It feels like a miracle!  With the help of Sarah, Ron and I actually took a vacation together in honor of our anniversary and Ron's birthday.  We haven't been alone on an overnight in almost 10 years!  This seemed like a well deserved time to start.  We decided on Vegas since we could do it fairly cheaply, and I was SO glad I decided to opt for the old Fremont area.  I had never really spent time there and have not been a fan of Vegas in my adult years, but I loved the area we stayed in.


The first night we went to The Mentalist at a theater in the Venetian.  This was the view from the balcony:



Only in Vegas would a giant pole dancer be a form of art lol. Then we went to India Origin for dinner.  OMG so good



Ron got some good Blackjack in that first night as well.  Up at least a couple hundred if I recall correctly.

We had a really nice corner suite at The Golden Nugget.  This was the view from our window:



Ah the classy Plaza.  Nothing says Vegas like Beef Booze and Broads.


This is the aquarium at the registration desk which is also part of The Chart House restaurant. Looks like a painting!



This is part of the pool where you can see the shark tank and the waterslide that goes through it.



We opted for an off strip spa experience.  It doesn't look much from the outside, but it was really cool inside and so much cheaper.  There were a bunch of different sauna types with different types of healing properties, like jade or salt caves, and then various temperatures of soaking pools as well.  It was really big!



Dinner that night was at Ottos, by Sarah's suggestion.  This is their famous braised pork shoulder.  It was fabulous.



Totally loved the Fremont experience light show.  The new Fremont reminds me of Venice without the beach!  Lots of cheap stuff to buy and street performers everywhere!



I even decided to do the zipline, and if you know me, that is a pretty big deal!



Last morning breakfast at Hash House a Go Go, feeling farm fresh lol.



These people do not mess around with food!



Since we had a late flight, we decided to go out to The Valley of Fire on the last day.



I always wanted to do one of these silly perspective shots.  This is my first attempt at one.



Atlatl Rock.  There are SO many petroglyphs all over the valley.




These old cabins were build by the Civilian Conservation Corps:



You used to be able to stay in these when you were on the road!  Now it is just a picnic area.

And a great spot for taking photos.



Petroglyphs behind the cabins:



My favorite shot of the day:



We were about to head back when we discovered the trailhead to Mouse Tank, which as it turned out was actually Petroglyph Canyon.  We were only going to look a little bit, but there was literally another wall of full of art around every corner!  It was amazing.  According to the sign at the beginning, this line of 4 figures represents the Snake Dance.



Like I said, literally walls full of glyphs!




From the valley straight to the airport.  Well to the rental car place first I guess.  A short but full trip!

Family and Akasha's Four Year Old Portraits in CA

Oldies but Goodies

Seems like I find a new stash of pictures every time I go to my dad's.  These were in a photo collage frame I found in the guest bedroom.

Me and my cousins, Steve and Tom, at a place to visit Santa.

My niece, Danielle, and me.

Me looking like I am saying, "who the heck is this weirdo?"

Steve and me.

Dashing mom and dad.

California Trip October 2012

We had another great trip to California, and I was glad this time that the whole family could make it for most of the time. Thanks to the generosity of Sarah and her boyfriend, we were able to fly in and enjoyed alot of amazing food, and Sarah even treated Ron and I to a couples' massage and lunch while she babysat! Akasha also had her first trip to Disneyland. Fun times!

Passed out after a long trip in the hotel near Disneyland

Supercute hat!

In line for the submarine.

Almost there! They loved the ride.

Sweet sisters.

Wide eyed in It's a Small World.

This was the first time I had ever been in Toontown.  The sky was such a trippy shade of blue that it looked like a movie set!

Up in the Chip n Dale treehouse.

I have probably been to Disneyland at least 20 times, and never knew there was a huge petrified tree sample next to the lake.  Another discovery thanks to geocaching. 

Somebody picked out some new ears!

And Akasha got to wear the old ears.  

Akasha loves her new spinning Minnie!

Orion also got to pick out a gift and went for the squirt bottle with fan.  OKkkkk...

Winnie the Pooh ride!

I love going to Disneyland when the Haunted Mansion is all NBCd out!

Sarah got alot of cute shots and made some collages.  

OMG a family shot!  

In the Minnie house.

Another present from sissy!  

Gorgeous night shot.

Akasha got a Bindi at dinner.  

We finally got to meet Champers, cutest dog ever!  

Champers at my dad's house. 

Sarah and my dad and the kids went to the park while Ron and I were at the spa.  This is now one of my favorite pictures ever!  

Ah Simi in October - weather in the 90s lol.  

I also organized a family photo shoot and Sarah did my make up.  :)

The kids had a blast at the photo shoot and were in the mood to do  even more posing after.

Cuteness overload!

We also made a trip to the local pumpkin patch.  

My dad is still a goofball.

So I left my phone on the table, and Akasha found the camera and the reverse lol.  She took about 10 pictures of herself making funny faces.  Digital native indeed!

Made the pilgrimage to Snapper Jack's in Ventura

Visiting Ron's mom and Jim in Ventura.  I had no idea he made all these awesome bird houses with reclaimed products!

Went to see Ron's sister the same day.  The girls hit it off. 

Ron and Orion's last day in Cali.  We stopped for some mini golf on the way to the Flyaway.

Wow!  This is my brother's next door neighbor's house in their backyard.  You can see it over the fence.

Some drawing time with Sissy.

Akasha said this was a mountain with eyes.  :)

Headed back to Orange County the night before going home.  Steve put us up in a local hotel and treated us to a  great Italian meal at a local restaurant. 

Champers the travelin dog!

On the plane.  Hello Kitty is ready to go lol!