Memorial/Vacation

We just had our annual vacation in Mesquite the day school let out. Mom, Dad and Owen went with Grampa and Grandma Higham  to Mesquite for a week's vacation. 

We had a lot of fun at the pool and enjoyed the nice weather.

Owen really became a fish and was in the pool so much we thought he was going to grow gills. But he had a lot of fun with his aunts and cousins and Grampa and Grandma.

A new trick Owen learned was going down the water slide by himself. He had to be sure someone was down below waiting to catch him. After a while he started going down backwards and doing lots of tricks.

We also made a trip to Hoover Dam. We took the tour inside the dam and took plenty of pictures. Owen thought the elevator ride was the best.

We also took a walk out on the new bridge that was built to ease traffic across the Dam. It was a windy day out on that bridge! The temperature started going up that day, too. So it was hot and windy!

Because of the heat, we took a break at Dad's favorite eatery in Las Vegas: Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville! While Grandma drank a giant margarita, Dad and Owen just about drank their weight in cold root beer. Mom was disappointed as she could only drink a non-alcoholic margarita. Owen had the mac and cheese while Mom had the grilled turkey burger. Dad of course had the Cheeseburger in Paradise all while watching the dancing girl fall into the giant volcano and then slide down into a giant blender full of margarita! We had a blast.

We caught the light show down Fremont Street and had a lot of fun.

Then, a little boy's dream came true! Owen got to have a lightsaber duel with the one and only Darth Vader! Darth was pretty cool as let Owen fight him for quite some time before he finally surrendered to Owen, the bravest Jedi ever!

Even though Dad figured that it was probably some homeless guy in a Darth Vader costume, he didn't care. Both he and Owen had to get a picture with the Dark Lord of the Sith. Afterall, homeless guy or not, it's STILL Darth Vader!

Owen and his cousin Layla did keep themselves busy at the arcade inside the casino. While the grown-ups took turns gambling, the kids played to their heart's content in the arcade. Luckily, the kids were still young enough that the games were just as fun WITHOUT putting in quarters.

All in all, Owen had a fun week. But by the time it was over, he was ready to come home. He said he missed his toys and his dog Lily. But the memories of this year's vacation still remain!