Day 5: Arizona

               Kevin had asked Richard if he would consider visiting him at his house in Arizona.  Kevin’s plane wasn’t scheduled to leave until after 5:00 pm.  But Richard and I left the hotel at 5:30 a.m.  Kevin said his good-byes and returned to bed.  Reagan did not even know we were going.

       It took us maybe five or six hours before we made it to Kevin’s house.  We had made a detour to fix a chip that was made in our windshield.  It hadn’t occurred to me that it was Saturday and most auto-glass places seem to be closed. Thankfully the chip didn’t spread to cracks.

We were able to visit with Tara and the two older boys.  Tara had to go grocery shopping and took Richard and the baby.  I stayed with the boys.  We colored.  They showed me their room and their toys.  

It was Conner’s birthday that day but as Kevin and Reagan weren’t home the opening of gifts and birthday cake would not take place until the following day.

After dinner Tara asked if Richard and I would put the oldest two to bed while she nursed the baby.  Richard read them a story and then we acted out a Piggy and Gerald for them.  That was fun.

The missionaries dropped by around 8:00 or 8:30 and we were still talking when Kevin and Reagan finally got home. 

  The next day:      Kevin and Tara's ward doesn't start until 1:30.  That gave Kevin and Richard time to fix the chips in each of their windshields as though they were never there.

Day 4: Friday

 

Friday was my favorite day that we spent in Vegas. I don’t know whose idea it was to go to IHOP but Kevin found one that we could walk to.  We left the hotel and walked to the corner of Sahara and Las Vegas Blvd. and headed north. 

Reagan was the only one who had a sweatshirt but the rest of us could have dressed warmer as the wind was blowing cold.  In Las Vegas.  Who would have thunk?

The gift shop was closed on our way to eating, but we managed to hit it on the way back – well – three of us did.  Kevin returned to the hotel to meet with his “buddies” and a group of followers.  Reagan chose to hang with her grandparents that she hardly ever sees (maybe four times in nine years?  That’s pretty sad)

souvenirs for Jaime

I don’t know how long we were there.  We purchased socks and cards for Jaime.  I got a hat as my ears were cold and Richard purchased a sweatshirt.  I also got a tee shirt and a pair of matching high heel key chains.  Reagan has one and I have the other.

 

In the afternoon we met my brother at a Cheesecake Factory.  Soooo good to see him!

Omega Mart

 Though Richard and I had been there before, Kevin and Reagan had not.  Thank you to my brother, Steven for getting us tickets.

Ahrens, Las Vegas

        My son, Kevin, has a youtube channel called “The Racing Game” (see here) and his purpose for being in Vegas was for the die cast convention held at the Ahrens.  As we arrived a day before he did we had experienced two different rooms.  Our first one was nicer overall.  The bed was larger but the refrigerator was only half the size as the second room.

        I did not get a huge amount of pictures of or at the hotel.

 

We picked Kevin and Reagan up from the airport. Before we went out to eat we went to the Omega Mart where Steven works. I did take quite a few pictures at the Omega Mart and Area 15.

Day 3: Area 15

 Before entering into the Omega mart, one must pass through Area 15.  Here are some pics taken both inside and outside Area 15

Nevada day 2

 

We left Myrtle Creek on the 18^th, which was a Tuesday.  On Wednesday we I took pictures of some of the towns we had gone through including Tanopah and Beatty.

 

Walker Lake (I think)

Hawthorn Military Base

Beatty

       We made it to Las Vegas before dark.

Another Long and Tiring Trip

 Remember early January posts indicated our quick trip to Utah and back made at the end of December.  I had indicated never again.  And yet it happened again – longer drive and almost a week with more than one destination.

 I don’t remember when Kevin called Richard to invite him to a convention to take place in Las Vegas.  Catch was he would have to drive four hours north to Portland airport.  I joked that he might as well just drive to Las Vegas.  I should have just kept my mouth shut and allowed him the four hour drive to Portland instead of the mileage we put on the car not to mention the drainage to ourselves.  We are not young anymore.

 

I thought Richard was capable of the long distance drive so long as he has a book on tape to listen to – but also would need assistance of someone to change the discs in order to continue the story.  I didn’t want to go.  Jaime and I both reminded him of what happens.  I even had a bruise on my leg not to mention other excuses.  I was planning on staying home until the very last minute.  I saw him drifting off and thought I should go with him just to make certain he stayed hydrated and didn’t push himself but would stop when appropriate.

 It was a long trip.  Two destinations: Las Vegas, Nevada and Gilbert, Arizona.  Richard’s plans were to leave on the 18^th although Kevin wouldn’t be showing up until the 20^th.  I didn’t realize Richard had wanted to have a date night by taking me to a show.  Only that never happened.  I had been stubborn about going and he was just as stubborn about waiting for me.  We didn’t leave until after 2:00 p.m.  We found lodging in (or near) Sparks Nevada.