"What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas"

Unfortunately, not much happen...........
Well, we decided to treat ourselves to a gorgeous hotel that Mark was able to get a deal on.  And boy were we excited!  However, we arrived at 11pm and had to leave pretty early the next day.  So most of our time was spent fighting thru the crowds and maze to get out of the actual hotel then navigate to the Chipotle down the street to only realize it did not open for another hour then we had to purchase football cleats(yes, totally waiting to the last minute as Cade's practice starts this evening) and a quick dip in the pool.  Yep, it was more like a race than a relaxation.  What I wanted to do was take a relaxing dip, eat at the buffet, then take a long bath and lounge about.  Well, there was none of that.  Oh well,  no rest for the wicked eh?  With our Chipotle in tow and our overpriced cleats, we are off again and driving straight to football practice.....what we do for our kids...geez.  Our BIG ROAD TRIP WEST is coming to an end.  Now it is time to think about what our sight unseen "new" home is going to be like.  Not to be disrespectful to anyone, so I will not mention which of the latest homes, but I do hope this place is a little "cleaner".  One of our "homes" was a little bit on the dirty side....nope just darn filthy all the Ajax and Pine Sol in the world was not gonna clean that mess! Just the same it was an adventure and certainately has taught the kids what can happen when you do not CLEAN!
Well, fingers crossed on our 6th home(who's counting?) this year.  Let's hope at least it is clean!

On the Last Leg.....Heading WEST

So we did make it to Colorado.....not in 2 days in ONE!!!!! Yep....that's me..... crazy!  My idea was to get about 3 hours away from our destination, but as we got closer I guess everyone was travelling WEST because there was NOT one hotel....apart from a few scary ones on a lonely exit that truly looked haunted. So we ended up making it all the way but it was 2 in the morning and I just didn't have it in me to wake any of my friends.  I know they would not have cared, but I just couldn't do it.  So you got it.....we slept in our truck in a Walmart parking lot!  Now that is an adventure!  I know I could have spent $200 on a hotel for the 7 hour sleep but I am so frugal I could not do it!!! So Cade and I laid the seats back(well as much as they would go from all the junk packed in the back seat) and said our goodnights.  Let me rephrase that there was no "good" in that night!  Now Cade on the other hand looked as if he was sleeping on a five star bed....geez kids....so darn adaptable ha ha  So after the night from HELL, Cade and I awoke to a gorgeous morning and decided to go for a short jog to get out the kinks.  Of course, my friend called telling me how stupid I was for not knocking on her door, but I would not be able to tell this story had I done that.  Now would I?

Colorado was beautiful and the time spent with cherished friends even more beautiful!  From rafting down the Platte River and jumping castles, to Alpine Slide and Maze in Breckinridge.  We did not have a ton of time so unfortunately we were not able to see everyone, but..... next time.  At least we will be on the west side now...a little closer.
On the road again.......next stop VEGAS!!!!

Still Heading WEST!!!

After a wonderful visit with my college roommate(best friend) and her wonderful family,  Cade and I were on the road again trying to make it from Pittsburgh to Iowa.  I must say road trips have become second nature for us!  Cade is a fantastic travel buddy.  I real trooper for sure.  He makes sure to gas me up at every gas stop, changes the discs on our books on tape, gets snacks available, great conversationalist and the most adaptable and PATIENT kid you will ever meet!   This leg of the trip will go down in history as the WORST! Nothing but road construction and TRAFFIC!!!!!  Finally by midnight( still traffic), we decided to call it a night and pulled off in Effingham, IL at the Red Roof Inn.  So much for making it to Iowa.  Oh well, a good nights sleep will do us good.  We are about 16 hours from Colorado, so looks like we will have 2 more days until a little R&R in our ole 'hood....Colorado!

Heading WEST!......Day ONE

We are officially moving WEST!!!!  Leaving beautiful Vermont and driving to California!  dad and Keean are finishing up in VT and flying out so it is just Cade and I.  Somehow I think we drew the short sticks.  Oh well just chalk it up to another "roadtrip" adventure! Cade and I awoke very early jumped in our very over packed truck(which by the way has been all over the US with us) and began our journey west.  With books on tape, movies and good "car food" we are on our way!  Of course, we had to make a little detour to stop off and see Niagara Falls!  In my 43 years,  I have never been so here was my chance!  Cade and I pulled up in our oversized truck (looking like the "Clampets"), paid the exorbitant parking fee and made our way amongst some major touristy happenings!  We must have been the fastest Niagara Falls tourist ever!  We pulled up parked the truck, walked to the ticket line for the boat, stood in line, got our beautiful blue panchos and boarded the boat.  I thought, seriously do we really need to put on these very hot plastic panchos?  Uhhhhh YES!!!!!! It was unbelievable!!! You actually go right next to the falls like a toy boat thrust into a huge wave.  Cade and I were like kids in a candy store... yelling and shouting.....yes, we were a little over excited, but it is Niagara Falls.  I guess we were with the more conservative crowd, and we did not get the memo!  Anyhow, we got back and were forced to walk through all the of the touristy shops in order to exit(but we stood strong...we are on a budget!) and off we went. A quick in and out but definitely worth it!  Now it is off to Pittsburgh to visit an old college roommate!  Get out the "cheap" snacks and turn on the book on tape.....here we go!