Merry Christmas!

OK - 10 months in the making, but here we go. This was posted last, but this is our Shields family Christmas and below you will find the Burkhart and then the Shields of Seymour posting. I hope you enjoy.

Christmas at our house always starts with subterfuge (we sneak back home at some point when the boys aren't paying attention and mysteriously the presents all appear. Sometimes we have friends (thanks Andi) do it, sometimes family (thanks John, Deanna, Rick & Suzanne and countless others). It used to work -but alas, the boys have finally figured it out. I would venture a guess that they would be disappointed if we didn't at least try.

Next up, we have the picture session preceding the "opening of the gifts". As you can tell, Josh really enjoys this part of the festivities.
I on the other hand was quite enjoying myself. This, I am sure, had nothing to do with the cocktails and fine dinner at Joey at Betty's before we came home. Or for that matter, the Maker's Mark and tinkling ice in the glass you can't see in this shot.

Since it is always about the kids, we let the child among us open first.

Ahh yes, two 5-lb weights. I am sure to score real points with this gift.

Kathy came upon a really neat idea for the boys. We removed from their drawers all the t-shirts from days gone by (she had been doing this since June). Each shirt was cut/sized and then quilted together to make a keep sake. Along with Josh and Jake's shirts were several of Joey's to add a particularly special touch.

Jacob and his styling hat with ears.

Another tradition is the clue gift. Each year, someone gets the brilliant idea to have a series of cluse and make the recipient chase around the house trying to figure out where the next clue, what and where the next clue and eventual present is. I have to admit starting this and this year I got a good dose of my own medicine.

Jacob was particularly proud of himself at this point.

I, on the otherhand was a bit confused (Marker's Mark?)

What?

No, they didn't get me a Jeep. But I can see the present!

Now we're talkin! Blue Ray!

And movies too! I am such a kid!

Finally, after what will be known as the Dumbell Incident of 2008, I had to pull one out of my @$$ to save the day. There was only one option remaining........

ELVIS!

Thge 2-disc comeback special, remastered and in living color with unseen footage!

Touchdown! Life is good.
If you look close up, you can see the crinkle in the left eye area.

Ahh, and now the Kleenex.

Merry Christmas at the altar of Elvis! Santa would have been proud. Whew.

Merry Christmas to all! (Happy Halloween for you date purests).

Back with Key West next! Thanks for visiting.

THIS POST HAS BEEN DELETED

by request

DON'T LOOK UP!

Hello all - it's Christmas time 2008 (yes, I can see the date above and this is about 10 months old - but - what the heck, I gotta start sometime. Christmas for us each year includes our own Christmas here at home, then the Burkhart family and finally the Shields'. I am starting this post with the Shields' trip to Seymour, which occurred 3rd, but which will appear right once I get the other two in - did that make sense.

Seymour 2008 was at Mike & Katie's house. It's always an adventure in food, drink and a good time. This year was no exception. A lot smaller than the Burkhart party, we make up for it in food and fun. Here are our hosts.

Josh and Grandma spend some time together. Grandma sharing wisdom, Josh smiling and trying to act like he is buying what she's selling.

No matter how far away they get, the cousins (Brent & Josh) can always communicate by email.

Here we see technology at it's finest. Grandpa has his listening device turned up, Josh emails Brent who in turn sends a text to Jacob who can download an ITune to put on Mitch's new sunglasses with MP3 player. And to think we had cassettes until a few years ago ("Dad, what are cassettes?")

Mitch shows Aunt Kathy how he makes creme brulee. He is very good at it. Check out Mike's blog on how to easily make creme brulee (http://pinesponderings.com/?p=799).

Finally it's time for presents. Mom always wants to be the first opened - wait - the first to open.

The Grandparents and their grandsons.

Finally, two guys who really don't need to eat and drink any more, prepare to - yes - eat and drink more. First, it's time to prepare to cook (likker up the cooks). Mike has decided we will take on Gorden Ramsey's (Hell's Kitchen) Beef Wellington recipe.

John volunteers to supervise (time to likker up the supervisor).

It was a great Christmas with family. Hope you enjoy the shots. And, since I can, here is a late present to Sara and Danielle. You'll know why when you see this picture. By the way, they are now appearing at a college campus north of you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS Y'ALL!

Lands End & the 9 month project

SO, after 9 months trying to finish my Cabo report, it is done with this entry. We took a water taxi to Lands End, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Arco_de_Cabo_San_Lucas), the southern most tip of Baja California.

This is the view from our condo. Awesome. The water taxi was $15 or so. Where you are headed is LOVER'S BEACH. Getting on and off the high bowed boat was not something done gracefully, Kathy did not fare so well - but the water was cool on her landing. Once aboard, Capt Jimi watched our progress and even took an underwater shot - lots of fish.

There is nothing out there but sand, some tourists, locals, a vendor or two and lots of sea lions and gulls. Take a cooler with food and fruity adult beverages. The sand is course but no different than the other beaches in Cabo. The Pacific side is beach only - the ocean waves and undertow current are killers - DO NOT SWIM unless you want to take a ride to Acapulco the hard way (how long can you tread water?). But the waves are awesome to look at and listen to. The water on the bay side are mellow, lots of fish and make a great place to go to the bathroom once you have had a few beverages.

The scenery here is awesome. I really liked the Pacific side since it was not crowded and I was saving my swimming for the pool bar at the condo. You can also pay your water taxi driver a nice tip and get a tour around Lands End as well.

And then, to finish off the trip, we headed to a sports bar in downtown Cabo to watch the COlts vs. the Steelers. The bartender was nice, the cook a Steeler's fan - he poisoned me. Just kidding. I had a hamburger from room service - it was kinda medium rare - I ate it - oooopppps, big mistake (5-6 days worth). But - the Colts pulled it out and I didn't start getting sick until about Phoenix - so - life is good and lesson learned - there are no cows in Cabo - don't each beef unless it's been cremated.

Next post - family holidays! Type at you soon - pics to follow - thanks for being patient -and if you ever get teh chance - GO TO CABO - IT IS VERY NICE, VERY SPECIAL!!!

Ooops - Kinda forgot

Hello all. So much to tell and so little time to type. So, here it is. I will finsih Cabo with a report on Land's End 11.5 months after visitng there and 1 days before Hurricane Rick hammers it. We have also been to Key West FL, Naples FL, Pelican Hill near Newport Beach CA and Beer, Blues and BBQ II with Denny and Michelle to Memphis.
So, I will get on with Cabo and then the other trips. I also will give you updates on family and such. Christmas, new niece and stuff. So, hang on to your hats - there might actually be some updates here soon. Thanks for being patient - Monty

Tweener

09JUL. Sorry. Between work projects and trying to pressure wash and seal the back addition - kinda left you hanging somewhere between shots and Lands End. Off to IU to register Jacob and get us "oriented", so - back with you soon. In the meantime, will try to get you a review of Upland Brewery in Bloomington (how convenient) and pictures of all the pretty babes out on campus on a 92F day at IU. OK - maybe Kathy won't see the humor - so - here you go, the picture everyone wants to see (ha ha ha).

26JUN09 - Three in a week?

Good morning sunshine!!!

Does this look like aspirin to you?

So, after much enjoyment at our fine dining experience the night before, it seemed only logical to fire up some Bloody Mary's, Screwdrivers and adventure out. I have to wonder if anyone is actually able to expense or write their trip off, based on a day at "The Office". Today's adventure begins with a half mile walk in the sand to a favorite watering hole for tourists, the one and only "Office". ( http://www.theofficeonthebeach.com/ ). Fun place, nice hang out, great scenery and even those big rocks out there in the ocean. Like any place in Mexico, you choose your food carefully, drink from bottles (did you know beer comes in bottles?), use caution on drinks with ICE in them - or just let it go and deal with the pain later. We chose bottled beer and french fries, the breakfast of champions. At the condo (and the top end hotels) - the water is purified and generally not a problem for ice. I would still do bottled water for drinking.

The Office has a restaurant inside, a t-shirt/gift shop, and a really fun out on the beach under the umbrella dining (drinking) area. From time to time, the "mariachi singers" stop by. For as little as $5 American you can get them to stand by your table, play and sing traditional tunes (I assume - I couldn't understand them).

There is, of course one issue with this - it costs $10 to get rid of them.

Several hotels are around the Office (the Melia) for example. I thought it funny that people from the Riu (all-inclusive, drinks etc.) were at the Office buying food and drink - did I miss something?. Anyway, from here, you are a short walk to shops at the Marina, several street shops and a shopping mall with several stores and shops - including a huge liquor store (noticing a trend here?). We, on the other hand, elected to walk back down the beach, less than a mile (seemed like 3) to our condo for some quality beach time. Next post, a trip to Lands End - not the store.