Keepin' up with the Keepers

Monday, May 10, 2010

i live for vacations

This picture really sums it all up: fun in the sun, yet relaxing all at the same time:)

...but if you want to hear/see all the details of our trip, continue on below

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Our family went to Las Vegas last week. We got an awesome deal to stay at a condo for a week, so off we went!

We met up with my cousin Natalie while we were there, and she took us hiking at Red Rock. The kids loved it, and Cassidy really liked meeting her cousin Joshua. I'm holding her little girl Avery in the picture; she's so tiny and cute! And Natalie's new baby (not pictured) is to die for. I want a baby girl.

This picture makes me laugh; each and every one of them are pulling a funny face:

They had a way cool visitor's center at Red Rock.

Our condo had a nice pool with a beach, and a lazy river!

We met up with some friends we met on our cruise who live in Vegas. They took us out on their boat.

I tried wakeboarding for my first time, and got up on my first try!

Joel got up, too. It was a good day. Thanks, Sabrina and Jason!

MnM factory:

Cassidy was in heaven

We took the kids to the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay. It was so cool!

Ethan kept saying there were "scary fish"

Cindy and Joel in the human tank:

(the tank went up and over your heads in an arch, so you could see the fish all over)

I made Cassidy touch a stingray. You would have thought I killed her. She did NOT like it.

The kids liked the gardens at the Bellagio:

but then they fell asleep and missed the water show:

Joel had never seen it before

We sat through one of those "2-hour" presentations that turned into 3 1/2, just to get tickets to the Tournament of Kings. It (the tournament) was really cool, but those condo people can be pushy.

I won that mug I'm holding below by making the top 10 in the laser quest. Basically, you go in a room with security lasers all around, and try and get through them without touching them. It was a really cool game, and if it didn't cost $5 each time, I would have liked to see if I could do better.

We went to the Adventurdome at Circus Circus and the kids loved the rides:

They had a 4-d Sponge Bob Movie

This is Aria, a new casino at City Center:

It was a good trip, and a terrible drive home (Cassidy puked)...but it is nice to be home for a couple days, until we go to the cabin with my family. We're not even putting the suitcases away:)

Thursday, April 1, 2010

dippin' dots and much more

I should really post on this blog more often, since my scrapbooking has slowed down lately. So here are many pictures of my busy children:

We bought Ethan in a big boy bed in February and he took it like a champ! He was super-excited about it, and slept in it with little trouble the very first night!

There was a "free" day on Frontrunner in Feb, so we hopped on board, and checked out some old trains at the Ogden station. My kids LOVE trains. A train passes by our house every half-hour or so and Ethan announces their passing EVERY time.

Ethan's birthday was in March and he did a pretty good job this time opening presents (with big sister's help, of course).

He received mostly books and movies, but he got these awesome trucks that can ride over anything. They're pretty sweet.

And of course, his favorite present was going to the pet store to get a 13 cent goldfish named Nemo. Cassidy also got a fish and named her Dori.

Instead of a big party, we celebrated at the Treehouse museum with Michael, Ethan's friend who is 5 days older. It was a double celebration:)

The music room is definitely my favorite.

The kids played school

and drove the fire truck

This picture may not look amazing, but it took like 15 tries to make them both look. Thank goodness for digital.

We came home afterwards for birthday cake for the boys. Michael wasted Ethan in blowing out the candles.

Ethan dove head-first into his cake.

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Ethan is admiring his fish. We have caught him spitting in the bowl, and even scooping out water and drinking it. The poor fish.

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Cassidy got her first book of Mormon a few weeks ago; she actually really wanted one to bring to primary. She loves showing it off. When we first handed it to her, she opened it and said, "We believe dat men will be punished for day own sans..."

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We have been enjoying warmer weather (until just recently) and have been on a few bike rides. Don't be fooled by my smile; pulling those two kids is SO hard!