Two Date-Nights in a Row!

This weekend was really nice.  Clint and I finally got Friday night and Saturday afternoon to ourselves...no kids!  It was so nice and well needed!
On Friday night, we went to Sportsman's Warehouse to "look around" and get a case for Clint's new Camp Chef he got with gift cards he got from his birthday and Fathers day.  We also looked around and drooled over all the camping gear, fishing gear, and everything else they sell.  I know, I know, not very exciting, but it was just nice to be without kids for awhile.  
Then we went to the movies to see "The Dark Knight Rises".  It was really good.  It was about 3 hours long so that pretty much took our whole evening, but it was good to just be with Clint and not have to worry about the kids....I even put my phone on silent...well vibrate.  Dallin and Calvin are great babysitters.  When we got home they had the girls in bed.....asleep.  If you know my girls you know that is a great feat.    When we told the boys what we saw, they were jealous.  Maybe some day will take them to see it or just rent it when goes on dvd.
Then, on Saturday, Clint helped out with a boy, in our last ward, Eagle Scout project for about six hours that morning, then came home and got cleaned up then we went to Lake Mead to go on a Site-seeing cruise.  We got tickets for it back in March or Feb., I think, when we donated blood.  Well, I did.  Clint couldn't that day because wasn't feeling well, but he still got one for trying.  I was happy because I had someone to go with me.
It was fun, but hot.  When we first got on the paddle boat, we went up to the top level and the wind was blowing a little and it was rocking the boat.  I got a little nauseous, but it didn't last long.  It was fun and very informative.  We cruised to the Hoover Dam and on the way, the guide told up all about the history of Las Vegas and Hoover Dam and how the Mormons settled in Salt Lake and came down and settled Vegas, or at least part of it.  He also told some really bad "dam" jokes.  Hahaha!  Anyway, here are few pictures.....
It took up all afternoon because we were planning on taking the 12:00 p.m. cruise, but couldn't find it in time.  So we went into Boulder City to eat some lunch and drove over the Hoover Dam.  (That's all we had time for), then went back in time to get on the 2:00 cruise.

 This side is Arizona                                              This side is Nevada              

 Look how far Lake Mead has gone down.  At least 50 ft. 

 Approaching Hoover Dam

 Hoover Dam and the Bypass bridge.  It is AMAZING in person.  Pictures don't do it justice.

We're Half Way Through Summer!

I can't believe how fast this Summer is going!  Honestly, I thought that, for me, it would go so slow with the kids being home and all.  It really has been fun to have them home most of the time.  For the most part, they help me keep the house clean by doing their chores in the morning, (so they can play video games and watch t.v.), but they have been absolute joys to have here.
On Saturday night, Uncle Jake (Clint's brother), his kids and sis. in law, Alicia, drove through Las Vegas on their way back to Oklahoma and stayed the night with us.  So on Sunday before they headed out, the kids got a little cousin time.  We all wished it was a little longer, but we also totally understand.  Maybe next time we can get together longer and do some fun stuff.  I did remember to take a quick photo of all the cousins together though.

Today, Tuesday, we went to the Springs Preserve to see the new things they have.  They took out the Space Exhibit and put in a Reptile Exhibit.  It was fun.....even Calvin, who really did not want to come with us because he thinks the Springs Preserve is boring, had fun.  He tried to convince me he was not having fun, but he had fun.  It's no Disneyland, but it IS fun and since we have season passes, it's free!
We also saw the new Bug Show.  It was creepy and interesting.  Even I found out some things about insects that I didn't know.  They had scorpions (creepy), Madagascar Cockroaches (creepy...again) they can grow to be 2 to 4 inches long....yeah....imagine that climbing up the wall in your shower.  They also had Meal Worms, a Tarantula, and others I can't remember what the names were.  The kids seemed to enjoy that as well.  We then visited our usual places....the Children's Playground, and the other activity center.  They moved some of the original video games, about conserving water and the history of Vegas,  to this building and also put in other fun stuff that teaches how electricity travels, the benefits of electric and other cars, different light bulbs, a wind turbine, a garbage truck where they tell you about recycling, etc.
Here are some pictures of our adventure today....