Merry Christmas from the Simanek Family 2022

Well we made it through a pandemic and in January Larry and I got COVID. We missed 5 days of work and spent a lot of time outside getting vitamin D from our sunny California weather. We both had very mild symptoms. On a positive note, Sierra and Tim became first time Padres “Season Ticket Holders”, and couldn’t wait for the baseball season to start. Sierra, still with the news station KUSI, was able to go out and preview some cool events like Monster Jam and Supercross, making some super cool videos.

In February Sierra and Tim went to Joshua Tree for a little “unplugged” (meaning no phones) trip! Our nephew Josh visited us in San Diego to announce that he and his beautiful fiance Bailey had eloped, cheers to the happy couple! Luke started working on the back patio again, we used to have stairs to a jacuzzi. Now it is a super cool bar and outdoor cooking area.

In March Luke turned 20, we had a glow in the dark, black light bunco birthday party. Black visqueen, black lights, disco ball and other psychedelic light colors. Everyone wore white shirts and we drew on our faces and arms with highlighters. (it glows in the dark) It was a lot of work, but it turned out awesome. Sierra went to her first metal concert with Tim after seeing the band Dragon Force. She said it was “wicked.” Larry , Luke and Chris (his buddy) and Larry went to see Garth Brooks at the Petco Field. I didn't want to go because of the rain and cold.

April 2022 will go down in family history as we received an amazing gift, awesome tickets to Country Thunder,AZ. Country Thunder is a 4 day music festival in Florence, Arizona. A big thanks to Clarence and Ellen Gloe, for making a phone call to a good friend. The whole family went plus Luke’s buddy Chris. I was amazing, as I was the rock star driver. I drove everyday, there and back to Mesa - it was an hour plus drive. We left Mesa around 11:30 AM and got to the festival around 12:30 PM and went home between midnight and 3:00am. And then did it all again, for 4 days in a row. Luke had his picture taken with Phill Vasser cause he was wearing a shirt that read “Cougar Bait ''. Sierra was backstage and got a picture with Blanco Brown and Michael Ray. I am now a super fan of Randy Houser. We got to see Blake Shelton and Gwen Stephanie sing together. We saw Morgan Wallen and Florida Georgia Line as well. Sierra and Luke also entered a line dance competition. Larry and I really enjoyed watching the kids dance and have fun. It was a long weekend full of alot of fun! Larry tried his luck at turkey hunting again, this time he actually saw a shootable bird. But it spotted him before Larry could get a shot off. By the end ofApril the outdoor bar area was in progress again. The gazebo was up and Luke started working on the pavers. April was the start of baseball season. Sierra and Tim were off to the ballpark to watch “Slam Diego'' as ticket holders, just like her Pappy! The family also went to the Lakeside Rodeo and had a blast.

In May our close friends Tamara and Paul Cosner, hosted a beautiful wedding for their daughter Nicole to husband Alex Neigh. It was a beautiful wedding and it was great to catch up with many old friends. My sister Lisa, brother Bill and friend Tamara spent a weekend at Sycuan casino, lounging in the lazy river. It was a fun time. We got to dance and visit and make some memories. Sierra and Luke started going to these things called “Gimme Gimme Disco” at the House of Blues in Downtown, where they dress up and dance to Abba/Disco music all night. Sierra and Tim took a trip up to Napa Valley for a Music Festival called Bottlerock. They got to drink a lot of wine and listen to artists like Metallica, Greta Van Fleet, and Luke Combs. Larry and Luke made a trip out to Prescott Valley to help Nani and Gunka move into their new house. They stayed several days to help unpack boxes, move furniture, and hang decorations. The house has a beautiful view out back, it looks over a prairie where the cows hang out.

In June Larry and I celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary. Thinking that we may renew our vows for our 30th! Sierra, Kassie (Sierra’s friend) and Larry went to see country artist Chris Sapleton, and he was in fact as “smooth as Tennessee Whiskey”. Luke also went to the concert with his girlfriend Olivia.

July was a busy month ( I am off the entire month) Larry and I went camping at San Elijo State Beach. It is different not having the kids with us. Luke came down for a few days and did a lot of fishing with Larry. Luke caught some big fish that we kept and ate. Sierra also spent some time with us after work. Our favorite daughter flew the coop in July and now lives in Santee. She is so beautiful and responsible, forever my baby she’ll be. Larry and our good friends Jeff and Tina came out to visit from Washington. Larry, Jeff and Tina did the annual tuna fishing trip. The only successful one was Tina with a nice size Bluefin tuna. Then we spent a couple of days at Sycuan for some lazy river and gambling. We went to Tina’s favorite place, Old Town where she went crazy buying clothes for her grandchildren. At the same time our nephew Joey was in town. Luke and Sierra met Joey and his friend David at Disneyland. I had won the tickets in a pop warner raffle. The next day Joey and David came to San Diego to have a raclette dinner with our crazy family. Ending the month, Sierra got COVID and was out of work for 10 days.

Yacht Rock was the music of choice in August. We spent a weekend camping at Pala Casino to see Yachtley Crew with few friends. Very fun weekend danced all night long. If you haven't heard of Yacht Rock check it out. Sierra turned 23 on August 26th. A friend of Larrys from the Navy, John Nuebert, asked if we wanted tickets to Motley Crew, Def Lepord, Poison and Joan jet. We had tickets 3 years ago, after COVID and no concert on site we returned our tickets. We said yes please, and as a birthday gift, we gave the tickets to Sierra and she invited Luke. They had a great time. Thank you again to the Neuberts! August was filled with Sunday House of Dragons watch parties and my brother Bill’s house, with his kids. We got to spend some quality time with Riley, Jolene and my brother. In celebration of Larry’s brother Lance’s 50th Birthday Larry and family friend Tamra drove to his parents house in Prescott Valley to see Lance and his girlfriend Chloe. While he was there they went dancing, hiking, and played cards. I had to work, so for Lance's 50th birthday I sent a Creme De Mint cake to Prescott with Larry. Yes the cake made it there without Larry eating it all. The end of August and beginning of September is football season and Sierra stepped up her game and started working additional hours covering San Diego local High School football, on top of her regular 40 hour week job.

In September Luke started in his Junior year at San Diego State University. Hiis math, calculus three, is like a foreign language. He is a very diligent student. Luke and Larry managed to get out to Imperial Valley for the 1st Dove season. They got 20 doves. This is a first and a great day for them. They have never come home early with that many dove. Luke danced his heart out all year, learning new line dances and practicing new dance moves on his sister and I. It seemed he had a place every night of the week to go dancing. Sierra began working the Alarm Clock Pep Rally #rallywithallie. She also got to go to a couple concerts this month: Boots in the Park - Tim McGraw, Morgan Wallen and Hardy, and Pitbull.

In October Sierra hit her 1 year mark working for KUSI news. She started at the media desk and is now a Photojournalist/Editor going live with KUSI’s Allie Wagner every day. She does have to get up super early, but she gets to go to cool places. A few favorites: Climbing to the top of a roller coaster at SeaWorld. She was in her glory covering the Padres when they were in the playoffs for the world series. She even got to go up to Dodger Stadium to cover the game. One thing is certain that she is not stuck behind a desk and I think she likes that. Luke started a new part time job at Sportsman warehouse. It isn’t his dream job but it pays for his gas.

Larry entered a Trout fishing tournament at Big Bear Lake. Our good friends D’Angelo’s have a cabin up there and we were invited to stay with them and the Millums. Larry convinced Lenny D’Angelo to enter the tournament fish with him, haha Lenny got more than he bargained for up at 4:00am and fishing to 3:00pm. Larry takes his fishing seriously, but didnt win anything he 2 trout and Lenny caught 1 trout.

Also, in October our friends Paul and Tamara had another milestone event. Their heating and air conditioning business PAC had its 25th anniversary. To celebrate the whole family got to go to a special celebration for PAC. Finishing off the month we traveled to Mesa Arizona to see Larry and Linda and our “sister Tamra”- who also lives at Viewpoint. To attend the costume party/ Halloween dance. Larry and I danced all night on a giant dance floor. It was a lot of fun. Halloween was spent at John and Toni Nuberts house with a chili potluck and giving out candy to the neighborhood kids. Sierra got to go to her first Oktoberfest, where she actually was able to have a beer. Larry turned 53 and we ate cake and went to Shogun. The family got to go to another concert to see Randy Houser again (I was super excited) and Cody Johnson was pretty good too.

November Marked our 2nd annual Lake Cuyamaca camping trip. The Neuberts rented a cabin Larry and I took the RV. It was a super cold weekend, but it was nice to see fall leaves and colder weather in the mountains. Sierra and Tim went to Prescott, where she met up with Tim’s family and Larry and Linda. While they were out there they got to see Elton John in his last tour in the states before retirement. Larry and I went to Mesa again to see Larry and Linda before Thanksgiving. Experience the crazy Viewpoint Mobile and RV resort sale, golf carts driving everywhere in every direction. Larry got out with Gunka to do a little fishing and gambling with Nani and Tamra. Then back home early to get ready for Thanksgiving. Larry did a spatchcock smoked turkey this year. I was a little nervous cause I did think he should do his first spatchcock turkey on Thanksgiving. He gets stressed when cooking for other people. But it turned out awesome and this might be his go to Turkey meal. Thanksgiving was spent at my Moms with my siblings.

Just hitting December as we are writing this letter. Planning our 2nd annual San Diego Bay Boat Christmas light parade. Larry’s Mom and Dad are coming in to enjoy this with us. My Mom and the Simanek’s are staying down at Hilton on Harbor Island. So if we want to watch from the balcony of the room we can or we can walk across the street. Larry is going to try and go dove hunting once or twice before the end of the season. I couldn't mention all the time Larry went fishing cause we would need another sheet of paper..

We will most likely be ringing in the New Year in Mesa Arizona.

Thanks for reading our long letter. Keeping track of our family memories. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year!

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse