Sigfried & Roy's Secret Garden~~Las Vegas

As a last "Hurrah" before our Summer Break ended and school started, the kids & I made a trip down to Las Vegas to visit Grams & Papa (& Emily's family).  Breaking out of our norm, we went down to "The Strip" and took the kids to Sigfried & Roy's Secret Garden at the Mirage.  It was a beautiful oasis in the middle of an insane city.  

Spencer, the Tiger Cub, is ready to move into the cages with the other Tigers.

Nathan & Grams with one of the captivating White Tigers.

The only animals that we were able to touch were made of stone.

The Dolphin Habitat was no Sea World, but it held the kids attention all the same.

We had a special treat at The Secret Garden~~Roy came to visit!  A few years back, while we were still living in Las Vegas, Roy had a tragic incident as one of his tigers decided to munch on him during a performance.   Though he is no longer the showman he once was, it was still fun to see him come to spend time with his tiger cubs.

A funny story:  As Roy was entering the cage he was wearing dark sunglasses and was practically being held up by people on both sides.  It was a slow process.

There was a lady behind me who said, "Oh, look!   That's nice.  They are letting the blind people go into the cages with the tigers."

Immediately, she realized her blunder and declared, "Oh!  That's Roy!  I can't believe I just said that out loud."

She was embarrassed, but we got a good chuckle. 

The Dinosaur Museum

We finally made it to the Dinosaur Museum!!

We have lived just a few miles away from the museum for only 2 1/2 years now, and often when we drove past it the kids could be heard saying, "Are we ever going to get to go there?"

And my answer, "Someday."

Well, that "Someday" finally happened when the Museum had "Two-Dollar-Tuesdays" for a month.

Now we drive by the Dinosaur Museum and say,

"We have been there!"

1st Time Skier!!

Nathan is trying to become a water-skier like Spencer & Kate.  Granted, he is skiing along the shore and unattached to a boat, but next time . . . 

This picture was taken at our 2nd Annual Camping/Boating Trip with our good friends Jay & Jen.  Thanks you guys!  We have lots of good memories~~wake-boarding at dawn & dusk, campfires, s'mores & cracker barrel, dust storms, tents in the lake, down pours . . . 

Good Times!  Good Times!

Missouri Or Bust!

In July we took a family trip to Missouri to visit Rich's family.  LONG drive, but so worth it!

On the 4th of July, we were able to tour around to some LDS Church Historical Sites, such as Liberty Jail, where Joseph Smith spent a dreary winter in unjustified confinement.  We had a less dreary time as we visited this location with cousins (shown in the picture) and other family (not shown). 
We had a large number of Rich's family that were able to spend time together playing and visiting . . . and playing some more.  This picture shows the many cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc. that we saw.  Can you spot me?We did not have everyone together, but we got a picture of as much family as we had.

We missed you Michelle (in Hawaii), and Matt (in Iraq), and Joanna, Jacob, Jessica, and Ariel (in Germany)!!!!!!