SNOW DAY!

Ok the last time I played in the snow was in Breckenridge a few years ago with the gang so I am do a snow day! Jackson has been on me about going to the snow. So today we are on our way!

As I crawl out of bed just past dawn I am greeted by sweet Colyn

Dear God! I haven't had coffee yet and the she who has me wrapped around her little finger is already in mittens and hat telling me we need to go!

I stumble up get some coffee and then commence to load the Jeep with some food that Laura makes for us and we get ready to go!

Jackson is so happy. Oh and for the record he lost his 3rd tooth this week and his brother had nothing to do with it!

We are on the road shortly after 8 and make our way up to Flagstaff along the 17. Traffic is really light which I find odd since there is snow up there and the ski resorts are open. Guess people still have a lot of Christmas stuff to do.

As we climb up the hill outside of Black Canyon city I see smoke in the distance. It appears that this Honda decided to burst into flame. Odd thing was the Highway Patrol was waving us to pass the burning car. Goofy and I feel bad for the owner.

We get up to Flag and are off to our favorite sledding hill. Well it is the first sledding hill we have but hey we have to get a favorite sometime Colyn is now in her snow gear and is ready to conquer the "big hill"

Silly Mom, no way are we avoiding the ice!!

Mom and the crew climbing the hill to adventure while I stay below to take a few pictures.

Amazing how a 15 year old boy can find the 15 year old girls now matter where he goes

Action Jackson after a successful landing. He went solo a lot

I cant find Colyn though on the kids slope.

Girl Power again!! She is going down the big slope!

Laura keeps a close eye on the kids but they are ready for "POPS" to go up and have a ride too.




PHOTOS BY LAURA
Bumbles Bounce Baby!!! Whoooo Hooooo!!!!

PHOTO BY LAURA
Nothin!

PHOTO BY LAURA
Another worthy day with the troops!

Laura and I have decided what we want for Christmas. Stay Tuned

Company for the Weekend

As I settle into a more normal routine I am finding that domestic life has its fun moments as well. This weekend the gang is gathering in Phoenix to talk a little business, hang out and try and find some silliness. What is interesting is that this will be the first time we are all together here in Phoenix. Usually it is somewhere out in the middle of nowhere, Torrey, or San Antonio.


First in are Bob and Janet from Utah. We stick them in Jackson's Room for the night since we are going to go for a bike ride in the morning.

Everyone settles in except Bob Arch Nemesis. He is on full Code Orange Alert.


Colyn and Jackson have no idea why Bob and Jesus have such a violent Blood Feud. But find it funny that Jesus is using me like a cheap UN Peace Keeper why he plans his next move.

Morning comes, we get the kids off to school and then it is off to go explore a new bike trail we haven't ridden yet. It seems that you can ride from the far NW Valley to the Biltmore along a canal that has underpasses built in so you don't have to cross major streets.

Bob needs a battery for the Sebring so we park at Sears and get ready. My old Trooper now has 156K on the odometer and I still am in awe of it sometimes. I can put 4 full size bikes in the back!


And best of all I still have room in the trooper for the most wonderful woman in the universe.


The ride is amazing and we really are enjoying ourselves out there. As usual this gem is almost completely empty of other folks and even though we are in the middle of town, we are more often amazed at the tranquil sounds of the canal than the fact that we are smack dab in the middle of one of the biggest cities in the country.

After about 8 miles though we decide to get some lunch. We got a bit of a late start though. But where to eat it?


Score!!! Finnegan's Irish Pub by Metro Center is perfect!


Don't tell me that Lance doesn't have one of these when he is riding the Emerald Island. They have Beer and Cheese Soup, Fish and Chips and some amazing Hard Cider too. Life is so worthy some days.


With the needed fuel we ride back to the car to go pick up Action Jackson from School. We have plans to meet Louise, Larry and Ed at my house in the Foothills later this evening. The house here out West is big but full. The house on South Mountain will take care of the over flow nicely.


We pull into the house and find that the Texans are here already! We time it perfectly and go to dinner at Va Benne. I never get tired of the food there.

Laura and I beat tracks after dinner across town and in the morning we get the kids up early to go see their adopted Aunts and Uncles.


My parents come and meet us as well. Dad and Larry hit it off right away and the it turns out to be another grand morning.

After breakfast, Larry and Ed go to pick up a Sherpa, Bob and Janet go to run errands in a town bigger than Torrey, and Louise joins us in heading back to the house to get ready to cook Indian Food for the feast tonight.


Laura Cooking an amazing meal. We will have a Cauliflower Potato Soup that is amazing with all the great Indian Spices, Chicken Tiki Masala, I make some Curry Chicken on the Grill along with some Tandori Chicken. The Naan is amazing too.


Photo by Whip
Larry and Edd arrive with the Sherpa.

At this point any semblance of being adults leave all of us. We are out to have fun. Plain and simple.


Photo by Whip
Edd up in a tree showing Michael and Jackson the ropes. He explains how you have to name each area you can sit in. There is more formality to tree climbing than I know.

But don't think for a minute that we don't still have our competitive streak brewing. There is talk of a race. Jackson shows the guys his form of two wheel racing machine. Edd and Larry soon are talking smack and we have a race!


The rules are simple. Out to the 1st light pole, you have to ride the turn and can't just hop off and turn around and then back to the driveway.


As always you must check your ride to ensure it is ready to go. Larry's is a little worse for wear. The racers pull up to the line and await my start signal.


Larry stretches the rules a bit and even without a shoe, he takes a big lead.


Their faces say it all!



Edd fairs little better against the local track champion either.


Boys and their toys.


The ladies coming home from the store though. Laura loves to see us having fun too. Louise and Colyn join in too.


See what I mean?


More racing


Girl Power Baby


Michael practicing for his big ride with Janet for tomorrow.


He has real talent riding.


Meanwhile there is serious work being done in the Kitchen

.
The living room is a whole other story though!

Dinner is amazing.

Life is so good.


PHOTO BY WHIP
Colyn won't go to bed but she finds a place just as comfortable.


PHOTO BY WHIP
Action Jackson still is going strong and has a future as a Chiropractor...or a circus performer.

Sunday finds us going for a big bike ride.


PHOTO BY EDD
The gang on the open road


PHOTO BY EDD
Ok this picture means a lot to me and Laura. Jackson is riding here on his trusty Walmart BMX bike which weighs more that Laura and my bikes combined. He rides it for 15 miles and never has but the one gear. Our little guy rocks!!!!!

These weekends are as great as any of the trips I have taken and are worthy of sharing. See you all down the road!

Tommy