Vegas, Baby!

We had a GREAT time with Doug's familiy in Vegas, staying with his sister Kathy and her family. It turned-out to be a family reunion of sorts. When we learned at Christmas that Doug's brother Joe's family was going to attend a wedding, we decided to try to get out West when they were there. Doug's Mom and Dad were able to fly out, and Doug's sister Tracy was also able to take vacation and fly out. Voila! Family reunion. Kudos to Kathy, Jeff, Payton and Sydney for putting us up for a week.

Grandpa, Grandma and the grandkids
















It was really nice to be able to relax! Doug had been super busy at work. With two deadlines just met, he was ready for a much-needed break.

While in Vegas, we hung-out with the fam, caught-up with each other, enjoyed the sunshine and beautiful weather, played UNO Attack, grilled-out, went to a local park, drove up Mt. Charleston and saw / played in snow, visited Aunt Kathy at work, took family pictures, went to a community Easter egg hunt, got to sit inside a local fire truck, saw Payton's baseball practice, ate at Red Robin restaurant, the girls all got pedicures and manicures, visited the Titanic exhibit at the Excalibur, went shopping at outlets, cruised the Las Vegas Strip, ate at the Cheesecake Factory, saw a quick show in the mall at Caesar's Palace, had a combined birthday party for Grandma Mary, Aunt Kristy and Ava (whose birthdays are all within a week of each other's).

The Ladies
















I also played Bingo for the first time ever (at a casino), going with Doug's Mom, Kathy and Tracy. T'was an interesting experience and more fast-paced than I expected! It was pretty fun. Tracy won $50!!! We also won $30 each on the Wheel of Fortune Slot in the casino on the way out. I will never forget my belly being rubbed as a good luck charm by Doug's Mom, Kathy and Tracy :-) Technically it wasn't an "all-girls" afternoon, carrying a little guy around with me in my tummy!

And Gents...
















Doug, Kathy, Tracy and Dad jumped into Kathy's 58-degree pool. Kathy first, Tracy on a dare, Doug on a dare, and Doug's Dad - well I guess he couldn't resist! Needless to say they didn't do laps in the pool!

We (including Ava) adjusted a little TOO well to the three hour time change. We were really lucky that she adjusted right back to East coast time when we got back. She thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with her cousins, and now talks about them often and fondly by name (Payton, Sydney, Trinity and Maddie).

Ava also did amazingly well on the plane ride there and back. She slept for an hour and a half on the way there (out of four hours), and for an hour on the way back (out of 3.5 hours). When we landed, we told her there would be a "bumpity-bump". After landing she said "Again! Again!" I was SO GLAD she did so well, as I feared for the worst. She normally doesn't sit in our laps for very long at all, let alone on a plane. We lucked-out that she did as well as she did.

With FOURTEEN of us all under one roof, we did amazingly well! It was great to be able to spend so much time together.

Dad, Mom and siblings
















It was a great time had by all. We miss you all already!

Thanks again to Kathy, Jeff, Sydney and Payton for hosting us all!

All our love,

Shelly, Doug and Ava

P.S. - More pictures to add, but wanted to be sure to post this for now...