Weekly Adventure

We will be heading to Vegas this week, yes another road trip, it will be great. Although we are going to rent a minivan, so I will be under disguise, because there can not be any evidence of me driving a minivan ever!! ( A promise I made to God if he let me be a mom.)

We are going for a wedding, Karst's brother Brian and Ramee are getting married aren't they just darling!!

So we are going to attempt to go to these places in Vegas:

Bruce Trent Park Farmers' Market

Vendors offer tasty homegrown and homemade food and are joined by numerous artisans selling unique crafts. Kids' activities are typically offered, too.
702.562.CORN
http://www.las... mersmarket.com


Ages: All Ages
Time: 4pm-8pm
Cost: Free

We will need to save a lot of time for:

People Watching,

Casino Strolling

Shopping

Relaxing by the pool!!

But if you are in Salt Lake and looking for ideas for your kiddos here is what I would do:

Mondays in the Park: Native American Music & Dance

The Mondays in the Park series offers free folk music concerts and ethnic dance every Monday evening in July and August. This week, Lil' Feathers give an intertribal pow wow demonstration. Folks are encouraged to bring lawn chairs/blankets and picnic dinners.
801.236.7555
http://arts.ut... ark/index.html
8/24/09

Ages: All Ages
Time: 7pm
Cost: Free..

Toadally Frogs

The popular Toadally Frogs exhibit returns to the Utah Museum of Natural History. This traveling exhibition features live frogs from around the world, learning activities, and more.
801.581.6927
http://www.umnh.utah.edu
Ongoing Daily 3/14/09 - 9/14/09; check with location for exceptions.

Ages: All Ages
Time: During museum hours
Cost: Free with museum admission

Sundae Mondays at Ben & Jerry's

Families can buy one sundae on Mondays and get another one free at participating Ben & Jerry's stores nationwide. The free sundae is of equal or lesser value, and customers must mention the offer upon ordering to receive the free sundae.
801.456.0070
http://www.benjerry.com
Ongoing Each Mon 7/6/09 - 8/31/09; check with location for exceptions.

Ages: All Ages
Time: Mon, during store hours
Cost: Buy one, get one free

Twilight Concert: Rober Randolph/Black Joe Lewis

The Twilight Concert Series features nationally and internationally known performing artists. This week's performers are Robert Randolph & the Family Band and Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears. Food, beverages, and arts & crafts are available for purchase. Seating is first come, first served; blankets and low-backed folding chairs are welcome. Bring a change of clothes or swimsuits for the kids; the fountain is a kid magnet.
801.535.6110
http://www.thegallivancenter.com
8/27/09

Ages: All Ages
Time: 7pm-10pm
Cost: Free

Millcreek Movie Nights: Blue Hawaii (PG)

The Community Councils of Millcreek Township offer a free outdoor screening of Blue Hawaii at the park. The movie is shown at dusk on a large inflatable screen. Don't forget to bring a blanket.
http://www.millcreektownship.org
8/28/09

Ages: 6-19
Time: Dusk
Cost: Free

Vegas Trip

Karst had to work in Vegas for a week in April, so Charlee and I decided we should go to keep him company.

This is how she spent the six hour drive there, doing yoga.  Just kidding she slept most of the way.

One of Karst's co-workers brought his wife and baby.  So this is Tally and Charlee and their adventures in Vegas.  (And just to kill the suspense they did not get any piercing' or tatoo's)

We have been to Vegas many times, but this was our first as parents, so I wanted to find fun things for Charlee to see and for Tally to do.  Of course the people watching is always good, but we needed more than that for a week.

Remember when I told you about gocitykids.parentconnect.com?  This is a website that has Activities and Resources based on different locations.  So easy cheesey, I just went to the website, put in the zip code and ta da, there was a list of activities for kids to do in Vegas, and some were even Free.

One activity we found was at the Lied Discovery Children's Museum, they had an exhibit of Clifford the Big Red Dog.  So we went.  This was not listed in any of the Vegas literature in the hotel and if I didn't use the website I would not have known about it.

This is Baely holding Charlee for the photo, the dog was a little too big for her to sit by herself.

However, they did have a little doghouse that Charlee loved to sit in and she squealed with delight as the other kids played around her.

Here is Tally and Baely in a different part of the museum.  There was 2 floors and lots to do there.  Charlee loved watching Tally run around and play with everything and Tally loved there was so much for her to do.

Another thing I found was the best Casino Attractions for kids, so of course we went to Caesar's palace to see the F.A.O. Schwartz Trojan horse and do a little toy shopping,  Charlee might not remember this part, since she slept through most of it. 
The teddy bear collections (don't worry I shopped for her so she could rest.)
We also hit the Bellagio Gardens which were amazing and FREE, and out of the hot sun.
On our way home we stopped and got "the vegas photo"  We had a blast and will be back in August.  Good thing she still has 20 1/2 years to sharpen her black jack skills!!

So I am telling you if you are going somewhere and need things to do for kids, or just something different for yourself, go to that website (you can also use there guide on my sideline).  If you have family coming this summer or if you just need some place to take the kids for a few hours this summer, check it out.  And if for some reason you have decided that you want to move to Kentucky, the least you can do is use the website to find the best library in Lexington.

THE ROAD TRIP PICTURES

Finally Pictures, I know, sorry I have been such a slacker and didn't get these up sooner.  

  We had so much fun, it was nice to spend some quality time with Karst's parents, grandparents and his uncle Tom.  Enjoy the pictures.

This is us driving, I think this was day 2 and we are probably a little bored.

Karst's parents in the van.

Me in Campital City

Us at Far West

Karst's mom, grandma and grandpa, sitting and waiting for me to finish taking pictures.

Us at Carthage Jail

This is when we stopped on the Mississippi Bridge so a barge could go through. 

Our picnic on the Mississippi River

The sunset on the Mississippi River, it was so amazing!!

Us at sunset

Karst's dad and mom.

Karst's grandparents on the banks Mississippi River

Here we are at Nauvoo, this was actually taken the last day we were there, when we were heading out of town.  From Left to Right, it is Uncle Tom, Grandma, Dad, Mom, Grandpa, Me.

This is a statue that is across the street from the temple, obviously it was sunset, but a beautiful statue in the daylight also.

The Nauvoo Temple

This was is Karst, Mom, Dad, Grandma, Uncle Tom, and Grandpa at the winter quarters temple that we stopped at on the way home.

Dad, Grandpa and Karst doing some hunting at Cabela's in Nebraska.

Karst & his mom at the Brown and Gold store.  I think Karst was in heaven.

Here you go Kris.  This was a place we stopped at outside of Cheyenne to get gas, who knew it was here?

Here I am, finally made it home after our long day of driving, I was a little timed.

This is what I probably missed the most.  At least I know when she has been cleaned, I know who has been here, I don't have to try and search her out.  The little things I took for granted.

Okay, so I have pictures of EVERYTHING else we did, but I didn't want to bore you to tears so I only choose these few.  I really had picked out 160 pictures to post, but then I realized how much more time that was going to take and sometimes less is more.  So if you really want the step by step pictures of the whole vacation call me and we'll have you over for the slide show.

Day 8 and we are home

First of all I am really sorry I did not get this posted a week ago when we got home.  I know you were checking and thinking that we were still in Kearny.  This was not the case. I got home and because I had over 2800 pictures it has taken a little sorting and adjusting to be ready to post them.

One of our weary travelers got sick (probably from something that we ate), and so instead of taking 2 days to get home from Nebraska we pushed through in one day.  We left at 8 am and arrived at our home at 11:51.   We drove 775 miles that day.  It was a long day for everyone.  The highlight of that day was when we stopped at the Brown and Gold store in Cheyenne, to get some University of Wyoming garb.  Our last official vacation stop was at Little America Wyoming to get an ice cream.  

I feel like I saw everything I wanted to see and more, I did everything and I came home exhausted but it was well worth it, time to plan another vacation!!

Day 7 When it's hog killing time in Nebraska...

Okay so there is this little camp song, the title and the words are "When it's hog killing time in Nebraska"  That's is that is the whole song, you sing it four times and the last time you sing it all dramatic like you are crying or something.  So this is an annoying song to sing becuase it gets in your head and it doesn't go away, but it is a great song to sing to someone if you want to get on their nerves.  The point of all of this, is last two days of driving in Nebraska and especially when I get the scent of the agruiculture that song starts playing in my head.  So today has been a little long, just in my head because if I sang it out loud I am pretty sure Karst would tie me to the front of the car like a hood ornament.

Last night we were in Omaha, this morning we went to Winter Quarters, it is was so beautiful and humbling to see the grave yard behind the temple and to hear the stories of the pioneers sacrafice.  I am glad we took the time to stop and see it.  

So we only drove 207 miles today, we are in Kearny Nebraska (pronounced carney), which is just great, one of the Simpson episodes is when they get griffted by some carnie's and they trade houses with  Homer and Bart and have to be carnies, (guys working in a carnival),  so we can say we stayed with the "carnies" tonight.    It is a nice little town, with a Cabela's that we finally found and did a little shopping.  We then went to dinner at Ruby Tuesday's where Karst had a steak.  I have been waiting all week to see when he would get a steak and tonight was the night,  and  he loved every bite, and them complained that his stomach hurt.

However, after last night we wanted to make sure we got a decent hotel and ta da, we did we are at the Country  Inn and Suties and it is so nice and it is CLEAN  which is a great thing.  It is a big room with a King bed.  There is a fridge and a microwave in here, so we can heat up our underware or cool them off in the fridge depending on our mood, how great is that?  Plus there is real cable TV and Karst is just sitting on the bed drinking a Pepsi and flipping, flipping, flipping the channel, I think he could be in heaven.

We are planning on being home Sunday afternoon, it depends on what we find to do between Kearny and Utah.  I think we are going to stop at some malls and do some shopping because we really haven't had the chance.    Oh, how I love vacation and taking a break from everything, but I am glad we are on our way home.

Day 6 Go West

So now that we have been going East for 6 days, now we are going west.  And again I drove all day today and it was such a good thing!!  I loved it. It was only 352 miles, but the scenery in the midwest is so beautiful.  You see signs of the flooding along the Mississippi, some sand bags but it seems things are looking better.

We are now in Nebraska, and we are in our own room, but it is such a small room from the condo the last 3 days I feel a little closterphonic.  To be honest it has probably been the worst room yet.  After we recleaned it, I think it will work.  I can't believe how time has flown.  Again we drove 3 through 3 states.  So all day I had this great blog in my  head and now I have totally forgot what it was I was going tell you, I am sorry.  Better luck next week.

Day 5 Lovin' every minute of it

So day 5, we spent the day site seeing.  And the humity hasn't been that bad.  We went to Carthage and all around Nauvoo.  It was awesome to see the homes and hear the stories. Truly a life changing expirence.  You know the stories, you've seen the pictures but when you touch the brick and see the whole scene, it add a new demision to the history.  Something so personal, it means something different to everyone, so it is something you have to expirence yourself.

 I have to tell you the perfect end to our stay in Nauvoo was having a picnic on the Mississippi River at sunset.  It was so beautiful, so breath taking, so amazing.  Can't wait to show you the pictures.  And now I am off to get night pictures of the temple.  Tomorrow morning we leave and start the trip back home.

Day 4 And we are all still talking

So Day 4 what a day, what a great day!!! We started out with a session in the Nauvoo Temple, a little food a little shopping, a little too much food, a little pagant. It was perfect.

Sorry this is the only picture I have been able to get uploaded.   I will try and do some more tomorrow, but we will for sure have the whole show Monday the 21st.  This totally sucks, what is the purpose of the daily log if I can't show you the pictures?

Oh the pictures I wish I could have taken for you inside the temple. It was so amazing and beautiful. Every where you looked it was breath taking. So all I have to say if you have not seen it for yourself you need to go and see it.

We are staying in a condo, all 7 of us and I thought wow this could really be a disaster and (knock on wood) it hasn't been too bad, but we have not really been in here a lot we are going, going, going.

Okay well that's it for today. Have fun with your non-vacation day, we are living up all of our vacation, we want to come home worn out, beat up, exhausted but happy.

Day 3 of 8 Day Road Trip

Wow!!  What a great time we are having.  I know I keep promising pictures, and belive me there is 955 right now, however we are using a land line for the internet and it keeps giving me errors when I try to upload.  So when we are back to the real internet I will give you some updates.

Okay, well today was great.  Janis and I got up at Sunrise to go take pictures, the problem was I didn't really know where I was going.  We had a map we had directions, we had the GPS.  The problem was, there are so many little county roads in Missouri and it was dark, so after 6 u-turns we called it good and headed back to the hotel.  So I swallowed my pride and admitted we couldn't do it without the guys.  We made it to the site later in the days and of course the guys drove right to it with out a u-turn.  That's what I get for shooting my mouth off that I could do it all by myself.

So I don't know the milage for sure but I believe it was about 500 today, again 3 states.  We were in Missouri, Iowa and Illinois.  We stopped at Far West, Adam-on-Diaman, and the last stop today, Nauvoo.  It has been such a great thing.  I had seen all of the sights in Missouri before but I have never been to Illinois.   We took the "country road" way here and saw so much country side.

And we saw the Mississippi for the first time. It is so big and powerful. You can see signs of the flooding and a few places still have the sand bags. Again so much to see, so little time. I thought all day I was getting good pictures and I was so excited to download them and really look at them, and I have to say I am not as happy with what I thought I was getting. I am hopeful that it is only the macbook and when I get home and really look on the Mac Daddy that they are clearer.

I have really enjoyed this trip, good people, good food, good laughs.  I love that me and Karst have been together for 3 days and we haven't ran out of things to laugh and talk about. It is great to be with his parents, grandparents and uncle.  They are all different from eachother, but get a long so well.  I am learning so much from them and about them.  I am sure they are learning things about me, that is making them scratch their head.  Like does she ever stop taking pictures?

I love thinking about work and what I am not doing and don't have to be doing.  I love that I can wear whatever I want and I don't have to think about a dress code or nylons!!  I love that I haven't worn a watch for 4 days,  I love seeing Karst relax and have fun with his family.

My only problem is that I want to do everything.   I want to finish reading me book, I want to get my crochet project done, I want to drive, I want to take pictures,  I want to hurry and see as much as I can, I want to doddle and look at everything,  I wany to be in the van, I want to be in the car.   I want all the tourists to leave so we can have the whole place just to ourselves.  Seriously,  I want to live it all and expirence all I can on this trip.  I don't want to go home with any regrets.  I am sure that I won't I need to just calm down, slow down and take it in as it comes.  

Well for the next 3 days we are going to stay here in Nauvoo, we'll do small day stuff, but my suitcase is unpacted until Thursday.  I better go to bed so I can try and catch another sunrise.  Hello, you do know I am out of control right?

Day 2 Day Tripper

We are at the end of day 2 and it has been more driving.  We are in Cameron Missouri. Today, we only did 510 miles today, it was a light day. Good news, we found the humidity. So again 3 states. Marge has given us awesome gas milage. Our last tank was 45 miles to the gallon. It is so pretty and green here.  Tomorrow should be a tourist day.  Not as much driving.  And Karst has gotten bored enough he too has been singing into the pepsi bottle.  The only problem is, because we are following Karst's parents, so I have to learn how to go the speed limit,  but I am learning.  Today Karst told me I could drive or take pictures but I couldn't do both.  Yesterday, he was sleeping while I was driving and then when he was looking at the pictures he asked when I took them, so I had to confess.  Hello it is flat, but it probably isn't the best idea.  Anyway I am way tired and I am getting up at 5:00 to got take pictures at sunrise.  I know I am crazy but it will be worth it.  Pictures to come soon!!

Road Trip Day 1

So we have done 13 hours of driving.  665 miles. 3 states.  And now finally, finally the car is stoped.  We are sitting on our full size beds.  Karst is flipping through all 120 channells because at our house he can only flip through 13 channels.   For lunch we stopped at a truck stop and because all the kids from the school bus where taking so long with the subway place and they were eating at all the tables.  We ate chili cheese dogs outside , on the newspaper stands.  Grandma, said "Well, this is something I haven't done, and it wasn't that bad."  how do you not just love her attitude? Don't worry I have great pictures of this.  The highlight was when we stopped in Cheyenne and took pictures at the state capital, neither me or Karst had ever seen it.  It was beautiful, I can't wait to show you the pictures.  We have one more full day of driving about 600 more miles and then we will be put for 3 days.   I have been able to do most of the driving.  Good Times!!  It's time for a little r&r.  It's been one long day.  Talk to you tomorrow.

On the Road Again

Wish us luck, we are on the road heading east for a 8 day road trip.  I am so excited!!  I LOVE road trips. I am driving Marge and we are meeting Karst's parents and grandparents in Wyoming.   Karst, isn't as excited as me.  When we were buying insect repellant, he asked where the travel repellant was.  Don't worry we are fine now.  It's just all that dang packing and getting ready.  I probably won't be able to upload pictures until we get home, but I will give you an update of our travels!!