And the neverending vacation continues

Updates on the Rowberry's, After the 4th of July, we spent a few days in Vegas with my family and then headed up to Utah and Idaho. We went to Brandon's grandparents birthday party where they are turning 85 and 90 this year. It was a grand affair. We saw lots of cousins and Brandon's uncle Mick. He is a great guy. We stayed with Kelly and Brian King, who have a little more room at their house, and went to fireworks with them, then went boating on a different day. We had the best time. ON the boat we tried water skiing and we got bounced around on some tubes. Then on the way back, we hit a 6 foot swell and got drenched in water. Our boat got water logged and we had to pull over to the shore to get all the water out before we could continue. We didn't realize just how scary, and potentially dangerous it was, we thought it was great, but you could see the fear in Brian and Kelly's eyes. . . To this day it is Coleman's favorite part of the whole trip.
On the way back down to Vegas we stopped at Brandon's cousin's house that live right by the Provo temple. We used them as our home base and went all over. We took a tour of BYU where we got to ride on some golf carts and got to see all the buildings. We went to the museum there on campus that has tons of stuffed animals, bears and lions and an elephant. It was very cool to see. We got ice cream at the creamery and went to see Sharon elementary where I taught school. We went to the old house that we lived in when Brandon was attending BYU and where Ty and Lanae were born. Good times good times. Then on a different day we got to go and tour temple square in Salt Lake. That was a whole day affair. Then we got to go to 7 Peaks water park and spend a whole day on water rides, in a lazy river and playing playing playing. Each day when we went back to Jen's house, they were so fun. Our kids got along really well. . . They played games and slid down their stairs and had a great ol time. Jen and John are remodeling their house and lawn, so some of the kids got to ride on a tractor. We also got to see some trees come down. . . Exciting stuff!
Then we reluctantly headed back down to Vegas for one more week before the Spears family reunion. On the way back from provo, our car over heated. . . So we sat on the side of the road for 20 minutes until it cooled down and then found a gas station where we could go into the air conditioning and cool ourselves down. It was there that we found out it was 122 degrees F that day. We had to turn off the A/C when the car got hot, so we were all very hot. We loaded up with lots of ice and let the kids get an ice cream. We filled up all of our water bottles with cold water before we felt confident to head out again. By the time we reached my parents house, the kids were falling on the vine, saying that they were going to die from the heat. I had planned on going to Valley of Fire, and to Red rock and to all these outdoor places while we were here, but it is way too hot for any of that!! We have instead gone swimming and swimming and we did go to the Lied Childrens museum here in town. Anything that is indoors, we went and discovered it. There were a few times that we had to go out into the sun, and the kids just about died every time.. . . We will just have to come back when it isn't 120 degrees outside.
Last night we did make it to the Las Vegas strip. I wanted our kids to see the lights when it was night. . . They weren't very impressed. We walked through Caesars Palace. Mainly, because that is where Grandpa,(my dad) worked for 30 years or so while I was growing up. By the end we decided that all the hotels were just full of naked women, people loosing all their money at the tables and the slots, lots of smoking and drinking. So, they got their fill. Almost the whole night was, don't look down, oh wait, don't look at that billboard, Don't look that way either. . . There is a really big naked statue ahead, just look at the back of the person's head in front of you, and you will be safe. We had a great time!
On Monday we go shopping for our family reunion and then head up on Tuesday to Junction Utah. My birthday is on Monday, so Brandon is going to bring me out on the town. We will watch a show at the Excalibur Hotel and have a great time I am sure. Next Sunday we finally head up to Minnesota! Yea!
I am ready to have a schedule again, and to have nap times and figure out schools and figure out where we will be.
We did buy a house. In Eden Prairie. It looks fabulous online. I am anxious to see it in person. . . Brandon did see it in person and says it is fabulous. So, I am sure that it will be. Love to all. We miss you.