Walk to Emmaus

This past weekend I had the opportunity to serve on Walk #55 of the Southern Nevada Walk to Emmaus. A 72 hour Christian retreat designed to bring us closer to God and create leaders in the church. It was the most wonderful, exhausting, blessed, filling weekend that I have experienced since my own walk (#46) back in 2004. I assisted in cleaning, serving, praying, delivering agape, moving furniture, and anything else I could do to help the women on the walk experience true blessings. It was a wonderful way to spend my time away from my own family.

Take Your Child to Work Day

Last Thursday, Sade went to work at Spring Valley Hospital with her dad. What a great day she had. The hospital had the children's day planned out with tours of the different departments including the O.R., an ambulance & even the Mercy Air Helicopter came for the kids to get in and explore. They gave all of the kids lunch, a T-shirt, bag, and a stuffed "star." I don't think Sade wants to work in a hospital, especially after walking by an active O.R. room, but she had a great time exploring the hospital world. In the afternoon she had a little time to help Dele file some papers and see what he does.

Fun and the Drive Inn

So Friday night I took the kids to the Drive Inn in North Las Vegas! Once we got everyone settled, it was great! Yeah...with the kids being bigger now, we don't all fit lying down in the back of the van. So, we set it up so Sade and I were on the sleeping bag on the ground and the boys laid inside. How it worked out that the boys got the comfort, I don't know!?! It was probably for the best as I am normally always the first asleep at the Drive Inn, but this time Dele wasn't there to drive us home. This way I stayed awake. We saw Nim's Island and Horton Hears a Who. Two great movies! We really enjoyed them! The weather was beautiful...about 70 degrees by the time the movies were over at 11:15pm. The wind picked up in the middle of Horton, but we had sweatshirts and blankets and each other to cuddle with, so we were good! Can't wait to go back! :)

Way to go!

I'm so proud of my kids! They're all dressed up because they had to perform last night for the incoming 6th graders at school! Derek performed with the Advanced Band and Sade with the Advanced Choir...each three times! But the reason I'm truly proud of them is their hard work this year! Report cards came out again today and Derek had straight As and Sade had all As except in Math and straight Os for behavior! (Derek had 2 Ss - one from a teacher that has told me how much he loves having Derek in his class!) Anyway... I'm so proud of both of them! Way to go you guys!!!

Day at the Park

Afternoon at the Park

Ayodele, Kayode and I went to this really cool park that Dele had mentioned a while ago. It is located in the Mountain's Edge community on our side of town. The park is beautiful... lush green grass, a play area that is designed to be an Olde Western Town, a water area (hopefully will be running this summer) and a great hiking trail to the top of a small peak with a beautiful view of the entire city. The boys and I had a lot of fun playing and then I wore them out on the hike to the top! They kept saying, "Why did we let you talk us into this?" I told them we'd have to do it again sometime when we could take Derek & Sade with us... Ayodele quickly informed me that he'd be staying at the bottom! Well... we see about that when the time comes!

Ayodele's School BBQ

Circus Circus

Kayode had a great time at Circus Circus! Since we took Derek & his friends, Kayode and I stayed and he went on every ride he was tall enough for! He was so cute... he would find a ride and go on it at least 4 times in a row! When I got tired of waiting at the same ride, we'd move on to the next! He even tried his luck at a couple of the arcade games... and won! He popped balloons with darts and got the ping-pong ball in the bowl! Needless-to-say, I was impressed with his accuracy! His favorite ride was the fastest one he was able to ride on! He really likes rides that take him backwards! Disneyland should be fun when we take him! He even made a friend (boy on train) and they went on the train roller coaster together 4 or 5 times and he was sad when they had to leave! We stayed about 6 hours and he could have stayed longer!

Derek, Carlyn & Morgan

Well... here we are, Wednesday all ready! Yesterday we spent the day at Circus Circus and the kids had this characature done! They had a fun time while they are here! Now they're calculating days until the next time they can see each other! They think Derek will be spending at least one month in Marysville with them! Yeah... we'll see about that! They stayed up laughing and talking until 5am last night so things are a little somber here today before they leave! So glad he's got terrific friends!

Derek & his friends from Marysville, WA

Friday night at 11:53 Derek spotted his friends at the airport! They were finally here! Morgan & Carlyn, Derek's BFFs from last year came for their spring vacation. Saturday, they spent the afternoon chillin' and waiting for me to take them to the Strip! They rode the NY/NY rollercoaster, played at the arcade, visited M&M World and Coca-Cola, ate at the Rainforest Cafe and then watched the fountains at Bellagio. Sunday I drug them to church and then they swam at Cesar's Palace with Morgan's mom, sister and aunt before they went to the movies. They are here two and 1/2 more days, so we'll see what entertainment that brings.