Las Vegas Vacation

Because my sister and brother both live in Las Vegas, we travel down there at least once a year.  We made a little trip down there this month.  Parker had that Friday off of school.  Brad was busy enough at work he couldn't take more than a day off, but he went in really early on Thursday so he could leave at 3:30.  We left by four on our trip.  We enjoyed traveling in our van and listening to all the music we'd uploaded on it's hard drive.  We stopped for dinner at a Carl's Jr. in Fillmore.  Here are the boys loving their Daddy!

Liesel was laughing for the camera too.

The next day had gorgeous weather.  It was upper seventies with a light breeze.  We went to Calico Basin, which is a free section of Red Rock.  Unfortunately my niece had the stomach flu, so the opted not to accompany us.

The boys LOVED climbing up the rocks.  We kept our eyes on them, but for the most part it isn't too steep.

Liesel liked sitting on the rocks too.  She liked throwing the sand as well.

Exploring the "cave" with her little sandy bum!

Here is Brad scouting out the higher areas.

The boys made it up there too.

Can you see Jason peeking around the rock formation on the right?

Jason perched up high.

Here is a closer view.

We saw a few Geckos.  Can you see it in the middle?

This one had lost it's tail at some point.  When it heard us it ran into this crevice.

There is something so adorable about daddies and their daughters.

When we got back to the bottom, we realized the canyon echos.  The kids had a great time yelling and hearing their shouts echoed back.

Afterwards we stopped by the Red Rock Casino's food court for lunch and had some delicious Rubio's.

That night my sister Julie and most of the kids went with us to Firehouse Subs for dinner.  Alison and Scott were recovering from illness.  The subs were great and the kids loved the hats.  Everyone loved the cool soda machine with 500 choices.

 That evening we hung out.  Here are Ali, Heidi and little Brandon.

He is five months old already.

 My sister's family gave Parker a birthday gift.  I love how all the kids crowd around.

 Parker was super-excited bout this Lego police car- complete with a criminal in handcuffs, ha, ha!

Heidi and Alison had made these really cute leprachaun traps with gold painted rocks in the little pots.  Parker got really excited about trying to find or trap one.  In the morning the kids woke up to a few chairs knocked down and gold coins all over the table.  Scott fixed giant green pancakes and delicious breakfast burritos.

We had been hoping the weather would cooperate so my brother Pete could take us flying, but unfortunately it was too windy.  He came over and hung out with us.  Here are Parker, Heidi and "Uncle Pebo" playing Risk.

Later on the kids played outside in the driveway.

After lunch we all went to U-Swirl for some frozen yogurt.

Me with my boys.

Dylan, Alison and Heidi

Dylan, Scott, Ali, Julie, Heidi, Peter and Brandon is in the carrier.

Liesel teasing her Dad!  She and Jason are definitely cut from the same mold on this one.  They both love to tease!

That night we had Papa John's pizza and lots of green: Jell-O, apple slices, cucumber slices and mint brownies.  Afterwards Brad entertained the kids by letting them watch him play Mario Brothers on his laptop.  Unfortunately Jason had gotten sick that afternoon, so he was hanging out in our room watching Tangled and Thomas the Train.

Liesel was starting to wriggle away, but here she is with her Uncle Pete.

On Sunday Jason had been feeling well since the previous evening, so we went to sacrament meeting.  Afterwards we headed on our way.  I gave the kids a couple of apple slices, which turns out was a really bad idea.  A few minutes past Mesquite Jason threw up.  We turned around and ran to a grocery store to pick up cleaning supplies.  We got Jason and the car cleaned up as best we could and continued on our way.  We arranged for my dad to meet us near the freeway with their steam cleaner so we could shampoo the car later.  Luckily we made it home without further incident.  Both Liesel and Parker after getting home, but it's been several days and Brad and I still seem to have escaped.  It's too bad to be sick, but at least it was short lived for all our kids.  Despite the unfortunate sickness we had a great time visiting!  Thanks to the steam cleaner, baking soda, vinegar and charcoal, our car is clean and smells like it too!

Liesel Bugs is in a "Big Girl Bed"!

All of my kids are super climbers.  They have all had to move out of their cribs before eighteen months because they climbed out.  Liesel didn't actually climb out, but last Friday I looked in on her leaning precariously over the edge.  One foot was on her water cup for a boost and she seemed to be moments from diving out. 

When I fix her hair, I attempt to disguise her mullet, but it's in full glory for bed, ha, ha!  At least she's a cutie in her jammies!

 As a temporary solution we pulled out her crib mattress and put it on the floor.  Eventually we'll buy another set of bunk beds and set up one twin, but this works for now.  This picture is how she feels about laying in her bed at night.

She has been crying by the door and sometimes even banging on it, either kicking it or hitting a toy against it.  More often than not, she ends up falling asleep on the floor.  Our boys sleep like rocks.  Once their out, you could almost anything and they wouldn't wake up, but if we try to move Liesel to her bed, it usually ends up meaning another ten minutes of screaming.  Oh well, hopefully she'll adapt.

**Update** On March 12 she had her eighteen month appointment.  Her height is 30.75" (25%), her weight is 20.15 lbs (7%) and her head circumference is 45 cm (10%).  She is slowly moving up in the weight.  When we bought a new car last month we finally turned around her car seat.  Since she had her brothers to look at, she didn't mind being backwards to much, but she likes being forward to look out better.

Parker's Treasure Party

Parker has been SO EXCITED for his party!  He counted down the days, then hours, then minutes...seriously, this was thrilling for him!

The kids played a little "Pin the Flag on the Treasure Map".  All the older kids cheated...it was hilarious to have them pretend not to see, but rotate their flags to make them position perfectly over "X marks the spot", he, he!

It came with this sweet blindfold, ha, ha!

A while ago I asked Parker if he wanted his first friend party or if he'd rather have a family party with his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.  He chose to celebrate with his family.  I can't blame him, we have an amazing family!

 Parker had been anticipating our tradition of going around the room and everyone sharing things they love about Parker.  A few were comments were on his happiness, obedience and inquisitive mind. Both Uncle Ben and Grandma Pratt said something to the effect of: "I like that when I play games with Parker, I don't have to let him win, he manages to do it all on his own."  We videoed all of his compliments so he can appreciate them all later.  

Next he opened his presents. 

 Parker got so many fun gifts!

 I love how all his cousins helped deliver his gifts and then helped him open them too, ha, ha! 

 As always, everyone was very generous!

 Afterwards Parker went around the room to thank everyone and give them hugs.

Parker had requested a treasure chest cake.  He didn't want a pirate theme per se, just the treasure and treasure map part, ha. ha!  The cake turned out pretty well, although looks structurally compromised.  Parker LOVED it!  He prayed that it would be the "best, best, best, .... (dozen more "bests") ...cake ever!"  Well, it did taste pretty fantastic thanks to this amazing recipe and his prayer, I'm sure!"

 So excited to blow out his candles!

Parker had so much fun helping select and prepare the favors.

 Afterwards we tried out all of Parker's fun new toys.

 Jason giving the new football a ride in the wagon.

We had dinner at my parents' and had a little birthday celebration for my brother Ben, who is Parker's "birthday neighbor", since their birthdays fall two days apart.

Parker is such an incredible kid!  I am so glad he's ours and it's so fun to celebrate with the years he's been in our family!