Thank you Sharron! Every year she sends Granny and grampy money so we can all get together and go do something. This year mom set up dog sledding. It was really fun! The weather was great, lots of snow and sunshine. They had a sled hooked up to a snow-mobile, and a sled with dogs. We all took turns mushing (or hikeing) the dogs - Heather, and even James got to lead them!
Little Autumn with her boots on backwards. We were a little worried to leave her on the sled all by herself, no seat belt or anything, but she did good!
They did not have a suit that was Jame's size, so ended up in a grown-up suit - he looked like a little marchmallow! It was really funny to watch him walk.
Grampa Moose ended up flipping the sled shortly after this picture was taken – little Autumn went flying, Heather skidded along for a bit, then rolled off, luckily no one was hurt, and everyone got back on after making snow angels on the side of the trail.
Horse-back riding.
Camille and David took Heather horse back riding on “Dancer” while we were there, which was very special. It was windy out, so we went to the indoor arena. Dancer did really well, following David around like a little puppy dog, until another horse came in. Both horses were trying to show off for one another, and Dancer started “Dancing” a bit, Heather lost one of her red cowboy boots that Grampa Moose had picked out for her, but she held on tight, and did not fall off. Later she got to give Dancer some apples, and brcuh him down, see inside the barn where all of his stuff was kept, and where they can give the horses a shower. Dancer had a funny haircut – what they give them so they don’t get too hot while riding. Heather was really really excited as she really really likes horses.
We spent one day with Kent, got stuff for a pic-nic lunc and went to the park by their house. It was cold, but a really nice park. Kent has this huge train set at their house that James remembered from last summer when we came that is a lot of fun. He also has a little terrier dog that the kids chased around all over the place.
Mom and I went after-Christmas sales shopping, got a bunch more toys (the toy store was going out of business :( ) and a few outfits, it was a fun little outing.
We spent a day with Travis / Angie / Seth. We spent 2 hours at a McDonald’s playland talking politics while the kids played. Then we went to the butterfly pavilion. Everyone (including Autumn) held the big tarantula spider, and we got to see their daily butterfly release. We were going to get some ice-cream afterwards but all the stores were closed as it was new years.
For new years we stayed up watching Gilligan’s Island, woke Heather up at midnight to go out on the front porch and blow our little horns and do our poppers. It has been a wonderful year, and a wonderful trip.
Dorothy and Harold watched the kids so we could take dad out for his birthday dinner. We went to a Mexican place that made fresh guacamole at your table. It was fun but sad at the same time as it was our last night there. The next day mom and I tried to take the kids for a little hike in Golden Gate – James was not in the mood for it though, so James I just walked around a little pond in front of the nature center while Nammy took Heather and Autumn. Then we went and met dad for lunch at Lion’s park in Golden. Dad took Heather and James on a little motorcycle ride before we left.
It is always sad to pack up and say goodbye.
