Vegas, Baby!

Yes, this picture is of the Moshers in good old Sin City. We took a last-minute summer trip across the desert and hung out with good friends. It was 105 every day, but, you know,

it's a dry heat.

We started off our trip on Sunday, August 22. We drove through to Barstow and ate lunch at Del Taco. This restaurant was a wonder to our kids for three reasons: drawings and renderings of all the Del Taco restaurant styles from 1964 to present (this thrilled Gavin), giant, jaw-stretching gumballs (Sean was in heaven), and tacos that were filled to bursting, unlike our regular Del Taco (Grace was full after two tacos -- unheard of!). Gavin was so enamored of this particular restaurant that he asked us to "bookmark" it for future trips.

Sean and I enjoy goofy time.

One of the highlights of our trip was hanging out with the Lawrences, who stopped in Vegas on their way home from the Grand Canyon. Here, Uncle Mike takes on all the kids in the Marriott Summerlin Resort pool. He was a trooper. The Mojitos we were enjoying poolside really helped him. They also helped me, but not for the same reason.

Look at this face. She is soooo cute. We love Kellen.

And Kellen loves the pool. She has no fear.

On Sunday evening, we went to Chili's and celebrated Jay's 8th birthday. We were so fortunate to time this so we could enjoy his special day. Jay got to celebrate his birthday in the states of Arizona and Nevada, but not his home state. Wacky!

Sean was quite the fashionable dude in Vegas. He was bound and determined to wear his funky magician hat all over town. Where else but Vegas, right?

The other reason we went to Vegas was to visit our friend Rod and his son Christian. Christian just graduated from high school and will be heading off to the Air Force in November. We are so proud of him and so amazed at how he has grown up. Grant and Rod got to spend some quality time together, which is terrific.

More crazy pool shots.

Grace and Gavin

Grace and Sean

Here we are leaving on Tuesday. We had a really nice time and will be out again this way soon.

If only there were pictures . . .

I am without a camera. My latest one bailed on me last Sunday night. This is the second camera to die on me in the past six months. So, needless to say my postings will be bereft of visual confirmations until I can purchase a new camera. And this was the week to have a camera on hand. Some things that will not be shot for posterity (that really is a leading sentence . . . ):

1. My boys fully engulfed in their maps of the San Diego Wild Animal Park and not watching the path, other people, their own feet, and so forth.

2. The tiniest elephant in the world -- seriously, I thought it was a toy. With the proper zoom lens, this would have been the cutest picture EVER! Baby elephant, born on Valentine's Day, walking with his mom at the Wild Animal Park. I could just cry.

3. My boys cuddling their stuffed lion cub (Sean) and meerkat (Gavin) as we exited the park. Sean named his "Cuddles," and Gavin named his "Aurora." (Gavin always names his stuffed animals after girls. Not sure why. A little afraid to ask. )

4. My daughter and the hub getting ready for their first snowboarding experience! Gloves, hats, bibs, snow jackets, boots -- the works! They looked fabulous and so excited.

5. My daughter and the hub lying prone on the couch after their first snowboarding trip, still happy but exhausted.

6. My daughter and the hub limping and groaning the day after their first snowboarding trip, not quite as happy but talking about going again.

7. Crane Fly Land -- Lately, our home has been swarming with these prehistoric bugs. They are loud and seem drunk because they cannot fly straight at all. There are so many of them on the wall; they look like art.

8. Henry eating the crane flies that the hub swats. (Actually that would be a pretty gross picture, so I'm kinda glad I didn't pursue that one.)

9. Grace's open house. This will be her last year at this school, and I have no picture of her classroom or teacher or desk, etc. Will be stalking later.

10. Henry grabbing the ShamWow and running all over the backyard while we're trying to dye eggs. That dog is fast! Would have been much easier to get a new towel, but I was invested at that point. Grace finally succeeded after employing bribing and trickery. Good girl.

11. Mosher Dance Party time -- There's something about The Black Eyed Peas . . .

12. Our backyard and how nice it looks when Jose has been here.

13. Kellen, our sweet little niece, running after Henry in the backyard saying, "Me too! Me too!" because it's fun to run around like the crazy dog.

14. Sean playing (and totally obsessed) with Uncle Mike's iPhone.

15. The cool Easter baskets and presents the Easter Bunny brought. That Easter Bunny is pretty clever. . . .

Happy Easter to all. Celebrate life and redemption and freedom. May your day be joyful and your camera at the ready . . .