Spring Break Vacation Day 4

We checked out of the Stratosphere and parked along the strip near the end of M&M (Showcase Mall parking garage, 5th lvl where bridge to mall is). We went & had breaky - Panda Exp, pizza & Jay's $6 Orange Julius!!! Went to Coca Cola World and had two trays of different colas from around the world. The yuckiest one was from Italy - kids had fun with it - baby could not be fooled by Tyrell to drink it.

We then walked over to NY NY & Jay, Tyrell, Mina & yes Jaxon was tall enough. I bought Leila & Erana candy from the gift shop. We played a couple of games when they came out & won teddys & balls. On our way out I bought Leila & Erana a rabbit & lamb Tybeanie Boo, they were $9 each & I couldn't decide if I should spend that much - But I did!!

We stopped back in Cola World & got a float then went and checked in our next hotel 'Cancun'.

While checking in Jay & I got talked into seeing their resort speil?? Anyway the room was awesome & the kids loved it. Glad we finally have our own room. Kids had to sleep on couch bed & Jaxon & leila got cushions from the couch to  sleep on. Jay & I also had our own bathroom with a two person jetted tub - Sure did come in handy! We went swimming at the pool which is huge & has slides & four hot pools & a waterfall - it was like a Mayan theme.

Jay & I went on a date & ate at 'Raising Canes', it was fried chicken & coleslaw, toast & fries. It was yummy & a lot but didn't have a signature taste - but still good. Jay & I went grocery shopping at Food 4 Less & then came back to hotel where kids ate & watched t.v. Erana looked squished between Tyrell & Mina so I put her on the floor in our room.

Spring Break Vacation Day 3

We slept in late and got up to go up the Tower to look around, around 10:30am.

Me and the 3 oldest got an all day pass for the rides. We went on the see-saw one first that tilts down and you roll and stop, hanging over the the edge. It was pretty freaky being up so high.

Then we did the tower ride that shoots you up and goes down and up again a few times. We did that 3 times.

Candy, Leila & Erana went and got themselves a seafood gumbo bread bowl while we were riding.

We walked around took photos and the kids rode some more.

We went down the tower and had lunch at McDonalds then went to the Stratosphere pool. The water was cold as so I didn't get in, I just laid out. It was sunny. After the pool we went to the room to relax.

When it was dark we went up to the tower again to do more rides. The 3rd ride was open this time. It was closed in the day because of the wind. It puts your seat over the edge and spins in circles. It was a freaky ride too but fun. I did it once but the other kids did it more. We did the other rides too.

It's pretty cool seeing the lights of the city and the strip from that high.

After down in the food & store area at the base of the tower Tyrell & I had a short workout in the gym while Candi got some food for the kids. That was around 10:30pm. It was a good day.

Spring Break Vacation Day 2

Monday we woke up & packed our stuff & put it in the van. Jay went & parked in Circus Circus parking lot & I went to get the kids & him passes for the Fun Dome. We played & had fun in the Fun Dome all Day. Jay with the 3 oldest & me with the two youngest went on all the small rides. Leila's & Erana's favorite was the Frog Hopper.

(The rest of this day's entry was written by Jason)

I had fun with the 3 oldest going around doing the rides. I went on the roller coaster but avoided the rides that go in circles because they make me sick.

I got sick going on a little ride with Erana that goes in circles.

We left in the afternoon around 2:30pm to eat lunch at Carls Jr then checked into the Stratosphere Hotel. Our room was #73 on the 19th floor. We relaxed some in our room and then went back to Circus Circus around 7pm to stay until it closed at 9pm. Candy cut my day pass wristband off and put it on her wrist so she could go on the rides while I watched Erana. We walked to the Midway games area and bought some things in the gift store.

Oh yeah I forgot that before going to Carls Jr we stopped to see what the Chuck Jones Experience was all about. It was a display of the guy who drew Loony Tunes cartoons Like Bugs Bunny, Road Runner, etc.

It cost almost $20 per adult but this Samoan security guy saw that we were Maoris and let us go in for free. It was like a museum display and stuff. Not worth the price if we paid. At the Stratosphere we walked through the shops area to have a look then went to bed.

Spring Break Vacation Day 1

(All the journal entries of our vacation were written after we got back but will enter them into the blog on the days they occurred)

On Sunday 31st went to Api's farewell. He is going to serve a mission in Japan. Api's talk was interesting because he has alot of Sreeve's mannerisms - funny.

Then straight after we packed up our van & traveled to Vegas!! Wahoo for Spring Break. We stopped in St George for gas & a picnic lunch at a park where they had nasty grass with bugs in it & Jay got a rash on his arms & legs cause he lay on it.

We arrived at our destination in the afternoon around 4pm. Went to Circus Circus and waited in Registration for ages - really long lines, eek crowded. We had a room outside by the pool, that was good. We relaxed a little & then went for a walk & look-about in Circus Circus. It was Easter Sunday & the kids were given their easter treats before we left for the ride. They were in their NZ sports B/packs. In the hotel room the kids opened eggs that told the Easter story of Christ & they took turns reading.

March Rugby

Erana the other day went around to Tyrell, Mina & I saying "Mum wants you". To me she said "Mum, Mina wants you". I found out later when Tyrell came to me & said "Whaat??" & I said "I didn't call you!" And then when I asked Mina what she wanted she said "Nothing" & I said to her baby told me you wanted me. - & then we discovered what baby was doing.

Tyrell's rugby started, he played his first game on Saturday 16th, he did awesome, but someone tackled him around his head or mouth & his braces cut up his mouth. We have been having difficult times with him & his school work. We decided no computer games & games during the week.

Things have been going well just a little fuss with Tyrell & his school work. He needs to hand in work on time. On Sunday 24th went to Moni's for Josh's ordination. Had a nice time. Tyrell & Leila's piano is going well.

Saofai's Funeral

Some happenings since last we wrote. Feb 23rd Auntie Luana went to the temple and got her endowments for the first time. Candi and I went through the session with them at the Jordan River temple. There was Auntie Raihi & Uncle Craig, Charmaine & Uncle Don, Uncle Errol & wife, Sreeve & Ryan, Kim & Viv Lesh. That was a happy occassion.

On a sadder note, Dana's husband Saofai "Smurf" died in a work accident. His company was demolishing an old K-mart when the roof collapsed and killed him. They have 3 kids Kenna 13, Kenlee 8 and Kylee 3. Very sad. We visited her. Auntie Dolly & Uncle Geoff came back from their mission in NZ for a couple weeks. We went to the funeral March 8th. A couple years ago Auntie told Dana to increase her life insurance so they did to 500,000. So at least she'll be ok financially for now. The weekend before we went to Conner's baptism in Tooele.

March

Today is Wednesday & the girls had Tahitian. Erana likes to dance with the girls. Near the end I said to Erana, "Let's put your shoes & socks on" and she would say, "No I'm dancing" 2x. While we were leaving we were in a hurry to go because Mina had mutual. And I couldn't carry baby because I was having tummy pains. So I told Mina to grab her & hurry. Well baby didn't want to be picked up & she was crying & hitting Mina in the face. Mina & I were saying stop it or stop being naughty. I then took & dropped Mina off. When Mina came home from Mutual she told us that Erana said to her "I was crying, I hit, I sorry".