Las Vegas is a hot place. Even hotter in July which is when we generally end up going because... school vacation! This year, they were having a heat wave just before we got there. Luckily, it was only 110 F when we were there.
We have accepted that we just won't be outside when we go to Vegas. Our wimpy and unacclimated eastern selves just can't handle 110 F plus.
However, Ann-Julie, my clever mother-in-law, found a place to go where we could comfortably be outside.
(Drum roll!)
Enter the Spring Mountains, only a half hour drive from Las Vegas!
There was a really nice visitor's center we all enjoyed. Isn't this a cool replica foxie?
Checking things out.
We met Geoff and Jocelyn (Justin's sister) in Vegas with their two kids. We had so much fun with them all!
Major checking out the pretend burrowing animals
This was a super cool part of the visitor's center--See those mountains etched on the glass? If you look really close, you can see desert animals and plants as well.
BUT if you look through these special glasses they let you borrow, you see COLOR. Isn't that cool?
I spent about as much time looking through the glasses as the kids did.
Elsie and Major with the pretend desert rat. It is a good thing it is pretend because otherwise, I would not be able to touch them until they were dipped in clorox.
Isn't it gorgeous up there?
The pavilion we had a picnic at. I guess we were supposed to pay to use this pavilion, but you can only prepay and do it online. Once you are there, too late. So we were rebels and ate there anyway.
Livin' on the edge in the desert!
My handsome little grasshopper observer
Doesn't this thing look prehistoric?
A stone sofa to observe the view from. It was surprisingly comfortable.
Watching the grasshopper
After our picnic, we went further up the mountains to this grassy, lightly treed area where we pitched our stuff for a lazy afternoon.
A fort was left over from someone, so the kids took it over. Big things happened here. At least in their imaginations.
The girls wanted to learn whittling.
Major and his mommy!
The wood shavings from whittleing, the pine needles and the pine cones. I bet this would start a fire very nicely.
Jocelyn created a pinecone path for the kids fort. She is so energetic and creative, that Jocelyn. I am pretty sure I was reading a book while contemplating a snooze while she did this.
Some sweet little flowers the kids picked for me.
Climbing the mountain. Or at least the beginning of the mountain. We didn't let them go too high.
Our little piece of the mountain
Jocelyn hard at work making a fire ring for the fort.
Elsie helping
Major playing frisbee with Uncle Justin
Frisbee games and cousin friends
They were such good friends!
They found a hollow stump when their fort began to grow old.
Desert daisies
Shooting rockets (I think it is called)
Some of the Pearson clan
Sunlight and pinecone
Isn't this gorgeous?!
Then we went to do a short hike. It was a lovely little hike!
Major hitched a ride on Uncle Justin
Until Gilbert needs a little ride.
Finally Gilbert decided he could walk if Aislyn would hold his hand. Which of course she would because she is a good friend.
There was an aspen grove along our hike.
Sunlight and aspens is one of my favorite things. Ever.
Orianna taking pictures of flowers. Oh this made my heart explode! I am not sure why it is so important that our kids love what we love, but there is a something or other than makes me enormously proud that she loves this.
Big ole root ball.
All of us! Except for Ann-Julie who was taking the picture.
Elsie taking a breather
Isn't this gorgeous? Look at those colors!
Pines and peaks
Wild horses and a foolish child who was trying to get close enough to pet them. His parents were the one with a campfire a few feet away from the NO CAMPFIRES sign.
Coming down from the mountains.
Cool cacti, huh?
The thing about the desert is you can see so much more geological stuff here because of the lack of vegetation.
Aren't those wiggly. squiggly lines cool?
