Vacation at Nana's/fun in Vegas

Brenna had her spring break last week so we decided to head out to my mom's house.  Jason was able to get the whole week off too! (yay!!!) My mom was able to get a few days off work too. (another yay!!!)  Usually when we go down to visit it is usually during the Harley River Run (lots and lots and lots of motorcycles!) and since my mom works for Harley-Davidson, that is a busy time for them so they won't let her take time off, plus she usually has to work extra, so we usually don't get to see her much.  I was glad that she was able to take a few days off.  Since she did......we ditched the kids with her and we went off to Vegas to have some fun (about as much fun as people who don't drink, gamble, and are on a budget can have).

(yes....I am in shorts and sweatshirt...it was windy and cold and only my arms were cold)

 Some of our really good friends, Alan and Kanani, came down to Vegas to play too.  It was great spending time with them too.  They are seriously some of our best friends but we don't get to see them much.  While we were there, we stayed in the Stratosphere.  It was pretty decent priced....the only bad thing is it was on the very end of the strip and we were walking everywhere.....I got a workout.  The first night we decided to walk down to the Flamingo for dinner.  We didn't think it was that far....at least walking there.  But on the way back it was a bit chilly and we all had full bellies, plus we were worn out from walking.  Later we mapped it and we found out that it was around 3 miles to the Flamingo from the Stratosphere.....so we walked 6 miles.  I think we worked off our dinner.  Plus, I did my running that morning and I think I ran close to 5 miles.....

This is on top of the Stratosphere.....is it too much to ask to get a decent picture of the two of us....oh well =)

Want to hear my blonde moment?  As we were checking into the hotel, I reached into my purse and my wallet was gone!  I freaked out!  I thought I had lost it or something. (it wouldn't be the first time....) Before I freaked out too much, I called my mom to see if I left it at her house.....yup......left it sitting on the counter.  so I left my ID (you seriously can't even buy a pepsi in Vegas without ID) and the money I had been stashing away to splurge with......and my mom lives 2 hours away from Vegas so it wasn't like we could really just turn around and go get it.  

This is me and Kanani......we get mistaken for sisters a lot =)

(I love this pic!)

Of course we had to go see the fountains at Belagio.  We stayed for 2 shows.....which was a good thing.  The first show they did it to the song "Big Spender" and I wasn't all that impressed....it was lame.  But then we stuck around for the next.  They did it to "God Bless the USA."  It was great!  Very moving.  

After the show, we went to look at the garden's in the Belagio.  They were pretty cool too =)

This was made completely of flowers.  Pretty neat, huh?

The only way I ever get pictures....the lovely "hold the camera in front of you and hope you get a good shot" pose.

We also went to M&M world and got the kids some stuff.  We went to Coke World....that was kinda lame.  We also did some shopping in the outlets, but of course, since I had permission to go shopping I couldn't find a single thing that I liked.  I was also bummed because the pool at the hotel closed at 6pm.  We wanted to go hang out in the hot tub at night.  We didn't go on any of the rides on the Stratosphere.  I was too big of a chicken, plus we had just eaten dinner right before and I didn't think spectators wanted to see what I had eaten.....We still had fun, even though I left my wallet.  It just meant Jason had to stay with me the whole time =)  

Of course the most beautiful building in all of Vegas has no neon lights, admission is free, and it has the biggest payout of all.

This was the temple we were married in so it is a special one for us.  We did a session before we went home.  Jason's parents and grandparents met us there and joined in.  It was pretty neat seeing the three generations of Hansen men.

We had lots of fun hanging out.  It was just nice to be able to have some time away from the kids.  Don't get me wrong, I love my kiddos, but it is nice to have a break once in a while.  So now that we were done playing, it was time to head back and be responsible parents.

When we got to my mom's we mainly just hung out and relaxed.  Jason got to go spend some time with some of his friends and I hung out with my mom. =)  I didn't get too many pictures....I know, I'm a slacker.  But my defense is that my digital camera is broken and so I forget to take pictures with my phone (and phone pics aren't always the greatest in quality).

Here's my mom with the kids.  She loves her grandkids and they sure got spoiled while we were there.

The kids liked feedin gthe huge fish they have outside the Colorado Belle Casino.  Jason used to work there so we always stop by to see if any of his friends are still there......but after almost 10 years not too many are left.

We had some time to waste before going out to eat so were taking some pictures.  The kids liked the big bear =)

They played with the wishing well too =)

On the last night, Brenna played Monopoly with Nana.  She was such a Nana's girl.  Nana read her to sleep, fixed her hair, and did lots of crafts.  Ian had fun just playing outside with rocks =)  Jason took the kids for a few walks in the desert while I went running and one time they came back with a lizard.  Ian was so excited that they caught a lizard!  It was a nice break to down there but I was glad to get home......nothing like my big ol' comfy bed that I ca sprawl in =)