Vacation!!

    
Over fall break we took at trip to Las Vegas.  Neither Jason or I are normally very interested in going down there, but some friends had gone this summer and recommended a good place to stay--Tahiti Village.  We invited Jason's dad, Randy, and step mom, MarySue, to join us.

We took off Tuesday afternoon and arrived in Vegas about 6:30 (their time).  We checked into our rooms--we had 2 rooms adjoined.  One of them had a master bedroom/bathroom, living room and kitchen and the second room was a lockout with a kitchenette, living room with a hide-a-bed, bathroom and bedroom.  Randy and MarySue took the Master and we had the lockout.  Jacob used the living room as his bedroom.  We left the bed out and he used the kitchenette sink to wash, brush teeth etc.

It worked out really well since he couldn't reach the bathroom sink very well.  That night we headed to Chili's for dinner.

Lounging in the "fort" Jacob made in the living room

Wednesday morning we were up at out at the pool by 9:30 a.m.  Problem was the weather was only 72 degrees.  Not cold for an October day in Salt Lake, but cold for a swimming day in Las Vegas.  But Jacob was dying to get to the pool so we went.  Jason took him in the pool while the rest of us sat in lounge chairs. The life guards were all covered in towels.

Notice the lifeguard in the background wrapped up

 When Jacob got cold we wrapped him up in towels and sat in the warm sun.  Not being wet it was actually warm sitting there.  The water changed things.

Next we headed over to the lazy river, which was a little bit warmer.

I even got in.  Both the pool and the lazy river were great!  Plenty of towels, chairs (granted it was not high season where we had to fight for a chair--that I'm sure helped), warm sun...relaxing!

That afternoon we took the hotel shuttle into Vegas.  We had looked up some free things to do with kids and tried them out.  We first went into Caesar's Palace and walked (and walked) down to "Fall of Atlantis" only to find it was under renovation.  

Notice the sign says it opens back up in October.  I guess someone forgot to tell them it IS October! There was an aquarium we saw before we walked back and over to see the fountains at Belagio.

The fountains were beautiful!  Caesar's Palace was beautiful too.  The area we walked down was made to look like a small shopping area in Italy.  The ceiling was high, concave and painted to look like the sky.  One thing I have to say for Vegas is the architecture is amazing and fun to look at!  There is always something to see.

Thursday morning Jason and I went to the Las Vegas temple.  The Celestial room there is amazing!  It reminded me of the San Diego temple celestial room, but not quite as big.  It was nice to be able to go and Randy and MarySue took care of Jacob.

While we were gone, they took a walk to McDonald's for a Sprite and then went to the activity center and made a mug with Jacob.  That was another great thing about where we stayed. They had an activity center with a pool table, air hockey table, games and craft activities for the kids.  It was open 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. so you could go in at any time and play.  In addition, they had 3-4 activities a day for the kids.  Jacob made a mug and later that afternoon he decorated cookies.

Those were the activities we had time to do.  They usually had something going at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.  When we got home we went out to the pool and lazy river again for a while.  It was warmer that day (around 75 degrees).

After the cookies we took the shuttle again into Vegas and walked down to Circus Circus to see and acrobat artist hang from "silks" and twist and wind around in them.  Then we stayed to see the juggler.  Both acts lasted about 10 mins.  We then walked back down to Treasure Island and outside of that building they had a pirate show with two large ships, pirates, Sirens (we were far enough away from that ship that Jacob couldn't really see them)...they fought by "shooting" cannons at each other until finally one ship was sunk and the pirates jumped into the lagoon to swim to safety.  It was quite the show and well done.  We got back to the hotel about 9:30 and were tired from all the walking!!

Friday we drove out to Red Rock Canyon and did a short hike.

Sitting on a turtle at Red Rock Visitors Center

 It was a very pretty area.  Because we had gotten up late, we arrived there late and didn't get back until 2:30.  We went to the activity center for ice cream sundaes and then went to the pool.  It had finally warmed up to about 79 degrees.  I wish we had gotten out to the pool sooner to take advantage of our last day of warmth and sunshine, but it was still nice.  We swam and Jacob and Jason played in the sand area.


















We tried to go out to dinner that night and tried several places, but there were waits etc.  It was 8 p.m. and Jacob was so tired...so we went to Chili's.  Same place we had eaten at the night we arrived.  :)

Saturday we got up and left.  We had a great time and I was sad to leave. I could have done 1 more day, but was glad for the time we had.

Home Insulation

Last month we began to look at things that we might have to replace, etc. in the house since it is getting older.  We had the water heater and furnace replaced and Jason, and his brother, put insulation under the floor of our family room.

Jacob wanted to help so they saved one small section for him to do.  They were such a mess.  The laundry room, just outside of the furnace room where the entry to under the family room is, was a mess.  I vacuumed and washed doors and walls from the messy insulation grime that gets all over.

The following weekend is when we had the water heater and furnace replaced and I went down and vacuumed, washed down walls etc., again!  That is more than I've cleaned it in the past 3 months!  Glad it is done!!

First Day of Kindergarten

Five years ago this is what I was doing with Jacob at this time of year.

August 30, 2008

I was amazed at the fact he was breaking through his first two bottom teeth!

This is what we were doing today....five years later....his first day of Kindergarten!!

Here he has all his teeth.  :)

He wanted to do a goofy picture too.

Yesterday, after church, Jason gave Jacob a father's blessing for the beginning of the new school year.  Jacob wants to do everything Jason does and after he got his blessing, he wanted to give Jason one--EXACTLY the way Jason had done it.  He was rather upset as we re-explained that you need to have the Priesthood and you only get that once you are older.  We talked about how at his age he can give blessings by praying for people.  He finally settled for that.

Today Jason took the day off from work and we took him to breakfast before school.  As we were waiting for our food, I reached for the silverware and knocked over Jason's entire glass of water!  Jason hurried to block the water from spilling onto Jacob and Jacob started crying.  It was quite a site.  I wish I had gotten the camera out for that!

After breakfast we headed over to the school where he played for a few minutes before school started.

Playing with his friend James

We took a picture with Mrs. Turpin, his Kindergarten teacher.  I was so impressed.  Jacob walked up to her and said, "Hi Mrs. Turpin"  and she said, "Good Morning Jacob."  That was good to have met him one time and remember his name!!

Lining up and ready to go into class

It was so different being on this side of things with school!  I always felt I did a really good job with the kids, parents, etc. with school, but I know if I ever went back I'd be even better--you just get such a different perspective when you've had a child of your own!  I can't believe we are to this point!!

Jason took pictures of me too with some sniffles...I say it was just my cold. :)

Cousins in Town & the Rest of Summer

Our neighbor's front yard--she decorated it so cute!

At the end of June my brother, Chris, and his family and my sister, Kristina, and her family were in town.  It was so fun to see everyone!

The kids played....here they are setting up dominoes.  Jacob's cousin, Garrett (who is 11) came and slept over.  Jacob LOVED hanging around him and Garrett was so nice to him!!

 We hung out together

 Here are some of Jacob's other cousins Tanner and Connor                                              

 We celebrated Grandma Wong's birthday!
















We had our annual neighborhood 4th of July breakfast and kid's parade.  Jacob and Dad rode in the parade and then Jason and I rode the tandem bike.  Kind of an interesting ride.

Jacob also started taking gymnastics.  He was in two sessions and really like the first one, but the second one he felt the teacher pushed too hard.  I didn't think she did, but was not going to argue with him over going.  I'm glad we did it for the summer....he learned some good things and maybe he'll do it again sometime.

Jacob walking with one of his friends

In July our Stake participated in the Days of '47 Children's Parade.  The Stake Primary was in charge of it, but we were able to call a wonderful set of chairman.  Everyone who worked on the float spent so much time!!  It turned out great!  Walking in the parade it amazed me HOW HOT it would be walking 4 blocks!

 After the parade we took Jacob to The Gateway to play in the splash fountain

We also had fun this summer at different splash pads.  Here we are with cousins

We also went to Lagoon with Jason's annual summer event.  Jacob (and we) always have fun!

Riding the roller coaster and taking a self portrait before hand

We went to Seven Peaks by ourselves and with our cousins.

At the beginning of August we went with Jason's brother, Jared, and his family up to Yellowstone.  We went to The Pines at Island Park again and stayed in a cabin.       Once again the hot tub was the hit of the trip.

Jacob with cousin Grace

 We saw Old Faithful

 You can see that at the beginning of the day Jacob did not want to take pictures with us and it only SLIGHTLY improved by the end of the day.

                                               

Lake Yellowstone

Jacob and Mylee at the cabin

Nearly all of the kids wear glasses...so Jacob wore his sunglasses so he could be like them. :)

Playing in the water at Mac's Inn in Island Park

We started soccer for the fall.  Jacob seemed a little more into it, but still is not that into the game.  For him it is more of being with his friends and the treats afterwards!

He found his new snow boots for this year.  He insisted on wearing them the other day because it was raining.  Last spring he wore them everywhere!  I think because they are so easy to pull on and off.  What a fashion statement!!!

Jacob and Jason continued their tradition of making waffles on the weekends over the summer.....











We did a lot these last few months between going to the movies on Tuesday mornings with the cousins, taking a summer arts and play class, Gymcats, playing with friends, Cowabunga, Seven Peaks and lets not forget.....sleeping in...which is now over!  Cannot believe summer is gone!