2009 Year In Review...

December 14, 2009 - It was brought to my attention that we have not been updating our blog as frequently as perhaps we should. This could be the result of several possible causes... One, we have had a rather extended period of "boring" in our lives... Or two, time simply hasn't permitted us to make the updates... I'm happy to report that the answer is most definitely #2! It's been a bit of a whirlwind of late, so I'm offering a "2009 Year in Review" as both an apology for not updating more frequently and a peace offering to get everyone "up to speed".

The summer was particularly eventful... In June, we were visited by some of the most extreme weather our area has seen. We had a tornado tough down within miles of our home and several consecutive days of funnel clouds. I have a new found respect and sympathy for the folks that make their home in "Tornado Alley".

Summer also brought "camping" to our family as a new fixture and staple to our leisure time. We purchased a pop-up camper and spent an extended 4th of July weekend at Empire Lake (private lake northeast of our home) boating and camping with some good friends. We also took the camper for our annual "father/son" camping trip in August and back to the lake several more times before the end of the season.

Hollyn turned 3 in July and couldn't be more precocious and charming if she tried. She has her moments, but she is a constant source of joy and brightens the day for all that come in contact with her.

Throughout the summer, Randy was also campaigning for Thornton City Council. He was approached in March and with the support of close friends and family decided to run in April. Campaigning is a time consuming business and involved a lot of neighborhood walking and door to door efforts. The occasional night camping was always a welcomed break!

In the Fall, Connor started 4th grade and Ryan started 1st grade... Both enjoy their teachers and the school is one of the best in the district. We are fortunate to have such wonderful teachers and administrators in our area. Connor also started playing basketball again and as of "press time" his team is still undefeated. Combined, his basketball team has lost a total of 2 games in the past 3 years (roughly 35 games or more). They are a remarkable group of kids. Beginning in January they will move up to play in an older age bracket simply for more competition. Ryan will also pick up where he left off with basketball this January as well.

November came with a tremendous amount of anticipation. The long journey toward election night came to an end on November 3rd (or so we thought). As election results came in, we were encouraged to be ahead in the vote at every update. The election itself was so close that the results could not be confirmed for a full week after election night. On November 10th, we were "officially" informed that Randy had won in his bid for Thornton City Council and would be sworn in on November 17th, 2009. While the results were certainly closer than we would have hoped for, it can't be understated what an achievement it was to win against an incumbent and 2 other challengers.

To help celebrate the culmination of the election and as a result of the enjoyment the entire family took away from our summer camping, we elected to sell our pop-up camper and purchase a larger travel trailer. We are hoping to spend a lot more time together at the lake next summer and the "facilities" are quite limited. So making a move to have something a little more "comfortable" (especially for the girls) seemed like the logical thing to do. And, what goes better at a lake than a boat? You guessed it, we can't wait for next summer to take the camper and boat out to the lake for hours of endless enjoyment watching the kids tube, kneeboard, wakeboard, build sand castles while mom works on her tan reading a book and dad throws horseshoes or pretends he knows how to work on a boat...

2009 was certainly a year for change... I know it was not a great year for many and we're thankful everyday for the blessings that have been bestowed upon us. While we certainly work hard and strive to achieve our goals individually and as a family, it is not lost upon us that nothing would be possible without the strong support of our closest friends and loving families. We close 2009 with our health, a roof over our head, a warm bed to sleep in at night, and love for each other... What else could anyone ask for? We are truly blessed...

Here's wishing you all a happy holiday and good fortune and blessings for 2010.

The Drennens

It's a Twister! It's a Twister!

June 7, 2009 - I've often thought it would be "cool" to see a tornado in person. The crazy storm footage on the news or some show on the discovery channel always make them look so fascinating. Peaceful from a distance and so chaotic up close. Apparently there are plenty who share this fascination or a term like "storm chaser" would not exist. While I've never been inclined to actually chase after a storm, I've maintained a desire to see one from a distance. Wish granted!

On June 7th, 2009 the boys and I were finishing some yard work in the backyard trying to beat the rain that appeared to be rolling in. The first drops had begun to fall so it was a scramble to put away the tools and clean up as quick as we could. As we finished up and came through the gate, we were greeted by several of our neighbors walking down the street toward our house pointing to the western sky. I turned to see what the fuss was about just as the words they kept repeating finally registered - Tornado... Sure enough, there it was! A very long and thin strand of wind reaching down from clouds to touch the ground. From our vantage point approximately 3 miles southeast, it was almost serene. Tornadoes don't dart across the horizon like a shooting star and the constant bending and swaying motion almost looks like a dance. We were all transfixed and could not stop staring at it as it changed shape and glided to the south. Only as the rain and hail began to fall in earnest did it begin to occur to me that we may need to seek shelter. In hindsight, I realize this should have dawned on me much sooner, but the threat seemed so distant at the time.

We all stood and watched the funnel ride it's course and ultimately return to the sky, but it's something that none of us will forget for some time. Thankfully, no one was hurt by this particular tornado and damage was minimal since it hit a relatively rural area.

Enjoy these photos ALL TAKEN FROM OUR FRONT YARD!

The Bulls Win!

June 13, 2009 - Once again this summer, Connor has been playing baseball for Northern Lights Little League. He had been with the same coach for 4 years prior to last year when he went through the "draft" and landed on another team. This year, Randy had the opportunity to be the assistant coach with Connor's previous coach which brought him back to the team he really wanted to play for, the Bulls.
Connor plays in the AA division which is comprised of 7-9 year old boys. This is the same division he was in last year. There were six AA teams in the league and Northern Lights also plays several other leagues throughout the season (over 20 game in all). Connor's team went an amazing 19-2 in regular season play. Even the two losses were "questionable" at best. One loss was against a AAA team from another league and the second loss happened on a game called for darkness when Connor's team was actually winning. Because of a loophole, the entire game rolled back to the last completed inning and several runs came off the board for Connor's team essentially handing the victory to our opponent. But 19-2 isn't bad for a bunch of 8 and 9 year old boys.
Connor played every position this year and had fair number of opportunities to pitch as well. His season was highlighted by a complete game 2 hit shutout that he pitched against Shaw Heights. Connor also started and pitched 3 solid innings for the Bulls in their semi-final game allowing only 2 runs in a 13-2 victory.
The championship game was played last Saturday against the team that "beat" us when our runs came off the board. The boys were more than anxious to set the record straight. Connor was fortunate to have his own private cheering section at the game. Among those in attendance were Grandma Judy and cousin Collin, Grandpa Jack and Grandma Sharon, Uncle Jared and Aunt Jenna and Meadow, Aunt Edie and Uncle Steve, Mom, Ryan, Hollyn, and even some friends and neighbors from our street turned out to cheer him on. The Bulls came out strong and never trailed. It was a close game throughout the day with several nail biting moments, but a late inning rally put the game out of reach. The Bulls won 10-3 and secured the title of AA Northern Lights Champs. What a terrific season and a great bunch of boys.
Most of the boys came over to our house after the game for a backyard movie night and slumber party to blow off a little steam after a hard fought victory.
As an added bonus after the season, Connor learned that his play had earned him an invitation to try out for the 9 year old All Star Team. Tryouts are this week. Keep your fingers crossed!

Congrats to the Bulls and Connor on a fine season!

Spring Break 2009 - Crested Butte, CO

March 25, 2009 - Just back from Crested Butte, Colorado after an excellent Spring Break getaway! We had never been to Crested Butte and were pleasantly surprised when we arrived to find a quaint little mountain town similar to what I remember Breckenridge was like before it became so commercialized.
Crested Butte is located about 25 miles north of Gunnison (if you don't know where Gunnison is, time to pull out your globe)... It too about 4 and a half hours to get there from Denver, but the drive is spectacular. As Ellen commented, it was a much nicer road to travel than simply getting on an interstate and setting the cruise control. We saw elk and deer along the way and some beautiful Colorado back country.
The boys picked up where they left off in Steamboat and both took another lesson on the slopes. Connor started the day as a level two and finished as a level four. We were fortunate that the crowds were small so his "group" lesson turned out to only include him. So he essentially had a private lesson. Lucky guy! But he is now linking turns and riding heel side or toe side equally well. For those that know, that's pretty darn good for a kid who has been on a board for exactly two days! Ryan started the day on as a level two skier and finished as a level three! He is now able to ski in a snow plow, stop himself at will, and can turn and navigate through a set of cones. Huge progress for Ryan in such a short time! We are very proud of both of them!
The kids all enjoyed a nice dip in the hot tub after hitting the slopes for some well deserved relaxation. Ellen and Randy even had a chance to read a book (a fleeting luxury these days) while the kids entertained each other.
Other highlights in case you find yourself in Crested Butte in the future... The Secret Stash is a must if passing through... A little hard to find, but great pizza and local dishes (try the Philly cheese steak pizza) and Camp 4 Coffee makes a mean cup of cocoa, and avoid Donita's Mexican Food (we think they just misspelled their name "Don't Eat Us") not good!

Ryan loses a tooth!

March 14, 2009 - Ryan woke up and announced he had a loose tooth! He steadily worked on it all day and by nightfall, he had a date with the toothfairy! Nice job Ryan!

You can't manage time, you can only manage you!

February 4, 2009 - While attending church this weekend our pastor demonstrated a very effective metaphor for time. It's given me food for thought ever since so I felt compelled to share it here... Here's how the story goes...

A speaker was giving a speech for a group of successful managers and executives at a large corporation. The topic of the speech was "Time Management". The speaker wanted to illustrate that you can't really manage time because it's a fixed asset. In other words, assuming we all make it through the day, your day will contain exactly as many seconds, minutes, and hours as mine. So you can't "manage" it as though you can borrow from tomorrow and save up from yesterday. The only thing you can control and manage is YOU, and how you use the time you are given... That being said, the speaker placed a large glass cylinder on the table and began filling it with large rocks. When he could no longer fit any more rocks in the container, he asked the audience if they believed the cylinder was full? Several raised their hands indicating they thought it was... After seeing their response, the speaker produced a container of gravel and began pouring it into the container. When the cavities between the large rocks had filled and no more gravel would fit in the container, he again asked the audience if they believed the container was full? Much more hesitant to answer, most did not respond... Then, the speaker produced a container of sand and filled the smaller cavities. He repeated the process one more time using a pitcher of water until everyone was finally in agreement that the container was indeed full.

Standing behind the cylinder filled with the variety of materials, the speaker asked the group gathered what they believed was the point of the exercise? One bright young manager raised his hand and boldly announced that he believed the message was that "no matter how full you think your schedule is, you can always fit something else in"... Several in the crowd nodded in agreement seeing a reflection of their own schedule in the demonstration. However, the speaker shook his head from side to side and responded "no". In fact, the point of the demonstration is that "if you don't put the large rocks in first, you won't be able to fit them in later".


Having pondered this demonstration as it was presented to me, it gave me reason to evaluate what my "Big Rocks" are and whether or not I am effectively putting them in my jar first everyday. What are really the most important things in your life and are you making time for them as you should? How often do you fill your jar? If every jar represents a day, do you control what is placed into that jar? If you don't fill it, someone or several others will fill it for you...

Right now, I'm thinking about my "Big Rocks", I hope this will help you do the same...

Randy

The Loft is done!!!

January 16th, 2009 - Our loft project is complete... Back in the summer of 2008, Ellen and I started to look pretty serious at the possibility of building a loft above our existing living room. We wanted to create a space the entire family could use and enjoy together or individually. Initially, we thought it would provide the kids a better option for homework than the kitchen table, however loft beds and desks in each of their rooms accomplished that goal. So we had carte blanche to create any type of space we desired.
From a construction standpoint, the biggest challenge was spanning the entire living room without the aid of a support post. This was accomplished through the use of four microlam beams bolted and glued together to act as one resting on newly constructed supports within the walls. We had friends (who also happen to be neighbors) assist us with the concept and design. Nice to have an architect and structural engineer living around the corner...
To keep the open feel and maintain all the possible line of sight aspects, we decided to use a handrail rather than a partial wall across the open side of the loft. The views in and out of the loft are so much better with this open rail and I'm very happy we chose to go in that direction.
With the space relatively undefined, we chose the best available wall to designate as a "tv" wall and wired it for a television and surround sound speakers. The other minor challenge involved replacing the larger existing window with a new "operable" window so we could open and close it during the summer time.
Once the framing, drywall, carpentry, and electrical portions of the project were completed it was up to Ellen and I to arrange the flooring, painting, and finish out the TV/satellite/network portions of the project. We painted the ahead of the carpet install to avoid any mishaps. The carpet installers did an excellent job. And, with a little luck the TV was installed and wired to the DirecTV box. Christmas brought the addition of an xBox 360 so that's hooked up in the loft as well.
To outfit the room, Ellen and I moved a couch out of bedroom just so we'd have some seating. I was fortunate enough to find a few other steals on Craigslist (bubble hockey table and LoveSac's). The result is a comfy and cozy space that the kids can use and mom and dad enjoy as well. See what you think...
A very special thanks to our Uncle Mike for assisting us with all the construction materials and also recommending a very good contractor. And also a special thanks to our Uncle Steve who was able to help us order some absolutely spectacular Hunter Douglas blinds to complete the room.

See ya next time...

Happy New Year 2009

January 4, 2009 - Happy New Year to one and all! For many, 2008 will be a forgettable year with the economy in shambles, jobs becoming difficult to find, and 401K's taking a nose dive... But, speaking for my family, we all have our health and each other and now more than ever we realize what's really important. New Years is always a time for reflection and having such wonderful family around us, a fantastic neighborhood full of friends, and living in the greatest country in the world is still a lot to be thankful for even in tough times. So we look forward to 2009 with optimism and hope and look back at 2008 with appreciation for all our blessings...

This holiday season was special for the Drennen's... We spent another wonderful Christmas Eve with Aunt Edie and Uncle Steve. It's always nice to have the entire family together because I'm sure that won't always be possible as the family grows and follows new opportunities. But this year has provided at least one more chance for all to get together and we are grateful.

Christmas morning was the usual recipe for chaos... 2 parts wrapping paper, 1 part unbridled excitement and a dash of "more clothes... why does Santa always get us clothes?", and you've got it. Bake at room temperature for about a day and by nightfall you've got one tuckered out family!

This year we decided to leave town for New Years! When it came time for the annual "Bank the timeshare for next year" call, Ellen had the outstanding idea to try and find a last minute booking for a place in the mountains. As luck would have it, we were able to reserve a space in Steamboat Springs, CO for 3 nights over the New Year holiday. The kids rang in the new year watching a torchlight parade down the slopes followed by a fireworks display on the mountain. January 1, 2009 Connor spent the day snowboarding for the first time ever and Ryan spent the day on a pair of skis! Both boys had a ball and can't wait to do it again. Other highlights from the trip included a visit to the natural hot springs, shopping around town, and tubing at night on one of the best sled hills west of the Continental Divide. We had a great three days in the mountains but it was nice to come home...

That's the news for now. We'll be sure to get some updated finished photos of the loft posted so you can see how the project turned out! Very cool!

Love and happiness to all in the new year!

The Drennens

Ellen Gets Promoted!

11/06/08 - I am excited to announce that Ellen has been promoted! As most of you probably know, Ellen has been working at Nordstrom at the Flatiron Crossing location since they opened their doors. While she has worked her way into management and served in variety of roles, she has most recently spent the past year as the Customer Service manager. Over the past week, she was approached by the regional manager of Customer Service and asked if she would be interested in making the move to Park Meadows to assume control of their Customer Service department.
As you might expect, the decision was a difficult one for Ellen. Not only will this potentially triple her commute but it will also result in some additional time commitments. Also, it's worth noting that Ellen is one of only a few remaining employees who had opened the Flatiron store and continues to work there today. It's been a good home for her and she has built several close and lasting relationships during her time. After a weekend of deliberations Ellen determined the opportunity was simply too good to pass up and Monday she accepted the offer. Her first day at the new store (to her anyway) will be tomorrow.
How is this a promotion you might ask? The Park Meadows store is the largest in Colorado for Nordstrom and does nearly triple the sales volume as the Flatiron store. Additionally, Park Meadows plays host to a variety of special events and special customers so the responsibility of the Customer Service manager is vast. Below, please check out a small piece of what Ellen's regional manager had to say about her in the announcement...

"...From 2002 through 2005, she managed Kid’s Shoes, Men’s Shoes and Women’s/Salon Shoes.
Always looking for a challenge, Ellen took on the role as Customer Service Manager at our Flat Iron store last year. She quickly embraced the role and displayed the ability to drive results and provide incredible leadership skills. She is passionate about teaching and coaching. She encourages growth for herself and the teams she supports. Her leadership, commitment to results, and desire to learn will serve her well in her new position..."

Best of luck to Ellen in her new post! We're all very proud of you!

R

Loft Construction Project Enters the Homestretch!

Our loft construction project has turned the corner and is rapidly approaching the finish line. Our contractor completed his portion of work a couple of weeks ago and the rest is up to us.

For those not "in the know", we elected to build a new loft above our existing living room to add roughly 250-270 square feet to the house and provide a very flexible and functional space for everyone in the family. The design called for a flat screen TV and surround sound with an option to add some bookcases and a window seat. Down the road, the space could easily be converted to a bedroom, office or study, or remain a very open and airy loft...

Construction started roughly near the end of August and ran through our trip to Mexico. The contractor installed new support posts, a heavily reinforced beam, joists, decking, drywall, the railing, and electrical. Ellen and I have been responsible for all of the low voltage (TV, phone, and speaker) cabling as well as the painting and carpet. Currently we are down to the last of the painting work and a little bit of work on the sound and TV. It's been the largest home improvement project we've ever taken on and we are thrilled with the way it is turning out...

I've included some pics of the loft in progress... We will update this blog when the project is 100% complete so you can see the finished product! Stay tuned!

Viva La Mexico!

October 1, 2008 - Back from Mexico for Ellen and Randy with grins as wide as the Rio Grande! Ellen and Randy were lucky enough to tag along with Grandma Judy, Lindsay and Tony, and Jared and Jenna to the Mayan Riviera near Tulum for a week. It was a birthday extravaganza for Grandma Judy who celebrated her fiftrrr, errrr, sixrrrrr, errrr somthing with numbers...

After flying into Cancun and staying one night there enjoying the beach, the ruins, and some shopping, we hit the road for Tulum and a private beach villa on a secluded beach along Soliman Bay (about 6 miles north of Tulum). For those who want to see the house, go to http://www.locogringo.com/tankah/margaritavilla.html?name=Margarita%20Villa to check it out. The pictures are 100% accurate and the place is even more beautiful in person.

The week was filled with sun, sand, sea, snorkels, salsa, shells, shades, shots, shopping, and ciestas... Rest and relaxation for all...

Trip highlights included:

• Margarita Villa - Better than we could have imagined
• Sea kayaks
• Snorkeling
• Sea Turtles
• Xel-Ha adventure park
• A day in Playa Del Carmen
• Some of the best seafood you can find!
• Spending a week remembering why you fell in love with your wife in the first place... And doing it all over again.

We missed the kids a great deal, but were blessed to have Ellen's Aunt Julie and Grandma Sharon and Grandpa Jack to fill in for us while we were gone. We are very greatful to them for enabling us to take a trip that will never be forgotten.

Good food, good fun, and most importantly... Good Family!

R

Drink it in...

As my boys returned to school this week, I found myself pondering what their answer might be to the inevitable "what did you do on your summer vacation?" question... I'm not often one to ramble on about random thoughts and observations, but this week gave me some pause so I wanted to share.

I have realized over recent years that "time" is the one commodity we can't recover. We can't make more of it, extend it, borrow or loan any (it doesn't come back), or buy more. The day you're born you have all you'll ever have and each day after you have just a little bit less... While that has a certain element of negativity or finality to it, think of the opportunity it creates. What will you do with your time? What did you do on your summer vacation?

I had a wonderful childhood and two of the greatest parents a son could hope for... One of the most positive things I have taken away from losing my father far too early is that you must make the most of the opportunities you are given and create new ones where there are none. Drink in every day, no one is promised another one.

So, what did I do on my summer vacation???

• My son Ryan learned to ride a bike without training wheels and how to stop one using a parked car. Both valuable lessons.



• My daughter spent the summer playing with her cousin (something I never did), and learned to say "see ya guys", "what's up dude?", and "oh yeah, baby".



• My son Connor played a fantastic season of baseball and learned to win with humility and lose with dignity.



• My boys and I spent time in 6 different states - from beaches to mountains, from the Grand Canyon to hot springs, from Dodger Stadium to Legoland... We stopped to smell the flowers all along the way...



• My kids went to the pool and played outside, watched movies outdoors under the stars, and soaked in the sun enjoying time with their friends.



• We were blessed to see family from up the street to across the country and spend time catching up.

It's all the little moments that add up in the end and I'm glad for each and every one of them I shared with my kids during my summer vacation... And since I didn't actually take any vacation time, it made me realize that these were all opportunities that had to be created, or at a minimum, seized before they slipped away. I'm glad I can say that this summer, they didn't get away...

Sometimes we need to be reminded (even subtly) to slow down and drink it all in and make the most of each and every day. I am happy to be awake to this for now, but I'm sure I will need my own reminder in time... If you're not making the most of your day, consider this your friendly reminder.

R

Back to School!

Today the boys went back to school at Silver Creek Elementary! For Connor, he is entering the third grade and is excited to take on the challenges that come with it. Our little Ryan is a big boy now and headed off to his first day of Kindergarten. Judging by the other kids in the class as they lined up to enter the building, it's apparent that RyRy is tall for his age. He may well be the tallest in his class... Better call a scout from Duke!

The boys were both excited to be heading to school and seeing all their friends after the summer break. Ryan especially will be entering a new world of exciting opportunities and relationships as he dives into his first year of full day Kindergarten.

Featured in this photo - Ryan, Connor, and Ryan friend Ella who is also starting Kindergarten today!

Road Trip 08 - Part 2

The chance to take another work related road trip came up in the middle of August so Dad and Ryan were off to California! The two left on Thursday morning and drove straight through to Orange County. While driving through Las Vegas, the thermometer touched 116 degrees!

Friday morning, Ryan and Dad loaded into the truck and stopped by the office for a quick bit of work before heading to Laguna Beach. There is no doubt that Ryan would be right at home in California - he was born to be a beach bum. Ryan took to the water like a duck although he learned to respect the waves pretty quick. Wave #3 had Ryan looking flipping and tumbling like a bowling pin! But even covered in sand and seaweed, he cracked a smile and headed straight back for more!

After a half day at the beach, Dad and Ryan hit the road south toward Carlsbad to take in Legoland! Legoland is essentially an amusement park where everything appears to be built from Legos. Apparently Legos come from Sweden, because if you drive a Volvo you get preferred parking up front. The park was great and Ryan had ball... He even went on the roller coasters and did an awesome job!

After a full day of waves and coasters, our weary travelers headed back to the office to hitch up to t a trailer of equipment bound for Colorado and grabbed some sleep at the hotel. Ryan and Dad hit the road east early in the morning. The route back home once again provided an opportunity to stop at the four corners and Ryan did a crab walk through Colorado, Arizona, the wasteland of Utah, and the scraggy rocks of New Mexico.

That night, Ryan and Dad rolled into Pagosa Springs and soaked in the hot springs until almost midnight! Ryan loved the warm pools had a ball swimming at night. The hot springs spa even played a movie outdoors so we could watch while we soaked. A good night of sleep and stack of pancakes later and Dad and Ryan were back on the road for Denver.

Ryan was absolutely wonderful and never complained about the drive. I think he would have loved to stay in California longer, but school starts on Tuesday, so it was time to get home! What a great trip!

Surprise Fiesta - Feliz Cumpleanos!

Having a few family members in town provided the perfect opportunity to surprise Grandma Judy with a early birthday celebration in advance of our family trip to Mexico! Aunt Edie and Uncle Steve came through in typical flying colors to organize and host a fantastic Mexican Fiesta!

The evening included appearances from old and new friends along with some surprise guests as well. In additional having Uncle Lenny in from Tampa, and cousin Courtney in from Lake Tahoe, we were also fortunate to be joined by Aunt Marianne and Uncle Dennis in town from Pennsylvania. Only a handful of people knew they were coming in advance, so most of us were all surprised and excited to see them. Marianne had just undergone a significant operation on her spine and she was recovering beautifully.

Uncle Mike and Aunt Tammy also dropped in to celebrate with family and wish mom a "feliz cumpleanos" (happy birthday).

Having so much family together also provided Lindsay with the perfect opportunity to announce her big news that she and Tony are expecting their first baby in February adding even more reason to celebrate!

The food, the family, the festivities were all top notch and mom could not have been more surprised. Thanks again to Aunt Edie and Uncle Steve for such a wonderful afternoon full of surprises!

happy birthday hollyn

great aunt connie visits

We were very fortunate to get to visit with our great aunt Connie this weekend. She came to visit us all the way from Arkansas. She is staying with Grandma for awhile. And since we have never met her, we thought it would be nice to spend some time to get to know her. She was a hoot to hang out with. We had live entertainment (as you can see from the photos) and games like blankie tug-o-war. We hope we didn't run you too ragged Connie. We will have to come visit you in Arkansas soon.