Las Vegas Vacation

We decided to get away for a Vegas vacation before Jenny enters her 3rd trimester. We were hoping to warm up and catch the sights. The temperature barely broke 50 degrees, but since we left -30, it was an improvement. We toured most of the casinos on the strip and we went to every free show we could find. We took turns doing a bit of gambling while the other person entertained our daughter. Amazingly we suffered rather minor losses over the 6 nights there.

Family shot at Ceasar's Palace.

Isabel learned to fall in love with water fountains on the trip, and with throwing small change into them. Since every casino has elaborate fountains, she was in 7th heaven.

Since 2010 is the year of the tiger on the Chinese calendar, a few of the casinos had large tiger displays like this one.

At MGM Isabel got to see two lionesses and two lion cubs. At MGM Jenny lost money in every machine she played on.

Isabel and daddy suiting up for our trip to Death Valley.

Isabel had a banana every day and ironically she learned to make monkey sounds whenever we say monkey.

Hiking in Death Valley.

The lowest point in the United States.

Red Rock Canyon just outside of Las Vegas.

Red Rock Canyon turned out to be an incredibly beautiful hiking area, pleasantly close to Vegas.

January in Alaska = indoor activities

Isabel decided to take up playing an instrument to broaden her horizons. My makeshift mandolin proved to be just the right size for her. She sings too and sticks her tongue out like Gene Simmons from KISS.

Bell has become an enthusiastic little bookworm and Sibley's bird field guides are her favorites. She spends many minutes every day paging through looking at birds.

No I'm not breaking any child labor laws, the broom has become one of her favorite toys. I need to get her a kid one, because this one is metal and rather heavy for her.

Isabel on the loose outdoors

Isabel her first time walking outside! She was super excited to have free reign.

One of Scott's Christmas gifts to Jen was this 1008 piece Isabel puzzle, which proved quite difficult but fun.