Family Fun

While everyone was in Las Vegas after the Sutton/Galler party and the baby shower, we had a couple of days for family fun. One night we went over to Ellsworths and enjoyed a bonfire and hamburgers and hot dogs for dinner. On another occasion we went to the Bellagio Hotel on The Strip and enjoyed the atrium and water shower. On our last day together we went to the Lied Discovery Children's Museum and bowling at the Red Rock Hotel. It was a fun few days, and hopefully everyone went home thinking their Las Vegas vacation was fabulous.

Enjoying the lights from Las Vegas and the warmth
of the bonfire at Ellsworths

So fun to be outside and being together

The atrium at the Bellagio was decorated
for the Chinese New Year

It's hard to look at the camera when there's so much
great stuff to look at behind you!

Daughters and granddaughters
enjoying the beauty of
the atrium at the Bellagio

Melanie, Natalie, and Cali

Cali posing like the figure behind her

Ashton and Natalie at the Bellagio

Cali, Julie and Jace at the Bellagio

Outside the Bellagio during the water show

The grandchildren were excited to see these
favorite cartoon characters on the sidewalk in front
of the Bellagio

Chad, Dane, Kyra, Skye, and Heather

Jace, Julie, Melanie, Cali, and Ashton

We walked over to the Cosmopolitan and
discovered this rather interesting
shoe.  The kids could hardly wait
their turn to get in it.

This fancy horse was inside the foyer of
the Bellagio.  Jace was very interested in it.

Off to the museum

Inside the museum were many exhibits for a hands-on
experience.  Everyone seemed happy and thrilled
to be there.

Thomas was especially good with this
bubble contraption.

The girls all made bracelets in the craft room.

Heather, Kyra, Natalie, Ben, and Weston
at the museum after the girls
put on a little show on the stage by these bleachers

Heather requested a lunch trip to In 'N Out since
there isn't one of these restaurants in Missouri.

Grandpa, Kyra, Ashton and Skye at the
Red Rock Hotel for bowling

Heather, Melanie, Kyra, Ashton and Thomas

Ashton and Kyra waiting their turn to bowl

Bowling was a lot of fun!

Come what may, the twin boys eat every three hours,
no matter what!

Celebrating Weston and Ben's Birth

Late Friday night Chad flew in from St. Louis after his day's work ended.  He arrived just in time for our next big activity.  On Saturday, January 14th, we officially welcomed Weston and Ben into our family. Although Natalie said she didn't want a baby shower, we fudged a little and planned a small one anyway. Everyone pitched in making the overall production of the party less daunting.

Melanie prepared much of the food.  Heather helped with decorations and the games.  Julie also helped with the games, and she made brownie cupcakes and a diaper cake.  Dad did most of the grocery shopping, and I was in charge of decorations, favors, and organizing the party behind the scenes. Thanks to all for helping me make the party a huge success.  Many hands definitely make light work.

The table looked adorable thanks to Julie.
The children were so excited about the party.
They could hardly wait for Natalie and
her family to arrive.

Finally it was time to "PARTY" as the
guests of honor arrived

Here we are waiting to eat lunch, play games, and
open presents.

Linda took this picture so I could be in one too.

The banner is too cute

Kicking back and enjoying the
festivities man-style

Can Skye stick the pacifier in the right place on the baby?

Heather planned a fun game where each of the
children tossed the frisbee onto the carpet.  They
got to keep whatever candy the frisbee landed on.

Julie planned this fun game.  Here's
Dane trying his luck at getting that
pacifier on the baby.

Cali had fun with Aunt Julie's game as well.

Grandma GG loves her grandchildren.

Yummy food thanks to Melanie's culinary abilities

Looks like a lot of presents to me

Kyra loved her new baby cousins.  She's just like me;
I want to hold one of the twins every minute.

Melanie, Heather, Kyra, Skye, and Dane Visit Las Vegas

January 12, 2012, was a big day.  Melanie flew in from Oklahoma, and Heather and her children flew in from Missouri.  Everyone had purchased airplane tickets to be in Las Vegas for the birth of the twins.  Even though the twins came six weeks early, everyone decided to come anyway.  I was so glad we could all be together.  It gets harder and harder every year to make these family gatherings happen, but I want to give a "shout out" to all my girls and their families for caring enough about our family to rearrange their busy schedules. 

The first thing we did while everyone was in town was to go
to the annual  Sutton/Galler holiday party.  It was Linda's
turn to be the hostess.  She used a "heart" theme. 
Everything looked so pretty, and the table was beautifully
decorated.  Everyone seemed to enjoy visiting and catching up.

Skye, Cali, and Kyra sat by each other at the party.  They looked
so cute.  I just couldn't resist taking their picture!

Everyone wanted a chance to hold the babies.
Here's Leslie and Allison getting their turn while
we are at the Sutton/Galler party.

Here we have the cousins.  It's fun for me to see how
they've grown from little girls into beautiful women.
I am so glad the Sutton girls are cousins
but also our friends.

Cali, Kyra, and Skye enjoyed jumping on Sutton's
trampoline while the "big girls" were inside visiting.

Later that day all the Galler girls headed for Target
and Cafe Rio which is our favorite Mexican
restaurant in Las Vegas.  We weren't disappointed;
it was yummy as usual.

It seemed like everyone wanted plenty of turns
holding those sweet little boys; too SWEET!

Saying Hello to a New Year

Sheldon, Julie, and Jace arrived in Las Vegas on Saturday evening, December 31st, just a few hours before 2011 ended and 2012 began. We began our festivities with a little New Year's Eve party which included appetizers, hats, horns, and fireworks. Near midnight Steve, Sheldon, Julie, and Jace headed towards the Strip to watch the fireworks. I was too tired, so I opted to stay home and get a little sleep before church. Sheldon was scheduled to leave LV on January 4th so he could get back to work in Washington, but Julie and Jace were scheduled to stay in LV until January 17th. We managed to cram quite a few activities into a short time while Sheldon was here for the holiday. Hopefully they all enjoyed themselves as much as we enjoyed having them here.

Happy New Year!

It was so nice having Sheldon, Julie, and Jace
here to help us celebrate New Year's.

This holiday wouldn't be complete without
hats, noisemakers, and whistles.

Yes, Julie and I know how to use our fingers to
 make "12" for 2012.

The fireworks on the Strip are always
spectacular for New Year's.

The twins were finally home from the
hospital after a four-week stay.
Julie was able to cuddle and love them unlike
her first visit to see them when the babies
were still in the hospital.

We went to the petting zoo in Red Rock Canyon.  Jace
took one step inside and promptly said, "They are going to
eat me."  Then he headed for the EXIT!

In all the times we've gone to Red Rock
we've never gone into Bonnie Springs
where there's a road with old buildings
to represent the "West" as it
was years ago.

Check out that old fire truck in the background of
this picture.  Sheldon and Jace had fun on the
playground toys while the rest of us watched
a staged "hanging."

Thank you, Bonnie Springs, for having a train to ride.
Jace was in heaven.

I love the wagon in this picture.  It really reminds me
of how Nevada started with the silver rush.  It was fun to
revisit the history of our state while enjoying
warm, beautiful weather in what normally is
a cold winter January.

Once again a trip to Red Rock would not be complete
without our usual hike to our family's
favorite waterfall and pond.

Quite by chance, we stumbled upon Thomas and some of his
family while we were hiking at Red Rock. 
I guess our world isn't really all that big after all.

What a beautiful mountain and what
a beautiful girl I'm standing by!

Thomas and Natalie invited us over to their house
for a bonfire and a hot dog roast the night before Sheldon
left to go home.  It was a wonderful evening.  The view of LV is
fabulous from their property.  The Ellsworth home sits
up on a hill overlooking the city in one direction and
Frenchmen Mountain on the other side.

Everyone had a great time riding skateboards, tricycles,
and scooters on a cement slab on Ellsworth's property.

Both Twins Are Home

Monday, December 26th, Ben came home.  Thursday, December 29th, Weston came home.  What a great day for all of us especially Natalie and Thomas.  The babies ended up being in the hospital about four weeks.  Both now weigh six pounds, and they are doing remarkably well.  We feel very blessed that they are home.  At last Natalie and Thomas can rest physically and emotionally knowing their family is finally at home enjoying life together.  I stopped by on my way to the temple yesterday afternoon to drop off a double stroller from a lady in my stake, a little bouncy chair I have been storing for Natalie, their wash, and of course, cinnamon rolls from the bread store!

It was so nice to see the twins without all the cords
and medical paraphernalia.  They seemed restful
and quite happy and contented.

Clark saw me carrying things from my car to the house,
so I had a chance to tell him that both babies were home.
He came downstairs to visit both babies too.

Two proud grandmas and
one very proud mom.

A very proud grandpa and proud sister!