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! 

Wreaths Across America, Eric's house, visiting Bryan, cleaning and baking day!

We had a nice drive Saturday to Dixon, CA and getting off the freeway it was really backed up from the cemetery.  They had us enter at the area we usually leave from..hmmm. Parked us quite a ways from the usual area.  The volunteer who parked us apologized for us being parked so far out and then he said "We've got way too many people".  More people than we've ever seen.  Nice there's so many patriotic Americans!  This probably will be our last year of being there on Wreaths Across America, but we'll go visit during the Christmas season after the wreaths are laid.  It's so gorgeous. Even here at the smaller National Cemetery in Fernley, NV they said they had way too many people also.  When Daddy and Mom were buried there in 2010 there were only 8,000 graves. Now there's over 35,000! 

People! 

Flags at half staff in honor of George H W Bush..

So many volunteers...

We've seen this Marine every year..in hearing his story we
figure him to be at least 85 years old.

So cool! 

The plate..meaning he loves America!

Niece Tasha and her mom Wendy..

Jesse, diane and Ken 

Starting the placing of the wreath..

the wreath but needs to be adjusted..

My momma...

It's always very emotional for my sisters and me going to visit mom and daddy.  Diane, my sister in law, grew up with us and it's emotional for her as well.  She is actually the one who came up with the epitaph on Daddy's headstone :) Her son, Jesse was with my mom until he graduated high school, so he loved them both. 

Ken, Jesse and Diane

My Daddy...

My mom loved pigs..so Tasha brought one out..

Diane

Amazing how fast the wreaths are placed

Boxes and boxes of wreaths..

Beautiful wreaths..

Our nephew Michael...

Love the way it looks with all the wreaths...

Heading out..

Afterwards we parted ways and headed back towards Eric's house.  On the way up we stopped at Edelweiss Restaurant in Auburn and had lunch.  When we lived in Colfax we were there most every weekend for breakfast. Good as ever! 

We got to Eric's in the afternoon and enjoyed visiting with them.  They planned on fajitas for dinner and OH they were awesome.  Afterwards I was helping with the dishes and Ken said Eric had started a fire outside.  OH Boy!  Ken, Eric and I had a great time with the fire and a prolonged Happy Hour! haha. Seth visited a while and so did Mason. It was 0115 when we went to bed. 

Sunday morning we were awake about 0700.  Had our coffees and computing and then checked inside the house.  We got ourselves ready and then I went to make breakfast for the boys.  I had brought breakfast burritos which got ate and then I made pancakes because the boys like them. 

We said our goodbyes and then headed for Bryan's and got there about 1000.  Had a nice, but short visit with Bryan, Cheryl and Adam.  Exchanged presents and off we went. We headed out and drove up highway 50.  Stopped for gas near Polluck Pines and Ken discovered a nail in the left rear tire..so we pulled over to a parking lot and he changed it pretty quickly.  

A nice drive to Minden so we stopped about 1330 and had lunch at CVI. No Carmen on the weekends but still good. I always have the Five Alarm Burger but with a turkey patty and no bun and I ate 4 fries.  Figure that's not too bad. No dinner for either of us last night. :) 

We got home and saw Karen and John had a fire going, so we ended up over there for a bit. work night for John so we left about 1830. It was an early night with me falling asleep on the couch.  Made it to bed fairly early. We were both tired after that late night with Eric. 

Monday morning found me awake before 0400.  I waited until 0500 or so to start the coffee.  Visiting with friends online.  After we got going, Ken took the tire to Carson City and I cleaned the house.  Then it was time to get started on some baking and making some munchies to take to Ken's mom's house tomorrow.  It's her 91st birthday so we're heading back over the hill for the night.  WE'll be home Wednesday after a stop at Walmart to do some shopping for Christmas cooking. Wow time flies.  Looking forward to some down time in Parker, AZ right after Christmas. 

Ham, turkey, cheese wreath for Grandma's tomorrow..

Ken's banana bread

3 ingredient chocolate chip cookies for my sweet tooth..

Out of the oven..yummy...

Have a good night!!