Mike's place answers to Mandy's questions

If both Ralph and Andy can't make it to our place, then perhaps our place isn't the best choice. I won't be too upset if it doesn't work to come here, but if it's an open discussion, here are my answers to Mandy's questions:

Housing: We have 3 unused bedrooms, and room on floors and couches that could house a number of people. We haven't asked yet, but we are pretty sure that either our next door neighbors would let some people stay in their basement or Holley Lucero will also let people stay in her house. The weather here is conducive to children sleeping outside, too, if they are so inclined.

Things to do:

1. Focus on the Family is about 15 minutes away from here. It would be a good part day activity.

2. Garden of the Gods is about 20 minutes away and is good for a couple of hours.

3. There is a good park within walking distance that has basketball courts, soccer fields, a merry-go-round, swings, and ... play things.

4. There is a crazy park about 25 minutes away that has lots of spinning play things to make you sick...

5. The US Olympic Training Center is about 25 minutes away. We haven't been there, but it looks interesting.

6. I guess you could just look at this.

7. In addition to what we can do here, Denver is only about an hour North, and there's all kinds of things that we can do--Including Casa Bonitas (remember that place?) and a natural history museum that is free for military people (that's all we've done up there, though there's certainly more).

Tentative Family Reunion Plans

So, after lobbying everyone (except Ralph--I haven't talked with him yet...I'll call you or you can call me...), it looks like everyone would be okay coming out to my place for a family reunion this summer. It looks like the best time frame would be sometime between 27 Jun (Wednesday) and 4 July (Wednesday). Jason has class on 26 Jun and Jessica has class on 5 July. Andy doesn't want to take leave on those days that he doesn't have to work anyway (which I understand). How would everyone feel if we aimed for a few days that we all want to be here, say 27 Jun to 30 Jun (Wednesday through Saturday), and then say everyone is welcome to come earlier or stay later than that as their schedules dictate. That way, if Andy wants to make the trip worth his drive, but not cut into his non-leaving-consuming-non-work-days, he could come around the 25 and leave 1 July, while the Crowl family could come 27 Jun and leave 3 July. Those are just examples.

I propose that everyone consider what I've suggested and say when you think you'd like to come and when you'd like to leave (that way we can see when we'll have everyone together and how long we'll have company here). If you could log into blogger and enter your plans right below mine instead of commenting, that would make it easier to consider. If you can't, just make a comment and I'll add it to the post.

Mom & Dad:

Ralph: Our life is completely on hold right now. If we are still training we might be able to take a short trip. If we have a store all bets are off and we won't have any time off for a long time. So whatever the plan is we won't be able to commit until we are extremely close. Sorry we can't be more certain, but that is our life right now.

Mandy: Haven't checked Mike's schedule yet, but I have to be here for girls camp 6/26-6/29... so we'd be there after that. Could possibly come on the 30 at the earliest. I guess that messes every thing up, sorry!

Jess: It appears to be slightly more expensive to fly into Seattle (looking today).  If I had to buy tickets right now I would save $350 by going to Denver instead of Seattle.  But to fly into Colorado Springs it would be about the same as Seattle.  Either place we are looking at $1500-2000 in plane tickets.  We would be interested in borrowing a car either place we went (we could rent one, but that would really add to the trip expense). Also, having a place to stay is much more appealing knowing that flying out is going to cost an arm and a leg!  Otherwise we are excited at the thought of getting together and will go whenever everyone else is!

Mike: We'll be here the whole time. If people are here for much more than a week, I'll probably go into work for part-days beyond the week--but we'll see.

Andy: If we all come to Washington, Ralph, Laura, Rebecca, Steven, and Sarah will have a better chance of spending at least some time with everyone whatever is going on with their new store. Laura and I have been discussing a trip to Argentina, and we're not sure we'll be willing to spend the money to go anywhere else this year. Of course we might try Space A travel... In conclusion: Come here and visit us!

Family Reunion

Hey all,

Do we want to have a reunion this year? Mike's family is starting to talk about dates for this summer. If we want to get together, which we would love to do, then we need to start talking dates. As of this moment we have no plans. Our school is out before memorial day and starts up again the last week of August.

What say you???