Snow Day

Gave our Jeep a little Christmas cheer

Couldn't find cold weather boots for Grant so we opted for water proof on an impromptu trip to the snow. He wouldn't wear his boots.

Beautiful Big Bear Lake

Grants 1st time seeing snow waiting for the group

He's wearing pajama pants under his pants, his feet stayed dry and it was beautiful weather.

jumping from rock to rock

On our way up the trail. This group was mostly Hummer's, 2 JK Jeeps and a Truck

We wedge the puppy dog behind him as a pillow and to keep his head and neck stable

5 minutes into the trip and Grant fell asleep. Last time we went he didn't sleep at all, not even on the way home on the freeway

Another Jeep group making way for us

The beginning of The Gate Keeper Trail. We didn't do this one, we would need a lift on the jeep and rock sliders.  It took him a good 20 minutes to navigate just the opening of this trail. 

Cooling off our room temperature water

Someone made a snowman while waiting for Serge to get through the Gate Keeper

He likes the neck pillow, its bumpier in the backseat.

Rock Garden

I jumped out of the jeep at this point. Too scared to take the icy inclines that are shown in the video with Dave sliding all about.  I walked up the hill.

Watch Video HERE

Then we had to turn all the rigs around on a narrow incline because once we got past the icy section turns out it was even worse up ahead. As we waited all I could think is its getting darker and icier and then I looked down at the radio . I wanted to cry.

Coincidence that Highway to Hell was playing, I think not. . 

Adding air to the tires to go home, yeah!

`

December

Met our friends and we were late so there wasn't enough time to warm up to Santa and sit on his lap.  Grant did hand him a candy cane so he wasn't as afraid as the year before.  We went to one of the Disney hotels where they take your picture for free

Our bucket list printed from Pinterest. 

Decorating cookies at one of our Meet-ups. Grant doesn't usually do the crafts, he plays with the other kids but this one he was really interested in.  Kind of like painting so I guess thats why.

Meet-up where we brought our own tree and made decorations and enjoyed our new friends, hot cocoa and treats

Grant helping Daddy and Grandma Rita put up Xmas lights

We went to a Xmas tree lot and Grant spotted his xmas shaped tree cone and carried it around everywhere

He walked everywhere with the cone

And the man gave it to us!

Grant has a special tractor and dump truck ornament and he must of said tractor 100 times and stood by the tree forever looking at it.

Then he got his toy tractor and introduced it to the tractor ornament

Notice the cone from the xmas tree lot and now he is showing his bear the tractor ornament on the tree

Naples boat parade with his friends Mario and Coen. Had dinner at McKennas on the Bay where we could stay warm and inside watching the boat parade but we eventually went outside

Helping bake cookies for Santa

Cookies for Santa and his reindeer along with our Advent calendar with an M & M in each door.  Lesson learned, too much chocolate everyday for 25 days. Next year have to mix it up with a toy or some other idea. We ran out of chocolate several days before xmas.

Showing his cat all of his cars

We had Daves tricycle restored.  It had been sitting in the garage upside down for 30 years rusting and the handle bars were bent.

The before picture

Family Day/Dining Out

SWINGING FROM THE BASKETBALL HOOP

MADE A SLED OUT OF OUR OLD TV BOX FOR TOYS

GRANT WAS IN THE BOUNCY HOUSE FOR HOURS PRIOR TO IT COLLAPSING FROM THE ADULTS HAVING TOO MUCH FUN

DAVE DRINKING FROM A FRESH COCONUT. THE THAI COMMUNITY DONATED THEIR TIME AND FOOD FOR OUR EVENT.  FOOD WAS DELICIOUS AND THEY EVEN TOOK THE TIME TO CARVE CENTERPIECES OUT OF WATERMELON AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH

EXPLORING THE HUMVEE 

I AM THE CO-LEAD VOLUNTEER FOR THE FAMILY READINESS GROUP FOR DAVE'S UNIT.  RESPONSIBLE FOR EVENTS AND SUPPORTING HIS UNIT AND THEIR FAMIIES THROUGH PRE, DURING AND POST DEPLOYMENTS.

IN CASE YOU HAVE EVER WONDERED WHAT ALL THE BADGES, RIBBONS, MEDALS, STRIPES, ETC ARE ON A UNIFORM

THE ONE NIGHT A YEAR WE ACTUALLY GET TO HAVE A DATE NIGHT. FORMAL EVENT CALLED A DINING OUT THAT IS CEREMONIAL AND FUN