We woke Saturday morning to the sound of rain on the pavement outside our window. The skies were gray but the sun was beginning to peek through.
Taking the time to eat breakfast was all we needed for the rain to stop and the swimsuits to get on.
We spent a couple of hours in the pool and when the rain started lightly again we packed up and headed East out of Las Vegas to visit the Hoover Dam near Boulder City.
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| 4/14/12 |
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| Dad went in with a splash! |
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| All the kids have loved it when Dad throws them up and they fall into the water |
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| 4/14/12 |
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| view from the Arizona side |
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| those little specks on top of the bridge are people walking out over it and the tops of the cars driving along this freeway |
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| we drove back to the Nevada side so that we could park and walk out over the dam on this bridge |
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| on the bridge looking down |
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| view from the bridge, on the Nevada side |
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| 4/14/12 |
The rain started up again on the drive back to Las Vegas but not for long. The sun pushed through the clouds on our drive up the hill to the temple.
Parker was delighted for the green grass.
After a walk around the temple we realized we hadn't eaten since breakfast and stopped for a quick snack since our tummies were growling.
About half way back to St. George, the rain began to pour. This time it didn't let up.
After another wet drive, we stopped for dinner & gas and returned to the hotel for the night.
The rain was our constant companion this evening.
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| view from the freeway coming into Las Vegas, the Strip off in the distance |
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| "Green grass! I love green grass!" |
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| 4/14/12 |
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| shortly after their dance Parker jumped off and rolled down the hill a bit, Dallin stepped back down to the pathway and Kyralyn walked along the wall a little bit more until she fell off into the bushes. Poor girl! A love & a hug from Dad and she was just fine again. |
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| Las Vegas Temple grounds, 4/14/15 |
Side Note: it looks like I forgot to take a picture of the building itself. So here is an old picture of it from lds.org: (it was built in the 80's, dedicated on December 16, 1989 by Gordon B. Hinckley)
All of the parts and pieces of this day have come together to create incredible patterns in our family. The pictures only capture a small piece, but they are a reminder of the thoughts, the feelings, and the words that have gone into creating this beautiful & shining pattern in our memories. We were so grateful to be able to end this day with a visit to the temple.
One of the things I learned on this day is that family vacations are full of fun, love & joy.
But, occasionally things happen that tend to expose our greatest weaknesses so they also require a great deal of work, patience, and love!
I was especially grateful for our visit to the temple to remind us that we can be together as a family for eternity.
So the love, the work & the patience is worth it.
