Vegas, baby!

When Lance turned 35, I wanted to do something big to celebrate. Since neither of us is big party people, we decided a birthday trip would be perfect! So his parents were kind enough to come from Texas to watch the kids for a few days and we road-tripped it somewhere warmer!

Road trips are actually pretty fun when you don't have tiny people that need to use the bathroom and eat constantly. 

We stayed at the Paris hotel on the strip, which had pros and cons, but oh my word that bed was amazing.  So comfortable. 

 We had a great view of the city from our room. 

We had lots of fun planned. We took a couple guns and "first thing" (AKA around noon) on Thursday we went to range outside the city. It's been awhile since we've been shooting together!

Thursday night we went and saw Mat Franco, the magician who won America's Got Talent. Super entertaining show. 

Then we walked allll the way up the Strip for a delicious late dinner at The Steakhouse, which was fine  until we were almost back to our hotel and kind of limping a little. We should walk more, apparently. But it was fun to see everything north of our hotel. 

Friday morning we got a completely amazing couples' massage at this great little place a few minutes out of town. It was raining most of the day, but we still walked a little ways down the strip and visited the M&M store. That afternoon I got a pedicure while Lance went to meet with a client. Totally spoiled! 

Then we got all fancied up for our big night, O Cirque de Soleil. The show was incredible! Lance and I were in awe the whole time. 

Afterwards we caught the Bellagio fountains. 

And then went back across the street for a nice dinner at the Eiffel Tower restaurant. It was delicious, and the salted caramel soufflé was to die for. 

After dinner we rode up to the top of the Eiffel Tower (Half-size scale model)

 The view was great but it was very chilly and windy so we only stayed a few minutes. 

Trump Tower on Inauguration Day.

Saturday morning we woke up and packed up and it was time to go. And we were ready, because we missed these little bugs a lot! Brent and Joy kept us updated with lots of pictures. They had such a great time and I don't think missed us at all. 

Daryn even got to go to her first birthday party by herself and loved it. 

They got lots of new art supplies from their Gigi that they have been making great use of. 

 And she even took them out to play in the snow! (Something I am getting less and less inclined to do.) 

We were so happy to ben home again with our kiddos. They were happy that we brought them special M&M's with their names on them. Win, win. 

I forgot that Daryn was giving her first talk in Primary on Sunday, so we wrote something quickly during Sacrament Meeting. She was so excited and did a great job!

And the girls got one last bit of grandparent time when Lance and I went to the Trek fireside that evening. Worked out great for everyone!

 We're so grateful for amazing parents who love our kids like they are their own and are willing to babysit them. What a blessing!