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Winners 2008 - Doc & Holly Cole Hawaiian Christmas

What a fun time "Summertime Christmas" turned out to be!  At Friday's welcoming Social we were all treated to some huge shrimp appetizers in the Lodge. John & Betsy Boltik worked ever so hard to prepare the tasty marinades & other hordeuvres for all to enjoy.

Many folks spent the next day laboring over their displays, beverages, and snacks.  There were people climbing ladders & even roofs to get that special display just so!  Kitchens were going full blast & the aroma of Christmas Cookies in August could be smelled throughout the resort.  That evening then started with a "Pre-Holiday" deck party at Cole & Vicki Jacobs.  Those that stopped by were treated to marvelous Margaritas on their pleasantly shaded deck.   As we all finished the Margaritas, Bob & Kim Benson decided to start the "bribing" for votes by delivering their secret recipe for "root beer floats" (adult style)! So yummy!  As we sipped our floats & the sun started to set, we were all treated to the surprise arrival of none other than "Santa & Mrs. Claus along with their summer"Japanese Reindeer"! (Of course Santa rides a golf cart in the summer!) Mrs. Claus sure worked hard on putting together Santa's costume (in between baking Christmas cookies).

Santa & Mrs Claus (aka John & Betsy Boltik) visited with some of the little ones, and then proceeded to lead the golf cart parade to each of the beautiful Christmas sites! 

The Bensons Christmas Moose (yes, it does move) grazing atop their berm, welcomed us into their site.  More of their wonderful root beer floats (some for kids too), along with great sausages made for some good bribes!  Santa & Mrs. Claus started to pass out the gifts to the little ones from the comfort of their golf cart, and then it was time for the next lot.

Lance & CJ Decker had a beautiful Christmas wonderland, complete with lites, Christmas Tree, reindeer, and an outside movie to entertain the little ones!  There was a spicy "cherry cheesecake" shot to enjoy, and many different bars, cookies, and the famous chicken dip! Very good job!

Larry & Roberta Martin's site was very lovely with lights all across their berm & on their tree. We missed their wonderful Christmas cookies, but hear that Santa enjoyed them immensely!

Then we all caravaned to "Hollywood", and arrived at Doc & Holly Cole's Hawaiian Christmas!  Words cannot express how they outdid themselves! Everywhere you looked there was detail after detail.  From the beautiful white Christmas tree decorated with umbrellas, flowers, and summer thongs, to the "melon" snowman, to the pineapples lit with tiny white lites, to the porch railing decorated with a grass skirt - it was endless!  Holly & Doc appeared in their Hawaiian Christmas Costumes...flowered bras for both!  Holly proceeded to present everyone with a lei, while Doc manned the Mai-Tais and served the melon balls, pineapples, snowballs, and macdamia nut cookies.  The kids enjoyed slushies that Holly made individually & we all sang along to Bing Crosby's "White Christmas".  It was quite a production (special note that because of work obligations, the Coles did not get to start working on their cabin until 3pm that same afternoon).

We then all "flew" back up the hill to "Bermtropolis", & on to Bill & Julie Zebros production of the movie "Bad Santa" (I still am not sure who played Bad Santa, but he really was more of a "Funny" Santa!).  Bill had built a whole new deck complete with bridge over his spillway that had a torch lit path to the forest hide-away that surrounded his welcome firepit!  His "mint-surprise" beverage went well with the tasty treats that Julie prepared (mini pizzas, mushrooms, cheese sticks)!  Then came Santa & his bag of prizes.  What a lot of thought was put into each gift - a horse for "Little Doc Cole" (who always wanted to be a horse doctor), huge sunglasses for "Little Kimmy Benson" since she always looses hers, & the highlight being the platform shoes for "Little Holly Cole"so she can reach her kitchen cabinets!  Santa even got a gift himself....the swimming pool he always wanted (blowup size)!

After all the Christmas celebrations were done, everyone voted & the winner was chosen (based upon originality, decor, beverage, snacks & special points given for having the least amount of time to prepare).  The Cole's Hawaiian Christmas will have the honor of being the Best for 2008, and will be adorned with the sacred "RayN-Deer" display to keep until the next year. They then can pass it on to the winner for 2009 after adding their own little something to it.

Merry Christmas to all & to all a Good Night!