Race to Robie Creek 2012

Kelly and I signed up for this year's Race to Robie Creek. Part of the thrill is the fact that it sells out so fast. This year's race sold out in about 9 minutes. The Noon start time was a warm one. Despite the heat, we both felt really good about our times. Kelly's a great sport, he beat me to the finish line and didn't rub it in at all (I'm a little competitive and often a sore loser). Actually it was kind of fun because we basically ran the race together. Kelly finished somewhere around 2:02 taking almost 20 minutes off of last year's time. I finished 2:04 two minutes slower than last year and 4 minutes slower than my goal of getting under 2 hours. Look at this lean, mean, running machine before the start. I think he was planning from the beginning to beat his wife.

http://robiecreek.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Net-Results-Race-to-Robie-Creek-2012.pdf

Ellie talked her dad into getting her a "big girl bike". She LOVES it! We love watching her ride around and around in circles for as long as we'll let her. She insists that we take her tricycle to the "DI". She really wants to go on a "family bike ride", but we told her she needs to practice a while first.

Baby Animal Days

We visited Baby Animal Days at the American West Heritage Center for the first time as a family. The kids had fun petting and holding the animals, but the highlight for Ellie was the train ride. We stood in line for almost an hour for the two minute ride.

While waiting for the train the kids enjoyed peeking through the walls of the tunnel.

  Simple Pleasures.

One day I found that Ellie had organized my running shoes.

Easter

Easter was spent at home this year. Local Easter Egg Hunt (w/ one grumpy egg hunter)

Easter Bunny at Macey's

Easter Egg Hunt at home.

Las Vegas (day 3)

The next day we took in some more sights and even got a little sun-burned in the 80 degree weather (my favorite part - loved the sun and warm weather). Ethan was able to get his own pics of the "guys'" pirate ship.


We visited the "Secret Garden" at the Mirage and got to see the dolphins and big cats.

With tax season around the corner dad was unable to join us. Ellie spent an evening telling dad about it all. She loved the quarter rides at Circus Circus and her favorite thing (when asked) is getting a whoopi cushion and taking it to the hotel room.

One of Ethan's favorite parts of the trip was definitely all the games at the midway of Circus Circus.

Grandma loved the whole trip.

Las Vegas (day 2)

After the bus tour our next destination was M & M World. Four stories of M & M Bliss.


The 3D M&M movie was a hit!






Next we strolled around, took in some more sights, caught glimpses of some characters looking to make a few $$(Mario & Luigi, Elmo, Transformers, a passed out Winnie the Pooh, and some others); not quite what you find at Disneyland.


Waiting for the Water Show at the Bellagio.





Before we called it a night we caught sight of the Treasure Island pirate show. We had to watch it from across the street do to our Ellie's fear of fire, loud cannon blasts, and fireworks. She like the girl pirates best.


Actually it was just calling it a night for Ellie and me, Grandma and Ethan tried their luck on the Midway at Circus Circus and brought home many stuffed bunnies that they won.

Tour de Las Vegas

The first double decker topless BUS we saw the kids were adament that we ride on one, so the next day we decided to take in the entire strip by bus. E-Squared LOVED it.


Once again, Ethan brought his camera and took his own pictures. He was pretty cute to watch as he did his best to get "the best pictures".




During the tour Ethan pulled out a loose tooth. Too bad he doesn't like to leave his teeth for the tooth fairy; what better place to get some $$$ for a tooth than Vegas.

Las Vegas (day 1)

Over Spring Break the kids and I took my mom to Vegas for her 60th birthday.

Ellie was so funny on the plane ride, she was squealing and screaming with every bump, jerk and turn the plane made. She was very curious about who was "driving the plan." Both kids got a kick out of our shuttle driver who transported us from the airport to our hotel. It's funny, the parts of the trip that are sometimes bothersome and a hassel for us as parents are the most exciting parts for the kids. Anytime we take a bus, tram, plane ride, etc. it's one of the greatest parts of a trip for the kids. We adults can learn a lot from kids - take joy in the simple things.

On our first day we strolled the strip. The kids insisted on taking every escalator we ran into.


We ran into "The Rock". Ellie wasn't too impressed.

For mom's birthday we went to Serendipity 3. The food was sooo delicious we didn't have room for any of their famous desserts.