WE ENJOY A BLAST FROM THE PAST AT LAKE SKINNER!

WE RECENTLY ENJOYED A GROUP CAMPING TRIP TO LAKE SKINNER. SOME OF THE GANG FROM MOULTON NIGUEL WATER HAD PLANNED A TRIP, AND THANKS TO KRIS,WE GOT TO TAG ALONG TOO!
IT HAD BEEN QUITE SOME TIME SINCE WE HAD BEEN TO LAKE SKINNER-THERE HAD BEEN MANY TRIPS THERE WHEN THE KIDS WERE YOUNG-AND SEVERAL OF THE MOULTON GROUP HAD ALWAYS JOINED US. WE ALL HAD LITTLE ONES BACK THEN, AND WE ALWAYS HAD LOTS OF FUN! THIS TIME SOME OF THE "KIDS" HAVE THEIR OWN LITTLE ONES-INCLUDING NOLAN AND KRIS WITH ADORABLE RYLIE AND TAYLOR( OK, ME,BEING THE AUTHOR OF THIS BLOG-I HAVE THE RIGHT TO BRAG A BIT-THEY ARE TWO OF THE MOST ADORABLE LITTLE GIRLS I KNOW)AND SOME BROUGHT THEIR GRANDKIDS-THERE WERE LOTS OF REALLY CUTE ONES ON THIS TRIP-ENOUGH TO MAKE THE ADULTS FEEL PRETTY OLD REMEMBERING PREVIOUS LAKE SKINNER ADVENTURES. THIS WAS A SPECIAL CAMPING TRIP FOR NOLAN AND HIS GIRLS-THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THEIR NEW TRUCK AND CAMPER! NOLAN HAD SPENT MANY HOURS WORKING ON BOTH TRUCK AND CAMPER,GETTING THEM IN TRAVELLING SHAPE. MIKE HELPED OUT TOO-AND IT WAS PRETTY EXCITING TO SEE THE CAMPER FINALLY ARRIVE AT CAMP-FOLLOWED BY KRIS DRIVING HER CAR WITH THE GIRLS. NOLAN WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY ALL FOUR ARRIVED SAFELY,SO KRIS HAD TO DRIVE SEPARATELY WITH THE GIRLS-ALL WENT WELL,NOTHING FELL OFF OF THE TRUCK(REFERRING TO THE CAMPER OR ANYTHING ELSE)-NOTHING WENT WRONG AT ALL,AND WE ALL CHEERED WHEN THEY ARRIVED.
WHEN MIKE AND I FIRST DROVE INTO THE PARK,WE WERE HAPPILY GREETED BY KEN(FRAS-DOG TO THOSE WHO KNOW HIM BEST) HE DID NOT KNOW WE WERE COMING, AND WE DID NOT KNOW HE WAS COMING-IT WAS A GOOD SURPRISE FOR US ALL! KEN WAS SO NICE TO TELL ME THAT HE REGULARLY READS THIS BLOG-I AM HAPPY TO FINALLY BE ABLE TO INCLUDE HIM IN THIS EDITION-HI KEN!! PRETTY SOON PETE AND JEAN ARRIVED,ALONG WITH OTHERS-EACH TIME THERE WAS A ROUND OF HUGS AND EVERYONE LYING ABOUT HOW YOUNG WE STILL LOOK ETC-IT IS GREAT GETTING TOGETHER AGAIN! MELISSA CAME BY AFTER WORK,WE GRILLED SHRIMP AND SHE AND RYLIE MADE A BEAUTIFUL SALAD. WE HAD A COUPLE OF CAMPFIRES GOING-AND OF COURSE SOME ROASTING OF MARSH MELLOWS. THE EVENING CAME AND WENT,WE WERE ALL HAPPY CAMPERS-(SOME OF US A BIT HAPPIER THAN OTHERS,AND ONE LITTLE INCIDENT INVOLVING SOME CHAIRS AND A FIRE PIT-NO NAMES HERE-)WE GOT UP THE NEXT DAY READY TO DO IT ALL AGAIN-AND MORE. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE RYLIE AND TAYLOR COME OVER FOR HOT CHOCOLATE WITH LOTS OF WHIPPED CREAM-THERE WERE HOT AIR BALLOONS FLYING OVERHEAD,THE SUN WAS OUT AND WE HAD A BIG DAY AHEAD OF US. TONY BROUGHT A FUN GAME TO CHALLENGE ALL OF US WITH(I DO NOT RECALL THE NAME OF IT,COULD BE BECAUSE MIKE AND I REALLY SUCKED AT IT)AND THEN THERE WAS THE NOW FAMOUS GAME FORMERLY KNOW AS BOTCHE BALL-APTLY RENAMED BY THE GROUP "BI-A-TCHY BALL" JILL(MY PARTNER) AND I PRETTY MUCH SUCKED AT THIS TOO-BUT WE HAD A GREAT TIME ANYWAY! IN THE AFTERNOON WE GATHERED FOR AN APPETISER PARTY-TONS OF GOOD FOOD-INCLUDING MY PERSONAL FAVORITE,A DIP SERVED IN A PUMPKIN(IT WAS REALLY GOOD-BUT IT WAS IN A PUMPKIN, SO I WOULD HAVE LOVED IT ANYWAY)WE HAD A GREAT DAY,LOTS OF STORIES,MORE ARRIVALS-RYAN AND HIS GIRL DESI,AND LISA AND KATY,AND IT WAS SO NICE TO SEE ROSE TOO-AND SPARKY!! HOPE I AM NOT LEAVING ANYONE OUT,THERE WAS A GOOD CROWD-AND IT WAS JUST REALLY NICE TO SEE YOU ALL!!!
WHEN THE SUN WENT DOWN,ALL OF THE LITTLE ONES PUT ON THEIR HALLOWEEN OUTFITS AND TRICK-OR-TREATED IN CAMP. SOME WERE REALLY CUTE,SOME REALLY SCARY.MY FAVORITE WAS THE LITTLE TINY PUMPKIN ESCORTED BY DADDY RONAN-TOO CUTE!!
SUNDAY MORNING CAME WAY TOO FAST-AND ALMOST EVERYONE IN THE GROUP WAS GETTING PACKED UP TO LEAVE. NOLAN TOOK HIS GIRLS FISHING,A BABY RATTLE SNAKE WAS FOUND-AND DEALT WITH,MIKE AND I HAPPILY WATCHED ALL OF THE ACTIVITY-WE HAD DECIDED TO STAY ONE MORE NIGHT. AFTER MANY GOODBYES,JILL AND HER GUY ALLAN,CAME OVER TO OUR CAMP AND JILL GOT MIKE ALL CAUGHT UP ON EVERYTHING MOULTON NIGUEL.MIKE WAS PLEASED TO FIND THAT PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING WAS STILL THE SAME AS WHEN HE LEFT THE COMPANY-WELL PRETTY MUCH ANYWAY! HE WAS SORRY THAT JOE COULD NOT MAKE IT TO CAMP-REALLY WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HIM! ALL IN ALL IT WAS A REALLY FUN TRIP. I LOVED HAVING MY LITTLE GRANDGIRLS ALL WEEKEND-AND SEEING EVERYONE WAS JUST GREAT. THE LAST SPECIAL PART OF THIS TRIP? THAT CAMPER AND TRUCK MADE IT ALL THE WAY HOME JUST FINE TOO-GOOD JOB NOLAN!!! BE SURE TO CHECK THE TWO FOLLOWING BLOGS-THEY ARE JUST ALL ABOUT THE PICTURES!

LAKE SKINNER MEMORIES

WE ALL PACKED A LOT OF FUN IN JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS-BUT WHAT'S NEW THERE!!

MORE LAKE SKINNER PICS

SO MANY PICS,SO LITTLE TIME!!

HAPPY KALEY IN TWENTYNINE PALMS

We were pretty worn out when we arrived at the Duffle home-got just a few pics of Kaley. We will do better next time we visit! The traffic congestion from the construction put us behind two hours-I did growl at the tractor operators when we finally got thru it-could they maybe think about working at night next time we are going thru?

ARIZONA-AND A NEW JOURNEY BEGINS!

We arrive in Phoenix to a beautiful afternoon-weather is gorgeous!
After finding our way to Dads new home,it is time to meet Kathy. Mike and I have slowly told Daddy about his new digs-we are not sure what he actually understands,but at this point he seems eager to meet this lady who wants him to live in her house! When we drive up to the house,he seems to like the neighborhood-we have been talking about memories in Arizona-and there are many good ones-Daddy says he is happy to be back here-and really looking forward to seeing Andy! He seems to have gotten the idea of going back to Washington out of his head-for now at least.
We ring the bell-and Kathy answers-there is a warm and welcoming smile-we introduce ourselves,Kathy takes Daddy's hand-I am a mess of emotions inside-but have a good feeling that this is going to be a good,happy, and safe place for Daddy to live. We take a tour of the house-it is really nice! There is only one other resident at this time-her name is June, and she is friendly and welcoming also. Daddy is quite tired from our long journey-Kathy is ready with a nice meal ready for him and June. We have some talking and paperwork to do. I am trying to hold back tears-not because I am sad-it is just all pretty emotional-the past two weeks taking care of Daddy, the trip, everything-all just an emotional overload.While Daddy is eating, Andy shows up-hooray! Daddy is sooo glad to see him-Mike and I too. The three "guys" get Daddy's clothes out of the truck, and start getting his room all set up. I am meeting with the rep from Humana(sorry,Mum) we decide on a plan to hold us over til we know something better to do! It is apparent that Daddy likes Kathy-we do too! It has been a long and tiring day-Mike and I are ready to find our hotel room and just crash.
Andy stays a bit longer with Daddy-Andy is staying close by with a friend and we all agree to meet tomorrow morning.
After a really good nights rest,we head back to Daddy's new home-we have shopped for some new "Arizona weight" jammies, and some vitamins for Dad. Andy is already there,Daddy has not had a really good sleep, but he is happy and says he likes his new home. We have a good visit on the beautiful patio-Daddy is going to have many nice mornings and afternoons on this patio-then it is time for us to head back to the hotel. Andy joins us, and we take advantage of the beautiful spa and pool area. The weather is just perfect-Fall in Arizona is pretty wonderful! Mum and Dad have always enjoyed this time of year here. The three of us(Andy,Mike and I) have a good dinner at the sports bar-they have flat iron steak here!!
In the morning-we head over to the house. Daddy is on the patio with coffee. I am feeling pretty sad about leaving today-but I know he is in a good place and will be fine. I promise him he will never be alone, and we will be back to visit as much as we can. He is reassured when I tell him that Andy will be close by-again, the tears were hard to hold back-and I had to go find a tissue-we hugged really hard,took a few more pictures,put his new jammies in his dresser-and we left again for our return to Lake Elsinore. It was really weird to look into the backseat and see no Daddy, and no Ginger-the ride took us over 8 hours-a major construction tie up-we were on our way to Twentynine Palms for the night,and a visit with Jessica, Shane and Kaley. Mike and I both were in need of a major Kaley fix!
We were able to get on base-and find their new home. Kaley was so cute,so big, and bless her heart she acted like she still knew who we were-and wanted hugs and up in our arms right away! Jessica and Shane looked great-and they knew us too!! Shane made us a great bbq burger dinner-it was so good to see all three of them,and our bed! I was lucky to be able to put Kaley to sleep-she is just a little angel and we so enjoyed seeing her again! We left early that next morning-but will be going to Twentynine Palms soon to spend some more time with Kaley and her cute parents!
When we got home to Elsinore-it was just time to hibernate. for three days we just did nothing but relax and reflect on the last few weeks and all that had gone on.
Daddy is doing well, and Andy is doing a superb job of making sure that he is happy and has everything he needs. We found out yesterday that we will be working in the Verde Valley of Arizona for the Spring. We will be fairly close to Daddy and Andy,and we are really excited to be know that we will be spending the spring in such a beautiful area!

MORE SCENES FROM LAKE ELSINORE

We have had fun visiting with everyone in Lake Elsinore-and the most best part-so has Daddy! Tomorrow we begin our journey to Arizona-the final leg of Daddys most excellent adventure.....at least for the time being!

WE'RE BACK.....!

We arrived at the Marina West RV Park,a little tired,and very ready to stop driving-it had been a long drive-still no deer sightings, but a big hug from Dorothy made us remember why we liked coming to this park. Daddy was a bit confused as to where we were, and where his sister was,and when we would be getting back to Patriots Landing-and where his car was parked-etc-but after a bit he settled down and was just happy watching us get the house set up, and visited with Dorothy. I think Mike was happy to know that the house would be sitting in place for awhile-he had driven many,many miles to get us all here-Have I said lately just how wonderful he has been-and how much I love him? To quote Daddy-"Michael(and his hand is on Mikes shoulder when he says this)Michael, I don't care what anyone says-I think you are great!" This is one subject that Daddy is totally clear-headed about!
The next few days are spent visiting with our friends at the park-some hot games of 31,and a great visit with the kids-grand kids and Daddy's great-grand kids! I am posting a bunch of pics-all of which need little or no explaining-but the headband on Taylor is because it was apple week at her pre-school,Mike and Daddy just had to see who could get their jammie bottoms up to their chest-and Dorothy trying to save Daddy from throwing away all of his "good" cards in 31!