Lake Mead/Las Vegas

We had an incredible family vacation the first week of September.  We got to spend a week with Daryl's sister Kathryn and her family.  I love the Johnston's and the Scholz' Family.  We always seem to have too much fun together.  We usually all get together once a year.

This is our second year going to Lake Mead all together.  The lake was 86 degrees!  We would just jump off the boat for fun because it felt so good.  We tubed, got out the wake board, and I finally tried surfing for the first time.  I think I'm going to stick to surfing since it doesn't make me sore like wake boarding does.  I do love wake boarding still.  Evelyn and Jane both got to tube and they loved it.  I really love being on the water, must be because I grew up on the river during the summer months in Tri-Cities.

One of the days we spent at the Red Rock Resort near Summerlin.  Jeff was staying there with his family so we spent an afternoon at the pool.  I loved the cushioned lay out beds in the water and the shaded cabanas.  Evelyn said she loved laying out in the sun on the comfy beds too.  Daryl played games with all the cousins and it got pretty funny.  At one point all the kids had to give a lifeguard a high five.

Two of the nights we would give the kids a bath and put them to bed and have a babysitter come over so we could go out at night.  We did a few crazy things.  We jumped of the Stratosphere!?  Yep it really did happen but still feels like it was in a dream.  It was terrifying to jump off the plank on the outside but after I jumped I was smiling ear to ear.  It surprised and kind of scared me how much I loved it!  I was planning on just watching the boys jump but then decided to do it once we got there.

We also went to the Cirque show Michael Jackson ONE.   It was breathtaking really.  Have never seen a live performance show that good.  I even got teary eyed when they danced with Michael's Hologram to the song "Man in the Mirror."  It really was a well done show.

Evelyn and Jane LOVED playing with their cousins...

 Our last night in Vegas there was a beautiful rainbow.  Can't wait till next years trip!

Camping in The Blue's

This summer Daryl promised Evelyn that we would go on a family camping trip after the summer was over.  Daryl's busy time for work is in the summer months so it was something for her to look forward to.  We made the plunge and purchased all the camping gear we might need to become a "camping family."  Disclaimer:  I grew up camping next to a parked RV with refrigerators!  Daryl grew up horse back riding and packing everything in and out!  So Daryl was very clear about wanting to camp without having any campers, people, or toilets near.  It was an adventure to me!  The truth is the girls had a blast and I learned a lot.  Can't wait for out next camping trip!

 Good Morning! I know a girl named Jane who loves her Daddy!

This was how we cooked our meals--boiled some hot water and poured it into the pouch.

a bath after camping can feel pretty darn good...

Washington DC

After a week in West Virginia we headed back to my Dad's house for a weekend of site seeing.  First stop was Hershey Park in Pennsylvania.  I have always wanted to go ever since my brothers had a basketball tournament years ago and got to go.  Its no secret I have a chocolate addiction.  I would have liked to have stayed much longer but at least we got to do the tour and I can check it off my bucket list!  We also stopped at Gettysburg on the way home.  They have done a completely new visitors center since I have been and it was awesome!  They have a pretty inspiring video and then a cyclorama that has a panoramic painting of Gettysburg that wraps  around you completely like you are at the battle scene.  It is shown with lights, sound effects, and narration.

When we arrived to Hershey I thought this was the old factory and maybe it was long ago but after I took the picture we were told it is a middle school! :)  It looks like Willy Wonka's factory to me. 

Gettysburg Visitors Center

I was most excited to take the girls to the Natural History Museum.  It is awesome.  I could take them back over and over if we lived there.  You can only see so much with a 5 and 2 year old but we did our best.  We ate at Lukes Lobster that Luke and Greta found.  Totally worth the 10 minute walk off the Smithsonian.  BEST lobster sandwich I have ever had.  I love the Smithsonian because it is where Daryl proposed.  He proposed down by the waterfront near the Jefferson memorial.  I wish he could of been on this vacation with us!  We definitely missed him.  We saw the National Monument and the White house too.  Evelyn kept asking "When are we going to go see the PRINCIPLES house!?"

It's huge!

Evelyn underneath the T-Rex

A giant ground sloth!  Yes a sloth.  Crazy.  Too big to live in trees.

Love these girls!

Luke's Lobster

Best lobster sandwich!

Putting their feet in the water with Uncle Luke at the art district

Evelyn put Eli to sleep.  She was very proud.