Vacation Part 3 - Las Vegas!

Sorry it took so long for me to post about the last leg of our vacation. Once we got home it has been busy getting back into things at work, Dan has had a lot of interviews, and Dan's parents finally moved into their new home!

But, it was fun to pull a few pictures of Vegas! We made it to Brent and Amber's on Friday the 6th around 1 and Amber was just waking up after sleeping off her night shift. Brent works earlier in the day because his students are on Central Time. It was fun to see their apartment and see Bella again. I think she was excited to have familiar faces! Friday night we went to the strip to hang out. Saturday we went to Red Rock to go hiking, Sunday we went to their church and then hiked at the Valley of Fire. Monday we had to fly home in the evening so we spent the day at the older half of the strip which Dan and I had never been before so it was pretty neat.

My pictures are out of order for some reason. This was at Valley of Fire. We got there in time to see the sunset!

This was at Red Rock
Another Red Rock mountain pic

Between New York, New York and the Excalibor

Red Rock

Bella trying to participate in the fun by squeezing her head over the backseat :)

Before Valley of FireWe took Bella to the dog park on Saturday and this HUGE puppy kept wanting to sit on me! I think he thought he was a lap dog?

The sunset at Valley of Fire

At the Venetian

Amber and I at the older end of Vegas - nice muscles Amber!!

Outside the Mirage

Outside the Mirage again

Amber and Brent it was so much fun to see you and see where you have been living the past few months! Thanks for letting us stay with you! It was fun sight-seeing and cooking all the yummy meals with you :) Can't wait for you to get home!

Vacation - Part 2 Phoenix, AZ

On Tuesday we drove from Tucson to Phoenix and watched a pre-season baseball game with Ian and Courtney and Braydon, Courtney's brother, and Courtney's friend Rachel. Braydon likes his "Big Toe" stuffed toy.

Another of Braydon's fun words to say is "apple"He liked to play on Dan with his non-sticky apple hands

After the game we waited around to see if Rachel's favorite player for the Brewers J.J. Hardy would sign autographs and didn't see him so we took off. Stuck in traffic we pulled up next to a SUV and she noticed it was J.J.'s vehicle! We got him to roll down his window and she started talking to him about the letter she wrote him and he was like, "oh you are that girl?" After about 2-3 minutes of chatting in traffic about Rachel and Courtney's chiropractic place and coming down to Tucson sometime we drove off.. maybe they will have more meetings!

We had dinner at Oregano's which was a great restaurant in Phoenix. While we were waiting they gave Braydon a chunk of dough to play with but he wasn't interested. So, the rest of us decided to play with it and make things while the others guessed what it was. Below is the first robin of the year, and I saw it (created it) first!

On Wednesday Dan and I hung out at the pool and relaxed. Thursday we took the train downtown Phoenix and ate at a restaurant outside.

Later on Thursday we met my Aunt Lori and Cousin Tamara for dinner.

Then Friday morning we met my mom's uncle and his wife for breakfast before driving on to Las Vegas. It was hard to get good pictures out of a moving vehicle!

We drove through the Joshua Tree National Park

Car Trip photo!
Right at the Nevada border is the Hoover Dam


Lake Mead flows towards the dam

We asked someone to take our picture overlooking Lake Mead and they asked if we were on our Honeymoon! Newlyweds at almost 7 years.


Lake Mead in the rear-view mirror almost to Las Vegas!
We got to Amber and Brent's on Friday early afternoon so part 3 of our vacation will be next!

Vacation - Part 1 in Tucson, AZ

On Saturday night, February 28th, we flew to Tucson, AZ to visit our friends Ian and Courtney and their 16 month old Braydon. Here is a picture of Dan at the airport.On Sunday we visited their church and then went hiking in Saguaro National Park (I think that is what it was called, right Ian?) Braydon doesn't like his nails getting clipped so I distracted him by taking his picture.

It is hard to tell below, but there were tumbleweeds tumbling across the road!
Braydon had a nice ride for the hike, and below Dan is enjoying a delicious sandwich by the dam river.

Braydon LOVES the water! He knows sign language and constantly does the sign for "bath" around the house.

This is Braydon's first breakfast burrito. I think he likes it!

We went to a cave on Monday and there were beautiful views

Later that day we drove up the mountain and had some beautiful pictures of the rocks

Monday night we went to an authentic Meixcan restaurant, so we had to take a photo in front of the bull

Braydon in their backyard hanging out
We had a great time Ian and Courtney! Thanks again for letting us stay with you. The weather in the upper 80's was wonderful! I can't wait until you guys come up to MN later this year.

We'll post more pictures of the second part of our vacation in Phoenix later. We are off to dinner now after a day of lounging around at the pool. I think I have a little color (sunburn)!