Well, I am a bit late in getting this done. Shocker. I can't imagine why ... let's see: work, a 2 year old, getting gardens ready, birthday party, planning a 2 year old birthday party, catching up with Nona and JimPa, trying to start running again, new fish, getting acquainted with our RV .... So much fun!
So, here it is, our final leg of the RV adventure of 2011, last stop: Idaho Falls to visit Stephanie and Brad Sammons and their 3 perfect kids (1 dog and 4 cats). We were welcomed with lots of chatter from the kids and open arms from this sweet sweet family. Stephanie is Micca's sister and just as sweet and wonderful as Micca has been to me over the many years. I can't tell you how much I love the ENTIRE DAUER family... They are just indescribably warm and wonderful and REAL people. We are looking forward to many RV adventures with the Sammons'. And, I think Katelynn (their oldest) would love to have Matine in her paws for a few more days (she is 8 years old and capable of raising a child on her own... quite the little mother).
RV in driveway. Matine being coddled by Kade and Katelynn.
Heaven is the attention of THREE older kids and getting to hold FOUR cats!
My cat.
Cuddled up and loving her friends.
Cutest couple on the planet ... They are so great.
Easter Morning - they were so excited for the easter egg hunt.
Matine had no idea what she was in for Easter morning. All she knew was that she got to dress up in a dress (just like Katelynn), wear every piece of costume jewelry she had, and wear fancy shoes. Katelynn made her an easter basket out of paper with her name on it (so sweet). THEN, she realized there was chocolate in the eggs and it was "game on!" It was a perfect first Easter memory for our kiddo.
"Open, more chocolate"
This might be the funniest kid alive.
Kid #3 - Kade is SO funny. His easter basket was his tool box ... so clever and so fitting. This kid LOVES To build and construct things and it was so appropriate that he hoard his eggs in his tool box.
What a FUN week and a great way to end it ... Sammon's family, we will see you sooner than you expect!
We took the MRC (Mobile Ritz Carlton) to the Rogers' house this weekend ... Just to say hi, watch the baseball game from their backyard, and let Logan actually ride in the "bus." Yes, we are THAT couple ... we drive our RV around town for fun. The dogs dig it and Mattie does too. I sure hope we can drive it more than 1.2 miles this weekend, or next? Seeing something pretty like a river, or mountains, or NOT OUR NEIGHBORS HOUSE from the RV might be cool.
We did it. We drove the RV down Las Vegas Boulevard and went into casinos with our child. We are awesome parents!
The lights, the fountains, the freaks ... oh the spectacle of it all! We are pretty sure Matine loves it too. I thought maybe it was time to leave when a "person" who looked very much like a woman but had a large / thick beard that was very much like a man with an albino snack wrapped around her neck walked past us and Matine's eyes got HUGE and her mouth opened like when she's excited and she says, "MORE SNAKE!" She liked the Elvis that was "prepping" for his act in the middle of the street and had no qualms about applying his deodorant and spraying himself down with something that smelled like Axe Body Spray in front of us all before he could begin. She liked the man in the bikini, the highschool drummers, the woman selling with bunny rabbits in baby carriages who was selling "pictures with the bunnies" for $5/ piece. She smiled and starting talking to the strangers standing next to us as we waited for the Bellagio fountains to go off. She was as elated as I was when the music started and the routine was to "Viva Las Vegas." It was a priceless moment, showing our daughter another part of the beautiful and crazy world. I cried.
On the road again ... No more green California.
This is just about as disgustingly American as our $5/gallon diesel guzzling RV. God Bless America!
Did you know there is over-sized RV parking just outside the Mirage? It only took us 45 minutes of scary driving to find it!
First Stop - the MGM Grand to see the Lions! Matine loved them.
Taking it all in!
Escalators!
Matine probably would have been happy just being in a Mall in Tulsa. It was the escalators that were her favorite part of the Vegas. The stroller was also a hit and she loved to get in and out of it, buckle "myself" and then sprint as fast as she could down the sidewalks. All I wanted to do was play a round of Craps or two, but we ran out of time and Matine was not allowed at the tables.... bummer!
Look Ma, I'm in Vegas!
Waiting for the Water Show to start. We could barely get her to interrupt her conversation with the lady on our right so we could take a picture. She was explaining to her something about lights, water, ducks and milk.
The Chihuly glass in the Bellagio ( mom's favorite)
The Family who RV's together stays together!
Finally, some nice cold milk! I am delirious and thirsty parents!
After we left San Diego, we headed north up Highway 1 and 5. Matine entertained herself wonderfully by talking and playing with her animals, singing songs, playing "I Spy" and chatting incesently. She eventually passes out from all the activity.
Her little farm animals have names and voices. They are always her favorite thing to play with. They are kept in a little tin and she carries them around in her shirt and pockets, rocking and holding them like a baby.
We almost drove off the road a million times just gawking at how cute she is sleeping!
Yes, we deliberately headed directly into Los Angeles traffic on a day when President Obama was going to be in town. If a marriage can survive driving / navigating a 34-foot RV through Los Angeles, it can survive ANYTHING!
We managed to avoid curbs, too much traffic and divorce and found our way to Suzanne's house. Suzanne was one of my best friends from highschool in Oklahoma and my college roommate for 2 years at Oklahoma State. We have seen ALOT together and lived to tell the tales. Now we are still friends, living in completely opposite worlds, and mothers. We had a LOT of catching up to do. I was just as excited to meet her son Desmond (who is one month older than Matine) and her new baby girl, Charlotte (just 4 weeks old).
they hit it off immediately.
We stretched our legs and took a quick walk to a lovely neighborhood park in Encino.. right off Ventura Blvd!
Darling Desmond! He loves to pucker up and give smooches. Mattie got a few from him.
Sweet Suzanne - wearing her baby.
We were all getting a bit ripe and Matine sort of liked her bath time with Desmond. I knocked her over and she hit her head. Oops. Mom of the Year again.
Their bath time must have helped with the bonding. We look over and they are snuggled in a chair holding hands.
SO CUTE!
The Watsons.
The morning we left, we took another nice walk to a little restaurant, Waffles and More, for breakfast. It was glorious to eat outside and not be cold. There was not enough time for us to catch up on ALL that has gone on since we saw each other last (at our wedding in 2007), but it was a nice start. Great to see Suzanne, her beautiful family, in sunny California!
Well, we arrived. We have slept, had meals, and are LOVING life in the 34 foot Firan. We are taking pit-stop in Oceanside, CA to move our legs, enjoy the surf, sea lions, fresh air and beautiful California weather.
We arrive yesterday after an uneventful flight. Our friend Ford picked us up (so nice of him) and took us to our new home. We slept on the side of a street in Del Mar last night (not having a CLUE where to park this sucker). It was close to a Starbucks and Grocery Store, so we figured it was safe enough. We slept like babies.
Matine LOVES this thing. She loves sitting at the little table to eat, her big captains chair where we strapped her carseat in, the bed, the BUTTONS and curtains taht are all over the thing. Already we are having fun just being a little family and seeing a bit of the US through the eyes of our child and a 34 foot 90's styled RV. More to come....
