Indio, California: Best Wishes for a Happy 2016 to you all. Let's hope for more fun, more travel, more camping and more time with those we love.
It has been a very active few days here as the kids drove over to spend New Year's Eve with their parents... because who doesn't want to party with their parents?
First stop was a trip (yesterday, 31 December) to the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert. Leo just loves running along the paths between exhibits and trying to spot critters hidden behind the rocks and cacti. Lucy is now old enough (16 months) walk a bit so now really enjoys the park. The zoo is currently presenting a special butterfly exhibit where guests can walk through a temporary building to watch 300 butterflies go about their business.
Lucy was so excited to play with the water cascading over the blue vase in the butterfly exhibit... until we realized water was also cascading down her arm - soaking her completely. Grandparents Of The Year.Lenny and Leo went on a camel ride:
Such fun
Trying to get Lucy's attention
FLASHBACK: Just for fun... how about two years ago in December with a 2-year-old Leo?
Lucy didn't always walkNext stop on our tour was a visit to the giraffes - just in time to "help" the keepers feed the giraffes. One of the giraffes is pregnant and due any time.
The giraffes have several acres to explore
Leo, patiently waiting his turn to feed carrots to the giraffes.
This is the pose suggested by the volunteers. Perfect!There was also a tour through the petting zoo where Leo used a brush to scratch the back of several goats. (Leo is quite experienced at petting goats in petting zoos.)
Not only does our little guy know his away around a petting zoo, he is now teaching his little sister to ride a carousel and how to choose the best animal to ride.
After our fun afternoon, it was back to the old trailer park for champagne and Fettuccini Alfredo - a very, very, very long-standing family tradition. Then we put Lucy to bed and watched the ball drop in Times Square, telling Leo (at 9p pacific) it was now a New Year and he could go to bed. Not my problem the kid can't tell time.
We were all asleep by 9:30p, with Lucy in the motorhome under our charge. As I told Lisa this morning, "Lucy only woke once overnight"... there was no need to mention it was from 11:30p-1a, right?
The kids drove back home to Los Angeles today - taking their dog, Reese, with them. We cleaned up, exercised and then sat down to enjoy the Rose Bowl.
We also enjoyed this:
Jalapeno Popper Dip
Jalapeno Popper DipMy Jalapeno Popper Dip has four ingredients + tortilla chips, and tastes just like jalapeno poppers, but there is no pepper-stuffing required and no messy deep frying. It takes at least one minute to throw it all together and can be prepared hours before baking to bubbling awesomeness.
Until my next update, I remain, your Go Pac-12 correspondent.
RV PARK: The Motorcoach Country Club