Vegas Reunion

Two years ago at our McClellan (Andy's mom's) family reunion that was held here in Tri-Cities, we decided to have a reunion every two years and have it move around a little. Las Vegas was decided then as the location for 2010.
Hoover Dam picture.We have been looking forward to it and drove down with our kids last Tuesday and Wednesday. We drove to Reno and then back into California to drove through Death Valley to the lowest elevation in the country.
Some old lake still covered in salt.Elizabeth found this momma duck with her chicks on the side of a creek running through Bishop, CA's really cool city park where we ate lunch at on the way to Las Vegas. She had to run back with the camera to take a picture.Elizabeth was scared going on the twisty roads. They were a little steep to get down into Death Valley. She put her fabric grocery bag on her head.
Andy with the kids at the visitor's center in Death Valley. It closed five minutes after we got there, so we didn't have long to spend there.
Me with the kids. The temperature was 115 degrees. HOT! It was windy too, but it was that hot wind that just makes you hotter.
We got to Circus Circus on the Strip in Las Vegas about 8:30pm and after calling for towels (because our room didn't have any!) and waiting for an hour, giving the kids a bath, figuring out the process for having the bellboys bring our luggage up, it was already almost 10pm and we just went to bed.
Andy's parents, Grandma Ellen and Grandpa Paul A., and Uncle Roger and Aunt Carol flew in Wednesday night.

Thursday we met up with Andy's cousin and her husband from Ohio to go see Hoover Dam.
We watched the ten minute video and they told us that the tours weren't open, but might be later. We didn't think our kids would like the tours much anyway and they were expensive, and we've been to Grand Coulee Dam, and The Dalles Dam, and Bonneville Dam, and Ice Harbor Dam, and McNary Dam, and we know what a powerhouse looks like, so we didn't worry about that. Sunny and Jeremy were disappointed and after we left, they did reopen the tours and they upgraded their tickets, waited in line, and then the fire alarm went off, and they had to wait outside for an hour or so to then get back to their car. They did that after we had already had enough. It was busy and so hot!
Elizabeth and Olivia turning the handle to make the magnet spin around and turn the lightbulb on.Vincent only wanted out of his stroller at one point of the Dam. Right after he finished turning the handle, he hopped right back in. The stairs all over did make the stroller difficult because we had to go and wait for elevators, but it was easier than making him hold our hands or carrying him.Andy with the girls on the Dam. We walked across to Arizona and then back. It was too hot and Olivia had had enough so Andy took the kids to the car right after this and I went to the gift shop to pick up some postcards and a fridge magnet.
After all the fun we could have at Hoover Dam, we met up with Andy's parents and Roger and Carol on the strip and went to a few places there.
Luxor Hotel and Casino while we waited for a few minutes. The kids all threw some money in the fountain to make some wishes.
We went up to meet the Tram to go to the Excalibur. It was hot so we found a few feet of shade. Andy's parents were with us by the paw of the Sphinx that sits in front of the Luxor.
Then we went to his Uncle Bruce and Aunt Sandie's house to see the Vegas family (or some of them) and the kids swam with Andy. Except Vincent didn't like swimming. He just liked to throw the pool toys in the water and run around with squirt guns.
Friday morning the reunion really started. We took the kids to cousin Kristi's house to be babysat while we went to the Temple with the adults. The kids had fun at her house watching some kid movies and playing with sticky foam and markers. The babysitter was great, she didn't even want to be paid because we were at the Temple so we told her to put the money in her girls' camp or mission fund. Then went back to pick them up to play at a park with water sprinklers and have lunch. After another hour or so everyone else finally came over (they all met at the house and then came).Everyone doted on Vincent. He didn't want to play in the sprinkler with the other kids and he was the smallest, so he just went from person to person getting cookies and balloons from them (and a good dose of attention too!)
Back to Bruce and Sandie's for more swimming and eating there.
Andy and Elizabeth in the pool.Grandpa Paul A. helped Vincent put these goggles on when Vincent brought them over to him. Vincent kept them on for hours after that, but still didn't want to get in the pool.These two girls are cousins with each other, but have no other girl cousins. They wanted to adopt Olivia. She was their little tag-along the whole weekend.Vincent finally gave up just after dinner. He didn't have a regular (12-3pm) nap any of the days we were gone. I think he might be done with those. I, however, am not done with him taking naps!When I went in, I found Andy's Grandma Ellen and Grandpa Paul A. doing the dinner dishes. They are so cute together and such hard workers.
Saturday we met at Bruce and Sandie's for breakfast before heading up to Mount Charleston to hike and have lunch there. Once we found a place to set up for the lunch and for the nonhikers to sit in the shade, we went up the hike to see some caves at a place called Robbers Roost.
George (Andy's dad) with Vincent. He's so skinny now! He has lost 90 pounds in six months!
Andy's cousin and her husband from Ohio rented this convertible Mustang and let Elizabeth and Olivia take a ride in it for a little trip. Olivia rode in it a little later, but I didn't get a good picture.
Up in the caves we hiked to. I decided that I wasn't in very many pictures, so I took one of myself.
Andy and Vincent. Vincent loves his hat that is like Andy's.
Olivia by the caves.
Elizabeth trying to get higher to where the boys were.
It was cool up there (75 compared to 105 in the city), but we were at 8500 feet and I got winded pretty fast (and I'm out of shape too....) It was fun though and the kids enjoyed it. We got back to the place just in time to see the ranger's truck and leave the place because someone else reserved the spot we were in. We just went back an hour to Bruce and Sandie's and made lunch there instead. More swimming, chatting, snacking, and getting to know everyone a little better. We had the family meeting where it was decided to come back up to Washington in two years and Andy and I get to be in charge of that (Andy says: I didn't put up much of a fight when everyone put me forward because I figure I'd have to do it sooner or later anyway) (We already were talking about fun ideas on the way home and I think it's going to be really fun!) and then in four years, our reunion will be in Ohio where Andy's uncle lives with all of his grown children close. We had the family auction and my kids were able to buy some little trinkets with some money and were excited to play with them the rest of the day and most of the trip home. We ate dinner after the meeting because we ate lunch at 4pm. After dinner, Kristi started the Wii Guitar Hero tournament, then we took a break for Bruce's requested Cowboy Poems, and then we went outside to do sparklers and pop rocks, before heading back to the hotel to rest up for the drive home.
Olivia was tired, so she and Andy took a little rest.
Someone found a ball for Vincent to use next to the pool. He still didn't like going in, just playing next to the pool throwing things in.
Even Grandpa Paul A. got in the pool and played some ball. It was a hot day!
Olivia getting down during the Guitar Hero tournament. She is quite the little dancer.
Andy, Elizabeth, Olivia, and I (I took a break from helping Olivia sing) ROCKED with Band on the Run. It is Olivia's favorite song. I think we won the tournament.... It kind of helps that we sing that song in the car almost every day.
The weekend ended with a bang...er....a sparkler or something.
Olivia thought the ring pops were great too.
We woke up early on Sunday morning (6am) to get ready to go and left the hotel just after 7am with all the luggage figured out with the bellboy and the kids in tow. We drove all day and part of the night home arriving at 11:30pm Sunday night. The kids did pretty well in the car. Elizabeth was our big helper because she was sitting in the middle of the other two kids, so she could help get things for Vincent for us.
We had a great trip and it was fun to see everyone again. Now, to plan out the next one... I'm excited!

Party on.

That is pretty much all we do around here. In between parties, we just hang out and recuperate.
Elizabeth and Olivia begged all week (and a lot of the Spring during school) to have a yard sale. I put them off all Spring telling them "when it's summer you can" and it was finally time. I told them they could on Friday morning. They planned and priced all week together. Everything was 10 cents. A few neighbors came by and talked to them and they ended up selling a few things. Everytime a car would come down the road, they yelled, "Customers!" and held up their signs. They did it all the work and even had a box for the corner. One of my high school friends happened to be driving by (she didn't even know where we lived or at least hadn't been here before) and recognized the girls and bought a little woven hot pot holder for her little girl's kitchen that Elizabeth made. I spent the time weeding the front flower beds. I brought the plastic slide around for Vincent to be occupied, but it didn't last long, so I had to turn on a movie for him inside. He just kept crying outside and that is no good.
Saturday was a full, fun day. We cleaned the church in the morning, came home and got ready for the day, then went to Sami's birthday party at the sprinkler park...
The girls decided it was warm, even though it was only 70 degrees out. They wanted these matching swim suits and I was okay with that because they were on sale for $6.50. Vincent loves this swim hat. He didn't want to go in the freezing cold water. We didn't blame him. He had a lot of fun on the slide.
Sami with her dad, David, while we sang to her. She didn't want to be close to the cupcake, just in case there was a candle. She's afraid of candles and fire, probably because she put out her first candle out with her fingers.
I made this apron for Sami because Sara picked out a fat quarter of fabric and asked me to make it for her. They bought her a play kitchen with a cherry border....ran an errand at the mall, home for a few hours, and then off again to the Ward "Hot Diggity Dog" BBQ for dinner. It was fun to try out new salads, since I don't eat hot dogs (they make me throw up.)
Uncle Dewey pushed the girls on the swings. Aunt Nancy helped Vincent on the slides too. It's so nice to have them in our ward. (Aunt Nancy keeps Vincent happy during Sacrament too.)After that, we invited our game night buddies to come and hang out to play the new game I bought Andy for our anniversary. We played it twice. I won the first game. That's why I buy new games, I think. I have beginner's luck and the other people haven't figured out a strategy yet. I lost horribly the second time. The game is Carcassonne. The board changes everytime you play and it's all strategy, like Settlers of Catan. We like those kind of games.
Sunday was Father's Day. We went to church, had our family picture taken for our ward website so people will know who we are... I had the ward photographer take one with my camera too....and then to Andy's parent's house for dinner. While there, we played the game I bought for Andy for Father's Day. I bought the Trivial Pursuit Digital Choice. It was nice to visit with Andy's parents and sisters, but not so nice when the kids somehow got themselves wet in the bathroom. It was one of those who started it that no one admits to. Fun stuff.
Today I've been finishing up laundry and my to-do list and packing for our trip to Las Vegas. We are leaving for Andy's mom's side reunion Tuesday bright and early. It's going to be fun. I had some help finishing the jean quilt I made for the family auction that will go into the fund to help pay for part of the reunion.
Elizabeth did most of the ties. She was great at it. I did the hard pocket ones and the ones in the middle. I think she did more than half.And then the girls rested under the quilt while they finished watching the movie.We dropped off the things due back to the library, picked up two prizes for each of the kids for the summer reading program, and then went to pick out three books for each kid in the special friends of the library room. I picked three more Ramona books out and told the kids they each could pick two. When we got home, they picked some more books to go in their travel bags for the car. Each of them picked ten books and ten toys to play with in the car.
Wish us luck that we come back in one piece! It's going to be a fun trip.

Father's Day

I have to take some time to recognize the great father's in my life. I did one last year too, if you want to look at it.
First off, my own dad.
He was a great dad. He is a kind, calm, but also very driven man. He gets things done, but as my father-in-law says, "He's the nicest man I've ever met." I agree and it's not just because he's my dad. He is friendly to everyone he meets (and he goes out of his way to meet almost everyone around) and always finds some connection to make them feel comfortable around him. I remember seeing him reading his scriptures after working for who knows how many hours a day as a kid. I love that he would come home, say hello, put away his lunchbox, maybe eat something, and then say, "I'm going to go and stretch out for a bit." Maybe that's the reason I love naps so much. I was thinking about some Oregon Coast trips this week and remembering my dad's swim outfit. He wore these terrible blue swim shorts with his long above-the-knee socks with his cowboy boots. We were all so embarrassed, but I don't think he cared. He just wore what he had and didn't care what people thought. After a few of this experiences, I think my mom finally bought him a third pair of shoes. I'm sure all he had was church shoes and the cowboy boots he wore to work.
My dad is a great grandpa too! He keeps the kids busy and happy and likes to take them on long walks to the park.
Andy is a fun dad. He can make anything fun for our kids. He doesn't like to discipline them because they make him laugh so much when they are naughty. He likes to play games with them and take them on little errands, buy them little snacks at the store, and spoil them. He reads to the kids before bed and they love sitting in the "special spot" next to him. They love the "monkey carry", the "fireman carry", the "baby carry" and the "sack of potato carry" to their beds. Andy likes to wrestle with the kids while getting ready for prayers.
He keeps this little boy from running into the river.He loves games and will play games with the kids, even if he's the only adult playing.It was Andy's idea to take just the older girls to Disneyland so they could enjoy it before all of our kids are big enough and we had so much fun going from ride to ride.Andy is a good friend to his dad, who spoils us too. We go and visit their house nearly every Sunday and he loves hugs from the grandkids. Andy and his dad do some work together so they talk just about every day. He is kind and generous and loves us. His dad is a good church member and goes the extra mile to do all of his tasks that are assigned to him. He is a great father-in-law to me too.
I'm so grateful for so many examples of good men in my life and in the lives of my children. I know it's important for them to see and recognize the men around them so they will pick wisely when it's time and become a good man in Vincent's case.

Birthday at Olive Garden

I went to lunch with my kids to Olive Garden today for my birthday. I would have gone even if it was just the kids and I, but I was just glad a few people came to join us. The food was delicious, as always. I had the soup, salad, breadsticks lunch deal. Minestrone soup this time. Yum. I think I should have had another bowl now.
I gave Elizabeth the camera to take some pictures. Here is Olivia with me.Before Olive Garden opened, we waited outside with Janessa and Jes. Here are my kids with Janessa's son, Jackson. We noticed they were all wearing striped shirts, so we had to have a picture.Janessa with Jes and Jackson. Jackson LOVED those breadsticks. It was funny to watch him sneak dips into his dad's bowl of soup.Jackson and Vincent sat at the end of the table together. They played with cars until the breadsticks came. They argued without touching too.
Torrie with Andy's mom, Shirley, and Elizabeth. I'm so glad they came.Lunch was delicious and the gift card I had from somewhere else covered my whole bill. It was great. Shirley gave me a new fun cookbook with pictures for every dish and simple recipes. Elizabeth looked through it a tiny bit and said, "That cookbook is for someone who can't cook AT ALL!" I guess that means she think I know how to cook. I'm glad she likes most of what I make. I'm excited to look through the cookbook and find some new inspiration for dinner (and more!)