Haloween 2008

Well Here it is again Halloween time.
It seems that every year time goes by faster and faster. Just a few months ago we were commenting about how great it was to be back into summer and now it is cold again. So starts the haloween season, it appears that we may be having another cold night for halloween, I don't mind it but the kids we always worry about out in the cold.


So we started off this year by spending the annual time at Gardners Village. There are many special events that we like to go to and enjoy, one of them being the annual Witches night out, this is more of an adult night but it is great for the kids to see all the fun costumes by everyone.

This year we also spnet some time on a kids day doing a ride with a witch.








Of course Bryan just wanted to join in the fun. I think the hat really defines him don't you?


More to come as the holiday season progresses....
Stay tuned.

Why we do what we do.

Ritz Carlton Lake Las Vegas

The Ritz Carlton - Lake Las Vegas, Nevada

WOW what a wonderful opportunity for me and Danielle to spend a weekend for our anniversary at such a lovely place. This is simply a once in a lifetime that we are going to now make into a semi annual retreat every other year or so.

Lake Las Vegas is a semi private resort surrounded by some of hte most luxurious community homes we have ever seen. In case you might be wondering Celine Dion has a home just out the back door from the hotel on the top of the mountain, it is actually possible to see it if you know what you are looking for.

This firsst picture is looking out the rear of the Ritz Carlton. Now in case you might be wondeirng yes this is actually the one and only in Nevada Ritz Carlton. It has only been in operation since 2003. Look up on google for Lake Las Vegas resort and you can get some great pictures of what this place is all about. There is fantastic golf, eating and all kinds of shopping and activities for people. The Ritz Carlton is a true five star resort with all the trimmings.


The rooms are bigger than what most people have for an entire floor on their home. Sydnee was having a gret time just playing on the oversided king bed. Our room as can be seen below overlooked the water. There is a walkway that runs the full length underneath the above rooms.

For one of the nights we had an immaculate dinner, we had some sort of filet minon with some other stuff I was not sure what it was and other trimmings. Then we had a wonderfuly bliss cheese cake. Now if you are wodering what this might have looked like, if anyone watches the cooking shows on TV picture some of hte most gorgeous meals that they fix, it looked like those. Bobby Flay could have been the cook as far as we know. While we finished up dinner we had a special treat. The picture to the right is of Kenny G. Our company had brought in Kenny G for us to watch and listen to after dinner. This was the most perferct show, we sat right over the water and down below was a stage set up on a very large dock, there were seats ont he grass hill to the south for people to sit at, but we had perfect seaqts and standing room from where we ate. In the distant background we had to cap it off with a lightning storm that floated over the hills in the desert. It was a perfect night, great food, great entertainment and perfect company. I can't imagine what this would cost anyone on their own dime.

On another night we had a private ourdoor BBQ dinner, with all you could eat of whatever the hotel was cooking up. During the days we had the opportunity to spend time with friends we have that were down there with us from our company and take in the sights. We had lunch at a geat little mexican restaurant that had some great food. Then we spent the afternoon walking around the shops. Sydnee got tired after a little bit and so she and Danielle went to rest while I went with some of the guys to another hotel that had full outdoor facilites for families. We played dunkball, golf, swam in the lake and whatever else we wnated to do. People could take bike rides around the resort area, kayak around the lake or take gondola or baot rides along the shore lines and admire the scenery and homes. This was a weekend we will never forget, WOW why would anyone think that this was not meant for them is beyond us, but we wish to see evey one of our friends here with us one day. We can all fly down next time and rent a limo to take us around. yeah baby here we come and ya aint gonna stop us now.

Moon Lake Getaway

Three years ago Danielle's side of the family started a family tradition that they would get all the families that wanted to together and go on a vaction. The first year we went to Bryce Canyon last year to Moab and this year to Moon Lake in the Uintas.
This is a very large lake about 30 miles north of Duchesne, which is another fun vacation spot of ours with Starvation resevoir. We had a great time camping out with the family. It had been years since we had set up our large family tent and Jeff almost forgot how to set it up, we may have ended up sleeping out under the stars. This was the first time that our three youngest kids have been camping in tents. It was quite the experience!
For whatever reason Mine and Danielle's sleeping bag seemed to be very popular by morning.
For two days we rented 2-man kayaks and took the kids on rides around the lake, they had a blast. We even had a small swamping episode where Austin tried to capsize his uncle Matt and then got it in return when he was out on his own. It was a very fun time to get away and be together as a family. The kids got to see some wildlife up close. Darn those cows, and who said the ground squirrels could eat the dog food.
We had a great time enjoying the world and the company but are glad now to be back home, there is something about vacations that it is great while you are there but it is even better to be back home, especially when it is camping in tents.