CMA Western National Rally trip - June 09

A group of motorcyclists spent a week travelling in New Mexico and Colorado, prior to attending the Christian Motorcyclist Association Western National Rally in Chama, NM.

Bus with bikes

Mesa Verde

Wilson Arch, on the way to Arches National Park.

A view of New Mexico

KOA cabins

We rented jeeps and drove over some of the jeep trails near Ouray, CO.

Engineer Pass.

Jeep

California Pass

Our Leader and his son

The two young men that went with us

See the bike going down the mountain (just right of the middle)?

Steam train at Chama, NM

Trujillo Meadows Reservoir near Chama

Campground at the Rally

Meeting at the Rally

Airplane formations

Today, while I was working in the yard, I heard a group of airplanes approaching. Sure enough, after a bit of circling around, they appeared over the trees, flying in formation. There were two Stearmans and two stunt planes.


When they flew right over our house, the rumble of the big radial engines took me back to my childhood, when I watched squadrons of fighters and bombers returning from World War II to the airbases around San Antonio.


It was a memory moment.

Happy Birthday

On Friday, Naomi and her Mom came over with a birthday surprise for Pa. There was a Breakfast Burrito, Angel Food cake (with frosting and Sprinkles!), and a gift bag full of presents.

The best present of all was a personalized hand-made journal book, crafted by Naomi and her Mom.



The most fun part was when Naomi sang "Happy Birthday" her 'funny way.'

The cart that follows clogged arteries is REAL

Are you familiar with the TV commercial that shows a guy with clogged arteries being followed by a hospital gurney?

Thought it was just fiction?

Well, think again...

Watching Boz

We are happy to report that Pa is once again on Naomi's "ok" list. She came to visit last week, and let Pa pull her around around in Mimi & Pa's new garden wagon.

Later, she and Mimi watched a Boz DVD. (Boz is a big green bear who is lots of fun.)

Grandcamp (minus Pa)

Naomi came over to spend Saturday with us. For some reason, when Pa arrived home from his motorcycle ride, he was Persona Non Grata.

Mimi: Naomi, do you want to watch Veggie Tales?
Naomi: Pa not watch!

Mimi: How about some pizza for supper?
Naomi: Yes. No Pa.

Mimi: I'm going to the store. Do you want to go?
Naomi: Is Pa going?
Mimi: Yes, we're all going.
Naomi: I don't want to go.

And so on. We have no idea what Pa did - or didn't. But later on, at least, Pa got to go with her to play outside. And he was even allowed to find the Megablock Fireman to ride on the fire truck.

But at bedtime it was only Mimi who could read books and put her to bed.

Pa did get to catch up on email and pay some bills, though.
:o)

Grandhotwatercamp - Departure

Sigh... it's the final day of Grandhotwatercamp. It's over so soon!
We were to head to the airport early (6 AM), but the airline called and said the plane's crew was sleeping late. So we left home at 8:30.
We got to the airport with plenty of spare time.

John and Pa used some of the extra time by riding up and down the escalator.

Soon, it was time for John and Mama to check in at the gate.


Off they went. Hopefully, the flight crew were fully awake by now.
We were sorry they had to leave; the time seems to have flown by. But we look forward to another Grandcamp, soon.

PS - Julie called from the parking lot bus at the other end. The flight went well. They had five granola bars with them, and shared one with the man that sat next to them on the plane. John ate the other four.

Grandhotwatercamp Day 17

Today was very warm, so we got to play in the water.


And we played with what's left of the sand.

Finally, a nice bath - with a Santa Claus bubble beard.

Tomorrow, we travel!

Grandhotwatercamp Day 16

We started the day with building blocks.

Naomi and her Mommy came over and brought water balloons!



After all that excitement, it was good to much a tortilla while watching Veggie Tales.

That was followed by a sausage biscuit snack.

Aunt Jenny brought a coconut.

First we got the coconut milk out. (It didn't taste very good.)

Then Pa broke the coconut open. The inside was very white.

We played a little "onetwothree-runtotheshape".

And then it was time for last goodbyes, since tomorrow is our last day.

Grandhotwatercamp Day 15

Yogurt and Cheerios for breakfast.

Where to start?

Let's play some "bat the bat".

And then water some plants.

Grandhotwatercamp Days 13 & 14

(This is really just Day 14, because Day 13 turned out to be a no-photos day. But we don't skip numbers.)
Grammie and John went shopping for some bushes at Lowe's.

They found a way to stay together in the store.

John found a nice fountain.

Naomi and her Mommy and Daddy met us at Pet-Smart, and we visited some of the animals. The most interesting ones were the hamsters and rats.

The fish were very intriguing, too.

Next, we walked across the parking lot to dinner at Chick-Fil-A.

We had fun.

And ate ice cream for desert.

Grandhotwatercamp Day 12

Today started off with - guess what - some sand play!
Note that it was not quite a pajama day.

Naomi and Aunt Jenny and Uncle Jeff came over in the afternoon to visit and play. Naomi made up a game, in which she says "I'm sad..."

Then John comes over and says "Be Happy!!"

After supper, we had an excursion to Baskin Robbins.

When it was time to go, the Cousins hugged goodbye.

Grandhotwatercamp Day 11

Today was stormy and rainy, so we all decided to go to the Museum of Nature and Science (formerly the Children's Museum)at Fair Park in Dallas. It was a long ride, but we made it.
First up was the kid's play area, with a giant jigsaw puzzle. John got to put the last piece in (because Mimi saved it for him!)

John and Mama played with some giant Tinker Toys.

Then we spent quite a while playing at the sand table. This was a favorite.

Next up was the Giant Bubbles area.

Mama made some amazing bubbles!

John and Pa found an Infinite Mirrors kaleidoscope booth. There were a lot of Johns and Pa's!

The last interesting place was the Dig for Dinosaur Bones sand box. John discovered a leg bone.

After we got back home, it was too wet to play outside, so John played in the garage with the mini-sandbox. See a pattern here?

We were all pretty tired, so we went to bed a bit earlier tonight.