Ya know, the Redwood forests in California have some really BIG trees

I have some friends who have been bugging me to post this trip we took together since LAST YEAR!

I mean, I don't know why they even bother with me. . . I'm soooo BAD at 'getting right on it'.  Good thing I don't work for the government. . . I mean, can you even imagine how long things would take?  Oh, wait?  Maybe they already DO have folks like me working for them. . . but I digress. . .

So this amazing trip to the 'land of the really big trees' happened the day after Thanksgiving last year.  (really NOT so long ago)  And I am going to be posting pictures of some. . . wait for it. . . really big trees!  And lush forests!  And beautiful coastlines!

It really was FABULOUS. . . cold, a bit rainy at times. . . but very beautiful.

We visited Brookings, and Bandon Oregon--Crescent City, and some of the Redwood National Forests in California--and on the way back, Oregon Caves National Monument.

And Hey!  It wasn't just the TREES that were impressive and oh, so large--but everything seemed to be bigger.  First off. . . did I mention there were really BIG trees?

 And really big, lush forests?

 Not only were the trees big. . . but so were the mushrooms:

 And the slugs:

 And the eagle made of out recycled trash washed up on the beach:

 And the cute white sea lion cub we spotted:

 Yep!  Everything was bigger and better!

 Except, perhaps, the place we stayed.  Not everything was 'all there' if you catch my drift:

Because instead of getting a sauna and jacuzzi (as was promised)  We ended up with only Auna and Cuzzi--who were quite plain and overly cranky.

We also had a very heated debate about whether the wooden carving in the lobby was a mountain lion or a bear:

We finally gave up the debate and just decided that it was a bearcat--because it seemed to have the face of a bear and the tail of a mountain lion.  We figured that since the owners scrimped on the actual 'auna' and 'cuzzi'--perhaps they saved money by having two wood carvings made into one confusing animal. . . Our friend whom we will dub 'Duane' promptly decided to decorate it for the upcoming holiday:

And then he and his wife decided to celebrate by attempting to fit into the 'cuzzi':

After getting a local wrecking crew to extract them from the hot tub, we managed to wend our way back to home and hearth just in time to stop at an amazing evening garden light show.  (hubby will have to remind me exactly where we were as my mind has gone fuzzy remembering the horrifying 'cuzzi' experience)  

The evening was magical with the gardens all decked out in all kinds of holiday lights--and even the visitor center (which was the old caretaker's home) was all done up for the holidays:

After seeing the beautiful redwoods, I discovered bigger is better and even though I could have killed one of the members of our lively party for playing bagpipe music for several hours on the car ride back home. . . I'm fully recovered and none too worse for the wear.  (Though I wonder if the nightmares and the ringing in my ears will ever go away?)

GOOD TIMES!

I don't remember why. . . but. . . .

Well, here's the problem. . . . My computer monitor is out for repair and so I am borrowing a son's laptop--which is why I haven't been able to post any absolutely FABULOUS photos and stories for a while. (at least that's the story I'm sticking to) For many of my readers this is probably a blessing. . .

But I did receive an e-mail from a friend today which made me smile and exclaim with shame: "Hey! I resemble that remark!"

I'd giver him or her credit, but for the life of me I can't remember who it was. . .

Thank goodness I can still remember how to post a Youtube video:

So please enjoy this short swan song while I'm trying to remember why I am posting this in the first place:

Nothing says hail to the new year like a little Star Wars Fun

OK--so I was backed into a corner and had a bit of fun with cartooning some of my family in this make-shift 'Star Wars' Movie clip.

And since not only my kids but even my grandkids love Star Wars, I couldn't resist.

You may laugh---but hey!  I don't care. . . the force is with me. . .

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

The Force at Christmas time

First of all, let me just say that in this new year of 2011 I will NOT be making any earth-shattering resolutions--I just hope to keep up with my life and not seriously injure anyone in the process.

That being said--I need to backtrack a bit and add some fun events which I had not yet opined on in late 2010--the most recent of which was this past Christmas.

It was a holly jolly one to be sure.  Full of wonder and love and mirth. . and this year especially the presence of THE FORCE was in full effect.

Thanks to my dear daughter's MUCH better camera (Santa, are you listening for next year perhaps??) I am 'borrowing' a few of her photos as well.  Now to show how this intergalactic event took place in my not-so-futuristic home.

Just the very idea that CHRISTMAS was ACTUALLY here, had my two older grandsons in hyper-drive:

And just about everyone had their game face on for the Christmas meal as you can see in the slide show.  (the only one 'grinchy' was G-Pa who was trying his best to look upset about carving the 'roast beast'

Everyone seemed to be in the holiday spirit (namely, in a good mood):

And Nana knew just what to get the munchins this year as they desperately wanted a 'Star Wars' Christmas:

After receiving my 'snuggle' from my oldest son--I had to admit, it made me feel a bit like a Jedi:

And speaking of oldest son--he was definitely quite proud of his 'uber-cool pacemaker thingy'--just like Iron Man:

G-Pa is always stylin' in what the kids give him to wear.  This year a new fishing hat and a Fantasy Football League Champion t-shirt:

May the wonder and beauty of Christmas (and the power of the force, of course) be with you through this new year. . . .

I'm glad I don't have this much swagger. . .

Seriously. . . I remember those days with 4 kids and a mini van and a house decorated in Fisher-Price with a touch of Lego for that special ambiance.

Now I get to sit back, relax and watch my daughter styling with her own offpring. . . only she's much more 'tricked out' that I was. Yep!  She has her own 'swagger wagon'.

So dear daughter--I'm dedicating this video to you and your whole pimpin' parenting generation. . . because, well, you're cooler than me. . . .

A most difficult Spelling Bee

Spelling Bees can be agonizingly stressful events.  Sometimes months, nay years of preparation are required before you can enter a contest such as this and expect a scintilla of success.

Thus, you might well imagine my surprise when an impromptu Spelling Bee was called for by two of my grandsons the other evening when the old 'G-Pa' and I were visiting. Those guilty of such a malicious pop quiz were no older than 6  (and 4).

The six year old decided to go at it with G-Pa, while the supposedly innocent and unassuming 4 year old ran amok on 'Nana'.  (me)

This is the 6 year old--and don't think his offering of a delectable peach is an act of kindness.  Nope!  It's meant to distract you and take you off your game.

This is the wicked, nasty, mean four-year-old and don't let that charming countenance or exuberant smile deceive you.  He was all business and competition when it came to the 'Spelling Bee'.

You can judge for yourself whether I had a right to complain or not.  Here is only part of the humiliation I suffered that evening:

4 year old:  Spell Balcano, Nana.

Me:  You mean volcano don't you?

4 year old:  No--it's BALcano--now spell it.

Oh what to do--what to do?  Apparently I just squeaked by with my rendition.  Then here is what came up next:

4 year old:  Now spell befeated.

Me:  BEfeated?

4 year old: Yep!  That's what I said.

Me:  Could you please use it in a sentence?

4 year old:  I befeated you at this Spelling Bee.

(and for the record--he most certainly did.)  I think I'll just stick with youngest grandson for a while.  I may have a chance against him. . . . . for now.

12 Days of Christmas

Well, it's the final countdown to the Holiday of the year!  And so I give you this little gem for your entertainment pleasure.

And please note:  You better be on your best behavior. . . Santa's Elves are watching you know.