Happy New Year!

Laton & Carrie

We had a fun New Year's Eve!  There was a dance here at Picacho Peak RV Resort.

It was a BYOB and snacks to share. A nice time was had by all.

Steve & Barbara from Canada! EH!

Boxing Day

Happy Boxing Day

Christmas Eve

Sarah, Vance & Lumara

When the kids were little, we would have clam chowder and a snack tray for dinner, pile into the car and look at Christmas lights and sing carols.

Our daughter Lumara continued part of the family tradition. She served snacks and  New England clam chowder.  We admired her lights and listened to rock and opened gifts.  It is nice to add to the traditions.

We even had a Chinese Gift Exchange (also called Rob Your Neighbor) and it was really fun and created lots of laughter.

Lumara, Steve, Vance & Amanda

O' Christmas Tree

Pre Christmas Morning

Our son and his fiance had to have their Christmas morning early because the kids were going to be with the other parent. 

Bottom line - Christmas is in the heart, not in a date.

Sarah & Lee

Sarah, Lee Valentino and Natalie

Cute Kids

Lumara and Vance

Cookies!

There was a cookie exchange here at the RV Resort. I baked my dad's favorite cookie, Date Nut Drops.

DATE NUT  MERINGUE COOKIES


2 CUPS CHOPPED DATES
2 CUPS CHOPPED WALNUTS
2 EGG WHITES
2 CUPS SIFTED CONFECTIONERS SUGAR
1 TEASPOON VANILLA
PINCH OF SALT

BEAT EGG WHITES STIFF, ADD ½ CUP OF SUGAR AND BEAT,
FOLD IN REST OF SUGAR AND ADD OTHER INGREDIENTS, 
MIX WELL TOGETHER AND DROP ON GREASED
BAKING SHEET OR PARCHMENT PAPER AND
BAKE AT 300 DEGREES ABOUT 15-18 MINUTES.

Santa came early!

My parents bought me a bike for Christmas.  I was so excited waiting for it to arrive.  I got to pick the color.  Now I can fly around the RV resort and race all the old people in their golf carts! LOL

What a difference a couple of years make!

December 2011

Lumara said Vance was really happy to meet up with Santa this year. Lot of smiles, giggles and hugs for Santa!

December 2013

Gourd Bird House

I took a class to create a gourd bird house.


The seeds from inside the gourd make the shingles on the house.  The design is burned on with a wood burner.  Then it is stained with some alcohol ink and sprayed with a shellac and VIOLA! A terrific creation.

  There will be a gourd bowl class in January.  Can't wait!

BRRRRR!

Laton traveled north to camp out with our friend Rob while he was elk hunting near Williams, AZ.


This is how they kept warm.

It is cold!

Isn't this the cutest picture. It wasn't really snowing but Lee added this to the photo he took of Tino and Natalie in front of our Christmas Cactus! It did feel cold enough to have snow.

Our Christmas Tree

I didn't want to buy another fake tree and then have no room to store it again, so we decided to put up  garland and hang all our favorite ornaments on it. Now we can enjoy our ornament collection, still store it easily and continue to travel around!  It is all good!