Hey Shoe

I know it's past Christmas now. But I still want to hear about the Christmas tree this year. Did Alex still believe it?(I know she did).Besides this has become a tradition to hear about the adventures finding the tree.

(edited because I don't know how to spell :))
This message was edited Jan 2, 2004 12:13 AM

This message was edited Jan 2, 2004 12:17 AM

Welp, it appears she believed it! No bigtime story to tell except I went ahead and did our ritual "planting of the tree", then taking the family out on a hike looking for "this years tree"!

Lots of wandering in the woods and over the creek (several times!). The tree was eventually found but Alex wanted to keep looking for a bigger one! I agreed and suggested if we can't find a bigger one we can always come back to this one, which is what happened.

We dragged it (or rather I did) outta the woods, trimmed the lower branches, and put it in the house in its stand. Ended up decorating it the next evening.
And now, here it is today, Alex's birthday, and we are taking it down. (So hard to believe it's been ten Christmas's since Alex was born!)

And that's my story, and I'm st-st-stickin' to it! ô¿ô

Well a very Happy Birthday to that wonderful daughter, Alex! Did you have a treasure hunt or anything?? I know that was for Daughter's Day, but it was so much fun :)

What a BEAUTIFUL tree Shoe. I know bud, time sure does fly, huh? Warp speed sometimes :-(

Howdy Dea, and Vic...!
Actually I had one planned! And it was gonna be a good one, too!

When my "future wife" and I were courtin' and sparkin', our first Christmas together was a scavenger hunt. It was at a secluded and not-so-well-known river park and she had to follow clues here and there to find her present. These clues went from the parking lot to an old cemetary hidden in the woods with headstones dating back to the 1700's! She had to find the next clue based on what the headstones had engraved on them! From there it was on down a path with clues stuck in knot-holes on trees, some under "ugly rocks", some along the river path and some even on rocks in the middle of the river! Eventually, she got to her presents...suspended 30 feet or more in the air from a precipice, and dangling on a rope and swaying in the breeze! (She had to figger out how to get up there and get it, too!)

So!...here it is, 12-13 years later. We now have a 'just turned 10 yr old' daughter, and my goal was to send them both on a scavenger hunt in the very same place, but with different clues than before! I thought it would be great to re-live our first Christmas together and to also watch as my DW and DD worked together to follow clues. I would follow along happily and smilingly (and probably fighting the tears back) and enjoy the show as more memories were being made.

A few days before Christmas I went to the park, walked my legs off, taking notes, writing clues...

"(Walk and walk and walk this path…
'Til in the middle of the path you see…
Half a tree, resting on its side,
With a honeysuckle canopy!)"

This took quite a bit of time, but I certainly got some exercise! Along the way I only met up with two other people. They wondered if I was a botanist, taking notes and observing nature. I smiled and said no. They wondered if my feet were cold. I grinned, and said no. They didn't know what question to ask next so I told them what I've told you so far. Their faces lit up! It was as if they had never heard of having a fun time doing such a thing for someone! We talked a bit longer then exchanged names before we parted. They went on down the path and I overheard one say "I wish he wasn't married. I hope my husband is like him!". They were both 15 years old!

Welp, to cut this short, I continued with my clues...

Another clue awaits
Where trolls often dwell!
Be careful while looking
You’d get wet if you fell!

There were more clues but now...the clincher.

Christmas Day rolled around. After presents were opened my wife spied an envelope under the tree.

"Hmmm…now what is this?
Could be a clue?
Where does it start?
What to do?
Reckon we all
Better do what we can
Time to load up
In the “Fam Van”!"

So we did. Got in the van and drove to the park and...and...

The park was CLOSED! Gates were locked so we couldn't get in the parking lot. "NO PARKING" signs were all along both sides of the street! (I was gonna park and sneak in!)

Bummed out (at least I was) we came back home and I gave them their "end of the clues presents", telling them we'll just go back some other time...perhaps for someone's birthday surprise. We all agreed that would be fun. (I was so glad I hadn't put out the clues and presents the day before. I was going to have them wait in the parking lot and give me a ten minute headstart before they could open the first clue!)

The rest of the day was happy-go-lucky. We all did what we wanted to. I cooked blackened shrimp with rice and "Christmas/speckled butter beans" for supper. Wife and I had a couple Irish coffees with whipped cream and cinnamon! Alex had hot chocolate, also with whipped cream and cinnamon!!!!

And so, in closing, I reckon it was a mighty pleasant day after all, eh?

And to you all...A belated, yet continuing, Merry Merry Christmas!! May it stay with us all year! ô¿ô






This message was edited Jan 2, 2004 5:49 PM

And to you too and your family too, my friend! You just keep on nurturing them the way you do and they do you also :)

What a beautiful tree Shoe. Sounds like a lot of fun you have with a scavenger hunt. I'd like to do that sometime. Wouldn't that be fun for the RU? Scout it out this year and save for next year. :)

Anyhow Happy New Year my friend, and Happy Happy Birthday Alex. 10 years old, wow!

What a cool story! Too bad the goofy gates were closed
:-(

Ahhh...Fresh coffee, and a fresh head. I just realized Dea's first post was in reference to Alex's birthday (scavenger hunt), not Christmas. I guess the Christmas scavenger hunt was on my mind yesterday when I wrote the above (and lengthy~) episode! Sorry.

For Alex's birthday (yesterday) she went with two of her friends ice skating, for three hours! Then they came back here and played a bit. I cooked crab legs, mashed taters, and cowpeas for supper! Yummy!

Her birthday continues on...she and another friend who also has a birthday this week are sharing an overnite birthday sleep-over party at a hotel. The friend's parents rented a two room suite right by the indoor pool and I think 7 10 yr olds will be swimming, eatin' pizza, ice cream and oreos, and watching some new movie (Freaky Friday?). I just learned there will also be some beading project making bracelets, and supplies so the girls can do each others hair! (Ain't no telling what will happen there! I've been the recipient of DD's hair make-up before!)

Pancakes for breakfast, then home by noon tomorrow. I'm sure she'll be needing the rest by then!

Ya'll have a good day!

Wow! What a COOL birthday party. Yep, she'll take a LONG nap today LOL...

How cool -- both the story (the park was CLOSED??) and the sleepover. How'd it go?

Hey Shoe, I watched Freaky Friday this past week with Tory, no less. It was a cute movie. :) Hope Alex had a great time. My stepfather used to let me put curlers in his hair and I had lots of ponytails before more than two were cool, in his hair. I had a lot of fun (he didn't have much hair though). He used to tell me that when he was little (he was born in 1907) his grandmother said she would give a dime to anyone who could find a "bug" in her hair. Of course, they never found any and she never had to pay, but she loved them playing with her hair. :)

What a great ruse! I love it when someone plays with or brushes my hair, too.

Freaky Friday sounds freaky to me...I think its a funny movie tho, ain't it? I'm sure I'll have to see it sometime!

The girls stayed up till just after midnite, so I'd say they did pretty good. (Got up at 8 and went swimming again!)

Alex took a lonng nap when she got home! It was a successful venture!

Freaky Friday has Jamie Lee Curtis in it and all I'll say is that mother and daughter change roles and is it funny!

AHAH! NOW I remember seeing a commercial/promo on tv about that!

Mercy. That WOULD be freaky!
Thanks.

My goodness, I just now saw this thread. A belated very happy birthday to Alex Shoe!

I hope y'all had a mitey fine Christmas and may 2004 bring much happiness and all such good things y'alls way!

TC...

Thanks TC...and back at ya!

(Hey! I thought you was on your way to Kentuck by now! Got loads of baby gear boxed up?)

Leavin Wednesday mornin Shoe! Yep, tons of baby stuff to load. Heck, I even went and bought some Gerber's baby food, banana fruit. You know the kind? I usta love that stuff! I'd always eat half the jar myself when I was feedin it to my babies!

TC...

HAH!... I can just see you lookin' over your shoulder to see if Mama was catching you eating the Gerbers! You nut!
;>)

Yes, that is kinda nutty ain't it? It got to where Mama got tired of yellin at me and she'd jus buy extra jars, for me only!

I cain't wait to get my grubby hands on my granbaby! Ya reckon I orta shave the stubble offa my face before I hug up all over her?

TC...

Nope. Don't shave! What happens is them youngin's won't be used to an un-shaved face...then, when they see one they freak out and cry. (Not a pretty sight.)

Let her get used to you (and unshaved faces). It'll cut way down on her future freak-out time. Besides, it'll be a touchy/feely thing for her to get to experience!

Good advice Shoe! I won't be shavin then. Now, do ya have any advice on "babynappin" (as opposed to kidnappin). I'm tryin to figger out a way to snatch Carson so's I can keep her! ;~)

TC...

If you're gonna be there for a few days, well then whenever someone's not looking, grab a piece of her equipment, i.e crib, changing table, etc. and stick it in the car. Then make your plans on which night (of course the middle of the night) you'd like to make the great escape.

Geez, I know you're leaving on Wednesday, but this takes a little more planning. You should buy a cabin in the country, change your name, get fake license plate and swap cars with someone....dye your hair, you might have to cut the beard stubble...and remember mum's the word.

Do you need a partner in crime? I'll help you, if you can help me kidnap Tory so's she won't have to go to TX and then onto Alaska. :)

Have a great time with your precious little angel. Promise me you won't call her Red. That's okay for boys, but it gives girls a complex. :) Enjoy. Kathy

Boys don't like being called RED either, Kathy! (Trust me, I know!)

TC...only way to get that Grandbaby home with ya is to kidnap the whole family!

You DG folks are some of the most witty and warmest folks I have ever met online! Y'all never cease to amaze me!

Kathy, I guess it's all just wishful thinkin ain't it? Unfortunately! But fun to kid around about it, just goes to show ya how much love we all have for our families huh?! ;~)

I promise not to call her "Red"! I don't like that as a nickname for red-headed boys or girls. Although my dad has red hair and most all his brothers called him "Red". They either called him that or "Jim". I Don't know why they called him Jim, his full name doesn't even relate to the name "Jim", even for a nickname. Half the time growin up I wasn't even sure what Dad's real name was, he's just "Dad" to us.

Oh well, I ramble...

Must start packin for the trip!

TC...

Have a safe and blessed-to-the-hilt trip, TC! And for Heaven's sake, don't call that baby Carrot Top, either! ;)

Thanks GW, I promise not to call her "Carrot Top" or "Red"!

TC...