Viva Las Vegas!!!

Back in December 1996, we took our 1st vacation in a long line of vacations. I wasn't working at an airline at this time. We were able to get some tickets at a good price. In our party was Oma, Pam, myself, Judy, Jeff & Val. We stayed at the Monte Carlo. Oma loved going to the McDonald's cause she would collect the 101 Dalmatians. The 1st thing we did was to find the best Buffet. We did at Sam's town. Back then the food was pretty cheap in Vegas. Not so much any more!

We saw every casino, took the monorail, walked a whole-------lot! Back then Vegas was trying to be "family friendly!" so, the MGM had a small amusement park. That's when a Elvis impersonate was flirting with Oma.

Of course Oma had to try the BIG slot to win big. It didn't happen. The amusement park was a blast. It was chilly & hardly anyone was there. While we were on the log ride and when we get to the end we would yell out "AGAIN, AGAIN!!" We went again without getting off.

Some couldn't stop playing Wheel of Fortune at the airport. We were stuck there for 4 hours. There was a massive thunderstorm. We even were struck on the way up

As was waiting for Pam to fly in, I went to the cemetery to see Oma, Grandma, & Doris. They were watering some of the cemetery so I visited Oma. I parked the car facing her grave & I realized how her being there fits!

As my thoughts were in the past, I'm looking at the grave, then the airport behind her. I realized that some of my best memories of her is traveling! So many of our trips with Oma started at that airport that is right behind her mortal remains! She loved traveling. She loved it better when she was with her family. I wished that I had more photo's of her but, they are on another computer.

She never imposed herself on the vacations. She never passed up a chance when asked to come along. I know that our kids are grateful for the chance to share those memories with their Oma.

Temples

When we were at Josh & Tarah's wedding we noticed that there were 3 sealings at the same time. The temple looked like it had 4. On the way to the freeway we noticed 2 more temples. If all these temples were that busy, it makes sense why so many temples in Utah. It's nice to see the temples busy. That's the way it should be.

Utah trip

Pam, Michelle, myself, Bob, Karen went to Utah to represent the family for our really good friend Josh Johnson. He married Tara Hansen on the 12th of Aug. 2011 in the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple. It was a beautiful Temple with Beautiful people for the wedding. It was great to meet his family. It was nice for me st see Mary Jane on her turf. The wedding Reception was later that night in Draper. When we saw Josh then he was wearing tennis shoes, Converse to be exact. Pam asked how he got away with it the bride pulled her dress up to reveal her Converse shoes!!!! They make a perfect couple.

We also got to see our kids. We happened to be there when it was Logan's 3rd birthday, he's our grandson. We met at the Red Robin at the mall. It was great to get together with our kids.

We went to what I think they call Provo Canyon. We went to a place where a set of falls were at. Jamie & Londi climbed to the top. They went thru the water up! Then we had cup cakes for a birthday cake & then Logan opened up his presents. We of course went to Salt Lake City but we didn't stop. We just looked around the sights. The city is getting pretty big. The SLC thru Provo is getting really big!

Friday Bob, Karen, Pam, Mike, Chelle went to a canyon off Sandy. We stayed in Sandy. It had Alta ski resort. It was very pretty. Chelle did a zip line.

The last night there we went to Chuck-O-Rama. That's the 1st for me. Guess who was there? Jimmer the BYU standout! He was sitting in the next booth over. It looked like he was with his grandfather. Jason & Matthew thought it was pretty cool.

I was able to go with Matthew to See a BYU football scrimmage. It was very fun. Matthew has 4 friends with him. He filled me in with all the needed info. He even knows a few of the players.

Uncle Ludy And Aunt Tonie were at the wedding also. It's always nice to see them also. We we're able to meet Landies parents. They are very nice people. His dad & I share the military experience. Both of us were in the Army. We are glad to meet them.

Disneyland 2011

In may of this year, Jeff, Val, and their kids came with us, Pam, Mike and Michelle to Disneyland. It's one of those vacations that keeps us busy and we have a lot of fun going.

This time we went in May. It was not hot, but not cold. One of the most fun things we did was playing baseball in the pool. We have to have someone in the family get a 20' X 40' pool so we could have a tournament here.
Jeff did something that was pretty fun. He took some old photo's and took them and taken other phto's in the same place. You have to ask him to see what I meen. It was pretty cool what he did.

This time we were going to see if we can go on every ride. I meen EVERY RIDE. We made over 65% the 1st day. We fell short, but we had fun trying. Matter of fact we had fun riding the kiddy rides. I haven't been on some of them for many years.

California

This time that we went to Disneyland we changed things up. Some were by choice, some not. First we didn't fly Alaska, that was strange. I'm so use to going to the Delta concourse. We flew out of A concourse, Virgin American. This time we started out in Huntington Beach. We've never been there before. It was fun. We saw a surfing competition, even for kids. We saw great Sandcastles. The weather wasn't perfect but nice.

I was able to fulfill one of my dreams. I was able to see the grave of John Wayne. Everyone who knows me, knows that he's one of my idles. This is the closest that I ever got to him. I grew up watching his movies.

It's fun travelling and more fun when u have other people travelling with you.