January 28, 2020

Hoover Dam Good Time

The next day, after a good night's sleep and a (ahem) time-share presentation to earn cheap show tickets, we rented a car and headed to the Hoover Dam. It was truly a sight to behold and the weather was perfect. We also walked part-way over the "new" bridge to get a better glimpse of the Hoover Dam. 
Pretty view from the hotel we were "held hostage" at for the time share presentation. The view wasn't so pretty afterwards...
Caesar's Palace - where we ran and bought our tickets that were our "reward" for the time share presentation.
If you know Jarrett, then you understand this picture.
On our way to Hoover Dam. We actually saw some big horn sheep on our way too!! The pictures we took just don't show them well, but I promise we saw them!
The view of Lake Mead was so spectacular that even these two decided to take pictures.
Lake Mead! It was a gorgeous blue set against the drab desert colors.
Smashing pennies for the boys (this is something we always do with them, and always photograph)
In remembrance of  all those who died while constructing the Hoover Dam
Pacific Time Zone
The obvious water line was amazing!
Mountain Time Zone
The.Hoover.Dam
Tillman Bridge viewed from the Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam viewed from Tillman Bridge
Gorgeous sunset on our way back to Vegas. (Jarrett took this picture!)

January 25, 2020

(welcome to) Vegas, baby!

One of my dearest friends celebrated turning 4 decades right before the new year! Right before the holidays she mentioned wanting to go to Vegas the first of January to celebrate and the dates she mentioned actually corresponded with Josh being off from work! (but he did have to get coverage for the weekend that he was supposed to work so we were nervous about that) That almost NEVER happens so it seemed like a good idea. Then we realized we had enough Southwest points to cover the flight. And the hotel for the 3 nights was super cheap. Then another couple was able to go! The stars were aligning to celebrate Stacey in Vegas Style and before we knew it, on January 1st, we were wheels-up on our way to Vegas! Josh and I had never been and it had been nearly 8 years since we had left just the two of us (except a random weekend in Nashville here and there) so we were pretty excited for some adult time. We were so thankful for Gamma and Poppy taking on the humongous task of watching all four kids!
crazy early morning flight! Chasity and Billy flew business class so they sat up front
Happy New Year!! Heading to Las Vegas!
a bunch of people in a tiny car on the way to our hotel
Hash House A Go Go - crazy delicious food
Jamie Foxx wax figure
The Venetian! This was my favorite hotel!
These next several pictures are all inside the Venetian
Stopping for a drink and Big Elvis!
BIG ELVIS!!!
(check out the below video that Stacey got...this dude can SING!)

View from our hotel room
looking for the (real) flamingos at our hotel, this is what we stumbled on the first night!