Thanksgiving

 We went to Vegas over Thanksgiving. The kids enjoyed seeing their cousins and we enjoyed visiting with my sister and Kiley. We saw Christmas lights, went walking, played games, made and ate yummy food, celebrated Liz's 7th birthday and even got to see Grandma and Grandpa.

We enjoyed seeing the Christmas lights at the Ethel M Cactus Garden and sampling the chocolate.

Kiley, Cheryl-Lynn, U and Me

U, Matthew, Sarah, Me, Megan

All the kids: Luke, Megan, Liz, Sarah, Ben, Andrew, Matthew

Me

Me and Cheryl-Lynn

Liz and Megan

Andrew, Sarah and Luke (we all wore masks most of the time but were allowed to take them off for photos; here the teens are being teens and leaving them on.....)

Matthew helping Santa out of the chimney.

Me, U and Matthew with 3 Eiffel Towers!

The whole clan: back row: Andrew, U, Matthew, Me, Megan
front row: Luke, Ben, Liz, Cheryl-Lynn, Sarah, Kiley

Thanksgiving Day feast

The aerial view

Sarah's turkey and mashed potato roll

Matthew and Ben

Liz and Megan

clockwise from the left: Me, Andrew, Viv, Kiley, Cheryl-Lynn, Sarah, Luke (not pictured: U)

On Saturday, we met Grandma and Grandpa A at Valley of Fire State Park for some hiking, rock scrambling and visiting.

Megan found a little cave.

Pretty scenery around the cave.

Matthew in a very little cave.

Matthew and Liz doing some rock scrambling. (It was Liz's 7th birthday.)

Grandpa and Me

Matthew and Megan

Interesting formations.

Lots of pretty scenery!

Grandma and Grandpa

Matthew climbed up this crevice around where we ate lunch. He loved all the rock scrambling.

See the kids way up high? They enjoyed exploring the area and Uncle Kiley accompanied them on their explorations.

Grandpa, Grandma, Me, Cheryl-Lynn. The four of us plus U went on a little hike while Kiley explored with the kids.

Walking through a slot canyon.

More pitting.

Lots of beautiful red rock!

We saw some Desert Bighorn Sheep (the Nevada state animal).

We climbed up some stairs to see some petroglyphs. It is amazing they were up so high.

More neat rock formations below the petroglyphs.

Big hugs for Grandma and Grandpa from Ben, Matthew and Megan.

Small arch we saw on our way out.