Just Visiting

Well, yesterday turned out to be a bit anti-climactic.  We all got up early to head to Kansas City to pick up our new Jayco Eagle 31.5 FBHS fifth wheel - and boy, were we excited!  The weather was lousy, however, and we had white knuckle driving pretty much the entire way through heavy downpours and packed Thanksgiving weekend traffic.  I have to admit that I was thinking about the return trip with Daddy pulling the fiver and was glad that I was going to be driving my little Buick along behind.

We arrived at the dealership about 45 minutes later than we had planned (due to the traveling conditions) but were greeted at the door by our salesman.  He deposited us with Roger, the fellow who was going to do our 'walk-through' with us. We were anxious to see the Jayco as we ordered it sight unseen.  Wow, when we walked into the bay area where they had it parked, it sure looked massive!  And pretty.   :)  

Roger did an incredible job on the walk-through.  He was thorough, helpful and friendly.  What a truly nice guy.  He started on the outside with the fellas - and Mama and I took one look at each other and decided to ditch them and head inside to check things out!!   :)  Again, Wow!  We love it!  We spent a good hour in there figuring out where we will pack stuff and imagining our time in it.  Sure wish it wasn't going into winter!  We are REALLY looking forward to going camping!   :)

Finally, Roger and the guys made it inside and then he said, "I don't know what Tom (our salesman) has told you, but there are some things that need to be worked on and the parts aren't all in yet.  You can either leave it here or take it home and then bring it back in a week or so."  Well, Tom hadn't said a doggone word!  We live 200 miles from this dealership and he knew we were coming.  I am thinking a phone call would have been nice to let us know that we didn't need to come that day and to reschedule.  Oh well.  An oversight, I suppose.  But, quite a disappointment, to tell the truth.  Anyway, rant over.  

We decided to leave it there until the work is completed and so won't actually get to bring it home for a few more weeks.  (Daddy needs to find another 'hole' in his schedule to go get it.)   But, we took a lot of photos and are thrilled with our purchase.  The dealership is fine - they just need to work on their communication skills a little.  :)  Roger was by far the best PR guy they have!   :)

We headed for home, driving past the Aruba sitting lonely on the 'Used' lot.  :(  We had a few miles of rain free weather before finding ourselves right back in the midst of horrible driving conditions.  We finally made it to Moberly and stopped for dinner (and for the break from driving!).  By the time we got home we were pretty exhausted and had to admit that it was probably not a bad thing that Daddy didn't have to pull the fiver home in that weather.  Funny how things 'work out', eh?   :)

Here are a few photos, but you can see more photos and descriptions by clicking this link.  

bathroom to bedroom area - at back of fifth wheel

the bed is in a slide out

bathroom area

dining/living area

Jonathan in the bunkroom at the front of the fiver

looking down from bunkroom to living/kitchen/dining area

looking up to bunkroom

I love the kitchen!

checking out the B&W Companion Hitch

it was kind of sad to drive past the old Aruba....  :(

Thanksgiving 2011

I absolutely LOVE Thanksgiving!!

Our family always gathers at Julie's house for Thanksgiving dinner.  Mama, Julie and I share the cooking responsibilities so no one person has to do everything.  We all play to our individual talents!    :)   This year was no different.  We each made our parts for the meal and were able to get it all together by about 12:30.  Pretty good, I'd say!  The Matheney family joined us, as did Pradip and Sonica.  What a lovely group of folks to celebrate with.  Juan drove up from Arkansas and arrived in time for the second go-round on food in the evening.

Everyone wrote something for the 'Thankful board' and pinned it up.  We crowded around two tables in Julie's dining area and enjoyed yummy holiday food.  I even managed to come in okay on my calorie count.  Just barely okay, but I made it work.  I had some of everything I wanted, including pie!   :)

Yummy!  Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, butternut squash, green bean casserole, sauteed kale and onions and Mama's wonderful Cranberry Salad.

Julie

Daddy and Mama

Mama and James

Pradip and Sonica

Brenda and Matt

Jackson and Megan

Matthew, Anna and Melina

Jonathan and Arayna

Juan and Julie

We enjoyed seeing photos of Pradip's wedding in Nepal - so lovely.

We gave James his Christmas gifts since he won't be with us Christmas Day.  We made him a book entitled 'Home' to take with him.  It is filled with special photos of the entire family over the years as well as some of Jackson's beautiful photos from here at Willis Creek Ranch.

And after lunch we played a game called "Guess What I Am".  That was just too, too funny.  You are handed a cardboard cutout to hold up to your face (that you aren't allowed to look at yourself) and then you have to ask 'Yes' or 'No' questions to determine 'what you are'.  It can get pretty tricky AND pretty funny! Mama and Daddy guessed correctly first - Mama was a Baby and Daddy was a Cow.

Later we took a group walk on the trail around the schools.  I imagine we were quite a sight - the whole crew of us.  Finally, we returned to Julie's, heated up the leftovers (still yummy!) and wound down the day visiting.

I truly love Thanksgiving.  :)

You can see more photos at this link.

Magge and the horses

My desire for chronological order is getting crushed here!  I am posting all over the month of November and not in any particular order!  :)  Oh well...

Last weekend we were thrilled when Marvin's sister, Carolyn, her daughter, Marsha and granddaughter, Magge, were able to come up from Tennessee for the weekend for Marvin's Surprise Birthday Party.  Magge let us know that she wanted to ride a horse while she was here and we were happy to oblige.  (And let me just say here that I absolutely adore this girl!)   :)

After my Thirty One party (with Marsha as my demonstrating consultant) on Saturday afternoon, we headed out to the barn to watch Magge ride.  She did a great job and Marvin even said she would make a fine horse(wo)man.  I hope she will come back soon (and bring all her brothers and Daddy with her!) and ride Governor again.  :)

Here are some photos...

Governor with Magge and Marvin

Magge and Governor

Magge and Governor

fast friends

Magge on Governor

Marsha and Carolyn

Catching up (again!)

Just a quick 'throw it all together' post to catch up on a few things I have missed here.

We had a family meal after church at 1000 Hills Lake Restaurant.  It will be closing for the winter season in just a few weeks - we always miss it and can't wait for it to reopen in the spring!

James and Jonathan

James, Daddy and Jonathan

James, Jackson and Jonathan

James, Jackson and Jonathan

Marvin, Laura and Mama

Julie

It has been SO nice to have James home these last few weeks.  He has been on a 6 week leave in between assignments.  We know it will likely be awhile before we get to see him again, so this 6 weeks has been especially precious.

Laura, Marvin, Jonathan, James, Jackson and Mama

Jackson and Jonathan have had a couple of video game marathons with two of their buddies.  They crack me up.  They move two TV's to basement then play against/with each other, communicating through XBox Live, even though they are there in the same room.  They are working their way through the Halo games conquering each disc in its entirety.  I got pictures of the first party, but not the second one.  :)

We attended the annual Truman alumni dinner (local chapter) and Jackson again donated one of his photo calendars to the silent auction.  He was thrilled when a bidding war started and it finally sold for $60.  :)  I wish I had gotten a family photo that night - I had planned to, but just plain ole forgot.  And we all looked pretty snazzy, too!  Phooey.  All I have of the evening is this fuzzy photo of the boys before we left home and Jackson's iPhone snapshot taken outside the building on campus.

Mom got a new car!  She gave her Aveo to Anna and thought she could do without one, but after a few weeks of she and Daddy trying to share the Subaru, they realized that just wasn't working.  So, she got a new Chevy Sonic.  It is a neat little car!  And I just LOVE the color.  Pretty!