Watch out Las Vegas

With all that life brings, in the ten years of married life we had never been on a family vacation, that was not to see family. This year we changed that. With a tight budget (less than 2k) we decided that we were going to spend a week as a family on a "Family Vacation" After spending 6 weeks in February pricing Disneyland and Disney World (they were way out of our budget) we settled in on Las Vegas Nevada. Hunted the best deal and planned, planned and planned some more for this trip. Jim thinks I over planned. We departed Green River Wyoming on June 28th at 6:30 am. 30 minutes behind schedule. Arriving in Las Vegas at 4pm. After a stressful check-in (taking over 2 hours) We were ready for our first stop. As it was Sunday we really did not want to spend money so we went to Fremont Street as it was totally free.

Fremont Street is a street in Old Las Vegas that they have put large screens over 3 blocks and do a show every 30 minutes. Jim said he loved the rocket on the show. Fun evening. Best of all it was free.

Day 2 Monday We went to all the fun kids places * I hop for breakfast (were most the kids just played with their food) *Mini Grand Prix Were the kids were able to drive go carts, a few rides and play video games. With the Vegas pass we had lunch here because once again it was free *Putt putt was next The kids had a blast in the black light.

*Then off to dinner at Planet Hollywood with the Vegas Power pass each person had $10 off so it helped out

This is a statue of Cesar and he moves and talke on the hour. Planet Hollywood the resturant was not far from this. With luck we saw the show. The kids loved it.

*Then off to the Adventure dome at Circus Circus By 11 pm all were bathed and sleeping sound. What a hot fun filled day.

Day 3

The Great Hoover Dam Inside the Dam were they make all the power

This is the new bridge they are building. Due to Sept. 11 they do not allow semi's over Hoover's Dam. This bridge will replace the traffic over the Dam. On this day we boarded a bus from our hotel and took the tour of the dam. WOW it was so hot. But at least when you were in the Dam it was much cooler.

The older boys thought that the dam was great. Madison wanted nothing to do with this. I think that if you have young kids you should not have to watch the 20 minute movie as you will get nothing out of the movie if you are fighting a 3 year old or a baby. Just an idea

This is Lake Med. All I could think is water in the desert how nice. On the way back to Vegas from Hoover Dam

On the way back to Las Vegas we stopped at the first factory that made M&M now it makes fancy chocolate the old fashion way. We were able to shop in the gift shop were I bought each of my M&M's (my kids) an M&M shirt. In our house we love everything M&M as that is the reason why all the kids names start with the letter "M".

Due to some problems with our Vegas Power Pass cards we had to make a detour to Cesar's Palace to get some new cards. Because of the error they offered us a Meal card so it saved us a little over a 100 dollars (chuching)

It seems as this is our parking place for the time we were in Las Vegas. We always parked in the same spot. Some reason it is the spot Jim liked. After a long hot day on a tour we just headed back to Circus Circus to have dinner and then party in the Adventure Dome.

Out cold after a long day. Miles did not even get his PJ's on. Him and Jim stayed longer at the Adventurer Dome than the younger kids and I did. So he was extra tired

Day 4 *Started out at the Venetian as we had a meal card so it meant Free Breakfast at one of the restaurants. Which was fine with me as I wanted to see the inside of this hotel. The kids thought it was great that they had a river inside the hotel. What fun. After a yummy breakfast we headed over the walkway to the Mirage Hotel to see the Dolphins and Secret Garden. Looks like the tiger is going to eat Miles head. Yes the sun was in their eyes, but I wanted the picture. Under ground view of the dolphins. The kids could have watched the dolphins all day long. They were in love with them. What a joy. Trainers with the dolphins. What I liked about this is their is no shows, but you are allowed so close to the dolphins. This is the mommy dolphin. There was 3 dolphins a mom with a 10 month old baby. Madison thought that it was cute to see the baby nurse from his mommy White Lion in the Secret Garden Looks like it needs some more fur White tigers sleeping in the heat. I think I was ready for a nap too. It was so hot and it was only 11 am Back to the Venetian to get our car. This was a human statue. Mason was scared of him This is what happens when it is hot and your bed is not in sight. Madison was passed out. Even when we put her in her carseat she did not wake up. *Next stop was back to the Mini Grand Prix. We had so much fun on day 2 that we had to go back on day 4 for more fun. Hey in was on the card and so we spent nothing. Little kid go carts. On day 2 (Monday) Madison was to scared to try to drive. But to day she was off and going. She was so cute. Madison Passing Mason He was not happy with this. After the Mini Grand Prix we headed to New York, New York. So Jim and Miles could ride the roller coaster. They rode it 2 times and thought it was great. Miles enjoied being able to ride is as he was just tall enough. New York had the best parking set up as we did not have to walk threw the casino to get to the roller coaster. Just off the parking garage. Saved us lots of time. Jim and Miles on the NY, NY Jim looks like a dork, he even said so. Miles on the other had is holding on for dear life

NY NY from the outside After the NY NY we headed to Planet Hollywood to have anothe free dinner. It was great because on our Power passes we were able to get each of the kids a Planet Hollywood hat and not spend a penny on it.

Day 5 was our last day Time to say good bye

On our way out of town we stopped at the most famous sign a the bottom of the strip to have our pictures taken. Mason was not in the mood to have his picture taken one more time. With Mason having an off day we cancled the morning plans and just headed towards home.

What else would you do with the love of your life under the Vegas sign. 10 Things I learned on this trip

1. You can over plan your trip. I had google mapped every step of each day. Each day had it's own folder and items for the day in it.
2. Don't go to Vegas in the summer when you are used to temps of 75 and it was 110 every day there
3. Some times you can't do all you planned in one day. It's ok
4. Vegas was founded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Now look at it.
5. You can never have too much water when it is 110 out side
6. You can go to Las Vegas have a blast and not put a single penny, nickle, dime or quarter in a slot machine.
7. It is a great place to go to see how your kids do with crowds.
8. Plastic elastics melt in your daughters hair when it is this hot. Not fun to try to get out.
9. Call the day you plan to check in to your hotel as you never know if your reservation will be cancelled by an unknowing receptionest
10. All ways come to Vegas with the Power Pass

The Las Vegas Power Pass cost us $522 for 3 days of fun. We added up what it would have cost us to do this stuff on our own and it was $1214. We would never have done all this with our the Power Pass. All in all it was a great first Family Vacation. Next Big, big family vacation is in 2012 with the word Disney in it.

What does: 5 duffels, pounds of sugar and lots of excitment have in common?

We are ready, we think! Vegas her we come. All we long we have been focused on packing cleaning and shopping for our first Big Family Vacation. All week along all I have heard is: How much longer till we leave mom? Madison even buckled her self up in the car today and told me that she was not getting out until we were in Vegas. I had to calmly explain that it was still a couple of days away. The younger kids don't quite understand that is takes lots of time to pack up a family of 6 for a road trip. One of the pluses from packing up for a long trip is you seem to find things that you might have lost 4 or more months ago. Today, when Marcus was helping me get back packs our for day bags and car bags, he found my purple camera. It was a nice break from packing looking at pictures from our snow trip. So below is the high light pictures from a trip in February to go sledding. We never were able to share these pictures as the camera was missing in action for the last 4 months. Madison just loved it more than we thought. She would keep going, and going.

Daddy letting Mason go. Mason was not too fond of tubing. He just loved to hike in the snow. and play on the motorcycle sled.

Miles after flipping it for the umpteenth time.

Mason at the top of the hill again. What a hill for a little boy.

Madison was stuck down here. We were doing the top hill with not intention of going down this hill as a creek is at the bottom. But Madison came down the upper hill and just keep going.

The only problem is that after she went down the other kids thought that they needed to go down there. But the hill was so steep that they could not get up the hill. Jim had to hick up the hill with them on his back. It tired him out for sure. Mason is on his back. First came Mason then Madison the person who flew of the edge. Marcus is the only one left at the bottom with Kari. After Madison went of the edge. We watched and made sure no other kids went over the edge flying. We did not really have any other close calls. Madison just being so light flew

Madison walking up the main hill

Mason could have lived on this if we would have let him, the only problem is that all the kids wanted it too (the cousins).

Mason coming down the hill.

Yes we are still alive.

Yes, the Moffat family is still alive. it has been a almost a month since I posted. One reason I have not posted is the mere fact that a post is not a post with out a picture and we lost the thing you put your SD chip in to transfer to the computer. Other reason is TIME. Our live has been busy with the end of a school year and baseball season. Both are officially done now. So all efforts in our house is catching up on what was neglected during Baseball season. With 3-4 games a week and a practice here and there plus a gardening enrichment, and Ward party (last 2 things mom was in charge of) we have not had much time for other things. We managed to have a successful school year for the boys. They are all excited about the thought of a new school (better school) and having Mason join them at school too. Mason will be in Kindergarten next year. Marcus will be in 1st grade and Miles in 4th. This is Miles' last year in Elementary school. Boy do they know how to make a mother sad and happy at the same time. Only one kid not in Elementary school. Madison is excited to be going to Young minds Preschool next year 2 times a week. As for now. All kids are doing Moffat summer school. They each have a folder with work in that they do every morning to keep the learning going. It does not take much time but I am a firm believer in year round learning. Miles is writing a story and a report on the Hoover Dam as part of his summer school. Both the Cardinal's and the Diamond Backs did great in Baseball Miles team lost 3 game that we know of as he was not able to make is Chuckee Cheese as the kids have not been there in over a yeat to his last game. In T-ball they don't keep score but we think they did great. Marcus was sad to hear that it was over. We have also enjoyed lots and lots of rain (it is coming down right now) so the kids feel as if summer might never come. So far since school was out we went to Utah 2 times. Once was to go to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house plur. Then a few days after this Miles got really sick so we visited Primary Childrens Hospital. After a stay of less than 24 hours and a jump on IV antibiotics he was discharged yesterday and is on the way to getting better. Who would have thought that in June you could get Bacterial Phenomena. He is glad to be home and never wants to go back. The worst part was the IV. He did love room service. The next 10 days will be filled with cleaning and packing. We are going on our first big family vacation. This is a vacation on a tiny, tiny budget. So that is why we choose Las Vegas. Because for less than $1,500 we can drive down there stay for 4 nights go to a Vegas show, ride the rides, and much more. We have hotel rooms for 23 a night and bought a Vegas pass to play for a great rate. Plus we can learn from Hoovers Dam. We had hoped to go to Disney Land but that would have been well over 5K for our family and that was not in the budget. Our kids are so excited to be going some were. We have shown them pictures on the Internet of were we are going and what we are doing so all I hear all day is how much longer till we go. I will try to post the daily agenda latter. All in all the Moffat bunch is happy, mostly healthy and ready to party in Vegas, Mormon style.