2010 Holidays

There it is again...Christmas. We had to try out my new camera, a Canon Powershot A3100 IS. We spent the Holidays with Glen's family in Chandler. We stayed overnight at the Hyatt Place in Gilbert.

Hiking in Sedona

We took Luca on a short hike up the Bell Rock near Sedona.

Luca's weekend visit



In front of the largest Christmas tree in Arizona

 We picked up Luca at the Anthem, AZ outlet mall where Rachel dropped him off on her way to Las Vegas. Luca got a chance to visit  Santaclaus and use the outdoor playground at nice temperatures in the seventies, blue skies, and sunny.


 

Thanksgiving 2010

     

Glen, Rachel, Alexis and Luca joined us for our Thanksgiving dinner in Cottonwood.

 

Some fun along the Verde River to digest the turkey dinner!

Luca throwing strikes...almost

Rachel and Elfriede

Glen and Rachel

Thomas and Tami

 Our son Thomas and his friend Tami visited us from Sacramento, California. We all enjoyed a round of bowling, a tour of Sedona and Oldtown Cottonwood.

At our home, a royal breakfast

 Bowling at the Cliffcastle Casino in Camp Verde

 
Sinfonietta Concert in Sedona

Visiting the Chandler gang..

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Glen and Rachel's backyard,
with Luca and Alexis





Rachel, Elfriede. Glen
Luca and Alexis



Trip to Colorado

Places we ate:
The Outlaw Restaurant,  nice Filet Mignon and Lamb Chops

Billy Goat Biergarten , lunch, Bratwurst, Spätzle, etc

the Creekside Cafe ,we had dinner at the KOA camp graound,

Kate's Place in Ridgway, Breakfast on our way home on the 14th

Trip to Colorado

Here are some pictures from the area around Ouray.

Balcony of Box Canyon Lodge

Beaumont Hotel

Hiking up to the Box Canyon Fall

At the Hot Springs Pool

Hot Tubs at the Lodge

Lower Cascade Fall

Trip to Colorado

Continued on from Cortez toward Ouray, first on CO-145 through Dolores, Stoner, Rico, past Telluride, to Placerville, then on CO-62 to Ridgway. It was raining on and off so travel was slow. In Ridgway we stopped at the "True Grit Cafe" for lunch. I guess we pick a bad time because ther was a long wait fiirst to be seated, the more waiting to order and to get our food. The cafe got its name from the movie True Grit with John Wayne. In the park in front of the cafe was the location for the hanging scene.



After lunch continued on CO-62 toward Ouray, where we checked into the Box Canyon Lodge. We got a nice upstairs room with a view of the mountains and close to the four hot tubs. The tubs are fed by natural hot springs.

Trip to Colorado

Left home and headed toward Cortez, Colorado. On the way, on Highway 89, we stopped at Cameron, AZ to check out the Trading Post. It includes a lodge and a restaurant where we had lunch. Arrived in in Cortez and checked into the Best Western Turquoise. For dinner we checked out Koko Bar and Grill where had a pleasant time and good food out on the patio.

Ye Olde Cornfest in Camp Verde

Today we checked out the Corn Fest in Camp Verde, about 16 miles from Cottonwood. It was a warm summer evening, it just didn't want to cool down.

We enjoyed Hamburgers, grilled Corn, and Ice Cream for desert. Sorry...no beer or wine...

Corn cob eating contest for the kids.

Trip to Chandler

We combined our car service (Sanderson on Bell Road) with stop at the German butcher store on Indian School Road, and off to Chandler for a visit with Glen, Alexis, and Luca (Rachel was away). We took them swimming at the Hamilton High School pool. This the best activity when the temperature is over 100 degrees.

Here they are having some ice cream

Father's Day visit

Glen and Luca came to visit us and stayed overnight. We took Luca to our new Recreation Center where he had some fun in the water

Our trip to the Canyon de Chelly, near Chinle, AZ in the northeastern part of Arizona, located within the Navajo Reservation.

Cottonwood Rcreation Center

Today was the grand opening of our Recreation Center. We already swam a few laps in the morning.

City and Rec Cnter Offials

Here are some pictures of the inside:

Afternoon with the Sinfonietta

Today we enjoyed a concert by the Verde Valley Sinfonietta, presented in Sedona.

One of the highlights was the performance of 15 year old piano soloist Anna Han, with her rendition of the Piano Concerto in A minor, Opus 54, by Robert Schumann. Also impressive was the Symphony No.8 in F Major, opus 93, by Ludwig van Beethoven.
You can listen to Anna Han from the NPR program in 2008 (4min to 11 min)

Easter

We spent Easter Sunday with Glen and family. First we had a nice Sunday brunch at the IHOP in Gilbert, AZ
Then it was egg coloring time, followed by a visit from the "Easter Bunny". Alexis and Luca were all excited about finding all the eggs. Trip the dog managed to devour some before that.