Mesquite(o?)

A week or so ago we went on our annual/semi-annual trip with Jim's parents to their timeshare in Mesquite.  Sam was a little concerned when we told her where we were going because she worried that for a city to be named after mosquitos it must have an overabudance of them.  :-) 

But overall she was stoked because she's been wanting to go back to Las Vegas ever since our last trip two years ago.  It's only a 45 minute or so drive from Mesquite to Vegas--last trip we spent half a day there and it must have made quite an impression.  In Primary a few months ago when it was her turn to be the "spotlight" where they answer questions about themselves, her answer on "Where do you want to go on your mission?" was "Las Vegas". 

Proud parenting moment. 

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Friday we drove down and just got settled in and relaxed.  Saturday Jim and his dad went golfing, and while they were gone Sam, my MIL and I had a picnic, hit a jewelry/purse show put on by local vendors, did a little Superbowl party prep shopping...

got some ice cream goodness at Dairy Queen (which we could actually enjoy OUTSIDE)...

 watched for the guys on the golf course...

and made Valentines. 

 Which led me to wonder: how frickin' long does it take to golf?  We accomplished an awful lot of stuff during their one round of golf.  

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The next day we hit the Sunday brunch buffet at the Casablanca, which I look forward to every year because along with my French toast and other breakfast goodies, I get to have all-you-can eat shrimp and crab legs.  Mmmm...

None of us are big gamblers, but Jim and his rents always have to put a few bucks in the slot machines, so Sam and I try to amuse ourselves in the car while we wait for them to lose their money. 

 In between brunch and the Super Bowl we made a jaunt up to St. George to walk around the temple.

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Monday Sam finally got her trip to Vegas. 

She had no use for the M&M factory, and I totally agreed--they have every color and flavor imaginable EXCEPT dark chocolate--what the balls?  But she thought New York New York was awesome. 

In the past I've been pretty anti-Las Vegas, but the last couple trips I've learned to appreciate it for the fun buildings, the people watching, and the FOOD.  I've decided I'm going to take a trip there someday soon where all I do is try all the different restaurants (with a little walking in between to check out the buildings and burn off enough calories to start on the next meal). 

Also, I think it's hilarious that when you're walking down the strip with a child, you suddenly become invisible to the guys handing out porn fliers.  LOVE it.

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On the last day (not counting drive-home day) we started driving over to Hoover Dam, discovered it was further than we wanted to go, and settled for Lake Mead.  It was too cold to do more than a quick
"stick your finger in to see how cold it is", but pretty. 

 On the drive to Lake Mead you go through a little town called Logandale, and we saw this awesome house that looks like a castle!  Yes, they have a drawbridge.  And turrets. 

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It was hard coming back to the frigid wasteland we call home, but we consoled ourselves by making every food we possibly could into heart shapes throughout the weekend in honor of Valentine's Day, including:

-banana muffins--blueberry, cranberry, and plain.  (It's a relatively healthy recipe and they're really good...)

-grilled cheese sandwiches...

-and some gluten-free chocolate cupcakes w/ cream cheese frosting for
Grandma Neese.

We didn't make the heart-shaped pancakes yet, but I figure it still counts as long as I get it done during February!