New Years Eve 2012

We are home from our Bus Rally adventure. Got home late this afternoon.

Once again we unloaded the bus and cleaned up so it's ready for our next outing. 

We had a great time...very relaxing...well for me anyway. 

Manny ends up being quite preoccupied by the other busnuts 

who have tales to tell and improvements to show.

As soon as he steps outside our bus in the morning, the adventures begin.
Here are some pictures from when we first arrived

Checking in

 Here we are across the field on the far right (that's our awning)

So, the first full day at this rally it was rather cold, so I stayed inside most of the day

on the couch, with Milli by my side in her little bed, and watched movies. 
It was WONDERFUL!!!!

The next day I got outside some, riding around in the golf cart, looking at other buses, 

and visiting with friends - old and new, but then it started to rain, 

which put me back in the bus with more movies. 

I was not the least bit upset, mind you.

This was my FAVORITE bus this year...a 1947 Silver Side being restored

This was inside the bus

The next day our bus club (Eagles International) was hosting an Ice Cream Social

and Manny & I were asked to help serve. That was lots of fun!

That evening they had entertainment...Sally Langwah

This woman and her husband were amazing!!!

Sunday morning there was a church service hosted by this couple

 They go to different campgrounds and hold services and even minister at rehab camps.
This is their bus (and their co-pilot, ha ha)

 These were some shots of downtown Arcadia. I snapped these just before we left town  

 
 These streets were named after the state counties (this is ours)

We enjoyed the rest of our stay and came home today. 

We prefer to bring in the new year at home. 

So now the laundry is already in full force, 

I'm ready to go soak in a nice, hot tub, and then watch a movie with my hubby. 

Maybe tomorrow we'll get to see our kids and grandkids...

btw, tomorrow our older son and his wife will celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary!!!

Congratulations Manuel & Darla!!! 

We love you very, very much!!!


Btw, I tried to post a few nights ago, a post entitled "YAY"
I titled it that way because I had discovered there was a mobile app for Blogs.

I downloaded it onto my smartphone and noticed that it was much easier 

to write on my blog, and then I hit "Publish" but nothing happened. 

THREE DAYS I waited, and it's still saying "Publishing" oh well. 
We had no internet where we were at, and I had very poor reception on my phone.

I suspect that had something to do with it, 

but non-the-less, I was not able to post at all and that made me sad :0(

Here are two more pictures I'd like to share...
the first is of a new shirt I bought for my husband for Christmas

It is actually a Bus Driver Shirt and has his name on it 
as well as the name of the company that manufactured our bus "Silver Eagle"
They don't make Silver Eagles anymore, 
but they use to be the Cadillac of buses because of their ride.
Manny was a hit at this Bus Rally...everyone wants one of these shirts now. 

The second picture is of our bus at night.

We really enjoy our bus...and have lots of fun when we are out in it, 
but I have to admit, I still LOVE coming home to our main home.
Dorothy sure had it right..."There's NO place like home!"

The Day After Christmas

Christmas is over, but I'm still feeling the Christmas spirit.

Christmas movies are still playing on the TV (which makes me very happy!)

Today I've been busy tidying up, and continuing my work upstairs...

We are still in the process of revamping one of the upstairs bedrooms. 

This one belonged to our younger son who got married 4 years ago. 

We turned his room into a music, playroom for the grandchildren, 

and now it is also going to be my Origami Owl office. 

We bought a table, chair, cubicles, lamp, and picture from Ikea a few weeks ago

and the room is really shaping up

There was a vanity table on this wall before. 

It was my mother's but she wasn't using it, so we brought it over here for Hannah.

She loves playing dress up on that vanity table. 

Now the vanity table is on this wall where this cabinet use to be

It's a beautiful cabinet, but we really don't need it anymore. 

It use to house our bedroom tv among other things, 

but when we went to a flat screen TV a few years back

We mounted the TV to the wall and got a more modern cabinet to fit below the TV. 

This armoire was now just collecting STUFF

and neither Manny nor I are into collecting in that regard. 

We don't like clutter. 

So, when I'm completely done with the revamping, I'll post more pics. 

Besides tidying up and working on the upstairs room

we've also been getting ready to head out tomorrow to another Bus Rally. 

This one isn't too far away, and it's held each year between Christmas and New Years. 

We love going! Our first year there, right after we had gotten our bus

there were about 200 buses from all over the US.

It was so exciting to meet people from all over and see the different buses 

in all stages of development, so I'm looking forward to the next few days. 

I'll also be doing a Locket presentation. I'm excited about that too.

Besides these things, though, I'm also looking forward to some much needed rest. 

I seem to get more rest at this event than anywhere. 

I think it's because Manny seems to stay busy talking "bus" with the guys, 

and there aren't that many distractions at this place, besides the buses. 

So even though each day I'll visit with people, and see their buses and hear their stories,

and we'll go for golf-cart rides, and eat...

the rest of the time I hope to be chillin out, with Milli and some movies

and I'm bringing a LOT Of them, ha ha. 

Only down side is, I may not have internet to post on my blog.

So once again, my apologies if you don't hear from me for a few days.
I'll catch up as soon as I can. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Our children arrived around 1pm this afternoon, and mom came over a little bit before that. 

I put a rib roast into the oven about the same time (first time trying to cook one of those).

We snacked on some cheese/crackers, spinach dip, celery, carrots, shrimp cocktail and chips/salsa

and then got right into the Opening of the Gifts :0)

We always have fun doing that, but who doesn't, right?

I'm always amazed at the thoughtfulness behind the gifts and how grateful everyone always is. 

The babies were AWESOME! They ate on time 

and took their naps so they weren't too tired to enjoy the day. 

Hannah is growing up into such a sweet young lady. So thoughtful and kind. 

We just had such a lovely day! Lord, I am so grateful!!!
Here are some highlights of the day:
What the big guy didn't finish

There were a lot of presents but there are a lot of us, ha ha

Look at these little sweethearts with their snowmen shirts
(the matching thing was not planned, but Grandma Dee LOVES snowmen
especially these two :0)

 Ethan's Guitar

 A new Lalaloopsy Doll for Hannah

 An adorable mirror for Sarah

 Milli opening a treat

 Manny getting some new clothes

 ANOTHER Lalaloopsy 

 A musical band kit for Ethan

 A funny gift to Hannah from Papa 

 An official "Bus Driver" shirt for Manny

 Manuel and Sarah

 Mark & Meg with a new TV 

 My mom trying to figure out what she's opening (it's a new monitor for her computer)

 AND a new keyboard

 Hannah practicing with her new Karaoke machine from Uncle Mark and Aunt Mimi

 Sarah with her new walker/stroller

 She knew what to do :0)

 Our dinner...Prime Rib. First time I've ever prepared this and it turned out great!

 Sweet Sarah with her mama

 Grandma Helen with the Great-Grandchildren

and the Grandchildren, too

 Hannah & Uncle Mark getting a workout with Just Dance

 Yeah baby!

I hope you had a beautiful day, too!
"...and I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!