Traveling, Kingsville, Family & Christmas

Monday December 22nd, 2014

We left Georgetown this morning and headed towards Kingsville for Christmas & New Year.  It was strange being back on the road after so long and it took me a while to settle down.  I used to get very nervous when we first set out on our adventure as I wasn't used to being a passenger in a large vehicle  but mainly because this is our house with us and all of our belongings in it and I can't bear the thought of something happening to it.  It didn't take too long  for me to get used to riding along again and everything was good.

We stopped for lunch at a rest stop at La Grange. Bryan stretched his legs while I made sandwiches.  The view was not bad as we sat eating lunch.

Hattie & friends enjoying the view

Hattie was mums "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" bear.  We found her on one of our shopping trips in Vegas.  We were both attracted to this bear at the same time, sitting at the top of the elevator as though she was screaming out "buy me, buy me".  We looked at her and wondered what was  so special about her.  She had a red hat, like the red hat ladies, and scarf.  Then we found the button that you pressed and she started to sing "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun".  It was so loud and for a moment we were shocked and had to have a quick look around to see if anyone had noticed us playing and dancing with this bear but we were safe.  We burst out laughing, played the song again and the bear got put in our shopping basket.  We have played her many times since and she always brought a smile to our faces.  I told mum many times that I wanted to bring the bear to her funeral and have it sing the song but mum was horrified at the very thought and I think of what people may think, so I refrained and respected her wishes and to be honest I couldn't bring myself to hear that song at that time. She didn't get the name "Hattie" until we got back to the motorhome and Bryan suggested it and so Hattie was reborn and is our companion and co-driver on our trips.

We arrived at our regular stop at Gateway to the Gulf RV Park in Victoria, Texas for the night.

Tuesday December 23rd, 2014

We got up and headed out to Kingsville, Texas.  The ducks were waiting opposite our site to say goodbye to us.

We got to Natures Own RV Park in Kingsville and got set up.  John & Brenda invited us for dinner but we decided to stay in and relax.  We are always pretty tired after traveling and even more so after more than one day on the road. 

Wednesday December 24th, 2014

I put my Christmas decorations up again after having to take them down to travel.  Next year we need to try and stay in the same place for the whole month at least to save the decorations fiasco.   Also did some cleaning and wrapped some presents.  

In the evening we went to the Christmas Candlelight Service with John, Brenda, Collette, LeeAnn, Aimee and Bryan's ex-wife Joanna & her husband Nick.  Brenda is in the choir and we helped LeeAnn light her candle.  It was an emotional evening for me as I sat in church and remembered mum.

Thursday December 25th, 2014 

We were up early and went to John & Brenda's for breakfast and to exchange gifts and watch the girls open their presents.  

We found out we were not having Christmas dinner and so we had our Christmas crackers with breakfast and wore our hats.

LeeAnn opening a present with Dad watching

Aimee with one of her presents

Brenda with a pretty bow & smile

Emily sat on Bryans lap & watched everything as well

Everyone had fun opening their presents and we helped LeeAnn with a 3D puzzle she had been given. It wasn't long before it was just John, Bryan & I trying to complete it and we ended up having to quit for a while.  Bryan & I have tried a 3D puzzle before, a few years, ago and it got the better of us then.  We did manage between all of us to get a little further with this one but still not finished!!!

We had Turkey leftovers for lunch and watched TV.  The girls had a friend visit and they played on the trampoline for a while.

We were invited to John's dad Russell's for the evening but we declined and on the way home stopped at IHop for Christmas dinner.  I had turkey and Bryan had ham, it was not very good but I got my gravy fix. 

Friday December 26th, 2014 - Monday December 29th, 2014

We stayed in and caught up on some everyday things that needed to be done.  I didn't feel 100% so we just relaxed over these days.  I stumbled across this saying which pretty much sums up what I think. Nothing worthwhile in life is easy.

On the 29th I found out the International Space Station would be visible flying overhead at 6.09pm for a few minutes.  So we went outside and looked for it.  We really didn't know what we were looking for but the sky was clear and we soon spotted a bright light moving across the sky in the direction it was supposed to be.  It looked a bit like a plane except there were no flashing lights, like you get with a plane.  It was just a bright light. 

It is the small white speck just left off center

Tomorrow, we are going for a ride to find a lighthouse with Brenda and the girls.  Should be fun.