How does one visit Paris & NY all in one day?

GO TO VEGAS!

Days 8, 9 & 10 of our vacation, Peter & I snuck away to Las Vegas for a few days. It was so nice to get away just the two of us! Which we have never done before.

Thanks Mom for watching Orion!!!

We ventured into the MGM, New York New York, Planet Hollywood, The Flamingo, Bellagio, Ceasers Palace and The Venetian.

We ate at The Sidewalk Cafe, Spice Market Buffet, Le Buffet, P.F. Chang's and The Cheesecake Factory. (If you like coconut, then you will love the Chocolate Coconut Cream Cheesecake. It is delish...I have been on such a coconut kick lately!)

We saw these these guys perform.

We rode the Monorail. Saw the Belliago Fountains, the Conservatory @ Belliago and the Wildlife Exhibit @ The Flamingo.

Peter enjoyed a cigar at Casa Fuente. Their humidor room is AWESOME!

I didn't get to see everything and do everything that I wanted to but we had so much fun anyways. We can always go back in another 4 years!

Here's a few more pics:

Arizona Vacation - Day 6 & 7

Day 6 was pretty laid back as fair as sight seeing. We went to the Titan Missile Museum and along the way we stopped at I got some jalapeno flavored pecans that are just yummy!

At the Titan Missile Museum, we had a private tour of the first 2 levels! I say private cause there was only myself, Peter & Orion scheduled for the tour.

The missile is encased here. It has a glass roof that you look through, looking down at the missile. The glass takes up half the roof while the other half is the actual door. It has been cemented to be half open or half closed, which ever you prefer.

Here's a view looking down the hallway to the control room. The walls are 8 feet thick and the blast doors weighed at least 3-ton!

Orion & I got to turn to key to experience a simulated missile launch!

If given the chance again I think I would do the Top-to-Bottom Tour, which includes all 8 levels!

Day 7 was even more laid back! We went swimming, Peter smoked his ribs and we visited with my cousin Emilie and her family.

Arizona Vacation - Day 5

Day 5 was spent at the Pima Air & Space Museum. I think Peter & my dad enjoyed it the most.

See how HUGE this plane is!

Later that night we had Family dinner at Pinnacle Peak. It's my favorite Steakhouse and a must on my list when I am in AZ! Then we wondered over to Golf n' Stuff for miniature golf.

And guess what...

these two got ENGAGED!

Arizona Vacation - Day 3 & 4

Procrastinator...I know!

Day 3 was Peter's day of shopping. We drove ALL over Tucson to find Cigar shops. In all we had 4 on our list but only went to 3. The 4th was not were it was supposed to be according to the address. We found our way to the Tucson Mall where I bought this skirt from Torrid with a discount coupon from the Tucson Passport booklet.

A skirt I know...The heat was getting to me!

AND

I feel in love with these scents

Later that night I played Phase 10 with my dad and sister's Melissa and Amber. I love card games! I had so much fun playing it!!!

On Day 4 we went on a picnic to Mount Graham. It was actually the first time I have ever been there. Everything was sooo green and a lot cooler up in the mountains...I was lovin' it! The drive was killer. We ended up stopping just a few miles from the top.

Auntie Amber & Orion

My opinion...we were so close to the lake we should have just kept going, but we had to get back into town and start getting ready for Amber's Graduation.

The battery in my camera died at the beginning of the ceremonies so this was basically the only picture I got and it's HORRIBLE!

Way to go Amber!!!

Wordless Wednesday #5

Is he teething or just making a funny face at me?

Wordless Wednesday #4

Courtsey of Amber Carruthers , Reid Park Zoo

Disappointment...

IN MYSELF!


As I am looking back at my notes and journaling from our trip, I didn't take pictures of the things that matter most to me.

For example, I didn't take any pictures of:

• my parents or my grandparents
• my cousins and friends that I visited with
• our family dinners
• Peter and his shopping spree
• playing games with my family

I could go on and on and on but it's depressing!

On the up side, I did keep every single receipt, brochure, napkin (not used of course) or anything that had a logo or some significance on it.

I just had to get that off my chest...thanks for listening

Amy

Arizona Vacation - Day 2

Day 2 was basically our day of rest...kinda!

We visited with my Grandparents, shopped for necessities at Walmart and went swimming!

Orion's first time swimming...for the most part he did OK, as long as someone was holding on to his floaty.

Later that night, Melissa, Peter & I made a last minute decision and mad dash to Tucson to watch

(I don't care what the critics say...I thought it was a good movie)

Arizona Vacation - Day 1

After battling sickness between Orion & I, I am finally ready to post some pictures from our trip.

We awoke at 4 am to make our 6:30 am flight to Seattle and then on to Tucson.

Orion eating breakfast right before our flight to Seattle

We got lucky and on both of our flights down we had the row to ourselves! It was so nice to be able to stretch out and for Orion to have his own seat. You really can't tell but his legs are laid out across my lap!

We arrived in Tucson around 4 pm and were greeted by my mom and sister, Melissa.

First item on the agenda was to head to Park Place and pick up our Tucson Passports. Basically, it's just a coupon book packed full of "buy 1, get 1 free" coupons for all the tourist attractions in and around the Tucson area. AWESOME deal for only $15.00! (It saved us $$$...we didn't even have the chance to see everything that we wanted to see either!) From there we just had to stop at Olive Garden. We don't have any in Alaska :( I was suprised that Peter enjoyed it...he's a picky eater. In fact, his comment as we were leaving "Let's eat there again before we leave".

I had the Garlic-Herb Chicken Con Broccoli...It was yummy!

After eating we stopped at Kohl's for some last minute clothes shopping and them headed to Benson. By this time it was getting late in the evening...

Getting up extra early + traveling all day = 1 tired baby, mommy & daddy

Stay tuned for Day 2!

Trying to get back into our routine

We survived the heat in Arizona...barely! More on that with lots of pictures later...Just wanted to assure folks that we are still alive.

I am sorting through the 800 pictures that were taken on our vacation. I have lots to show! I am hoping yo be back to our same ole routine soon.

I woke up this morning to a very sick lil' boy. At the moment I am occupied with cleaning up puke and tackling laundry :)

Be back soon!