Important doings!

 Here he is - Doctor Mark Stevenson, recent graduate of Ohio State University with his PhD in Biomedical Engineering

 With the nephews and niece - Hannah says he is still just Uncle Mark.

 I guess we will claim him!

 Our 3 kids.  Can you believe that the robe costs $729 if you want to buy it?

 His diploma - proof that he made it.

 Celebrating at Barley's Old Smokehouse in Columbus.

Nacho may not be a doctor, but he is officially a US citizen now!

Disney!!

Nine of us flew down to Punta Gorda Florida, then drove over to Orlando to spend 5 full days at DisneyWorld!   All 5 grands, Kevin and Mindy, Alison and myself made up the group.   Ethan and Hannah were ready to roll in this picture taken on the Allegiant Air jet.

 Here is the youngest set with Manny.   It is really really difficult to get all five looking the same direction plus having pleasant looks on their faces all at the same time.

 At the gates of Animal Kingdom.

 One night we ate at the TRex restaurant.

 For dessert - a volcano of course!

 On our way into one of the parks.   It was described as "trying to herd cats" to get everybody in the same place at the same time.

 Poor Carter was too little to go on some of the rides, so somebody would have to stay with him.   Here he is trying to watch for the rest of the group coming down Splash Mountain.

 Heading in to Epcot - see what I mean about getting them all to look the same direction?

 With Minni and Goofy.

 At least they are all in the same space.

 Of course it had to rain a bit, so out came the rain coats.

 We had to read the plaque to realize that this isn't Walt but his brother Roy.

 Playing on the iphones, ipads of course back in the room.   We stayed at the All-Star Music Resort and had connecting rooms.

 Carter checking the map to see where we should go next.

 CARS!!! - another memorable photo session.

 Hannah in one of her many poses during the trip and Alex trying to join in.

 Pushing the crew along.   They had all the energy, so tell me again why they got to ride???

 Carter in the gift shop while the others got to ride Splash Mountain, again.

 Love the bushes in the background.

 Many of the attractions had 3-D effects, so you had to wear their special glasses.

 Beating the drums - hope she wasn't calling for reinforcements!

 Finding Nemo

 These were the cool fountains that go from one spot to another - chasing fountains if you will.   The kids were having a great time.

 You could get wet and run from fountain to fountain - until the Disney workers came and yelled at them.

 Carter finally got to meet his favorite - Mickey Mouse!

 Then Alladin and Jasmine - Hannah was excited!

 Jasmine kissed Carter on the cheek!   Then he acted all embarrassed and wiped the cheek!   But he was smiling the whole time.

 Grandma with the grands!

In the airport waiting for the plane to take us home.   All in all, it was a good trip and we made lots of memories!

Vegas!!

 

On July 12th, Dan and I and Norbert and Sharelle Fritz left for Las Vegas!   Waiting at the food court in Philadelphia.   Our flight was changed at the last minute to Columbus to Philly and then to Vegas.   Which also changed our arrival time from 3:30pm to 6:30 pm.

So we finally get to Vegas, and a storm is going through and we can't land!  Of course we don't have enough fuel to just circle, so we get to land at Palm Springs, CA for more fuel.    Then back to Vegas.   Our arrival time has been pushed back to 9:30 pm.   So much for having a 4th night in Vegas!

When we checked in at the Imperial Palace -super cheap rooms for a weekend of only $93 total including tax! - we were told that we would have strip view rooms.   If you look carefully just to the left of the dome in the middle of the picture (which is still part of the IP), you can see a glimpse of the street.   The highrise buildings across the way are from Cesaer's Place.

A view just to the right from the room.   Another tower of the IP.

Our view straight down.   We were on the 11th floor.

What is a trip to Vegas without a stop at the man made wonder out in the desert?   Yes, I mean the Hoover Dam.

This was taken from the center of the new bridge.   You are allowed to walk out on the bridge to see the dam.   Very sturdy - I hardly felt it shake at all when trucks went across.

The Welcome to Nevada sign on the west end of the bridge.   The other end is in
Arizona.

A view of the new bridge from on top of the dam itself.   You can still drive across the dam, but the road doesn't connect to anything on the Arizona side.

Another view of the bridge.   It is huge!

We had supper at Texas Station one night with our niece Lexie, her husband Monte and little Bubba.

This is a zip line.   In Vegas.   In fact, in downtown Vegas.   Starts just off the Fremont Street Experience and ends inside it.   4 people can go at one time.

It ends inside the Fremont Street Experience.   If you look closely, you can see some up in the air.

A saxophone player performing in the street downtown.   Lots of free entertainment offered!

People dressed up as various characters and were standing around both downtown and also out on the strip.

Mario brothers!

There were several bands performing along the street also.   Lots of people standing around listening.   Must have been kind of well known.

It wouldn't be Vegas without a go-go dancer somewhere.

On top of a bar.   Noticed that downtown they also had girls like this performing in some of the card areas.

My favorite is the spray paint artists.   They can whip out a picture in about 10 minutes.   I find it fascinating to watch them.   Last time out I even bought one of the pictures - a scene from Las Vegas of course.

The major intersections have overhead crosswalks so you don't have to try to cross 6 lanes of traffic at the lights.   Much nicer than in the old days when we got half way across and the light changed and you were stranded there until it changed again.   It also gives neat views of the strip.

We were standing on Las Vegas Blvd and could watch these dancers in the windows at the new Cosmopolitan.

Didn't take any pictures, but we set in the Cosmopolitan for at least half an hour watching girls in tight, short skirts and high, high heels parade past.   Asked a security guard where they were going and he said they have a popular night club there.   In a couple of hours, he said, these girls will be heading back out with shoes in hand cause their feet are hurting so bad.   Didn't look like a fun time to me.

Ate breakfast in the IP one morning and there was this almost life-sized statue of a cow.   Since I collect cows, I tried to figure out how to take it home :)    I say almost life sized because while it was large and fools a lot of people, farmers know better.   Cows are much bigger than that.

In the Forum Shops at Cesaers and found an Apple store.   Not a soul was in it.    Could it be because it had just opened?

Pictures of fish in the aquarium in the Forum Shops.

Another shot if the Forum Shops.  

A picture from Cesaers across the stree to the Imperial Palace.

This is where the volcano erupts in front of the Mirage.

A couple of daytime strip shots, again from the crosswalks.

The Heart Attack Grill.   If you weigh over 350 pounds, and don't mind letting everybody know it by stepping on the scale in the front window, you can eat for free there.

Back in the Vegas airport, waiting for our flight back home.

Slot machines even in the airport.