Yerington, NV to Amargosa Valley, NV..Cold temps and wind

We left home Thursday morning around 0900.  We set the alarm and i was awake anyway before 0400.   Seems to be my time lately..oh well.  Had our coffees, checking in with blogging friends and the worked on getting ready to leave.   On our way out around 0900 we stopped in to see Karen to let her know we were gone.  

The last fire for the year with lights on the bunkhouse and outhouse

Ready to head out!

Had a very nice drive from Yerington to Hawthorne where we stopped to get some gas, not much as we thought (wrong) that it would be cheaper in Tonopah.  Great drive, with some bits and pieces of different weather. We watched the skies change from blue, to clouds to what appeared to be snow. Gave us something to watch for sure.  We got gas in Tonopah (3.69) and then pulled into their trucking area for lunch. I made a simple salad for me and Ken had the last of the roll ups from his mom's house.  

Near Walker Lake, NV

Just love the different skies over the lake

The largest flag in NV....Hawthorne

On the road again about 92 miles to Amagosa Valley and their rest area.  The wind was crazy! Some winds pushed us down the road nicely, but as we neared our destination turned into a crosswind, not fun for the driver. 

Looks like we might be running into snow..but it didn't happen

Coming into Tonopah, NV

Out our dining area window...we got nothing but wind
and cold!

The view out our back window..yep there's a wind!

There is an RV Park just behind us, that we have stayed several times but decided instead of $27.00 for the night or FREE here we decided on here.  

Ken was able to run the generator for a few hours as it's so noisy outside with the highway we weren't bothering anyone.  We watched the movie Lawless which was based on a true story and very good!   Had some dinner and now Ken's sleeping and I thought I'd get this narrative done.  

Should be about 250 miles tomorrow so we'll be up at a decent time, but not setting the alarm. 

Thursday morning...I woke up at about 0430, got up nearing 0500 and started the coffee.  Visiting our blogging friends is done, coffee too so now we'll continue getting ready and head down the road after some breakfast.  We do have a few RV's and cars around us.  Temp is 22 degrees! We'll be out of here soon (well, soon for us).  Have a wonderful day everyone! 

Nothing better than a family Christmas...Home and gone again tomorrow!

Merry Christmas everyone!  Hope yesterday was as wonderful for you as it was for us.  

Funny how the days fly.  Monday we ran around a bit but were back to the trailer in time for lunch.  Then I started cooking some things that I brought from home.  Pioneer Woman's Restaurant style potatoes which are oh so yummy and very not good for you  (haha).  Got veggies cut up for the spinach dip and some other things made.  We listened to the rain all afternoon and evening. Just a nice day inside with some cooking going on.  Then off to bed with the alarm set for 0430.

Yesterday being Christmas we wanted to get an early start so I could be at my sister's house by 1000.  We opened presents that Bryan, Cheryl and Adam had given us. Yes, it takes us forever to get ready.  Had a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs. I made the green bean casserole and threw the potatoes into a crock pot just so it wouldn't take so long to heat up.  It as just a little after 1000 when we arrived.  

Linda was busy in the kitchen with her part of the dinner as Dusty, Chelsea, Owen and Little Cassidy arrived.  Santa had come to Grandma's house so we watched the joy of any 4 year old that has even more presents to open! He got a side by side battery powered ride on that we watched him learn to drive.  He'll get better at it I'm sure.  

Cassidy, pretty in pink!

Owen getting instructions from his dad

And he's off!

Cassidy and Grandpa Bobby

Angelina doing what teens do..haha

Jesse, Aaron and Mason

Aaron, Adam and Jesse

Lori and Cassidy

Boys in the garage...the whiskey is open!
Russell and his cousin, Dusty..

Russell, Dusty and Steve (who has been a friend since high school)

Isabella and her mom had to stop by to meet Miss Cassidy

Seth, Owen and Mason

Ken ran to say Hi to his mom for a bit, and was back by noon which is when most of the family started to arrive. We enjoyed the afternoon with everyone. So many people it was difficult to hold a conversation for too long. 

My greatest joy yesterday came from having ALL of our boys and their families together.  That hasn't happened for at least 3 years! I know my oldest and youngest sons haven't seen each other in that long.  Time flies, families and jobs keep them apart, but yesterday we had them all! One happy momma and grandma here!! Dad was pretty happy too.  

The boys do this pic every Christmas...from left..Jacob, Seth, Adam, Aaron, Dusty, Jesse and Mason..it goes by height.
I'll have to find last years..

It started with this...Ken, Me and our boys...Bryan, Eric and Russell

Then this happened! Ken, me, Bryan, Cheryl, Eric, Christina, Russell, Lori

And then this happened!! Ken, Me, Bryan, Cheryl,(Cheryl has two daughters and five grandchildren who couldn't be there)  Adam, Eric, Mason, Christina, Seth, Jacob, Russell, Lori and Aaron! 

This one is pretty much the same but we added Owen to it! 

Our five grandsons!  Seth, Adam, Jacob, Aaron and Mason

Jacob, Lori, Russell, Aaron

The Byrnes Family...My sister Linda with Cassidy, Chelsea, Owen, Dusty and Bobby..

A group of boys who wanted a picture with Steve :)
Aaron, Russell, Ken, Steve, Jesse and Eric

Ursula, Aaron, my sister Wendy and granddaughter Angelina..

Seth, Eric, Mason and Christina

We said goodbye about 1700 and then headed over to see Ken's mom.  She had a nice spread of roll ups, olives and other goodies.  Diane and Jesse came over too so we had a great visit for about 3 hours. Very blessed to have her :) 

Ken, Diane, Jesse and Grandma..:) 

I had to share our wonderful family with you..our greatest blessings! :)

We got back to the trailer a little before 2100 and both of us didn't last long, before it was time to hit the hay! 

Thank you to my sweet sister Linda for opening your house once again for this special holiday.  After Daddy passed and we moved to Weimar I used to host Thanksgiving and Linda would do Christmas. Now she does both and we love going there.  Sorry to leave you with the mess :0  but she does have a great hubby who is good at cleaning up!  

Wednesday morning we sat the alarm for 0415 as we're headed home to Yerington to get ready to leave tomorrow for Parker, AZ to ring in the New Year with friends.  

We are home!  Got the trailer loaded for our trip tomorrow and now outside for a fire with John and Karen for a bit.  Have a wonderful evening. 

Cooking and leaving home a day early..Cal Expo RV Park.

Waking up this morning at Cal Expo RV Park in Sacramento, CA.  We left home yesterday at 0800 and came over I80.  We made a couple of quick stops and arrived at Eric's house around noon.  He was home, just finishing wrapping some presents and Christina was taking a little nap so we didn't see her.  The boys were in Roseville at Fry's picking up some needed wiring for a huge speaker going in Seth's jeep. We waved at them as we were going through the canyon. :)

Love this picture of our nephew, Dusty and his little guy Owen.  They took a 3 mile hike on Saturday..

clicking on pics will enlarge them...

Our niece, Samantha posted these on Facebook of her little ones..just so darn cute! I love Facebook for these reasons and not the drama! 

That face! :) 

Pure, simple joy! 

Had a quick visit and then hooked up the trailer and headed here. On the way here after getting off the freeway we couldn't help but notice all the garbage everywhere and homeless people hanging out. The area of Howe/Hurley/El Camino is terrible! It's ridiculous. What happened to pride of ownership?! We did see one little old lady picking garbage up on her front lawn in front of a duplex. Sad...Since we've moved to Yerington, can honestly say we haven't seen one homeless person there.  Of course our winters are amazingly cold, so maybe that helps :0 

At the rest area on I 80..mixture of rain and snow but there
were lots of kids playing when we drove up..now down
to one...

Anyway, we got here, got checked in quickly and then got ourselves parked and unhooked. I'll get pictures today, as it started sprinkling not too long after we arrrived.  The park is good for what it is.  A place to spend a few nights to be close to family.  Full hook ups, laundry and bathrooms with showers.  Security, but I haven't seen any.  WIFI (I'll use it later and see how it works). $45.00 a night and they have monthly rates (Can't imagine why you'd stay a month here though). 

Because of the expected storm over the sierras we left decided we better leave a day earlier than planned.  That meant the turkey I was making for Christmas day had to be cooked a day early too. Saturday was spent letting the turkey cook and a few dips made.  John and Karen stopped by to say Merry Christmas as they were on their way to Reno for the night. Joe and Stacey visited Friday night for a bit.  He was headed to Oregon for the weekend to visit his older kids. Stacey ended up borrowing our Patriot for the weekend as Joe had taken her car and she couldn't get the truck started. 

Roll ups ready to be cut in smaller pieces Christmas Day.

The goodies that make up the roll ups..

My low carb one..Actually I made two and ate
one for dinner last night..yum

Turkey cooked breast side down..yum! In my momma's pan :)

We just enjoyed a nice afternoon in the trailer watching the RVs come in. :) Had our dinner, some tv and then bedtime. 

I'm going to be dangerously low on wine (oh no) so we're planning on going by Total Wine near here (thank goodness).  haha. We'll do a little running around and then this afternoon I'm making some potatoes for tomorrow. Hopefully today we can get a walk in and take some pics. 

John and Karen brought us local honey and a honey pot..too cute

Hard to believe it's Christmas Eve already!  So looking forward to tomorrow as it appears we will see all three of our boys and families. Best thing about Christmas is getting together with everyone and remembering Christmases past. :) 
What's your favorite Christmas memory? I've got tons as Christmas was always my Daddy's favorite holiday :) 

Here's a favorite Christmas memory of mine. We lived at our house on Stanley Ave in Carmichael. We girls were probably 9, 8 and 6 or maybe a little younger. Wendy and I were getting bikes and Linda got a John Deere Tractor.  It was probably 0300 or so and we got up.  My mom had to hold us in the hallway because Daddy had to finish up a few things as "Santa was in a hurry and just dropped some things and left"  Finally, we were released and found Daddy finishing the putting together of the tractor, with a glass of whiskey by his side. I always remember the whiskey, because he didn't really drink ever but guess he needed it as it was going to be a long day. :) 

Have a wonderful Christmas Eve everyone. Remember to Look UP!! 

Of course, Remember the real reason for the season! 

Grandma's 91st Birthday, Overnight at Eric's house, Walmart and CVI

Tuesday morning found us up early so we could get ourselves over the hill. We knew we wanted to go to the RV Park at Cal Expo we plan on staying at over Christmas.  I made some salads to take with us for lunch and then the munchies for Grandmas house. 

We ended up eating our salads in the parking lot of Camping World in Rocklin. 

After that we drove over and found the park, better now than with a trailer attached.  It's a nice park, showers, laundry, security and full hookups. No discounts so it's $45.00 a night. Ouch, I know but once in awhile is ok and a lot cheaper than motels in Sacramento anymore.  

We arrived at Grandma's at about 1430 and Ken's older brother, Dave was there. We had just missed our oldest son Bryan as he stopped by too. Our nephew, Jesse came after work and our middle son, Eric stopped by after work. Everyone enjoyed the munchies and I ended up sending the leftovers with Jesse.  Ken's sister, Diane was supposed to be there, but we missed her if she came after 1800 when we left. Drove to Eric's and went in to say goodnight, as for them it was a work and school night.  Out in the trailer, a little tv and then lights out.  

Jesse and Grandma..Jesse's enjoying
some treats Bryan brought..

Thought this was the cutest thing ever..
a plunger tree sitting on the back of the
toilet..;)

Grandma's tree in the living room

Ken and his mommy, Alice

This is her typical personality..Cutting Jesse's
throat with a knife! 

Wednesday morning, I was awake before 0400 and laid there a bit.  Got Ken up about 0445 for coffee and computing.  Had to check in with our blogging friends that are enjoying the warmth of the south west. I took a shower and got ready, then headed up to the house to cook some breakfast for the grandsons. :)  That gave Ken time to get himself ready.  Pancakes cooked and cleaned up, back to the trailer to make our breakfast.  

A beautiful sunrise in Yerington, NV

We left there and headed up Highway 50 to Gardnerville.  Walmart, Raleys, gas and then to CVI for a later lunch.  Our favorite server, Carmen was there and we gave her our card we had for her.  She is so special all year, we just wanted to give her a little something. Of course we had a wonderful linner and then headed home. 

We stopped next door to drop off a grocery we picked up for Karen and then made plans to come back later for a fire outside. John is out of town working, so she appreciated the company and so did we.  

Thursday morning we were up and computing a little after 0500.  House cleaned, a few bills paid and Ken ran to town to mail a quarterly check to the IRS and pay our house taxes.  We made plans last night with Karen to take her to Dini's for lunch (she's never been).  I like their lunch as I can get a bunless entree along with a salad, rather than fries. :) 

John and Karen got me this plant last week for my birthday..
Hoping I don't kill it!

Adam and his friend, Kate were out enjoying Christmas lights

Have a great afternoon!