Family!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and a Passing

This is our Christmas to Boxing Day post. Yeah we know we are a little late, but time has been hard to come by lately. We spent  December 23 to December 30th at the Mesa Regal in Mesa Arizona with Natalie, Reid, Linden, Michelle and Natalie's parents, Maurice and Ann. It was a very busy week with something always happening. Reid and Michelle both learned the fine game of Pickleball and we went to two Coyote's hockey games. This post is all about Family and the time we spent together, sorry no hike or wildlife shots this time.

Linden Natalie and Michelle enjoying a Christmas Eve swim

We went out for Chinese food on Christmas Eve as we always do. Maurice and Ann tried very hard to help keep theirs and ours traditions alive, it was great! Christmas Day Linden was the centre of attention, not that he isn't normally.

 "Yes Dad the paper is more fun than the gift"

Natalie Linden and Reid

The whole flam damly...aren't timers great.

 Linden playing Peek-a-Boo with Santa

On the 27th we went to see the Coyotes play the Ducks and were treated to a good game with the Coyotes winning in the shootout. The grandmas stayed home babysat, I am sure they found some way to enjoy that.

 The pre-game beverage.....or two....

On the 28th we went to the Organ House pizza place in Mesa for Natalie's Birthday dinner. The restaurant was ok but, the huge Pipe Organ that was played for 20 minutes every half hour was spectacular.

Natalie and Maurice

Reid and Kelly

After Pizza we went out to look at some Christmas lights on a church grounds. It was very impressive.

Hey grandpa you almost cut me out of the photo

Michelle Reid and Linden hanging out before leaving for the hockey game

On the 29th we went to see the Coyotes and the Flyers. Man were there ever alot of Flyers fans there. Probably about 1/3 of the crowd had on some sort of Flyers apparel. They sure were disappointed when the final horn sounded and it was 4-2 for the Coyotes.

We drove back to Desert Hot Springs on the 30th after packing as much into the week as we could. The Michauds made us feel welcome and we all enjoyed our stay. Michelle came back with us and Linden and his parents flew home that day.

 Saw this when we stopped for fuel...Semi pulling a large fifth wheel pulling a Jeep.....Yup

We having writing this blog for almost a year now and we have always tried to keep it light and enjoyable. As in life every once in a while you just can't do that. On Boxing Day we found out that June and Kelly's best friend  Wayne Gear had past away on Christmas Day. June and I each have brothers but Wayne was the brother that we shared. We have known the family for almost 40 years. There are only two types of people in this world Wayne's friends and people he hadn't met. His passing leaves a huge whole in our lives. It has reminded us how precious life is and how important friends are. We some times seem to take friends for granted and we are trying to change that. So please if you have been putting off that call to an old friend Don't. Rod and Sylvia we are sorry we didn't hook up when we ere in Mesa we will do better next time.

 Wayne Douglas Gear.........Our friend

Thanks for reading 

Junkel

Hiking without and with Mickey

Well I found some time to catch up on the blog so stay close because here we go. We went for two more hikes in the last week. We did Yucca peak with Ken and 15 others, it was a very strenuous hike and just a tad cool at the top. Thursday hike was Murray Peak "The North Face".

 Early morning shadow of us on a Water Tank.

 The Highest peak is Murray Peak

It took us 2 and a half hours to get to the top and another 3 hours to get back to the truck. It was a long but semi-enjoyable hike that was enjoyed by all.

Michelle arrived at the Palm Springs Airport on Friday night the 19th. We headed out on Saturday morning for three days in Disneyland. Yup  doesn't everyone take their kids to Disneyland? We hit the ground running and according to Junes Pedometer 55 kilometres and three days later we were done, in more ways than one.

The Bumper tires in the Cars section

 I think they got wet!!!!

This sign just tickled my funny bone.

We got park hopper passes so it was back and forth between the two parks, fast tracking rides as we could as it was extremely busy. You can't complain too much about the crowds if you go to Disneyland just after school is on a break and its 5 days before Christmas.

The Hub Cap Christmas Tree in the Cars area.

The Girls in front of Its A Small World

The Girls in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle

Sleeping Beauty's Castle

The Park is quite spectacular after dark. The hydro bill must be something else with all of the lights. We sat through 2 parades and one of the greatest fireworks shows we have ever seen. We arrived at the park by about 8:30 every morning and left around midnight. Michelle kept us going from ride to ride and we did them all multiple times. Kelly is not to sure about Space Mountain, something about not being to brace himself for the next turn.

We left Anaheim buy 9:30 am and headed back to Desert Hot Springs to pick-up the trailer and then headed for Mesa Arizona. Linden and his parents were visiting his other grand parents so we decided to get in on the deal. We arrived around 6pm on the 23rd for a week long stay. There will be one more post before the New Year. Thanks again for reading this and we hope you have a great holiday season.

Junkel