Category: Vacation

World Museum of Mining

We next drove to Butte and spent the night. The next morning we went to checkout the World Museum of Mining. It was kind of like an old preserved town, lots of buildings to look at. Also had a mineral exhibit and an old doll collection. Also had an actual mine tour but they don’t let kids under 5 do it so we had to pass on that.

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Old rollercoaster car. Not sure what it had to do with mining...
Old rollercoaster car. Not sure what it had to do with mining…
This was a little house that William loved because it was just his size
This was a little house that William loved because it was just his size
Checking out the mineral exhibit
Checking out the mineral exhibit
Old Superman/Clark Kent doll
Old Superman/Clark Kent doll

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Bannack State Park

We went on a little trip up to Montana for a few days. The first place we stopped was a ghost town that’s now Bannack State Park. There were lots of preserved buildings still here that we could walk through and it was fun to get a glimpse back in time.

Sitting in an old barber chair
Sitting in an old barber chair
Stuck in jail
Stuck in jail
Checking out the school
Checking out the school

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In the kitchen of the old hotel
In the kitchen of the old hotel

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Trying to get her weight using an old scale
Trying to get her weight using an old scale

Arizona

Last week I went on a business trip to Scottsdale, AZ. It’s always hard to leave my family for multiple days at a time, but it is nice to get to spend time with my coworkers in person. The weather was perfect, the hotel we stayed at was amazing and I really enjoyed it.

View right outside my room at our hotel.
View right outside my room at our hotel.
View from the balcony of my room. I would sit out here at night and enjoy the warm weather.
View from the balcony of my room. I would sit out here at night and enjoy the warm weather.

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I took a couple walks around Scottsdale in the mornings, and there was a couple blocks of just art galleries and lots of sculptures outside.
I took a couple walks around Scottsdale in the mornings, and there was a couple blocks of just art galleries and lots of sculptures outside.

Other vacation photos

So on our mini vacation that last few days, we went to an aquarium, went to the BYU spring game, went to the BYU softball game, went to IKEA, went to Scheels, spent lots of time playing with family, spent a night at a hotel and let the kids go swimming, and other stuff in between. It was a lot of fun.

Hanging out on the ferris wheel at Scheels.
Hanging out on the ferris wheel at Scheels.
It's a fairly large ferris wheel for being all inside. Lucas wasn't too sure about it but he endured to the end.
It’s a fairly large ferris wheel for being all inside. Lucas wasn’t too sure about it but he endured to the end.
Checking out some fish at Scheels.
Checking out some fish at Scheels.
Cute kids resting at the hotel after lots of swimming.
Cute kids resting at the hotel after lots of swimming.
Getting waxed. A bunch of people decided to do this on Sunday night (not sure why).
Getting waxed. A bunch of people decided to do this on Sunday night (not sure why).

BYU softball game

We also decided to go to a softball game on Saturday, which Kryssi was super excited about. BYU played Idaho State, and it ended up being a really good game. We were down 10 to 0, then came back and won 11 – 10. The kids got to meet Cosmo and have some popcorn, so they had a good time as well.

Watching the game.
Watching the game.

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Cosmo tickling McKinley's ear.
Cosmo tickling McKinley’s ear.
Enjoying some popcorn.
Enjoying some popcorn.
Lucas thought he was pretty cool having Cosmo sit by him.
Lucas thought he was pretty cool having Cosmo sit by him.

BYU kids clinic & scrimmage

On Saturday, during our trip to Utah, we went into Provo. Our first stop was at Lavell Edwards Stadium. BYU has been having their Spring football practices, and Saturday they had their Spring scrimmage, which was open to the public. Before the scrimmage, they had a kids clinic, where kids got to go onto the field and run drills with the players.

I thought Lucas would enjoy that, so we got there in time to participate. He was kind of nervous, just a lot of kids and he wasn’t sure what to do, but he had fun (I think). I know I had fun, it’s not very often you get to be out on the field and then get to have front row seats. Then we stayed and watched some of the spring game, which was fun.

William enjoyed the game.
William enjoyed the game.
Listening to some of the receivers explain the drill.
Listening to some of the receivers explain the drill.
Running from cone to cone, to catch a pass.
Running from cone to cone, to catch a pass.
And he caught it!
And he caught it!
Watching the players warm up.
Watching the players warm up.
Had to get a picture of Taysom Hill.
Had to get a picture of Taysom Hill.

Aquarium

We took a trip to Utah, during Lucas’ spring break, and one of our first stops was at the new aquarium that just opened up there. A lot of the exhibits hadn’t been moved from the old location yet, which was disappointing, but our tickets we got allow us to go back at a later date, which we’ll definitely take advantage of. The kids really enjoyed it though, so that was good.

Ready to see some fish!
Ready to see some fish!
This tunnel was probably the coolest part, at least to me.
This tunnel was probably the coolest part, at least to me.
Checking out some birds.
Checking out some birds.
A turtle walked right over to the kids.
A turtle walked right over to the kids.
Kara and Nigel walking over the rope bridge. Kryssi got pictures of Lucas and McKinley doing this (which I'll have to get). The bridge was kind of high, but they both did it without really blinking.
Kara and Nigel walking over the rope bridge. Kryssi got pictures of Lucas and McKinley doing this (which I’ll have to get). The bridge was kind of high, but they both did it without really blinking.

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Las Vegas

This past Wednesday I flew to Las Vegas for a work event.  There’s cheap flights from Idaho Falls to Vegas, though they only fly Thursday and Sunday, so we decided Kryssi would come out on Thursday with William.  Lucas wasn’t too happy about that, as he really wants to fly on an airplane, but I think McKinley and him had a great time at my parents.

So I had work stuff Wednesday, Thursday, and part of Friday, and then the rest of the day Friday and Saturday, we did a little sight-seeing.  There’s quite a bit to see in Vegas, but after a couple days there, was definitely ready to be home and I don’t really have any desire to go back.

We stayed in the Trump hotel, which is a 4 star hotel I believe.  It was really nice and I was upgraded to a suite, just as a thank-you for my work over the last year.  So our suite had two bathrooms, the master bathroom being huge, also had a kitchen and a living room area, with a couch and table.  I think it was probably about the same size as our first apartment.  So that was really fun.

So again, we really enjoyed our trip but Las Vegas just isn’t really for me.  Was worth the experience but if we ever do go back, would try and find  things to do that are off the strip, get away from all the people, and drinking, and smoking, etc.

Standing in front of one of the fountains in Caesars Palace.
You can see the Trump hotel in the background, which is where we stayed.
I really wanted this Superman painting, but it was already sold (plus I’m sure it was way pricey, like everything else in Vegas).
Waiting to see a free show
Our hotel was right by the Fashion Show Mall. It has this huge structure out front, which I never could figure out what it was.
One of the pieces in the Bellagio Conservatory
Talking tree in the Bellagio Conservatory
Our main bathroom in our suite. About the size of our bedroom I think.
Our hotel room also had a kitchen.
Standing by a Lamborghini, which is probably more expensive then our house.
One of the gondolas in the Venetian. Our company dinner Thursday was right by the canal, so we got to watch these go by.
Treasure Island pirate ship
The fountains at the Bellagio
Might be as close as we’ll get to Paris

Just a note, for those not aware.  The thumbnails above link to a gallery, so clicking any of those opens a gallery of larger images.  So anywhere you see thumbnails, be sure to click on them for larger images.  Hopefully everyone already knows this but if not, now you know!