By the Sea for Christmas Time

We are spending a week here in Huntington Beach, Ca. We're here to spend the Holidays with family and friends What better spot to stay than a place with an ocean view. Sunset Vista is a campground just a block away from the Pier and is only open during winter months as it is in a parking lot which is in full use during summer months at this popular beach. Though in a parking lot we still have electric and water hookups and there is a dump. There is a nice walkway/bike path right in front of the camp area and it is a short walk or bike ride down to Main Street which is always filled with people checking out the shops and restaurants We first lived in this area when we were first married. Their nickname is SURF City due to 8.5 miles of uninterrupted beaches and great waves.

Huntington Beach Pier

          On the Tuesday before Christmas we went to Norstan's potluck Christmas Party. We made a paella with chicken, sausage and shrimp which turned out pretty good. There was a lot of other good food as well. It was a nice time though Joe did end up being in a business meeting for a few hours after the party.
Christmas Eve we had our boys over for dinner Karol didn't come as that was the only time she could get together with any of her family. She spend it with her sister and niece and nephew. I did a brisket in the crock pot along with  mashed potatoes with roasted garlic and mascarpone cheese Everything came out good. We had Christmas Day at my sister and brother in law's, Kristi and Brock, house. Karol and the boys were there as well as Dad, Heather and Ryan and Ryan's dad and step mom and grandfather. We missed Kori and Nick as they spend XMAS at his family's house.  Heather and Ryan left after our early dinner as they were then going to his Mom and step Dad's. The bigger a family gets the more complication of where to go when are. We had a great dinner. Ryan had received a gift certificate from a Meat Shop and Kristi cooked up a great roast he got from there. Yummy and tender from a long slow cook in the oven. I brought a sweet potato and squash with apples and pecans casserole and banana and coconut bread and pumpkin with cream cheese filling bread. Kristi's mashed potatoes were excellent as well. Better start exercising after this week of overeating. Heather showed us her wedding pictures online which came out great.    Go to Kaylee's blog to see some of the pictures. Just scroll down to November 30th on Tangled Vine blog site to see some beautiful pictures of the lovely couple and family and friends. We also played some Wii games which is always fun.

Heather and Ryan

         Besides a couple of shopping trips including Trader Joes and a lunch out to one of our favorite spots, Native Foods, we spent the rest of our time here relaxing with some days warm enough to sit out and read and enjoy the views and great people watching. Dogs not allow on this section of the beach but we could walk Savannah on the walk way down to the Pier. They do have a dog beach about a mile down the road. The day after XMAS Chris and Michael came over to help put in a CB we bought for the motor home. We have one in the Jeep but need one installed in the MH for our Mexico trip in February. Chris did a great job. He really knows what he is doing and it looks great.

Wednesday we will head to the desert. We have reservations at Oasis Palms RV Resort in Oasis, California which is near the Salton Sea. It is close to Joshua National Park and Palm Springs and will be a great spot to do a lot of exploring in those areas.           We hope everyone had a great Holiday.