LAS VEGAS!!

It had been a really long time since we had been on a big vacation as a Family (since Wade was one), so we finally decided it was time again. This cold weather year after year had just finally become to much so we decided to head somewhere warm and hot. I remember going to Las Vegas as a kid and loving it so I thought it would be fun to go as a Family. We left very very early on Saturday April 13th. We stayed at a hotel the night before and then we were up at 3:30 Saturday morning. We were so tired and exhausted but the kids did amazing. We were well equipped with tablets and snacks thanks to Dad being so well prepared, I didn't really want to bring anything at first but I'm glad we did as they kids stayed quiet and occupied the whole flight. We landed at 9:30am Las Vegas time and headed straight for our rental car. After we got in the rental car we drove down the strip quickly and then looked for our Hotel. Thankfully the Hotel let us check in early so we could get all set up and rest for a bit. The kids loved our Hotel room. Macie had her very own room with a TV in it. She thought that was the greatest thing ever. Wade had a pull out couch and loved that his bed could transform (we called it the transformed bed) Kansas had her very own play pen and Mark and I got our own room with a king size bed and our very own bathroom. We also had a small little kitchen that was fully accessorized (toaster, blender, pots, pans etc.) and a nice size dining room table. It was the perfect set up for our family for the whole week. After getting settled in we got some lunch at the hotel restaurant then we headed to Walmart to stock up with Groceries. We saved a good chunk of money by making breakfast everyday at the hotel and even a lot of our lunches. After having such a long day on Saturday we decided to go to bed nice and early. Sunday we woke up pretty early and so we headed to a 9:00 Church at the Serene Ward with Bishop Burr. We ran into a family from Toronto who was down for General Conference and a tour. After church we came home, had some lunch and then headed to Red Rock Canyon for the day. We had a lovely time there and the kids loved climbing all over the rocks. It was such a beautiful place and I loved seeing the amazing landscape that our Saviour created.  We then drove to the Las Vegas Temple to walk around the grounds. What a peaceful feeling. Monday was the day of touring the Stripe. Again we had got up nice and early and we headed there right away to avoid the busyness of the crowds. Everything thing started out great until a Man that was completely out of his mind lunged at me with some type of pen or knife and then spit on Wade. It was a horrible and terrifying experience, but we were grateful that nothing worse happened. The rest of the day thankfully went great. We did a lot of walking and touring. We ate at Guy Fieri's (from diners, drive in and dives) restaurant, spent a lot of money there and at the M&M store. Wade bought himself a knight costume which he found at the begining of the day and wouldn't stop begging to go back and get. Macie got a fairy jewelry holder and fairy globe, and just enjoyed viewing all the amazing hotels. After a long day of walking we headed back to the hotel for supper and then some hot tubbing down at the pool. Tuesday morning, because the weather was crappy, we decided to go and do our indoor activities. So we headed first to the container park to kill some time as we were a bit too early to hit the activities.Container Park was pretty cool. All made of sea cans. Kansas loved running up and down the ramps and playing with the big legos. After about an hour we headed to the SeaQuest Aquarium and then the Rex Centre. Sea Quest was amazing and a very cool interactive fish Aquarium. You got to pet sting rays, sharks, a huge turtle named Norman, we were able to feed lots of animals and see a Rodent of Unusual Size. We all loved the fish aquarium and had a blast. Macie needed to buy a stuffy from the gift shop, so dad took Wade and Kansas out of the store to wait. A little train on came by and dad and the kids jumped in not telling me. So Macie and i come out of the store looking for them and can't find them. We found the stroller just sitting there and began to worry. All the while dad and the kids are having a blast in the Jupiter Express.When they came back they got a serious stink eye.
Next we headed to the Rex Centre where Dad, Macie and Wade went and did some lazer tag and then some go carting. There wasn't much to do for Kansas at the Rex Centre so me and her got Dippin Dots and hung out while the older two and Dad had a blast. I did get to go on one of the go cart rides with Wade as the kids couldn't drive by themselves and that was a blast. We had a great morning and enjoyed being inside as it was windy and raining all day. Next we headed to the strip and tried to go and see some more stuff but the rain was terrible so we decided to go out for supper. We went to TGIF's which was kind of disappointing. After supper we headed to the outlet malls, Me and Mark were disappointed and found nothing good to buy but the kids hooked up with some goodies. Kansas found herself a Mickey stuffy that she fell in loved with and wanted to buy with her Money. Wade found a dinosaur stuffy from the show Toy Story, and Macie bought herself some new earrings. when we were all worn out we headed home and crashed. Wednesday was an awesome day, we got up nice and early again and went to go and see the incredible Hoover Dam. It was amazing and just so unreal, almost couldn't believe that man had actually built it, and especially so long ago. Wednesday afternoon we hung out in the pool and me and the kids got burnt to a crisp. Wednesday night we headed to Target and Ross to do some serious shopping. We hooked up with some cute clothes for us and the kids for such good prices. Thursday we hung out at the pool all day and then Thursday night was my favourite part of the whole trip, Me and the two older kids went and saw Cirque Du Soleil (The Beatles LOVE). It was incredible, we had front row seats and got to be so involved with the show. It was so amazing watching these people just do unreal stunts and terrifying tricks and had no fear and so much confidence. Me and the kids absolutely loved it and couldn't stop talking about it all night. While me and the kids where at the show Dad and Kansas toured the strip some more. They found the flamingo's (which Kansas loved), the cool architecture at Ceasars palace and watched the fountains at the Bellagio. We all collapsed that night from a long, incredibly awesome day. Friday was another chill by the pool day, but we got so hot and roasted by 2:00pm we had to come inside and chill in our air conditioned hotel. Friday night we went for supper at this delicious place called "Steaks & Shakes" It was so delicious, especially the burgers and milkshakes. Saturday morning we had to get out of the hotel by 10:00 but didn't have to catch our flight until 7:30 so we had a lot of time to kill. We decided to drive down the strip one more time and as we drove by Circus Circus, Mark wanted to go in and check it out. When we got there we decided to stay and play at the indoor amusement park as it was not busy and we were so burnt we didn't want to be outside all day. While that was a great idea and the kids had a blast. Our Brave Macie went on the big roller coster for her first time, she was absolutely terrified and I don't think she will be going on one again for a very long time. The rest of the morning they stuck to pretty low key rides that they both could enjoy together. They especially loved the airplane ride where they got to pretend to be fighter jets and shoot the other airplanes down. After Circus Circus we went and played at a fun outdoor park that also had a splash park, which was nice to cool down in when we got hot. After the Splash Park we ate at a fun sub joint called "FIREHOUSE SUBS"  It was pretty good and the kids loved trying on the firemen equipment they had set up and getting their very own fire hats. Well after all these amazing adventures it was finally time to come home. We made good time dropping of our rental car and getting to the airport, so with lots of time to kill and three very busy kids we walked the halls of the airport for a long time and bought some fun snacks. We boarded the plane 30 minutes late which meant we were not going to be home until 12:00am our time. The kids again were excellent and the tablets, snacks and pop-it books saved the day. We decided to be crazy and drive home that night, and thankfully the kids slept the whole way and pretty much fell asleep the second we got in the car. We got home at 4:00 in the morning, put the kids to bed and then still set up an Easter Egg hunt for the kids that morning. Wow what a trip, such an amazing time. I hope our kids remember it for many years. Besides a couple moments here and there the kids were excellent, I would have used our sunscreen a little better, and it was so fun constitently running into members of the church, especially at the hotel we stayed, so many members of the church. I wish we had a little more money set aside to do a couple other fun adventures, but there is always another time and another moment. It was awesome and incredible and we are definitely looking forward to more travels and adventures like these in our future.

Crazy bus ride to the air port from hotel

They Love their Hockey team

Kansas and the Flamingos