!!

We stayed in Shelter Number 2

which was very conveniently located just across the street from a very nice playground for the boys.


That afternoon we went to the nature center in the park and the boys got some "hands on" education about what kind of wildlife was there in the park. As you can see from the slide show below they got to pet a baby alligator, a corn snake, and a tarantula.

PeaPa cooked mini-burgers for the first camping dinner and later we had our first of four campfires (one each night and morning....good PeaPa!!!)......

......and our first marshmallow roasting.



Monday morning we found out that we had visitors during the night looking for food.....lots and lots of raccoon tracks around the shelter. Vicki & I learned the hard way years ago about raccoons at Inks Lake State Park when they got in our ice chest overnight and ate or ruined everything in it....we disappointed them this trip.




After a breakfast of pancakes, little smoked sausages, and eggs, we took a hike around Elm Lake to look for alligators.

We saw all kinds of plants, flowers, birds, a snapping turtle laying her eggs on the bank, and a lot of alligators on backside of the lake including one really large gator that was on the opposite bank.

We cooked hot dogs and beans for dinner and had another campfire complete with more melted marshmallows. The boys were really tired and around 8:30 they asked if they could go to bed. Poor Gabe had the only blowup mattress that leaked and we found him sleeping on the floor both mornings. Now that is a true camper!

Tuesday morning, after a round of Joe McMuffins for breakfast, we went to 40 Acre Lake to visit the observation tower there. Chase had a real hard time on his bike so he and Mamah stayed back. Gabe & I were almost to the tower when we came upon a gator on the path that would not move. The closer we got the wider he opened his mouth.


One thing you have for gators is respect and we gently walked around him until he slid back into the lake. We climbed the tower and got a good view of the park from there.

We went back to camp and packed up. Everyone had a really good time but we were all getting tired, and hungry so we headed back home. Andrea and Shane came in later Tuesday evening and our Camping trip with the boys was deemed a success by all.

Chase & PeaPa's Great Friday (+ more)

Friday, May 15th, I went and picked Chase up around 8:00 am from Nana's house and our day began.

First thing we did was take the truck to Tommie Vaughan Ford to have the oil changed. I had a little surprise for him though because I have found a donut shop within walking distance of the Ford shop that has great food (Bakery Donuts). So....we walked over and had breakfast together. He had a chocolate sprinkle donut, a blueberry donut....and then discovered my egg, bacon, cheese, and ham croissant sandwich they make there. We ended up eating two of them together.

Next came a haircut trip. When we got to the SuperCuts place I told him I hoped we got the nice hair dresser. He kinda looked at me and then I told him that the nice ones cut your hair really easy while the mean ones might even cut off an ear! We then started betting on who would get a nice one and who would get a mean one. Chase even swears he saw "one ear" in the hair on the floor that one lady was sweeping up. We both got our hair cut and left with 4 ears between us....all attached in the right places. :)

Next we headed for the driving range and hit a bucket of balls together. Chase, when he really concentrates, can hit a golf ball....got some built in talent here.

We then went to Academy Sports where he spotted a pair of sunglasses he had to have. They were Wall E glasses...and fit him just right.

We proceeded back home and Chase 'helped' me wash my truck. He was in charge of rinsing and it promptly turned into an outdoor shower for him....and me.

Gabe and Shane came into town later that night and we spent most of the rest of the weekend with the boys.

Bowling at Dave & Busters on Saturday along with some other game playing there and a quiet afternoon.

Our next to the last event was breakfast Sunday morning at The Yale Street Grill where Great Aunt Barbara works. The boys both had chocolate chip pancakes and bacon....general vote was that they were really good.

We ended with some PeaPa steaks, twice baked potatoes, and fresh corn on the cob.
Time well spent with family (and some special time just for PeaPa and Chase)

2009 Cactus Flowers

Every spring we receive the blessing of the most beautiful cactus flowers in our backyard.....we would like to share.

April 2009 Visit to McKinney Texas - Baseball + Soccer + Beer

First thing we did was wait too long to book flights......ended up driving (not a bad thing because you can stop at Woody's Smokehouse in Centerville for beef jerky).

Then we found out that Andrea was not going to be there all weekend....something about a free trip to Miami.

Well it didn't matter because our draw was Chase's baseball game, Gabe's soccer game, and our early birthday gift for Shane.

We went, we got jerky, we saw baseball and soccer, and we celebrated Shane's 30th birthday party all very successfully.

Pictorial evidence below.....LOTS of soccer pics......enjoy

Easter 2009 in Franklin TN

On Thursday evening 9Apr09, the GuidryPeas met up with Evelyn Jordan (aka MaMah Too) in Nashville International Airport to begin a great Easter weekend with Tyler, Hannah, Coppelia, and Estee Guidry.

The flights in were uneventful but the threat of bad weather for Friday was all over the news. We woke up Friday with severe weather threats and tornado warnings issued for the entire day. I went to Kroger that morning and as I am walking up to the store the warning sirens started. I didn't know if that meant a tornado was on the ground or just a warning.....I looked around at all the other people and they just kept going into the store.....so like a sheep to the slaughter....so did I.

Sadly around 12:30 Friday a large tornado hit Murfreesboro TN (about 30 miles from Tyler and Hannah's home in Franklin, TN) resulting in two deaths and a lot of property damaged. Click Here for Story Link

We hung around the house most of Friday playing with the girls. Coppelia is a wound up twister of her own.....nothing but energy and really strong. Estee kinda glides thru.....she enjoys life leisurely and is always smiling (until you point a camera at her). We went to downtown Franklin that afternoon for a short visit but it had gotten cool and WINDY. Franklin is a really neat town....small town feel with big town conveniences.

Saturday we hung out around the house again and just played with the girls. Tyler took me on a quick visit to his office and a sight seeing tour of surrounding Franklin. We finished the evening with some Texas style BBQ from Mickey Roos and spent a pretty quiet evening as Hannah finished off her homemade Easter Baskets for the girls.

Sunday began with a trip to St Phillips Catholic Church for Easter Mass and then we joined Tyler & Hannah and the girls for an Easter service at Cumberland Church where they worship.

Hannah cooked a Sunday roast for us and we finished up our visit with hugs and kisses for everyone.

Flight back was a bumpy one.....last two pictures in series below are the cloud formations from the airplane.

Lots of pictures of Coppelia in the bookcase.....Estee didn't fit quite as good.

We had fun....enjoy...PeaPa

Spring Break 2009 Palmetto State Park

From Saturday March 7th until Tuesday March 10th the GuidryPeas joined Vicki's brother Larry Jordan and his children Mitch and Jenna for a camping trip at Palmetto State Park just outside the village of Ottine, Texas.

The trip started just as any camping trip we go on with excitement in the air after days of looking forward to going. As many of you know I have my excellently prepared camping checklist to make sure you don't arrive without something very important.

We got to Palmetto around 12:30 in the afternoon, found Larry and the kids and checked in to our camping spot. We unload our bikes, took out the ice chest and other boxes out of the back of the truck to get to our tent so I could set it up before we began to REALLY relax. I had spread a tarp out to be the base for the floor of the tent and took the tent out of the duffle bag. Then Vicki asked one simple question....."Did you bring the poles?" The answer was no. The last time we camped the tent box finally fell apart and I put the tent in a duffle bag and, in hindsight, not so wisely put the poles in another place.

Okay....what do you do? Sleep in the back of the truck? Sleep out in the open as Vicki suggested would be okay with her (probably trying to keep me from being upset at myself). Nope....you put on your engineering hat and make the best of what you have.

A pole, a tree, 8 tent stakes (luckily they were in the duffle bag) and we had a FEMA tent for the trip.

As with all our camping trips Vicki and I always go to Mass. We went online and found St James Catholic Church in Gonzales, TX that had a 5:30 Saturday evening Mass. What we also discovered is the pastor there is Fr. Paul Razz....the priest that married Vicki and I 22 years ago.

It was really good to see and talk to him again.

We had our infamous breakfasts (chocolate chip waffles + a new treat fresh blueberry waffles provided by Larry). I ate eggs every day with our usual finale of steak and eggs on the last morning.

Vicki got to do a first in life for her. She went canoeing. We rented a canoe and paddled around a small lake in the park for about an hour. It's neat to be able to say you have done something new after a trip.

We had our nightly campfires, our dominoes and pokerkub games, as well as a round or two of Yahtzee. The weather was nice....a little windy but relatively dry (couple of small showers that didn't amount to much).

As we were leaving Larry's, excuse me Mitch's truck wouldn't start. It had drained the battery the night before and we jump started it from my truck.....started back up in the morning before we began to pack....and was completely dead when we were ready to go. It took a couple more jumps to get them on their way and they made it home safely.

Pictures below illustrate the fun....

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How about a quick look back at our first Spring Break trip to Buescher State Park in 2004

Twins 1st Birthday - Atlanta

We traveled to Atlanta to celebate the first birthday of Estee and Coppelia. We arrived on Thursday evening to join Andrea, Shane, sleeping Gabe & Chase, sleeping Mike and Katrina Miller (Hannah's parents) to get ready to celebrate the first annual birthday of the twins. Friday we took the boys to the Aquarium in downtown Atlanta....what a neat place. Saturday everyone was looking forward to the party. Hannah had decorated the living room and table early and put the girls into thier party garb....we opened presents....then attacked the CupCake Cakes placed in front of the girls......by that time they had partied enough and were ready for naps. The bigger people continued the celebration with a brisket that PeaPa cooked in Houston, froze, packed, shipped via Air Tran ($15 for checked bag), reheated and absorbed the praise.

The GuidryPeas are truly blessed to have spent a weekend with their children, their children's children, and extended family and friends.

Grand Lake Colorado

What a great trip. Cherri & Robert Griffin (Janel's in-laws) have a condo in Grand Lake which they graciously let others use. Cherri & Robert went on a Christmas cruise and offered the condo for use the week between Christmas and New Years. Janel, Vicki, and Joe all left San Antonio on 28 Dec for a week of relaxation and fun.

We were all anxious to get there and see it snow and sit by the fire. Nature has a way of taking care of Texans who don't drive well in snow by not providing us with an overabundance of new snow. The pass into Winter Park was quite drivable both going to and leaving from Grand Lake. In fact it only snowed one time (if you call flurries for about 15 minutes snowing) at the condo. We did get a little bit more snow when we went snowmobiling in the upper meadows within the Arapaho National Forest. There was plenty of snow already on the ground and we all made one feeble attempt to sled down a hill in town....we were definitely the 'most mature' sledders on that hill.

Snowmobiling was "a kick in the pants" as put by Janel and we all agreed immediately to come back the next day to do it again (now that we were more comfortable driving them). In fact, Vicki didn't even get stuck within the first five minutes on the second day.....a feat she performed the first day. She headed out into a field off of the groomed trails and promptly buried her snowmobile within minutes of taking off the first day. We did a quick job of "unsticking" her and quickly joined back up with Janel. This was FUN!!! The second day we accidentally ventured off on a smaller trail that was marked but very narrow. I must say that was the best mistake made on the trip....the trail was a one way trail and lined with snow covered fir trees (couple of pictures are in the slide show). This lead to an upper meadow where we actually got snowed on a little. The entire trip was just a great experience of nature's awesome beauty.

New Years Eve we all drug ourselves back into our coats and headed back into town to watch the midnight fireworks display over the lake. Grand Lake did a SUPER job of putting on a first class fireworks show. It lasted about 25 minutes and was spectacular. Well worth staying up and getting wrapped back up for.

We all relaxed, read, ate, shopped, drank, and sat in wonder of the beauty of this part of the country. We found the Grand Lake Brewing Company and fell in love with Wooly Booger Nut Brown Ale. You can buy a 64 oz bottle of their beer to go and bring the bottle back for a refill for about $9 - $12.....we finished off our take out and have left the bottle clean and ready for re-use by the next guests in the condo.

We finished the trip up with a quick casino visit to Black Hawk Colorado where only Janel walked away with more than she came with.

Pictures do not do justice of the raw beauty of this area. The short trip into the Rocky Mountain National Forrest and the snowmobiling in the Arapaho just left you staring off into the distance. .....and the sunrises and sunsets....and then back to Texas on 2 January.

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2008 began a little early when we made a trip to McKinney before Christmas to exchange gifts with Gabe and Chase. We got to eat lunch with Gabe and see Chase perform "Look in the sky - a Star" during his school Christmas pageant. PeaPa got Jack Daniel Coffee from Chase and a screwdriver set from Gabe. MaMah got a really neat hairbrush from Gabe and sleigh pin from Chase which she promptly began to wear.

Our annual journey to San Antonio for Christmas dinner and presents with the Jordan crew followed our McKinney trip. The stockings were hung on the mantle with care, including the two new stockings for Estee and Coppelia. The tradition continued of not winning anything on our scratch offs in our stockings. MaMah Too (Evelyn) made the best of it even though her Christmas friend Dan failed to show for the second year in a row.