"Is it the Grandpa that ropes us?"

One of the best things about living in Southern Arizona is our proximity to my parents. After stints in Moscow and Boise Idaho, and Chicago Illinois - we are finally in a place where it doesn't take us days, or airplanes tickets to visit my parents. Our kids are fortunate enough to have great relationships with both sets of grandparents, and visit or are visited by them multiple times per year. Somehow they still haven't mastered the 'Grandma and Grandpa Lathen', vs. 'Grandma and Grandpa Cluff' official titles yet, opting for the more kid friendly 'The one with horses' (Lathens), or 'The one that ropes us' (Cluff's) instead.

Growing up in Mexico, we lived right next to a river. Whenever there were heavy rains, the river would flood and bring with it hundreds of logs and branches of driftwood. One of the Mexican traditions in our town was to stand on the bridge over the river and rope the logs or branches as they floated by and bring them up for firewood. Most people did this out of necessity... my Dad did it for the challenge and sport. And in all honesty (as honest as a kids memory can be when he thinks his Dad is WAY better than Superman) he was always the best roper on the bridge.

Flash forward to 2007, and the bridge has become the backyard, or front yard, or family room, or living room, etc... and the logs and branches have become Grandkids. Over Thanksgiving, it was great to see that my Dad hasn't lost his touch! He can rope those Grandkids just as easily as he pulled those logs from the river, and I think he loves it even more. He laughs and giggles the whole time as his Grandkids run around trying to get away from him, but secretly hoping he'll rope them.

Now before anyone turns us into Child Protective Services, he uses this Fat, Soft, Nylon rope that doesn't hurt, or leave marks... but, if you feel the need to turn us in for standing on a narrow cement bridge over a fast rushing river in the rain, roping logs that weighed more then we did, well feel free - I wouldn't change it for the world, and plus, we were in Mexico... there's probably some statute of limitations/bribe loophole that could get us out of any trouble anyway!

Thanksgiving was wonderful this year. We loved being at my parents, and Mom made an Awesome Thanksgiving Dinner! The entire weekend was fun and relaxing. We had fun pretending we were sledding in the snow on the sand dunes at White Sands. We got a lot of shopping done. We watched lots of football and basketball. And my favorite... Golf with my Dad and Brother. Of all the golf I've played in my life, my favorite rounds have ALWAYS been with my Dad and Brother. We missed the rest of the family, but sounds like everyone had a great day regardless of who they were with, or where they were.

I'm grateful this Holiday Season to have been born into this wonderful family! I'm equally grateful to have married into such a wonderful family! The quote Camille has on the Heading of her Blog says it all "The greatest joys of life are experienced in happy family relationships". My greatest joys in life have always been a product of fun family get togethers and activities. Even when I traveled to exotic locations for work, it would always be a bitter/sweet experience. Looking at the scenery, or visiting some famous site, I would always think "man I wish my family could be here to see this..."

Thanks for everything! You guys are AWESOME!!!

Oh and Dad... Take heart - you used to be the 'Grandpa with no hair?" so, in my mind... 'The Grandpa that ropes us' is a pretty significant improvement... right?