Vacation 2009

St George Vacation.....

I love vacations. Since we went on such a big one last year...we decided to keep it simpler/closer/cheaper this year. My wonderful Aunt Lynda's family has a winter home in St George that is amazing. Sleeps over 20...on beds and has a pool. It is awesome. She let us use the house for the week and it couldn't have been better.

So THANK YOU Aunt Lynda!!

We left on Friday, July 10 after I got off work. Marcus, the kids and the boat picked me up from work at 1:00 and we were off....kinda.

Ended up getting a flat tire on the boat trailer just after Evanston. Lovely. Took a little while to change that flat. We couldn't find all the tools we needed. Being a company truck, things are never where they should be. So after about an hour on the side of the road...with Brady helping...we were back on the road....until Heber.

Marcus insisted on stopping at a little Ma and Pa shop to get a new spare for the trailer so we wouldn't be without one. I was just wanting to get to St George...and do it there. But we stopped. Got the tire changed...which really only took 30 minutes. I got me a Pepsi, Marissa some Tylenol (she had a headache) and we were off again....

Stopped in Provo and got some gas. Then right outside Beaver...guess what?....

ANOTHER FREAKING FLAT!!

This time on the other side of the trailer. Seriously. We caught it fast enough that it just took the rubber off and never did go flat. We pulled over on an off ramp this time, which was nice. We were seriously on the side of the road for 10 minutes this time. We (meaning Marcus) had it down! We were off again.

And made it!! Whoo!! I swear if it wasn't for bad luck we wouldn't have any. Seriously.

Kids of course headed right for the pool. Randy went and picked up pizza. Little Caesars. Yum. Haven't had that in ages.

Saturday, we went to one of my favorite places...Costco. Did some shopping for the week. Really nice that we were able to cook the whole time we were there. And it was sample day. Yummy. I think we ended up buying more than we wouldn't because of all those yummy samples. Mmm. I love Costco.

We also stopped at Discount Tires to get...another spare. While we were there a guy mentioned that he liked our boat. Marcus asked him if there was anywhere closer to go than Lake Mead (which is where we were planning on going). He said yes! Sand Hollow is only 15 miles away.

Sweet!

Sand Hollow Reservoir

It was awesome. Seriously. We went out for the first time on Sunday and dang...heaven. Why can't Flaming Gorge be that warm?? Although when we first got there, it was me, Jodie, Sam, Kenna and Marissa left on the beach. There was a warning when we came in that Swimmers Itch was ACTIVE and Marcus was so thoughtful as to get a pamphlet to show exactly what Swimmers Itch was and how you get it. Gross. So for the first hour and a half we sat miserably in the heat on the hot (really hot) red sand.

Then the boys came back and we got a turn. Went out and jumped in and it was heaven. Seriously. The water was so warm there was cold spots. Completely opposite of Flaming Gorge. I joked that FG was so cold you are willing to go hang out in someone else's' pee spot to be warm for a minute. Totally gross and I never have, but FG is pretty chilly. Loved Sand Hollow. Loved it.

We went out 3 different times. Pics are not in order, but at least all the boating pics are together. Too big of a pain with Blogger.

Kenna, Jordin and Mallory on the tube. This was Kenna's first time in 3 years being on the tube. She ate it big time on it. The wind caught it (wind?? in Wyoming??) and flipped it in the air and slammed her down. So she was chicken to get back on. She finally did and had a great time. I think she is friends with the tube again..

Brady and Matthew. Since Kenna was chicken to ride the tube, we never have even taken it out. She is our "brave" child...Brady is the chicken. So this was also Braden's first time on the tube. He loved it...before I drove. The little stinks weight 80 lbs combined and didn't lean back. So the tube went under...twice before we even got past the buoys. Suck. I convinced him to get back on the first time it happened, then it happened again, and there was no convincing him to get on again. He waited until later when Marcus was driving. See...he was mad at me. Little turkey.
This is me wrecking on the wake board. I think Marcus makes me wake board just so he can laugh. I can get up and do good...until I start going over the wake. Scares the heck outta me. I hate the wake. Somehow I always manage to scream/squeal and plug my nose when I crash. For some reason, this is hilarious. I hate water up my nose tho. Sucks.
Gangster Julz. I love her.

Jordin, Kenna and Matthew.

Marcus wakeboading.

My Love. Isn't he cute. And tan...little jerk. Tans so easily. I have only seen him burnt once. So not fair.
Chris, Lane and Randy.
Kenna, Matthew and Marissa (also her first time). She did really good. No fits at all.

Miss Riss in her new little pink life jacket. I love it. I have a matching one.

I dunno who this is. How sad. Needed to use Photoshop and crop before I uploaded I guess. Oh well.
This is probably my favorite picture. Julz was picture mama this time and got some funny ones. This would be Jodie and Jordin wrecking....oops. But soo so funny.
Once again...no idea.

Randy getting ready to ride.

Kenners and Miss Riss enjoying the sandy beaches. (Another thing FG doesnt have)...I do love the Gorge though.

Randy and Kenna. This was after Kenna, Jordin and Mallory wrecked. I was so proud of her for getting back on. But prob wasn't the best idea getting her back on with Randy...the more weight..the more that thing hauls. She was a little mad at me by the time we stopped. I seriously thought she was squealing in delight...not fright. (Ha ha. I just came up with that. Geesh I am tired.)

Our beautiful Marissa.

We went and got pedicures in SG. Fun. Kenna even did it, which kinda shocked me. She is usually so anti-girly. She loved it though. These are Mallory (green) Kenna (orange) and Julz (purple). Mine have a fish on them. So so cute. Jordin got tiger stripes which I loved. She is a cheerleader and the mascot is a Tiger. How fun is that??

Marcus and Mallory Rae Marissa in her "spot". She loves to curl up under there when she gets tired. Most of the time she will fall asleep under there. She is silly.

Marcus and Mal Gal.

Ken Doll.

Marissa and Julie. Filling up her water bottle with sand and shells from the beach.

Sammy and Marissa. I miss her.

Kenna, Jordin and Skyler.

My brotha Jeffy.

Brady.

Marcus and Matthew....

My beautiful Sammy.

Marcus, Randy, Jodie and I went to Las Vegas on Tuesday, July 14. Lucky Julz got to stay with all the kids in St George. I dont think she was too worried. Big house...a pool...LOTS of food. She was good to go.

And so were we. ;O)

Got down and checked into the Venetian (way nice...highly recommended) and did some gambing with our $50 credit at the penny slots. I lost all but $13. Sad day. Randy and Jodie won. She basically won the free $50, so that worked out for them. Rude. Marcus did win almost $12 on one pull on the penny slots. Pretty cool. I am too cheap to do much more than penny slots. lol. That night we went to The Phantom of the Opera. It was awesome. I have never seen the movie. I have listened to the music, but it is so so much cooler watching them sing those long/high notes. I so wish I could sing. Sigh. It was awesome. We were in the elevator and one of the songs came on. Marcus looked at me and said, "We aren't going to THIS are we?" Yup. And he loved it. Kenna would've gotten a kick outta it. She LOVES the movie. When that chandelier falls....awesome.

It was both Randy and Jodies first time in LV. So afer the show...and a very yummy/expensive dinner at one of Emerils restaurants Delmonica...we headed to walk the strip. Still hot. Lots of people...but we didn't have to wait in line to get into the Wax Museum.

I had always wanted to go, but didn't know exactly where it was. It was $25 a person to get in, which was retarded. Obviously people pay it though....

Marcus is a little jealous of my fixation on Nicky. Ohh...but Tim? He is so cute. Even in wax. Love him.
Don't worry....Marcus had his turn with Jessica. She is so pretty. Marcus looks pretty happy to be there, doesn't he??
Marcus and Randy also took a minute to show Tiger how to get that shot. He was talking to him and everything. He kills me. My BFF Paris and I. We are pretty tight. I do love her hair. I would love to chop mine...but am too chicken...and I do love my pony tails...

I also realized how short I am. I know I am...even standing next to Marcus, there is 12" difference...Shaq? Ridiculous. Jodie, the Rock and I. Marcus and I before the show. Aw. Kinda a blurry picture, but what do you do??

The next day, July 15...was also Marcus' 30th birthday. Awe. Crazy. I remember when my dad turned 30. I was about 10. I remember thinking how OLD he was. Sad day. Thirty is so not old...not that I am excited to get there myself. Sigh.

We walked the Strip again....This time from The Venician to the M&M Factory and the MGM. Kinda far...especially when it is 116 outside. Oh well. You can't go to Las Vegas and not walk the Strip.

Love the M&M Factory. So cool. Everything that I know to do is kid oriented. Oh well. It was still fun....then off to the MGM where we had lunch at The Rainforest Cafe...another Kid Friendly place, but it was yummy.

We also got smart and rode the MonoRail back to the Venician. Much nicer in the heat.

We got back to SG and McKenna had made Marcus and I a combined birthday cake. She is so sweet. It was a carrot cake...double stacked. Yum.

Thanks Kenna!

Marissa liked the cake too.

Brady ran up to Randy to taunt him...and Randy retaliated by throwing him in the pool.

Then Randy had to apologize for throwing him in. He didn't like it too much. Little turkey. He sure can dish it out, just doesn't take it very well.
Marcus, Sammy, Chris and Randy. Enjoying the beautiful St George nights...

Brady....gotta love him.

We left St George on Saturday and drove to Marcus' Aunt Jan and Uncle Ron's cabin in Duck Creek, which is above Cedar City. It is so beautiful up there. Love it. It happened to be Duck Creek Days, so there was all sorts of people and booths. It was pretty cool.

Brady loved the blow up slide they had. He is so funny.

Brady. Flippin. He is a nut. The girls stayed with Aunt Jan. They love to hang out with her. And I know she loves hanging out with them.

Brady also got a tattoo. He is such a stud. He absolutely LOVES soccer, so this was perfect for him.

Later that night, we went for a hike. It seriously is so pretty up there. Although, during our hike we got yelled at. Some lady comes toward us from the woods and tells us we are trespassing on private property and that we needed to turn around and go back the way we came. I said, "Sorry" and the hoochie said, "You can read the signs". Rude. There were no signs except the one that said No Hunting. Whatever though. She was quite crabby. Oh well, we still had a nice hike. Kenna, Aunt Jan and Pete.
So it was a fabulous time. Loved it. All of it. The heat, the company, the food. It rocked. I love that there is such a big group of us that have been going together. It seriously is so much fun. We are already pondering what to do next year. Ireland is so in the future...just probably not next year. But we will go one day. Cant wait!