We decided to make the trip by car to Las Vegas for Thanksgiving. We left on Saturday at about 12:00. We planned on getting up and leaving at 6;00 a.m. After checking the weather along our trip, we decided to take the Tahoe instead of our Honda. There were storm systems and warnings and advisories in WA at Snoqualmie Pass and Salt Lake City, UT. Looking at other routes, if we went through Nevada it was the same. When we finally left, we got stuck waiting at the Pass because it was closed due to earlier crashes. :( We almost turned around and started driving through Oregon and California which is definitely a longer trip. Anyhow, we only waited for about 45 minutes and they let 4 wheel drive vehicles go through without chains, everyone else had to stop and put chains on. This is what we saw...so pretty!
Here's Decker being silly during our drive, wrapping his face with Green.
We got to Boise ID around 9:00 p.m. and stopped for the night at Josh Mason's. The next morning the boys were so excited to play with their girls. They had a great time "iceskating" on their tile in their socks. They were even more excited to go outside and play in the snow and ice. They couldn't wait to throw snowballs at mom and dad.
We left their house about 10:30 and continued on our trek to Salt Lake and Uncle James and Uncle Jon's house. We made it to Salt Lake around 5:00 p.m. We visited with both families until it was about time to go to asleep.
On Monday morning, we were planning on leaving about 10:00, but one of James' work vehicles broke down, so Mike went to help troubleshoot the problem. We ended up leaving around 12:30 for Las Vegas. Stopped at Cabela's to return a jacket and then we were on our way. I was like a horse...once my nose is turned towards home...there's no stopping me...only necessary potty breaks for me...
We got to Las Vegas about 5:30 and had Costco pizza for dinner! We learned that Ethan and had just recently thrown up...he'd not been feeling good all day.
On Tuesday, we went to Craig's Ranch Park. One of the coolest parks. We discovered it last year and played there. Mike came up with Breez, Amber brought Ethan and Abigail and Leah and Alex came with their kids--Isabel, Elliot, Sophie and Lexi. The weather was gorgeous! One of my favorite things about this time of year in Vegas is that it's like WA's summer weather! It was about 68 degrees!
Cody couldn't wait to climb up the web. I'm remembering last year and a little 3 year old climbing to the top. Now my 4 year old was going to the top. I still followed him though. ;)
Cody also loved showing me how he could climb these mountains.
then he took off his shoes and socks so he could climb this pole....something he learned to do camping this summer.
There's Sophie!
Grandma got in on the fun and went down the slide with Ethan.
This is a pretty scary beast in the desert--the tarantula!
This would make me sick....you get spinning around so fast!!
and this one!
A cool swing...
And down by the lake and this beautiful heron that hung around all afternoon.
It's a Choo Choo Train!
The 2 sistas!
Abigail in one of the slides...I think this is the SNAKE!
Cody watch out! Get away from that tarantula!
There's about 5 months between Cody and Sophie...they were playing frisbee.
Mike thought I looked like a girl from GREASE...so I did my best impression singing...."You're the one that I want" "To my heart I must be true"
Breez and Isabel scooting around on their scooters.
And of course, the boys wanted to get wet!
Then I went and got the popcorn and crackers out of the tahoe. We didn't mean to feed the ducks, but we spilled some.
Cody was so excited to show us that he could pump his legs on the swings. He was fabulous!!!
On Wednesday night, Mike G scored us tickets to Mystere at Treasure Island. We went with Amber and Adam. He flew in Wednesday night, so we went and picked him up went straight to TI. They had a Krispy Kreme shop right as we walked in...hummm, that sounds kind of good. We went and grabbed a donut, but there was only one type to choose from....some chocolate/cinnamon with glaze on top. Not bad, but not quite what I was looking for. ;) The show is an amazing feat of strength, balance and aerobatics. It started out with a baby carriage out in the middle of the stage and a pink light was shining on it...was it a sign of things to be???
After the show, we went and picked up Mike G and he slept at grandma's for the night. Decker and Abigail found him early in the morning and covered him up with all the blankets they could find.
And then he awoke and attacked!
We spent all day cooking for Thanksgiving dinner...and I didn't get any pictures of it...but here some of us are playing Settlers of Cattan...
One of my boys favorite things about going to Grandma Gambles is playing with her birds and watching them fly. So Friday morning, she got Sunshine and took them all into the bathroom to hold her.
I see pure joy in Decker's face.
and Cody's, she just flew off of his hand to the shower curtain rod.
Even daddy had a chance to hold Sunshine...from a distance...
She must be whispering a funny joke in Cody's ear.
Grandma's tree out front is another favorite pastime.
Mike and I also went to the temple on Friday morning. We decided to do some sealings. Mom gave us some family names. She also said I could wear her temple clothes. She told me where to go and long story short, I was in someone else's bag and wore someone elses socks. But eventually found her stuff. Then a lady came up to me in the dressing room and said my dad was waiting for me in the hallway. I thought, "Mike is going to laugh at that one being called my daddy." :) Anyhow, it WAS my dad. He had quickly dressed and come over to do sealings with us. We walked upstairs where Mike was already waiting for us and we joined a large family group doing some names. It was so special to have my dad and my husband there together. I will never forget this day!
On Friday night, we went to Ethel M's to catch Santa Claus and tell him what we wanted for Christmas. Having 9 kids under the age of 8 ....you're bound to lose someone...Sophie was the lucky one this time. Mike and Leah found her quickly with much relief to us all.
Breez and Mikey went first with Santa.
Then Leah with Isabel, Elliot, Sophie and Lexi...
Abigail was next and all Ethan wanted was some of those M&Ms in the basket! ;)
then it was Decker and Cody's turn. Cody asked Santa for a Stopwatch and Decker asked for a Panda Bright Eyes blanket.
And here are all the 9 COUSINS!
Then we tried to go visit Jessica and meet August...but they weren't home. ;( The boys found this hole in the wall and talked into it and put their hands and arms into it...
Then we had some want to join the picture.
After we visited Santa, Michelle had scored us tickets to the High Roller. It's an observation Ferris Wheel that takes 30 minutes to revolve. Michelle manages their gift shop and Steve is a bartender on one of the pods.
And wow! We had just told another rider if their bartender was Steve, to say "Hi" for us. And look who came down the ramp! We yelled, "Steve"!!!
Little funny story. We all went to the bathroom before we got on the Ferris Wheel. Well about 5-10 minutes into the ride, Decker tells me he has to go. and we've got about 20 minutes to go...he also said that he could hold it..a few minutes later, he came and told me that he "hated" this ride. Poor guy! Mike talked to another fellow passenger and got a water bottle which Mike quickly emptied and then took Decker into another corner and privately helped him relieve himself.
We also got to see the Bellagio Fountains go off when we were at the top! So cool!
We were in the Number 7 pod.
Then on Saturday morning we started our drive back to WA. We didn't get far as Decker had caught the 24 hour flu that Ethan and Abigail got. We stopped here in the gorge for a break.
then we ran into these nice people and Mike loved seeing them in this red convertible with the mountains behind them. Asked if they'd like their picture taken.
Then we got our picture taken with an extra--Chloe...Cody was in LOVE!
At one of our stops, We saw this big Decker Truck and had to take a picture.
On our way home, it was really sketchy through Oregon. We saw a couple of cars that had swerved off the road and were sitting upside down in the center and on the right. It was a little white knuckle gripping for awhile. We made it through. We finally got home at about 8:30 p.m. after leaving close to 6 a.m. from Salt Lake City. So glad to get home safe and sound. But what a trip! Full of fun and family!
