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This year has been a blast! This year has been very different from the last thirty something years before.  In an effort to reflect on an amazing year, here are my top ten memories of 2011. And a few honorable mentions.

1. Game Seven of the World Series: One minute you are mopping water in the bubble classroom. Seven hours later, you are with your brother watching the seventh game of the World Series. Yes, it can happen and it did! Game six was postponed because of rain on Wednesday to Thursday night. For baseball people this made for a shift in starting pitchers and line-up changes. For a parent it gave a slim change for a Friday night game seven. To get to a Friday night game seven the Cardinals would have to come back from two deficits to win game six. It was a miraculous series of events but David Freese made it happen. This unforgettable bucket list event made me smile, cheer and even cry! If you ever get a chance to seize the day while mopping the bubble classroom, DO IT!

2. Stupid Irene: I am not going to talk about Hurricane Irene hitting New York City when I should have been watching a Mets game. I am going to tell you about the amazing time I did had touring about NYC, watching a game at Yankee Stadium where three grand slams were hit, visiting the crown of the Statue of Liberty, joining Ann Curry in the plaza to watch Train perform and watching Wicked at the Gershwin Theater. It was such a fun trip. I almost lost Snapper when she came up from the Subway with her mouth wide open. Natives had to tell her to shut her mouth or a Subway rat would run in. The Yankee’s game started out with rain and the Yankees losing! If you ever can visit the crown of the Statue of Liberty, the park rangers treat you like royalty! Unfortunately, stupid Irene ran us off to Alabama to play golf.

3. NFA: Neil Armstrong came to Space Camp to honor Dr. Von T! What a treat for anybody. All the young people at camp that evening lined the walk way underneath the Saturn V rocket to welcome both Neil Armstrong and Dr. von T. It was an amazing testament to the work both men did for the space program. After the evening concluded people mobbed Neil Armstrong and because I had on a blue flight suit, I was lucky enough to serve as Neil Armstrong’s bodyguard. At the end of the night we all adjourned to Otter’s for a beer or three with our friend Hoot Gibson. Neil didn’t join us!

4. Jack Daniels Tour Guide: On the count of three say, WHISKEY! Yes, I was indeed a tour guide at Jack Daniels this summer. One of the best jobs in the world. Got to meet cool people and talk about whiskey. Jack Daniel started making whiskey in the 1800’s and they still make it in Lynchburg, Tennessee today just like Mr. Jack did. I was able to see many things they don’t show you about on the tours. As well as learning a few secrets. I visited the distillery about twenty times before working there. I trained by shadowing fifteen tours. As a tour guide, I gave 94 tours. From all that, I can testify that there are good tourist and there are bad tourist.

5. Picking up the Sticks: I have played golf since I was in high school. However, in recent years I have not been as faithful to the sport. This year, with the aid of my friend Snapper, I got back into golf. It all started by taking Lit’ Snap to the driving range. Then we visited Huntsville Muni followed by many more courses. Our adventures included golfing with Kitten, visiting Oxmoor Valley, a Robert Trent Jones course, and even the back yard.

6. Yellowstone Adventure: It is somewhat difficult to say something about my vacation to West Yellowstone that I haven’t already said. However, I will try. This vacation meant the world to me. I was able to spend time with my family in an almost magical place. That is correct; you don’t have to go to Disney to find magic! Spending precious time with my parents and my brother’s family was so refreshing. Our vacation out west was the most time we had spent together in years!

7. Night of the Flying Roll: NatGeo Networks contracted with the USSRC to provide an incentive trip to wine and dine a few advertising executives. Fortunately for me I was able to help the Corporate Camp Manager, Snapper and her cohorts to develop and deliver the program. It was the coolest group project I have ever had the privilege to work. A group of 26 executives trained at Aviation Challenge, at Area 51, in the Space Shuttle simulators and in the Underwater Astronaut Trainer! This project allowed me to SCUBA dive for the first time and more. The final evening the staff was invited to join our guests, NatGeo executives, astronaut Hoot Gibson and the Rocket City Rednecks (RCR) at Cotton Row in downtown Huntsville. It was the best way to cap off a successful event. The RCR crew was so funny! The best part of the evening was when a roll shot across the room breaking the red wine glass of our guests. You correct if you are thinking that, “I bet on of those rednecks tossed the roll.” Yes in deed, they threw a strike! We heard a cry… I meant to hit him… not your wine glass! I should have written a whole blog post on the evening.

8. Disney Cruise: Have you ever wanted to cruise around the Caribbean with Mickey Mouse and his gang. Well, I got the chance to do just that and see one of my best friends get married to a super swell guy! The only downside to cruising around the Caribbean with Mickey and the gang is thousands of children having emotional break downs at 8:35 each evening.

9. Reindeer Wrangler: This year for Christmas the U.S. Space & Rocket Center hosted the prelude to the Galaxy of Lights. Almost one mile of lights in addition to the previous GOL lights which started at the greatest aviation camp in the world, Aviation Challenge. AC played host to two North American Caribou… reindeer. Being a farm girl I jumped at the chance to be the official pooper scooper and reindeer wrangler. I did have some help from Spud, Snapper, Riyeasa, Ham, Matt and Marcia. Thistle and Cindy Lou will be missed when they head back to Rocky Hill Reindeer Farm.

10. Life with No Power: A year end review can’t be complete without weighing the good and the bad. The tornados hit many states including Alabama cutting the main power line which supported most of Madison County. This was a small inconvenience to me and my family, but many families it would hurt. The mighty strength of this series of tornados would be historical in scope. Space Camp completely shut down for four days. I lived in a tent in my back yard with Snapper and Boo. Chris was in Atlanta for most of the time. For me, living in a tent isn’t a bad gig. Each morning we would cook breakfast, listen to the 8:30 press conference to listen for Rusty Russell, and then enjoy our ceremonial 10:30 beer. At some point after our nap, there was scavenging for ice and then wood for the nightly fire. I am thankful to God for my families safety and for my back yard adventure.

Honorable Mentions: Playing softball on the Sprockets; visiting Yazoo Brewery in Nashville, TN; annual canoe trip with Divot and Molly’s cousin Bernie; Hoot nights; One Republic concert in Birmingham; making a gold cowbell for the Egg Bowl; making friends with Conner’s bar tenders; writing blogs.

The holidays are about visiting family and friends while celebrating the birth of little baby Jesus. Part of that celebration is eating good food. This western adventure has taken us to many restaurants and the table at Red Cedar Cabin. You know, part of traveling is finding good food along the ways! I love top ten list, so I have compiled a list of the ten very best meals my little Indian pack has enjoyed.

McDonald’s in West Yellowstone, Montana: We ate at a few McDonald’s along the way. I know that breaks the first rule of the road when it comes to food, don’t eat something you can eat in your home town. The McDonald’s in West Yellowstone was a refuge from the cold and it did have good food and friendly service. Corey and Big Daddy felt that this McDonald’s was better than other Mickey D’s. Corey said that if other McDonald’s could make a burger as good as they did in West Yellowstone, McDonald’s would make a million dollars.

Silver Dollar Grill in Jackson Hole, Wyoming: Rhett, Reece, Chris and I joined Walter, Christy and little Lucy for our first meal together out west. We were staying at the Wort Hotel in Jackson Hole. The meal was exceptional. Walter commented that the steak was one of the best he had eatten. I loved my purple Idaho potatoes with Boursin cheese, YUMMY!

Sausage, Biscuits and Eggs at the cabin in West Yellowstone: The very first morning of the trip we woke up to a breakfast cooked by Big Daddy and the kids. It was amazing. It was so unexpected and joyful to have fresh eggs and bacon without the hassle of the drive thru line. There were a few mornings when Lucy had birthday cake, but you can do that on vacation!

Mile High Pizza Pie in Jackson Hole, Wyoming: We passed Mile High Pizza Pie a few times while we shopped and visited the downtown area of Jackson Hole. Each time we passed by, the smell of this little pizzeria was AMAZING! The food didn’t disappoint! We had a bacon and onion pizza. I don’t like onions but I loved this pizza!

Frostop Drive-In in Ashton, Idaho: We didn’t actually eat here. However, if we could have stopped this morning at 6:15 for a burger and fries, we would have. It has an old Frostop mug spinning in the parking lot. It looked so fun! We will eat there if we venture back to West Yellowstone.

Chipotle in Memphis, Tennessee: This was the first Chipotle experience for Rhett and Reece. Rhett’s first food was guacamole and both boys love MEXICAN FOOD. Rhett did have trouble finishing his burrito, so he called an audible for a bowl and fork. Reece loved the hot salsa!

Spaghetti at the cabin in West Yellowstone: The spaghetti meal was special because so many people had a hand in making the spaghetti. Big Daddy and I helped to season the sauce. Christy helped at every meal. The kids helped with the noodles. It was a team effort. Everything turned out wonderful!

Chipotle in Salt Lake City, Utah: I didn’t want to go to a Chipotle again; however, the boys were given the option to pick Since they were such angles at High West Distillery. Yes, we broke the second rule of the road, don’t eat at the same restaurant during a trip. They picked Chipotle over my favorite of In-N-Out. The boys didn’t understand how a burger place could be as good as Chipotle. They have never eaten at an In-N-Out. I think I failed them as an aunt.

Deer Steak at the cabin in West Yellowstone: Each supper was special, however to eat deer harvested in Carroll County, Mississippi made it a little bit better. The deer was wonderful and we even had some of the best cream corn in the world… Sweet G90 made by Big Mama! She is a damn good cook!

Zoom in Park City, Utah: Zoom is a Sundance Resort Restaurant. Which means it was a little fancy for us. And, I am sure my order will be controversial. However, this meal was so much fun. Rhett and Reece didn’t know about the menu and I was not a good “picker” for a kid’s meal. We ended up all ordering from the main menu and sharing. Rhett had a Worcestershire Cheesesteak, Chris had a barbecue chicken sandwich, Reece had a pulled pork quesadilla, and I had a hamburger. It was so much fun and very adventurous for us!

After all this food, I am going to diet when I get back to Alabama!

Today has been a lazy day filled with packing, cleaning and Christmas cheer! Our vacation is coming to a close and we need to reflect on our visit. Inside Red Cedar Cabin is a guest book filled will stories of past guests in this cabin. Our entry is as follows, plus we had to play my favorite game, “What was your favorite thing?”

Dec 19th – 26th, 2011

The Oliver family from Winona, Mississippi visited for Christmas. We had a lovely time staying at Red Cedar Cabin. Our family includes Bobby and Shirley Oliver and their two children’s family. Walter and Christy Oliver with their three children, Rhett, Reece and Lucy. Ruth Marie Oliver and her husband Christopher Key. During the first few days we had visiting friends Corey and Will B. to show us around.

We snowmobiled, took a guided tour in Yellowstone National Park and had many wonderful meals at the table of Red Cedar. Unfortunately we didn’t see any wildlife around the cabin, other than a squirrel or two. The snowfall was not huge during our stay however, we enjoyed the weather and hope to visit again in the future.

If you are reading this book and looking for suggestions on where to rent snowmobiles or a guided tour of YNP. We suggest Backcountry Adventures and ask for Skip to be your guide. Maybe we will see you on the trails.

Favorite Things From the Oliver Family

Big Daddy loved the precious time with his family and having a wonderful western adventure.
Big Mama loved all the activities from Monday to Sunday, including the meals.
Walter enjoyed snowmobiling and Yellowstone National Park. Walt wants to return and rent the BIG snowmobilies.
Christy loved seeing all the wildlife – eagle, raven, duck, ouzel, swan, elk, buffalo, wolf, moose, big horn sheep, antelope and bear.
Rhett enjoyed his visit to Jackson Hole, WY and would suggest to anyone to visit.
Reece loved seeing the buffalo and learning how to be a mountain man!
Lucy enjoyed staying around the cabin and watching movies with family.
Chris loved seeing the mountains again, snowmobiling and being with his family.
And I loved visiting Yellowstone National Park and adventuring to the peak of Two Top.

It has been a wonderful trip to West Yellowstone. The people here are truly spectacular and wonderful host… now it is time to get my ass back home!

P.S. We did celebrate Christmas today. We will be capping the festivities off tonight by having birthday cake for baby Jesus.

One morning during this arctic adventure, our wake up call was a proud proclamation, “Elf is the BEST movie EVER!” Lucy seems to love the movie Elf! Elf is the modern Christmas classic for all children born after 1997. It has been the constant entertainment here at Mule Deer Lane.

If you know me or have traveled with me you will know my game, “What Was Your Favorite Thing”. Tonight we are playing, “What is your favorite Christmas movie”

Here are a few:

A Christmas Story
Elf
Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer
The Night They Saved Christmas
It’s a Wonderful Life
Christmas Vacation
Miracle on 34th Street
Serendipity
Die Hard – I am sure some people will be scratching their heads… But this is definitely a Christmas movie!!!

You probably have your own favorite. Please do share!

This morning I woke up at seven o’clock. I could hear the family stirring downstairs making breakfast. There was not any set timeline for the day. We didn’t have to be anywhere or do anything in particular. I am not even sure what we had for breakfast. All I know is the day did start and it was another wonderful day!

Walt, Reece, Rhett, Chris and I ventured out on the snowmobiles. We had fun just as always zipping up and down the snow covered mountainside. We discovered a nice play area in a valley. Walt and Reece flipped over once, I fell off my snowmobile and Chris and Rhett tumbled as well. We left the area to head back home as Walt proclaimed this area was bad luck. Little did he know at the time, I had lost my phone and camera.

As we crossed over the highway, I looked in my pocket for my camera so that I could take a photo. I discovered a pocket full of snow where my Canon PowerShot and iPhone had been tucked safely. Oh NO! I didn’t want to lose either electronic device. However, if one had to leave me, I would pick my iPhone. You see, me and the camera had already had a near electronic death experience at Slide Rock in northern Arizona (see Rice Works: Arizona 4.1). I couldn’t imagine losing my little black camera. Luckily, neither would be claimed by the snow. In a miraculous search and rescue mission in below zero temperatures and through a foot of snow, Walt saved the electronic devices.

That was my excitement for the day. In an electronic world you can lose your iPhone and camera. How would I check into Foursquare? Today was supposed to be a chill day. See, I don’t know how to chill. I always want to do something. I need to be busy or adventurous. I set a goal of writing a blog post each day, and today I have felt un-inspired to write; which is why you had to learn about my stupid camera and iPhone. A friend sent me a nice text commenting on my photos and blog post. I responded with, I have better photos, but I am just too lazy to post. I think that is what vacation is all about.

Vacation is about forgetting the crap in everyday life. Vacation is about reconnecting with the people you love the most – your family. Vacation is about forgetting what day it is or intentionally losing your smart phone. Most of all, vacation is about making memories with family and friends. I have been lucky this year to have some amazing vacations. I don’t have anything to complain about. Thank you Anderson and Tim for getting married on a Disney cruise. Stupid Irene didn’t get in the way of a great few days in NYC with Snapper! This winter wonderland was a great way to end the year.

Yes, that is a popular Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. But today it means the obvious, moose tracks. This morning I woke up to a large ruckus outside my room. Rhett, Reece, and Lucy were playing loudly at 6:32 am Mountain Standard Time. The goal for today was snowmobiling. The early start was to get the sleds from West Yellowstone and back to the cabin so we could explore the great outdoors around our cabin. The first group left for the snowmobile dealer promptly at 7:15, upon return they reported the siting of moose, BIG MOOSE!

Once we all arrived back with six snowmobiles and all the snow gear needed to live in the North Pole, we hit the trails. This might have been the biggest mistake of the day. We just hit the trail. It was like Scarlet O’Hara saying, “I will think about that tomorrow!”  We were like kids on the first snow fall of the winter in Mississippi in ten years. We hit the trail with Rhett, Reece, Lucy, Big Daddy, Walt, Christy, Corey G., Will B., Chris and me. We drove up and down the trails. I flipped the snowmobile twice. Much better than my ski slope record.

The scenery was magnificent. I have said it before, it is a winter wonderland, a place where you know there is a God and he is a mighty God. The best thing about all of this is my family is right here with me. Still, we did leave Big Momma at the house playing Bejeweled but it was all good. As we were zipping up and down the trails, the little kids switched back and forth from snowmobile to snowmobile. Lucy and Reece rode with me most of the day. There was a time I was solo. I am thankful for our guides, Corey and Will B. They led us to a lodge in the middle of nowhere. It was only accessible by snowmobiles and dogsleds. By the way, we did see dogsleds and that would be the only thing cooler than snowmobiling.

We will call the place we stopped “Henry’s Meadow Creek Lodge”. Imagine a biker joint in the middle of the snow, with a gray haired man cooking hamburgers and greasy spoon gourmet food such as a hot burger. A hot burger consisted of a hamburger patty on buttery toast with brown gravy all over it. I felt like I was at Airport Grocery in 1997. I will never find the place again. But Guy Fieri should find this place and put it on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. My bacon cheese burger was good!!

After we left Henry’s, we visited Big Spring, a hot spring in Idaho. There were mallard ducks swimming in the spring and moose droppings all around the edge. I know it was moose dropping because I read the book, “Who Pooped in the Park”. Just after we left Big Spring we got lost, really lost. But we saw another moose. Seeing moose makes everything better. We thought that we would be back at the cabin by 2:00 pm, however it was more like 4:00 pm. Somewhere in between two o’clock and four o’clock Lucy passed out. She was like a limp and lifeless sack of noodles, poor girl.

The day did end. It ended with a fantastic spaghetti dinner in the Red Cedar cabin. Life is good. Want to know how I know? I don’t know the day of the week. It is a great day. Even if there is still ruckus going on behind me.

So this morning we woke up under sunny skies in Jackson, Wyoming. The plan for the day was to visit the National Elk Refuge for a sleigh ride and see the elk herd up close and personal. The boys wanted to take their rifles, but that would have been a bad idea.

Next year the National Elk Refuge will celebrate its 100th anniversary of protecting the elk herd during the winter months. The Refuge was started to help feed the elk during the winter months. Once Jackson was settled, there was too much competition between ranchers and the elk for the grass or feed in the area. Our guide told us a story of elk pushing down fences to get at farmers’ hay before the refuge was built. Ninety-nine years after the National Elk Refuge was started, I can report the elk are doing well. We saw over forty elk.

After the sleigh ride we invaded Jackson’s city center for some hard core shopping. Reece (a.k.a. Ragging Bull) wanted a cowboy hat, boots, spurs, chaps and a colt revolver. Well, that might be a little exaggerated. Reece did however pick out a cute cowboy hat. Rhett and Lucy cowboyed up with winter weather gear and a Cowboy Joe t-shirt. I, however, found the love of my life… a new back pack for both major and minor adventures.  After shopping, all cowboys headed home.

Home for the week is just outside of West Yellowstone, Montana, in a cozy cedar cottage. We have plenty of room and a Christmas tree. Amazingly, we all made it to the same location by three different routes. Walt, Christy and Lucy drove cross county through eight states. My mom and dad flew from Memphis, Tennessee to Portland, Oregon and then drove to Montana. Finally, my team flew from Memphis to Salt Lake City then drove to meet the gang. No matter how we arrived at the final destination, we agree on the splendid Christmas Vacation that is in store for us. No pre-wrapped kittens or jello molds! No cousin Eddie dumping his RV’s septic tank into the street side drain! No flaming toupee or crazy renditions of the National Anthem. It is just my family in the middle of a snowy world. WOW! I am so excited.

To top all of the glorious site seeing, we had salmon croquettes, soupy rice and biscuits for dinner. To top that off, Walt, Reece, Rhett, Chris and I are in the middle of a heated Monopoly game… winner to be decided. To top all that off, we are just getting started.

Yes, I summoned spirit of Arctic Puffin for my title. However, I have never seen such a winter wonderland before today. Driving through Utah, Wyoming and Idaho was simply magnificent. Only the hand of God could create the beauty of our surroundings. I can’t wait for the rest of the week!!!

To the point, I am on vacation and that is the perfect time to write. Over the last 36 hours Christopher and I have escorted Rhett and Reese Oliver half way across the country to Jackson, Wyoming. We picked the boys up in Carroll County, Mississippi yesterday. We drove to Memphis, Tennessee to stay the night and eat Chipotle. There is no trip complete until there is a stop at Chipotle. This morning we flew from Memphis to Salt Lake City, Utah.

The drive from Salt Lake City was long and sometimes daunting when looking for an outhouse along the way, but it was the most amazing adventure. We stopped on the side of the road to play in the snow. We saw elk, big horn sheep, mule deer and moosalo. Don’t know what a moosalo is? We couldn’t identify a creature that looked like a moose and kinda like a buffalo. We called them moosalo.

After joining Walter, Christy and Lucy in Jackson this afternoon, we ate dinner in the Silver Dollar Grill, named so because there are 2,032 uncirculated 1921 Morgan Silver Dollars inlayed in the bar top. If the U.S. is ever in need of silver, they can visit Jackson, Wyoming. It was fun eating with the family. However, this place is cold! After walking the kids around the town, I had to visit the Silver Dollar Bar. Funny thing, I met someone who knew a lot about whiskey and bourbon. I have always wanted to walk into a cowboy bar and ask for a whiskey. Tonight I got the chance.

Tomorrow we are going to visit the wildlife refuge and drive to West Yellowstone. There we will join my mom and dad for the remainder of our Christmas Vacation. Baby, It is Cold Out Side!