We decided to have an early Christmas with the kids so that Erika and Justin wouldn’t have to fit time with us in on their very busy Christmas Day. Having an early Christmas actually had unexpected advantages. It allowed us to have one-on-one time with them that was not rushed. Nor were Isaac and Mona tired from having been with so various relatives throughout the day, or overwhelmed with presents.
We left on Dec 19 for the Palm Springs Thousand Trails which is actually in Palm Desert. My dear friend, Jo Richardson, happens to be a hairdresser, and cut my hair for me before we left for the winter. LOVED it!
Janet & Bob Bockus , who we met this summer at Pio Pico TT decided to meet us for Christmas in Palm Springs. So they drove up from Yuma and were already there. We found a great site that was close to them and the pool. We played quite a bit of cornhole. Bob is totally addicted to that game. Don & Jo Richardson were planning to come for New Year’s, but both got sick and had to cancel.
Relaxin together outside Vinny with our propane fire pit. 
ROADRUNNER near our campsite! 
Good firends!
We got involved almost immediately with the super fun water volleyball that occurs daily Monday through Friday from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm. at this Thousand Trails pool. Lou & Rita head it up each day and ensure that everyone at the pool is invited to play no matter how many they already have! There were definite “regulars” and we became regulars for our two week stay. Everyone was so friendly. We laughed so much! No one was super serious or made anyone feel badly if they missed the ball or sent it out of bounds. The rules were laxed in that there was no limit to the number of hits for a side to get the ball over the net. You could even hit the ball multiple times yourself! This actually made it much more fun!! We laughed hysterically either trying desperately to get the ball to finally go over, or from being entertained watching the other team hit the ball over and over!
I played so much water volleyball –especially when I was in the deeper end three days in a row with my hands just above the water, and facing the sun, that I got a severe sunburn between my pinkie, ring finger and middle finger on my left hand. I couldn’t even wear my wedding ring for about a month afterwards! How bizarre, right?!?
This was after 2 1/2 weeks!
Dec 22: Today we joined Janet & Bob at the College of the Desert Street Fair. It was huge! I thoroughly enjoyed it, but Janet and Bob were expecting it to be a flea market instead. I bought a set of peelers. OMG LOVE THEM!!! I think you can find ones like this at Bed Bath & Beyond! Highly recommend!
Left to right: 1) “regular” peeler, but works BOTH directions; 2) Cheese slicer or peel butternut squash or jicama, 3) julienne.