Farewell summer...sniff sniff

Needless to say, I am not thrilled that summer is officially over. Every year it seems shorter and shorter, there is just not enough beach time in a day! Well, better late than never, but we managed to get a couple of great vacations in over the past couple of months. There was the trip to Rockford, Il for cousin Cindy's wedding and to hang out with the family. I tell you, there is nothing better than hanging out in the country with the fam at my father-in-law's. There's the pond, the nighttime fires (roasting marshmallows making "smush" as Danny calls s'mores) and picking raspberries. We even made some raspberry vodka yum!

That up there is Danny driving 'the tractor' with Grampa. Aden (cousin) is riding in the cart and Gramma Judy is making sure all 3 boys are obeying the safety rules (Dan is my father-in-law and he is just as much a kid as either of the two you see there). Some might say it's just a bunch of grass, but the country is very seductive. I have never seen lightning bugs in my life (hello, California girl here!) and I was informed by Cousin Cindy, that they are not referred to as fireflies in the midwest, but lightning bugs. So, anyhow, they are fun to catch in a jar and if you smash 'em between your fingers, it's like glow-in-the-dark paint. Gross, I know, but I had to be initiated into their childhood.

So that was just the start of it. among the several bech trips we had, there was the ever popular Vegas Vacation. We may not exactly be the Griswolds, but we make do. Everyone seems to think we are crazy for going to Vegas with a kid, that's probably because they've never experienced the sweet wave pool/beach/lagoon at Mandalay Bay. Oh, and the awesome Spice Market Buffet at Aladdin-I mean Planet Hollywood-it just wouldn't be Vegas if it weren't constantly changing. Unfortunately, I am too busy easting whenever I am in the buffet to take pictures, but take my word for it, it's sweet. I have however, enclosed some photos of Danny in the pool at Mandalay Bay.







Goodbye summer, I'll miss you. Until next year.

Maybe we can get some snowdays up on the mountain since Danny can ski now. Just gotta make it thru fall.