VA CAY! The last week of our Summer - August 9th-15th, 2009

Jared and I got this amazing offer from our friends, Anthony and Julie, to come to visit them for a week at their home in Las Vegas. They made it possible for us to have a fun and relaxing family vacation and the road trip was bearable - even with us stopping every hour and a half to two hours to let the prego woman pee! ;-)

Here are some pictures of our adventures with the Stosich Family in Las Vegas in mid-August! HOT! HOT! HOT!


No trip to visit Anthony Stosich would be complete without trying to catch some fish! NOT a BITE - I guess that's why they call it fishing and not catching, right?

Jared and Tanner - Daddy spent most of his time untangling fishing line...

Tanner

Emily & Lindsey

Emily


We also got a thorough tour of the fire station where Anthony works - and even a ride on the Engine!

Lindsey with the fire hose!

A view into the Engine's cabin... that was a fun ride - sirens and everything!



Sittin' on the Engine



Emily has really had a tough time in the past year in dealing with the fear of fire. She has had trouble sleeping - complaining of stomach aches when she lays down to sleep. Anthony really did a great job in explaining what he does as a firefighter and even put on all of his equipment, complete with mask and air tank! Firemen can look pretty scary with all that strange protective gear - but the kids all understood why they wear it all and are now familiar with what a Firefighter would look like if he or she needed to come into a burning building to save you! (Since this tour and demonstration, Emily hasn't had any problems when she lays down to sleep! Thank you Uncle Anthony!)
Then, all the kids got to try on the gear!

Anthony helped each child (6 in all!) try on all of the equipment -
FIRST - the boots...

TANNER!

Then came the coat and the helmet...
That's Anthony's oldest son Rylan with Tanner helping out by putting on the helmet.

Tanner - underneath it all...

Lindsey and all the gear...

EMILY - in full gear.


We were there for almost a week (and the week right before school started!) and the kids all got along together so well! Julie - being 9 months pregnant - was a SAINT and didn't seem to mind a bit that our 6 children tore up the house daily! Emily, Lindsey and Tanner had a ball and NEVER ONCE complained or said they wanted to go home. The only complaint voiced was that they missed their own beds.

Rylan, Jenna and Tyler were great hosts and shared their home and toys soooo generously. When it came time to go home, our kids didn't want to leave!

Julie and Anthony were expecting their 4th child - due to arrive September 21st. We where so grateful for their hospitality and friendship! Julie gave birth to their baby boy, Brigham Anthony Stosich, on Sunday Sept.13th at 1:04 AM (literally 4 weeks after we left!) Congratulations! And - thanks again for giving us a great summer vacation!