LAS VEGAS

So you all know that I am really into running and I love to run half marathons. I never thought I would but that what happened and I enjoy it.
A while ago I signed up for the Las Vegas Rockn Roll Half Marathon and I was glad I could bring my family on this adventure weekend.

So Mid November it was time, we packed our bags and started the roadtrip to Las Vegas.
It was a long long drive, but the kids were excited and happy especially since I had told them so many fun stories about the Vegas strip and the crazy, over the top hotels.

We were a bunch of girls running it and it turned into an awesome funfilled weekend.

Saturday was busy with sightseeing and some pooltime followed by a delicious Carb-filled dinner at Bucca di Beppo (you just gotta have pasta the night before a long run...).

Sunday morning while Mark was sleeping in I took the kids to the adventuredome in the Circus Circus hotel because we had some time and because I had promised them. The timing was perfect since there were no lines and the kids could go on a bunch of rides. I think Naiya rode the rollercoaster about 5 times.
Around lunch it was time to go back and meet the rest of the group for some food and then we had to get ready for the run since it was an EVENING run!
Yes!! An Evening Run on the Las Vegas strip!
The whole strip was blocked off from traffic, just to see that was incredibly exciting.
What can I say: the run was overwhelming and amazing. I am so blessed that I can do these things and that my family could be there with me. Running the strip at night with all the lights and lasers and music playing is something I will never forget.

 

At the Trump Tower hotel (kids loved it there)

 

Me and the kids at the Rockn Roll Expo

 

 

 

At Treasure Island

Of course had to stop at the M&M store

 

Dip in the hotel pool

Had to take a SELFIE!



Dinner with the group 

 

 

Kids loved to play in our hotel room and look down the window

 

Adventure Dome

Love the expression on his face - I can see how nervous he is

 



 

My fabulous running partners

Gotta have fun!

 



Posing after with our medals

 



Late night after race dinner at the Wynn

 



FIERCE!!!



 

 

 

Now what`s next????

Nina

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Just Naiya

Here are some random, recent things about Naiya.

Her girl scout Junior troop participated in an annual parade in town and they were able to sit on a float the whole time and advertise for girl scouts. She was very excited especially because she had to miss it the year before and was mostly looking forward to the "float riding" and waving. I was able to get a few cute shots.

 

She also received a few awards for the first quarter of this school year and this Mommy couldn`t be more proud. Way to go Naiya!!

 

 

She really got into swimming this school year and loves her swim team and improved incredibly. She trains 3 times a week and we try to go to as many swim meets as we can. I am always speechless when I see her shooting through the water and I do admire what a great swimmer she has become.

 

She is just growing up too fast and there is nothing that I can do except saviour every moment.

 

Nina

XXXXOOOO

 

Calan`s school performance

It was time for Calan`s school performance. Firts grade was putting on a musical called My town, My country.

It was mostky singing an each kid had a line to say. It was supercute and I get super emotioanl; when it comes to things like this and have to try hard not to cry each time in the audience, I definitely tear up though.

Here are a few poics from that stage moment. They are not very good shots, but you can see how excited and also nervous Calan is. Just love my little guy to pieces!

Nina
XXXXOOOOO

October Fall Fun

Hello hello,


I gotta catch up on some of our fall activities before it is too late. This is gonna be a longer post :)

As always we try to do as many fall activities as we can and squeeze it all in in the month of October and take advantage of the somewhat cooler temperatures.Even though this year it was still hot.

One of our fall traditions during fall break is to go out to Apple Annies and pick some apples from the trees, enjoy some pumpkin icecream, find our way through the corn maze, roll in tubs of corn kernels and bring home a pumpkin from the field. This year we did it again with some of our good friends and it always turns into a great day.

At home we use the 20 pounds of apples to make delicious apple pie, apple bread, some more pies, apple sauce and even more pies to freeze. Sooooo good!

 

 

Then we tried another pumpkin patch in town which we hadn`t been before, but I gotta say I didn`t really care for it. It seemed to be a rip off and there weren`t that many things to do for the kids. Lesson  learned, we won`t go back.  But you know me I had to take a few fun pictures...of course!

 

SELFIE:

Hayride

 She loves her white pumpkin

 

 

So the weekend after we went back to our favorite pumpkin farm here in our area: Agua Linda Farm.

I love the feeling when you get there, so natural, so peaceful. The kids have the best time. It`s not so big so they can just run around, swing in the huge tire swings, pet the ponies and donkeys,  feed the petting zoo animals, run through a kid size hay maze and finish it off with a delicious pumpkin pie and some pumpkin flavored coffee for mommy. Did I mention we LOVE anything pumpkin in this house??

 

 

 

 

A few days before Halloween it is our tradition to carve pumpkins. Yes we do like traditions!

The kids are always super motivated , but then things don`t necessarily turn out the way they are supposed to be and they get impatient or mad. Calan especially and this year I had to try hard not to laugh because he was already very upset that his pumpkin didn`t look like he wanted it to be. But I think they all look fantastic and I enjoyed the time with my family.

 

Trying to come up with a good pumpkin face

concentrating

the "electric saw" made it so much easier and Daddy was excited he could bring it out

 

working hard

the end result...cute, right?

 

 

Talking about traditions: there are more! Hope you don`t get bored yet.

The kids ALWAYS decorate a pumpkin cake the day before Halloween and they get to enjoy it right after. I give them "decorator freedom" and let them put as much frosting and sprinkles on as they want. Surprisingly this year wasn`t too bad and you could still eat it.

 

 .

MORE sprinkles!!!

Ta-Dahhh

 

 

And finally Halloween Night. This year they decided for a Goth Witch and the Grim Reeper.

I think the time of the cute and adorable costumes is over. My kids are growing older and they want the scary costumes now. Aren`t they still so cute though?

So as you can see we had a great time in October and are ready for more fun.
Bring it!

Nina
XXXOOO