Stocking Stuffers

I have a huge pile of gifts all wrapped with colorful paper, ribbons & bows. I had most of my shopping for main gifts finished before Thanksgiving but I've been having a great time finding stocking stuffers for everyone who will be here on the holiday. 

Mom

Don

Terry

Jean

Brandan

R2

Sarah

Heather

Ashleigh

Lan

Me

I've got a stocking for each person & hung them on a jute rope but they are all so heavy now that I'm going to need something much stronger. Today I found a couple CUTE R2 & BB-8 units, wrapped them right up for R2 & Sarah. Lan is getting a big box of shotgun shells (hope they are the right kind), Mom is getting a box of car cleaning supplies. 

Yesterday was my birthday and Lan made me a great surprise.

He cleaned up the light fixture that was in the barn,

put in new wiring

& an Edison light

and gave it to me. I almost cried. 

I DID get tears when Mike & Karen were here for dinner & he was shaking his leg, just like Denton used to do. 

I miss this guy.

That Christmas Feeling

Christmas

feels so good this year because for the first time ever I have all my shopping FINSIHED and its not even December yet. I actually had it all done before Thanksgiving. 

I've got stockings for each person who will be here plus a couple for special friends, I've already got stocking stuffers and treats just waiting to be stuffed. Some very nice gifts will go into these stockings and I can't wait for the big day.

Our tree is going to be fun, I want a TALL and skinny tree. Usually we go out to the woods and cut one down, its a tradition for Lan & I. But a wild tree will be too fat and that's not in the cards. I might go buy a fake one but we'll see... I heard there is a local tree farm that has live ones like I want.

I have a few things on my shopping list, I've put the hints out on facebook in plenty of time but whether or not I get them doesn't matter, What I really want is for my family and friends to have a great holiday.

I've got my great job where every month I can decide whether I'm going to take my days off of offer to work them & this month I'm taking Mondays & Tuesdays off so I can have my birthday and Christmas day off. 

That Was Different

When we decided to not take our bikes to Vegas, it opened up a whole new world for us. 

This trip wasn't about getting up at 4am, loading out backpacks and packing the bikes on the bike rack, it was about sleeping in, sitting around doing nothing, enjoying the sunshine. We went to the hot tub every day & jumped into the lazy river to chill and splash each other.

Went out to Lake Mead on the one day it was 86*, got lost in the desert, enjoyed an absolutely gorgeous sunset at the top of a mountain at the perfect time.

While in town we found other things to do, like meet up with friends from home and have a drink. Erik & Sharon were there for the Rock n Roll half marathon so we went out onto the strip to cheer for him as he ran past. 

We went to the 

I hadn't previously known about this museum so we decided to go and learn a little bit. Instead we learned a lot. We're going to the guided tour at Mercury and testing site next year and going through the museum before hand taught us  some of the things we will be seeing.

I felt kind of weird being there though. These bombs killed so many people.

The weather in Vegas was perfect, mid 70's most days, up to mid 80's. One day we went out to Blue Diamond area and hiked/rock scrambled up into a valley where a lot of rock climbers go. It was 54* at start but in the sunshine & dry 'heat' it felt warmer to me. I didn't take a jacket and within a couple minutes was warmed up perfectly. Once we were climbing the BIG rocks I was thankful I didn't have to carry around a jacket.

When we've previously visited Vegas we've only gone to the strip once, to enjoy the sights, eat at 1 buffet and see a show. This trip we went to the strip more, no shoes but a buffet every other day. Our reasoning was that once we got home, we would be going on a diet.

Now we are home and on that diet. I have lost 6 lbs already and my goal is a LOT more.

So Much Going On

We will be leaving for vacation in a few days, going to be gone a week or two, not exactly sure. We're not even sure how we're going to get there but we DO know we're going to Las Vegas.

I farmed out the horses and made arrangements for the chickens to be let out each morning and locked in for the evenings. I'm concerned for the hen and chicks that are in the barn now, I don't want to inprison her for the duration but she can't get her chicks into the trough at night and I'm sure if I left feed out for her the rats or other vermin would get to it. Might need to farm her out also.

We have48 hours to get to Vegas and might head down through Bend, Oregon. On the way home we'll have up to 5 days, might come up through Idaho. These are the best vacations, not much plans so no worries.

More Barn

I went ahead and ordered one 12 X 12 Stable Comfort stall matt for Joeys stall. We will have to go to Canada ourselves to pick it up but it's OK, Lans cousin lives in Abbotsford so we can make a long weekend of it. Or go in November while I'm on vacation. Or have Kari bring it to us. Lots of delivery options.

Its going to be nice for his body to lay on a soft floor.

Future Birthdays

I don't know what we'll be doing for Lans next birthday but for mine, we will be in Nevada taking a tour of the Nevada National Security Site.
This is where they tested a LOT of nuclear bombs. Its very difficult for the public to get in but about once a month they conduct tours and most of those ours are booked out months in advance. I was very surprised to see that there is one scheduled on my 56th birthday so I sent them an email, asking if we could be included & we have been accepted.
Lans been wanting to go see this for years so now we get to and since its vacation bidding time, I'm going to get this time for us.

Ironman World Championship

Our friend, Heidi, is racing in Kona today, you can follow her here

https://track.rtrt.me/e/IRM-WORLDCHAMPIONSHIP-2017#/tracker/RKBGDTZP