Sunday With the Excells; St. George and Tuacahn

Despite some family members being very tired from staying out late at the ball game the night before, we all got ready for church and we met Sarah's family there.

Lincoln had colored a picture of a temple (see picture above) in Primary. Carson had drawn a picture of the previous night's activity as he sat listening in sacrament meeting.

We had leftover Raising Cane's chicken fingers for lunch, and then the men settled into a long afternoon nap.

Carson and Eli played Codenames with Sarah and me while the men slept. I really like that game and the boys were good at it.

Once the men were back with us, we had a Come Follow Me lesson (given by Glen). Then we settled in to watch a family movie together. Thomas family tradition continues with popcorn on Sunday. 

We ate a delicious roast beef dinner with the Excells before we said our good-byes and hugged each one of them. 

It had been so nice being in their lovely home, eating delicious food, having fun outings and being together once again. 

The next morning we were out walking on the Las Vegas strip once again. This time we found a parking garage that was free. We were surprised to see that many of the big casinos now charge for parking.

We had a big long walk that morning because we didn't have the hour-free-parking limit. We wanted to get plenty of steps in before we got in the car and headed to St. George.

We rested in our hotel for a while--giving me a much-needed little nap so I could keep my eyes open during the evening play.

Glen had been wanting to go back to Anasazi for dinner. We got to the restaurant right as it was opening.

We had been there several years ago with our friends and Glen loved cooking his steak on the hot rock and wanted to have that experience once again.

I wasn't as excited to cook my own food, because I really enjoy going to restaurants to have someone else cook for me. 

The server gave me some tips on how to cook it just right and, if I say so myself, I did a magnificent job cooking my chicken and shrimp to perfection!

We had gotten in, cooked our food and eaten it all much quicker than we anticipated. So we decided to walk through a mall before heading out to see the play.

We enjoyed looking out over the valley and spotting the St. George Temple from our vantage point.

Then it was time to drive to Tuacahn. It is such a beautiful setting with the red rocks as a backdrop. 

We were there to see "The Count of Monte Cristo." 

While standing around waiting for the theater to open, we heard someone call our names. It was Jim and Julie Christensen. They were one of our missionary couples who were serving in the office when we first arrived on our mission. It was delightful to see them again!

While we were talking to them, I spotted my very own brother, Sam, and his wife Kathy in the crowd. We had no idea they were going to be there that evening. 

It wasn't long until we spotted our good friends Jan and Bill Evans. They were there with Lane and LaVona Lewis, Bruno and Collen Kossin and one of LaVona and Colleen's sisters. We never got close enough to them to take their picture.

I was marveling at how many people we were seeing there that night. Kathy pointed out that when you stand by the restroom, a lot of people pass by.

This is the view of the Tuacahn stage with the beautiful red rock mountain as a backdrop. The play was very enjoyable. I was glad I had a nap so I could stay alert.

Sam liked when the wagon and horses were on stage.

The temperature was nearly 100 degrees when we arrived. We ate a frozen lemonade to try and cool down. Toward the end of the first act, I was really heating up. I got another frozen lemonade to get me through the second act. 

It had "cooled down" to 97 degrees by the time we were leaving. Heat is not my friend, but somehow I made it through without getting a heat stroke and declared the whole vacation a smashingly fun, relaxing success!

Las Vegas, Sarah's Family, and the BYU Football Game

The time had come for another vacation. HURRAH!! This time our destination for the first part of our trip was Las Vegas. 

The sunflowers blooming along the way were very cheery and beautiful. I would have preferred to stop and get a better photo of them, but that wasn't going to be happening right there on the freeway.

Our hotel was on Paradise Road. We always think of Jacob when we see that road because when Jacob was serving his mission in Las Vegas, one of his apartments was on that very road.

While on a work trip to Las Vegas, Glen's hotel was located on Paradise Road, just a short distance from Jacob's missionary apartment. 

Glen went to the 7-Eleven nearby in hopes two hot, thirsty missionaries might stop by at the end of their day to pick up a slurpee to cool off.

That never happened. No mission rules were broken. Glen returned back home having never even spotted our missionary son. 

Rebecca had pointed out that if the rest of us couldn't see Jacob for two years, then Glen couldn't see him either. (Glad it worked out that way knowing our daughter's opinion on the subject.) 

Our first item of business upon arriving in Las Vegas, after hugging our loved ones, was going to Jonah's baseball practice. It was a bit comical watching the coaches trying to coach such tiny boys. 

Jonah was seen several times sitting on a base playing in the red sand instead of watching the batter to see when it was time to run to the next base.

We had a few minutes between practice and dinner to take some photos at the baseball park. 

We had dinner reservations at Ohjah Japanese Steakhouse. 

It is fast becoming the boys' favorite restaurant, I think, as it is so entertaining to watch the chef cooking the food right in front of us.

And what little boy (and big boy) doesn't love a good fire??!!??

Here comes the flipping-the-shrimp-in-the-mouth part of the dinnertime entertainment.

The chef gently placed Jonah's shrimp into his mouth.

Ice cream bedtime treat.

Followed by a bedtime story.

Good night. Sleep tight. More fun to look forward to the next day.

Our next day started out great when we went for a morning walk on the Vegas strip. There was very little traffic, not many people and a lot of shade from the tall casinos.

I had sent a photo of the hotel swimming pool I took from the window of our room and asked Sarah if the boys would like to swim in the pool. What a great thing to do on a very hot Las Vegas day.

The Excell family arrived. We fed them a pizza lunch and then it was swim time.

Carson was showing Glen the finer points of how to play Halo.

We got some Raising Cane's chicken for dinner before we split up into our respective groups.

Sarah, Lincoln, Jonah and I went to the park.

The little boys got soaked playing in the splash pad part of the park and Jonah needed a little warm-up hug.

The boys had their ice cream bedtime snack and then they listened to a bedtime story as they brushed their teeth.

The other group--Glen, Jeff, Eli and Carson--went to Allegiant Stadium to watch BYU play Arizona.

The game had a long delay and ended very late. Carson had been nervous about getting hungry at the game. I was happy to know he got treats and the boys had done really well at their first football game.

It was fun for Glen to be with these three. He also met his friend Randy Bambrough who had his wife and daughter with him. 

Everybody was happy in the end because it was a win for BYU. Go Cougars!!

Quotes of the Week

When we choose to repent, we choose to change! We allow the Savior to transform us into the best version of ourselves. We choose to grow spiritually and receive joy--the joy of redemption in Him. When we choose to repent, we choose to become more like Jesus Christ.

--Russell M. Nelson

If the world is going to speak less of Him, who is going to speak more of Him? We are! Along with other devoted Christians.

--Neal A. Andersen

In this life and the next, you will enjoy the love and protection of a divine Father.

--Jeffrey R. Holland

What he offers us in every covenant with Him is the opportunity to love as He loves.

--Henry B. Eyring