If I had a million dollars

When last you heard from our fearless adventurers... Ah whatever. We're just north of Vegas, and the first day (Friday), we spent at the playground relaxing, doing a little shopping at the huge Base Exchange and Commissary, and ended the day with an hour and a half swimming in the base pool. We had to pay $3/ea, but it was a pretty decent pool - 15' deep and the kids were allowed to jump/dive in at the deep end, which they kinda dug. They also had kickboards and flippers and dive rings that they were able to use, which was fun, and it was a nice way to wear them out.

We headed out for supper after, because frankly I didn't want to cook, and went to a Mexican restaurant advertised in one of the flyers from the RV park. Unfortunately, that was closed. Instead, we found a road side taco shack type place where traditionally I have had really good luck. This place was just okay. Win some, lose some, but at least it was fairly cheap. And K got to use some of her Spanish. While we were there, I looked over at C and his tooth that had been loose was really hanging, so I asked him to just pull it (I don't do teeth).  We had purchased our first souvenir while in Calico the day before - a wooden tooth fairy box, and just in time, as we were able to use it that evening!

Why yes, that is a mango margarita with the tooth fairy box!

Saturday found us heading into Vegas to see some of the sites. I'll admit, my planning was inadequate and next time I'll know better, but I will just say, that I had forgotten how expensive Vegas can get so quickly (especially when Frank isn't here to win a meal or two at the blackjack tables, as he usually does). We went to Mandalay Bay because I thought I had read that the Aquarium was amazing and a not-to-be-missed, but at a total cost for us of $115, we decided, after more than a few tears, to skip it.

We consoled ourselves with a trip to the Hershey store at NY, NY, and then across to the M&M store, which is always one of our favorites, if for no other reason than the cheesy movie on the 3rd floor - "I Lost my M in Vegas." Stopped for lunch, then headed on up toward the Mirage, because I figured we could at least see the tigers as we walked through, however, apparently that is no longer a thing either, and rather there is now a little mini-zoo and Dolphin thing that would have cost us $80. Sheesh! Ugh! and Bah!

Strut it out at Luxor

Good thing there is a barricade!

This one is for Daddy

Boys wouldn't cooperate, but the girlies are having fun

We love the M&M store

We consoled ourselves with overpriced Frozen yogurt and the promise of the Mermaid show, which, I verified, was still actually free! We had a great time at that little casino watching the mermaids and the fishies, and exploring the Bass Pro Shop (H is going to be a great hunter when he grows up, or so he says. Of course he is kind of afraid of guns, but I guess he can be a great bow hunter.) We watched two sets of the Mermaid show, and the first was definitely the best. Then, C was tired, and there was still one more show and the girls REALLY wanted to see it. We decided to wait it out and C fell asleep on my lap on the floor, and the girls got really overly tired but at least walked themselves to the car before passing out. I carried C to the car and realized just how big he's getting when I'm not paying attention. (Note to self, PAY ATTENTION!)

A little Mermaid love

She was the best one that we saw

Yup, that's B on the window 

The girls loved this painting. Maybe someday we can afford a copy

We finished the weekend with a kind of mellow day - went to church, then bought a few things we were running low on, came home and the kids played at the park and rode their bikes. C fell and got yet another war wound, this time his knee and elbow and chin. He's going to be one big scab or I'm going to wrap him in bubble wrap, poor bugger. I got to do laundry, clean up, and do a little research on the next phase of our trip so we aren't surprised again and disappointed by my lack of preparation.

We are here for two more nights then heading south, We want to go see the Thunderbird museum (AF version of the Blue Angels?) and perhaps Hoover Dam before we leave the area.  I think we're cleaning out the Pilot tomorrow to see if we can find the camera, and if not, we're buying a new one. I give up and want to be able to take photos even if my phone is (perpetually) dead. I'm absolutely exhausted, but we are really having the time of our lives. I feel so blessed to be able to do this, warts and all!

I think that one thing the kids are really getting out of this trip is the value/expense of a dollar or more. I know that they have felt disappointment at the expenses that we just couldn't dole out, but I think they are beginning to appreciate the cost of things versus the value of things, which is a lesson that we have apparently been missing while teaching them life skills. A few tears, a little bit of pouting, but all-in-all, an acceptance of limits and boundaries. They have been, for the most part, gracious and accepting of the "no" versus "yes" things to do. Then again, we're less than a week into this adventure! Time to go snuggle my H-man, as he is tired and feeling neglected lately. I wouldn't trade my life for anyone else's. )contented sigh(