What happens in Vegas . . .

Ahh, where to begin spinning the yarn of the two best worst weeks of our family's life so far? With the Bar Exam less than two weeks a way the kids and I split for the south to give Joe a chance to actually study and to keep him from getting some plague the kids seem to have in a constant rotation.

It was tough saying goodbye since we haven't had to do more than a few days apart since we were married. But it was all for the best. Unfortunately VERY few pictures were taken. I didn't bring a camera; I was packing light as a result of the new $10 per checked bag fee on our airline. I think everything about air travel has become a secret social experiment and the government is monitoring us all the while like when they decided to give some men medicine and others placebo's to treat syphilis just to see how crazy they would end up.

Picture me (temperament of Donald Duck) traveling alone with four children all under the ages of eight (Donald's three nephews and we'll throw in a Tasmanian devil to play the part of Tess). I especially like how you can't bring liquids through security but the airlines charge you for EVERYTHING you might consume on board. Where has the thrill of testing out your one year old for a possible peanut allergy at 30,000 feet gone? I did manage to smuggle on a few drink boxes and fruit leather and Betsy was an excellent "lap child" ( Usually a term reserved for small animals but we have already established the airline's concern for the young, helpless and/or aged.)

In Vegas things really started looking up. THANK YOU so much Carrie and Justin for putting us up for an entire week! We really did have a wonderful time. Everyone who knows Carrie and Justin know that you can pretty much plan for a fabulously entertaining vacation but this topped them all. With eight children nine or younger in one house and two, sometimes three adults supervising we were shocked at how smoothly things went. There was almost no squabbling! We swam almost every day thanks to the coolest backyard pool of all time and got to see a lot of Vegas including multiple Buffet's the Midway and shows at Circus Circus, the Bellagio fountains, FAO Schwartz, Caesar's palace and more. Like I said the pictures don't do the trip justice but the memories will always be terrific. I can't tell you how many times I almost wet my pants laughing with Carrie and Justin or just listening to the cousins interact. Grady almost stole my heart and even the real lapdog "Pancho" was well loved by my kids. To top the whole week off uncle Justin watched the kids for an entire afternoon and evening so Carrie and I could get pedicures and eat at Wolfgang Puck's on our way to a Coldplay concert. We can't thank our Nevada family enough for their daily kindness and home away from home.

After Vegas it was off to Redmond, Oregon on a 107 degree flight with no air conditioning (Again, I suspect a social experiment here.) We stayed one night at my parents cabin before driving to Eugene to finish off the week with family there. We were all crabby and I was the worst one so I apologize to the Eugenians who had to deal with that and Thank them for showing us a great time and REALLY good food. It can't be fun to help the single mother of four live out her days but everyone was very helpful. There was pretty much just constant playing with cousins, aunts, uncles and granparents and thinking about and praying for Joe as he actually took the test Tuesday-Thursday. He said, about the bar, everyone should experience something like that once in their life ( I was tempted to mention I had experienced something worse four times but was too happy just to see him and kept quiet.)

The best part about going was coming home to see Joe finally free of the pressure of the last four years. We hope that slowly the weight of the world will start to slip off his back. Yes the house does look like a "decroted piece of crap" but that is what happens when a "kept man" all of a sudden becomes a bachelor for two weeks. Joe swears someone would break into the house after he left and pee in the toilet but I know he just forgets to flush. So the house smells like a mix of vomit and mildew. In spite of that it is so good to be back and have that huge test behind us. thanks to all who put us up or put up with us over the last month and for all the prayers on Joe and my behalf.

P.S. Check out the captions for the slide show they help make sense of the pictures.