Fort Collins, CO

The next destination on the Joneserbeek family caravan adventure was Fort Collins, Colorado.
Fort Collins is an hour north of Denver and was one of the greenest, friendliest places I have ever been.

Here are some of our Colorado adventures...

Where to next?

Shortly after returning from Dubai, Kenny left for Colorado and his new job out there. I stayed back and spent time with my family in Windsor while he got us settled in our newest home.

Here are a couple of snaps of him in Grand Junction, CO.

Well not this one...
This is a prairie dog.

Welcome to Colorado National Monument!
This national park is located in Fruita just outside Grand Junction, CO.

Kenny went to see the sheer-walled canyons, towering monoliths, colorful formations, desert bighorn sheep, perhaps a soaring eagle and a spectacular road reflecting the environment and history of the plateau-and-canyon country.
(Yes, I got that out of the visitor guide online)

The Colorado National Monument is 32 square miles wide...
But Kenny's hike was considerably shorter than that.
Here is the rock formation they named the park after.
This is Skye. Kenny's hiking partner and pal from the radio station.

Take a couple steps back, a little further, just a little more...

Hey! There's our house...
Yeah, right there...
What do you mean you can't see it...
What are you blind?
It's right there,
Oh forget it!

Now it's time to hit the links...

This is Redlands Mesa Golf Club

And this is Jeff Korn from the morning show.


Here is an example of the extremes of Colorado...
One side of the mountains.

And this is 30 minutes later at the top!

Very pretty if you're a penguin.
And this was May!

Grand Junction, a short stay but lasting experience...

I didn't get that from the online tour guide but, it would make a good postcard slogan don't you think?

Visit with the Canucks

On the other side of the Detroit River, Erica spent some time with her Canadian counterparts.

The weather had turned warm enough to head outdoors (YEAH!!! About time!) so Dana and Jody brought the kids by for some well needed out of doors activities.

Can't have a party without some treats!

Here's Willie Jo Double O with his popsicle...

Hanging out with the girls

The whole gang
Notice Parker's popsicle is already gone... he made quick work of it!
The other kids didn't even have the wrappers off of theirs and his had disappeared!

Yummy... creamsicle

Blue's my favorite too Avery!

Mom and I made aprons for Parker and Brookes' birthday party for all the kids they had invited.
The girls were the premier models for the Sew Personal kids apron launch (in the backyard, in their rubber boots!) High fashion hits the backyards of Windsor!

We found out how happy they were about the pay we offered our top models

Is it true if you get hit in the back of the head while you do this, your face stays this way?

That's crazy talk!

Dana and I catching some much needed rays of sunshine.

Dana keeping a close watch on the kids,
that is if she can see over that belly!

4 kids running amok, 2 Moms chasing after them, 2 grandparents giving the kids whatever they want, and an aunt thinking that she can wait a little longer for kids of her own!
A huge thank you to the O'Neils and the Josephs for visiting me at the Millson household.

Visit with the Joneses

After our rapid departure from Dubai, we traveled back across the pond and spent some time with the fam...

Surprising Crystal and the girls!

Don't let this picture fool you...
they speak, see and hear evil... and like it!

smile for the camera

Kodak Jones moment

Kenny and his Ohio Peeps

Thanks for taking us in for a few days. We loved the treats, the games and the chance to catch up with the Jones family.

Our Last Days in Dubai (or so we thought!)

In March we thought our days in Dubai were numbered.

So while we waited to settle up with the radio station and sell all of our furniture we spent some time enjoying the sunshine on the Dubizzle beaches

While Burtie was at home helping with the packing!

Ravi did her fair share to help as well.

Burtie was ready to go before we even were!

I wanted a few more hours in the sun...

and Kenny didn't mind using our beach chairs one last time.

But.... WE'RE BACK!!!!

A Night in Global Village

During the winter months in Dubai Global Village is open. It is crossed between the fair, epcot center and the flea market.

When you go in you are surrounded by different buildings. Each representing different countries around the world. Inside there is shopping, food and sometimes entertainment from each of these different countries.
Most of the things you can buy are things that are better left there! Tacky souvenirs, cheapo things that will most likely be broken before you get to your car sort of stuff.

Kenny was not all that happy with the experience of being crammed in a small aisle surrounded by people clawing at each other for cheap knock off purses. I weaseled my way through like my mother demonstrated for me many a time at huge fabricland sales and we made it out almost in one piece on the other side of the building.

After vowing not to go into any more of the "shops" we ventured out into more open spaces.

We were 10's of 1000's of miles from home and you would still think you were at the Freedom Festival in Windsor or the Fulton County State Fair in Ohio to see the rides.

EXCEPT FOR ONE MAJOR DIFFERENCE...

To ride the rides you had to stand in line (no different than home)
with your own gender.

That's right. All the girls stand with the girls, all the guys stand together in the next line.
When they load the rides up, they take turns loading girls than guys.
One line is covered all in black and the other all in white.
There is a pile of sandals at the entrance of each ride (especially the ones where your feet dangle) and a mad rush to find your pair when you're all done getting twisted and turned in not natural ways.

Relived to be out of the china pavilion

"Look I have enough room to spread my arms out!"

Our standard self portrait

"I'm the only blond in the Village"

The locals trying their hand at American Football type midway games
and Kenny not giving them much moral support!

Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey Ladies...

All the fellas in the house

Arabic Drivers Education

It's really not that much different than driving for real here.

It was a multicultural night and we had a great time (except for the crazed shoppers in the china building).
Will we go back this year... that is yet to be decided!