Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving day was fairly low key. We enjoyed the company of Pearl's folks and Ben. As usual, the turkey was great and it wasn't just him that ended up stuffed. On Saturday, Ben, Bruce and Chad provided live music at a coffee and gift shop in Lisbon. It was also fun to see Pearl's nephew Brandon and wife Lydia yesterday though we seemed to have forgotten that we had a camera handy. Hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving weekend and if it involved being on the road that you had safe travels.

Tribute to Forrest

Today we want to pay tribute to Forrest, our family cat of eleven years. He left us on Wednesday Nov. 21.

Forrest, you were not just a cat but a special friend who knew how to tell us what you wanted, needed and thought about so many things. Though we sometimes left you home alone for a few days, we always thought about you and you really didn't need to lecture us when we got home, but that was your way of telling us how much you missed and needed us. We can't help but miss you as you were an integral part of our family. When Ben brought you home eleven years ago, you must have known that dear old Dad wasn't really excited about it but you made sure that he got to know you on a personal basis right from the start. Mom misses your companionship and advice in the kitchen and though we both hate to admit it, life is different without you sleeping between us. So long dear friend.

Another fun trip to Las Vegas for a "Grampy & Grammy fix"

We arrived in LV on Friday nite. Saturday, we headed to

Mt Charleston for a hike up to Mary Jane Falls.

Amanda and Dane ready to hike. View from a cave near the falls.

Dane loves bathtime and his "Monkey Towel"...

Then he brushes his teeth...

And Daddy reads him a book before he goes "nigh-night"

(When he's ready to go to bed, there's no changing his mind!)

Daddy trains Dane to be a "switch hitter"

We had dinner at the Rainforest Cafe at the MGM. The fish were fun to watch.

Grammy let him feel the "rain"

The next day, Mike & Amanda's friend Renee invited us to go with

her and her boys to the Secret Gardens dolphin habitat.

Dane and his friends, Carter and Camden enjoyed watching a dolphin and her baby. (Actually, Camden is just 6 weeks old and mostly just enjoyed a good nap.)

Dane and Grampy sure have a lot of fun together!

Dane sports his "shades" in the bright LV sun.

The little "monkey" goes to the park nearly every day.

He loves to climb and go down the slides.