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It rained very, very hard all through the night. I slept pretty well. We wake up about 7:30 and it is not raining. Hopefully it stays this way. I wake up with no voice. We are drinking our coffee. I’m going to make some oatmeal. I thought I brought a 2 lb package of apple smoked bacon, and when Ken opens the package it is a pork tenderloin…so we stick it in the freezer.
After breakfast, we head to the grocery. We are going to get food for the Super Bowl. I decide to get some pork ribs. We get to Jason’s and I put them in a marinade. Ideally they should have been marinating overnight. I make a veggie tray; we have blueberries, strawberries, chips/dip, nachos, and salsa. April is at work; Jason and Justen are tired, the game doesn’t start for awhile, so we decide to take the girls to Lake Mead. Bella would love to catch some bugs or something alive. Even though the lake is very low, it is still very beautiful. The ranger told us it recently has raised 7 feet from the snows melting. We hope we can get close enough without walking through lots of mud. We arrive at a boat launch and we can park and walk down to the lake. The girls have their nets and Bella has her containers. There are ducks, a few boats. The sky is party sunny; I’m glad the rain has stopped! Bella finds some clam shells but that is about it. They enjoy walking through the water and mud. Lola calls it ‘sticky mud’. Their boots are wet, well actually their pants are wet too. Bella wants to stay; Lola wants me to go get the kayak that is on the shore but it is time to go if we want to have ribs for the Super Bowl.
I called Jason on the way back and asked him to begin grilling them. After they are seared, I put slow cook them in the oven for about 2 hours. The game is already starting and I make some nachos, get out all the snacks. Lola lasts about 5 minutes watching the game and then she says ‘come on GeeGee, let’s paint’. Jason tells her ‘no, Lola, GeeGee is watching the game.’ I say, that’s OK, I’d rather paint with Lola, which is true. Already, I think about how much I am going to miss her and even more, how much she is going to miss Bella….and all of us. Bella took a turn painting and produced many beautiful paintings. She really is talented. We finally were able to eat the ribs (they took longer than expected)….they were just OK..I think the overnight marinade is the secret. The rest of the evening is spent playing with the girls, watching a bit of the game when possible.
After the game, it’s time to go back to the RV. We all are tired, Jason has to work tomorrow and we have a long drive; should get an early start.
Justen has spent the last two nights with them. I’m sure it has been so great for him to get to know the girls and to spend time with Jason and April. He is coming back with us tonight. We say goodbye to Jason; he will already be at work when we stop by in the morning to get Bella.
Back at the RV, Ken and Justen watch a little TV; I go to bed and read for a while.

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