Today the skies opened and we were blessed with beautifully clear mountain vistas. Nana made a kick-ass breakfast before we headed into town for a little sledding. Everybody got in on the action and fun times were had by all.
As our time on the hill was winding down, lunchtime thoughts and tummy grumbles were taking hold. Mommy and Daddy thought it best to get this exhausted little girl back to our digs at the Lake Jolanda Lodge so that perhaps I could get a day sleep squeezed in before the evening’s festivities. Papa Jack volunteered to head back with us, but not before we took a detour into the Munchen Haus. It is a Bavarian grill and beer garden that definitely piqued our attention with the fabulous smell of grilled brats wafting through the air. Yee-um! The Munchen Haus is an awesome place for people watching too.
Things really cranked up back at the cabin when the adults donned costumes for the murder mystery game that Mommy brought. The premise of the game is that Barry Underwood, third generation Underwood winemaker at Underwood Wine Estates in Napa and man in charge, was murdered during an annual wine festival. All five people that were near him at the time of his death, have all returned on the 5th year anniversary of his death to attend the wine festival. Local law enforcement has never put the case to rest and has put all on notice that he’ll have some questions for them.
Daddy was Otto Von Schnapps, a wine merchant from Germany. Nana was Marilyn Merlot, a local pageant queen that left and became a Hollywood starlet. Jeff was Ralph Rottengrape, the new top man and cousin of the murdered former head of the Underwood Wine Estates. Jessica was Hedy Shablee, wine making competitor of the murdered Barry Underwood whose winery is perpetually foiled by bad luck. Bonnie was Tiny Bubbles, the former fiance to Barry Underwood that now goes with Ralph Rottengrape. Mickey was Bonny Ladd, a novel writing Scottsman that got mixed up in this just by being in Napa to attend the festival. And Papa was Papa Vito, the man that brought the first vine over from the Old Country to get Underwood Wine Estates going.
There were a lot of twists and turns throughout the evening as the players were prompted to ask specific questions throughout the rounds while referring to their character-specific pamphlets. All of the game play transpired around a fabulous meal of a soy and port glazed beef tenderloin with mushroom compote and toasted hazelnut infused mashed sweet potatoes that Mommy whipped up.
At around 10pm Nana, Daddy and the Anderson clan headed outside to do some sparklers and then the adults did a wacky series of group portraits just before the new year.
The whole trip was so much fun and was great to celebrate the new year with great friends and wonderful family. Happy 2008!!
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