Family Vacation 2011

So 3 months after the fact, I'm finally FINALLY I'm posting about our trip to Las Vegas/California!

We had a wonderful time of course and got some much-needed family togetherness that we miss out on in our day-to-day lives.  Here are a few of the highlights:

The flights!

The kids did AMAZING on the flights.  We decided to bring their car seats so it would be familiar and they would be clued in on the fact that they couldn't get up and wander around.  It worked wonderfully.  And we devised a little stroller attachment so Jon and I could easily wheel them around in their carseats while at the airport.  All we did was wrap their car seat straps around our rolling suitcases, and hook them all together with a steel ring.  And best of all we weren't weighed down with a million things to juggle. 



Mimi & Poppy's house!

The kids loved being at Mimi and Poppy's house.  Mimi had her huge toy bin to play with and the kid-sized table and chairs.  It was so great having Poppy around the whole time and we really loved just hanging out.  We went to the park, the breakfast buffet and the Red Rock, the indoor play area and a walk around their block where we got caught in the rain.  Harper finally got to watch Despicable Me with Poppy - something they have both been looking so forward to.  So much fun and memories made.  

Cousins!!!

Jasper got to meet his cousins for the first time and Harper was soooo excited to see them again.  The boys were so sweet and it was great to get this pic of all of them together!



Auntie Wendy, Uncle Chris and Auntie Ashley!

Again, Jasper got to meet them for the first time and Harper got to see them again.  It was so cute to see Chris with Jasper, being the goofy Uncle.  And Harper kept talking about Auntie Ashley before our trip, she loved hanging out with her.  Auntie Wendy hosted a get together at her house so we could spend lots of time just hanging out.  It was wonderful!! 

Honorable Mentions:

Auntie Amy and Uncle Ryan's house with their kids.  Amy and I have been friends for 16 years and she has  3 kids ages 4-9.  It was so great seeing all the kids play together and amazing to look back on where time has brought us. 

Christin, Robert, Brandee and the boys.  

Our first hotel stay with the kids and their first time sleeping in the same room. It went way better than we thought it would.

  Trina, Daichi and Dylan.  I've been friends with Trina since 1st grade and our boys are only 5 weeks apart!  We went to the little OC zoo with them.

Heather, Barry and Teri.  We haven't seen Barry & Teri since before we were married: about 6 years.  With Heather's help, we surprised them at church in the morning.  Their reactions were priceless!  They took us to a wonderful lunch and we really loved the time spent with them.

Vicki and Cole.  Another long time friend of mine.  Vicki and I have been friends since 6th grade and we loved getting to meet her younger son.  We hope next time we can meet older brother Chase!

Hanz and the rest of the Harvest family.  We love stopping here every time we are in town to see everyone and catch up with the Ives and friends.  Such sweet time!

We can't wait until we go back.