Finally Under Way

We started our winter travels south by going north to the Vineyards RV Park in Vacaville to attend a Concord Caravaners New Years outing. 

 

Cal and Betty hosted the outing as they for the past several years. Maybe its getting to be too much for Betty.

Debbie made a couple of salads for one of the evening meals.

We spent a little time organizing in the bedroom closet. Ty took a seat to supervise the operation.

Later he went out exploring the RV park.

Tomorrow, New Years Day, we will be leaving for more southern climes. First stop, San Juan Batista.

Getting Ready to Head South

Christmas is over and the new year is nearing and so is our departure south for the winter.  We  plan to join the other ‘snowbirds’. We’ve planned as far as Padre Island, TX. Our first stop will be in the wrong direction, up to Vacaville. We’ll be meeting the Concord Caravaners for a New Year’s outing.

One of the thing I needed to do before we got away from the house was clean out my closet and store the unneeded clothes in the garage.  I stacked them on the bed but before I got the clothes moved Ty decided to take a nap on them.

Later I got the clothes moved to a recliner in the front. And still later I noticed Ty had also moved following the stack of clothes.

He’s such a good sleeper. Even with his lower lower than his butt.

I’ll eventually get the clothes out to the garage without the cat.

Babysitting

Debbie gave Claire a bowl of kitchen stuff to play with. Ty kept a close watch on her, I guess, to make sure she didn’t touch any of his toys.

I guess she only likes to play with the keyboard is when you are trying to do something on the computer with her on your lap.

Home for Christmas–2012 cont.

Christmas afternoon at Blake, Stacey and Claire’s house.

Merry Christmas!

Just a minute, I need to check this text first

Mom and dad are making something for me

See what they made. Neat huh?

Here’s a present for you Brad

End of the day and mom’s tired, but not me

Now we have just a week to get ready for the road.

Home for Christmas - 2012

Home from our North Carolina visit we now hurry to prepare for Christmas. This year Christmas Eve and early Christmas morning with Brad, Amy and Angela. Then Christmas Day with Blake, Stacey and Claire.

Christmas Morning

Up early and up to the house to enjoy an early morning Christmas.

     

Presents under the tree

Angela checks out her stocking

Opening presents begins

          

Debbie and I opening presents

 

North Carolina cont.

One week went by too quickly but we enjoyed every minute of it.

Kayla with Buddy, the three legged dog

Debbie consulted on a school project that Emily was working on, a period costume. Emily put together the costume herself.

We were fortunate to be able to attend a singing event that Kayla sang at. She sang alone and with a group with a solo.  What a beautiful voice she has. I see American Idol in her future.

Kayla sings her solo part

Back to North Carolina

We returned from out Thanksgiving in Pismo Beach to our home in Concord. A little rest and then packing up for a plane flight back to Wake Forrest, NC for a visit with our family there; Jim, Lisa, Kayla, and Emily.  Jim took the week off to visit with us and we really enjoyed being able to spend so much time with him and the family. Working so much, in the past, we only saw a lot of him coming and going.

Jim’s Christmas lights were quite extensive. He related a small incident occurred while hanging lights in one of the trees. While at the top of the ladder, one of the ladder’s legs sank in a gofer hole and left him precariously hanging onto the tree and ladder. Emily came to the rescue by getting a neighbor to come over the straighten the ladder. 

Jim and Lisa’s Christmas lights

Debbie brought bead projects to do with the girls

Bead work

 

Kayla working on a bead project

 

Emily learns to use the sewing machine–Debbie learns to observe quietly

 

Beading question

 Kayla takes the ball down the court