Visiting Aiden, helping pack, High School graduation, Las Vegas with Jasmyne

Really catching up here after our time with our granddaughter, Jasmyne. Glenda and I left our rig in Pahrump, NV and flew to Peoria, IL, via Las Vegas, where we rented a car to get around while in the Midwest. Our main reason for going back to IL was to attend our granddaughters high school graduation and bring her out west with us to visit Las Vegas, Zion NP and Bryce Canyon NP. We had been planning this trip for some time and it was finally happening. Once we got to Peoria we drove to Normal, IL to see my Dad and brother. Dad is doing well and appreciate my brothers hospitality. We stayed Kent overnight and then drove up to Streamwood, IL to see our daughter, SIL and Aiden. Heather and Paul had finally sold their Townhouse and found a house in Bartlett, IL. It just so happened they were packing to move that weekend so we were able to help pack and I got to watch Aiden. Glenda is good at organizing and Paul is a non stop mover so while they all packed I took Aiden to the park. That was a big help and I got out of packing. :-) 

We pulled his wagon and to the park and Aiden wanted to play on the slides. We had a great time and Glenda, Heather and Paul got a lot accomplished.

The next day Aiden had some bubble soap so we got out in the driveway and made bubbles.

Great technique

Dad helping

That night we had a nice dinner at a pizza restaurant and some frozen yogurt. We had a wonderful time visiting and planned on coming back during the next week to help paint in the new house once they took possession. Unfortunately I didn't get any photos of the new house but will when we go back to the Midwest in July.

We ended up helping paint Aiden's room, the closets and baseboards where new carpet was going to be installed soon. Everyone pitched in and got the job done.

Heather and Paul got us a nice room at a Courtyard Marriott that night. It was very generous and much appreciated.

The next day we headed to Indiana and Jasmyne's high school graduation. We stayed with our daughter, Sommer, and enjoyed seeing the other grandkids. Sommer's husband's family also came to see Jasmyne graduate and Heather and Aiden made it too.

The beautiful graduate

The gang at the graduation

Aiden wanted mommy to hold him and fell asleep

It's a large school with about 850 graduates. They kept the ceremony short and concentrated on handing out the diplomas.

The next day we celebrated with some dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings.  So nice to get family together.

We always have a great time when the family gets together. After hanging out over the weekend after the graduation it was time for us to take Jasmyne with us and drive back to Peoria, IL, catch a plane and fly back to Las Vegas to begin our adventure. We got to Vegas, checked in and took a shuttle to the Vegas Strip. What an interesting place. Nice place to visit but not to live there.

The Marriott hotel we stayed at had a nice shuttle to a couple of the hotels on the strip. It just so happened the shuttle went to the Mandalay Bay where the show we had tickets for as at. Very convenient and free. We heard about the Bellagio fountain and light display so we walked there and watched. It was quite an event.

Click to enlarge

I have video but not sure how to add to the post. We were told the Bellagio also had a great themed display in their rotunda so we checked it out. Pictures don't do it justice.

The next evening we had tickets to see the Cirque De Soleil Michael Jackson One show at the Mandalay Bay Hotel/Casino. We had dinner at Buca De Beppo Italian restaurant at the Excalibur before the show. Nice atmosphere and good food. We took a shuttle back to Mandalay Bay and headed to the Theatre.

We had never been to a Vegas Show and it was one of the highlights of our trip. Jasmyne took dance class in school and her teacher said it was a great show with lots of dancing, music and acrobatics. It was all that and more. Wonderful production. We also had great seats.

This was a fantastic start to our time with Jasmyne. The next day we checked out of the hotel and headed back to Pahrump to get our rig and start the next leg of our trip. We were heading to Hurricane, UT and Zion NP.  Our next chapter in the story.