Many Visits

Day 13:

We started our day today with a Sunday breakfast at the KOA.  It was very pleasant, but just about the only annoying thing was that they would not open the playground or the basketball court until 9am.  I understand the purpose for this rule, because other campers could be sleeping and their quiet hours last until that time; however, it seemed a little ridiculous to have a pavilion full of people eating pancakes and bacon less than a hundred feet from a playground where none of the kids were allowed to play.

Daniel, Kimberly and Benjamin enjoying themselves as they wait for the Sunday Breakfast at the Placerville KOA

After the office opened at 9:30, we paid our registration and drove off to meet Auntie Sam and her friend, Verna.  It was a very pretty drive back into Sacramento from Placerville, and we stopped only once, at Starbucks where Rebekah learned that she loves vanilla bean frappaccinos.

Auntie Sam's friend Verna shows Daniel some special treasures at Auntie Sam's home in Citrus Heights.

Arriving at Auntie Sam's house later than we'd meant to, we talked for a little while about the family and different people, as they've affected her over the years.  She had a visitor from somewhere in the complex while we were there.  It is incredibly comforting for Jenny and I to know that Auntie Sam has friends in the area who care about her and check on her, not just the person who comes to assist her a few times a week.  Apparently, Verna comes in from Lodi once a month and several people from the neighborhood visit her periodically.

Lots of activity packed into Auntie Sam's cozy living room.

After a while, we decided it was time for lunch, so instead of going out to eat, Verna and I took Daniel to a few places and got lunch for everyone.  Then, we all met at a nearby park where we all enjoyed a picnic.  In order to get to the shady area, we had to climb a very slight incline.  That incline was just enough that it proved laborious for Auntie Sam.  I helped her up and down that hill while we were there.  The kids played at the playground; Kimberly has gotten quite good at pumping her legs on the swing.  Ben played basketball.  Just before it was time to go, we all posed for pictures.  Loading everything back up in the RV again, we were on our way.

The Snethen Seven in a picture with S. Delight Roberts, Jenny's great-aunt, her father's mother's sister.

The plan was to meet Rob and Erica at 4 o'clock at the KOA where we could play ball before we had grilled cheese sandwiches and play Munchkin in the RV.  We had to go to the Sunrise Mall, where we'd gotten our phones because Jenny's had frozen three times.  The process of replacing a phone that we'd purchased the day prior took over an hour of our valuable time in Sacramento.  By the time they'd finished, it was close to 5 o'clock and it was already getting too cold to swim.

Rob & Erica with the Snethen kids after an intense game of Munchkin.

 As it turned out, we met the two of them at McDonald's where we ate and played Munchkin while Kimberly and Daniel played at the giant indoor playground.  Rebekah and Benjamin played with us.  After we'd finished playing, we stopped outside the store to get pictures.  Then, we pulled the slide out in the McDonald's parking lot because Erica brought some homemade pear pie that she wanted to share.  After finishing the pie, we went outside to throw a football around with Rob.  Then, we said our goodbyes and drove back to the KOA in Placerville, arriving late, after all four of the children had fallen asleep.

Rob & Jonathan in the RV waiting for a pear pie.  Yum!!

Wildlife count to date:  2 moose, 21 bears, 6 rabbits, 7 deer, 6 squirrels an elk and a kitten.