Vacation to Las Vegas July 2011 Part 1

We went to my sister's house in Vegas for our vacation this year.  We had tons of fun, of course.  It's hard to tell from this picture, but I'm holding up Todd's ipod (an old one, that he downloaded some songs on for me) and I'm wearing the old fashioned ear phones, the kind that go over your head.  I don't like the new earbuds.  I'm old school, I guess.  Anyway, I was rockin' it pretty good to my high school madrigal songs.

One thing I have always wanted to do in Vegas, but never have, is take a family picture by this sign.  One of these days it's gonna happen.....at least I took a picture as we drove by this time.  That means we're getting closer, right?

One of the highlights of the vacation was supposed to be going to the M&M World.  Sadly, it wasn't much of a highlight at all.  It was packed with wall-to-wall people and while it was cool to see all of the different products you could buy, it wasn't really worth the trip.

And just so you know, M&M's cost $13 a pound!  That is outrageous to me, so we took a picture of the "wall of M&M's" and then stopped off at Alberstons's on the way home to get a few packs.  That was WAY cheaper!  And guess what?  I'm pretty sure they tasted the same.

We did take a family picture by one of the giant M&M's, but it doesn't even look like we were having fun....and this was our second shot!  Brandon, Kyle, and Eric look like they're about to engage in a battle.  Not surprising, really.  (Just take the picture, so we can get out of here)....

One thing we HAVE to do when we go to my sister's is the chocolate fountain.  YUM!  The kids love it, and want us to get one.  But I keep telling them that if we had one, it wouldn't be that fun to do it at Aunt Wendy's house.  Good thinkin', right?

Yes, that is a gummy worm.  I personally didn't have any of those, but Brandon was "all over it."

Notice my healthy strawberry, with no chocolate on it?  Wow!  Pictures can really be deceiving, huh?

We did other things on our vacation as well.  We saw Harry Potter 7, and Todd and the older boys saw Captain America.  We went to Chuck-e-Cheese's for lunch one day and celebrated my sister's birthday too.  It was a much-needed vacation and very relaxing (my kind-of trip).

I will continue this vacation blog in another post, so I can get more pictures on there..... 

Happy 7th Birthday Jacob!

Jacob turned 7 years old on July 9th.  I wish I could turn back the clock of time.  My kids are growing up way too fast!  And there isn't a thing I can do to stop it.  I'll try not to dwell on that right now.....

We invited a few cousins and a couple of friends for Jacob's party.  This was an ALL BOY party!  No girls allowed (except me, of course).  We ate pizza for dinner.....

Then we came in the house to open presents.  What is a party without presents? 

Then we packed everyone up and went swimming.  My camera stopped working towards the end, so this is the only picture I got of the kids all together.....and sadly some of them had snuck off to use the bathroom,  so this isn't everyone who came.....

On the way home, we stopped at Arctic Circle for ice cream cones.  Where is Jacob?  I'm not sure....dumb camera stopped working again!

Oooh, I know....a little frightening.  But this is for posterity, so here we are!

On Sunday I made a cake and we celebrated Jacob's birthday as a family. 

Here is a picture of Jacob blowing out his candles....wishing for....? (he just informed me right now as I'm typing that he wanted a new swimsuit....news to me).

It was a great party ( a couple of days of parties, actually)....we had tons of fun and I don't know what we would do without our sweet Jacob!  We love you!  Happy Birthday son!

A trip to the cemetery

We took a trip to the cemetery to visit Todd's ancestors.  It was a nice outing.  We cleaned off the graves, although they really looked well before we got there.....

Dallin and Kyle.  Dallin had to force Kyle to be in a picture.....

Todd had a little brother die at the age of 2 (Todd was 4 years old).  His name was Matthew Charles Jones.  I can't wait to meet him one day. 

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My little Jacob shares his birthday and his middle name as well.

This was a Jones name we didn't recognize.....anyone know the relationship?

Eric got bit by a mosquito right when we got there and he is very allergic, so it stressed him out a bit.  He ended up sitting in the van until we were done.  Poor guy!

Even I got in a picture this time....

Kyle and Brandon

Jacob, Brandon, and Dallin

The lighting was terrible for pictures, but it was a neat experience to take the kids up and see the graves.  We don't go as often as we should.  It will be exciting to meet them all someday. 

Happy 50th Anniversary Mom and Dad

My parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 3rd of this year.  They were married in 1961.  Wow!  Way to go you guys!  (I won't comment how old that means you are....let's just say, you both look great!

In honor of their special accomplishment, my siblings and their spouses all went out to dinner....just the adults!  I think that was the first time we've ever done that without at least a kid or two.  They wanted to go to Red Lobster, and since we aim to please, we granted their wish.  I am not a seafood lover and neither is my brother's wife, but we survived.  I had chicken, just incase you were wondering.  Todd, however, was so excited.  We've only been to Red Lobster one other time and I don't remember much about it.  So he was thrilled when he heard we were going there.  My  poor, deprived husband!

Mom and Dad.....still smiling!

I decided in order to be fair, I would post the family pictures in chronological age....sorry Wendy.

Wendy and Anthony 

Melissa and Todd

Brad and Michelle

(my younger sister wasn't there)

And here is the beautiful card we gave them.  Yes, I made it.  I know, you can hardly contain yourself because it's so cute..... :)

50 years...

...and still swimming!



It was a fun evening.  We gave them a gift certificate to Red Lobster, so they could go again sometime....they love the place, but don't go very often, and 6 movie tickets.  After dinner, we got all the cousins together and "hung out" at our place.  It really was great!

Congrats Mom and Dad for 50 years!  I didn't say you were swimming well, but at least you're still treading water.  (HA)   Keep it up!  We love you both!

Happy 17th Birthday Eric!

Eric turned 17 years old on June 5th.  I know I always seem shocked whenever my kids have a birthday because they are growing up TOO fast......and since I still feel the same today, I'll spare you the details of my pending doom of growing-up children!  Just know that I AM shocked of how quickly the time is going and I don't like it!

Since his birthday was on Sunday (and a Fast Sunday at that), we had a pretty mellow day as a family. Eric requested Chicken Alfredo for dinner, so of course, I obliged. 

This cake looks terrible.  I know that. You don't need to tell me. I asked Eric what kind of cake he wanted and he said, "white with pink frosting."  I didn't have 17 candles to put on it, so I decided to write on it instead.  It was cuter in my head.....for some reason, when I started to write, the gel "frosting pen" leaked and exploded on the cake.  I'm sure it had nothing to do with me......either way, it still tasted good and my boys didn't seem to mind that you could barely read the sentiment.....

Eric got a guitar strap and a "clamp-thing" for his guitar too.  He also got a new game for his PSP. 

We love you Eric.  You are such a wonderful example of righteousness to your brothers and we are so proud of you!

Happy Birthday Eric!

Oh, and one more thing.....Eric made Madrigals last week.  The current Mads came and got Eric at 2:30 in the morning (Tuesday night) and took him  away for the rest of the day.  They had breakfast at someone's house, walked around a bit in the dark, blind-folded, then went to school.  The Mads made him wear a sign that said, "Hello!  My name is Eric Jones.  I made Madrigals!  Please make me sing I'm a Little Teapot."

Congrats Eric!  What a fun experience you are going to have!  Way to go son!