In December our daughter Jennifer planned a family vacation to Disneyland for Christmas. They went over for the whole week of Christmas and we joined them Christmas eve. I was very grateful to her for her efforts and planning.
The crowds weren't too bad if you picked the time to go. Jeni had gotten us a hotel just across the street from Disneyland so we could walk back and forth when we got tired. Some of my favorite things were watching Jeni and Rand being good parents and holding my grandchildren's hands as we walked. I've missed holding little ones hands on vacations. I loved riding the one with the rafts and river (can't remember the name) with almost all of us, it was fun laughing as everyone got totally or semi wet! And I will always treasure riding the California screamer three times in a row with Matt and Ky.
I realized it had been 10 years since we had all been together as a family for a vacation. It was really nice to have my children and grandchildren all together. I'm proud of them all and love them very much.
On the weekend of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Ky and I went to Quartzite Arizona with some friends. We've done this for 3 years now and this was the first year we haven't had some kind of trouble with our trailer. It was a very pleasant outing. No extra costs ,which was a great blessing. Lots of fun visiting which was relaxing.
Quartzite is not know for it's scenic beauty. The weather however was wonderful. The first year we went , the water in the dog dish froze and we left early that year to come home. This year the weather was about 60 to 70 degrees in the middle of the day. Very nice to relax in.
Our trailer is not as fancy as many of the others but it sure beats a tent. Quartzite is basically a great big flea market between January and March. The chapel Sunday was filled. It is however just a branch so I don't think it's that full during the other months. The stake presidency talked and gave very good talks. The choir sang the same number they did last year and it was very nice.
We just pull out onto the desert about 5 miles out of town and "circle the wagons". Every night we sit around the campfire and visit. Many of the women are great cooks and everyone just kind of puts food out and we eat a lot! On Friday and Saturday we go to town and walk up and down the aisles looking for treasures. Most of them have invested in little 3 legged chairs that fold up into a cane type thing. When they get tired they just sit and take a break. Next year I am getting one of those so my back doesn't hurt from standing and walking so long. I think I inherited my mothers back. There is a lot of "junk" to see and some fun stuff too. I bought a $2.00 toy that has little chickens pecking at food. If I knew how to put a movie on here I'd show you all, but sorry you are out of luck. Just come over and I'll show you. It's cute.
It's a long drive to get there but the friendship is worth the drive and the time to relax is good for us too. Matt asked us why we go and that's the best answer I have!
