Birthday Weekend- Helicopter to Vegas!!!

This weekend was just awesome. It was exactly what I would have hoped for my birthday on Friday. We flew out of Southern California at about 12 noon and then flew over our neighborhood and the boys school and just took a tour of our area. Then we headed to refuel in Barstow and then headed out to Dumont. We actually landed in the sand at the North Pole-- remember I have posted pictures of us riding our quads and Rhinos to the north pole in the past. We flew all over Dumont and just loved looking at how beautiful the sand was with all the shadows and contrasts. It was just beautiful from the air!! After Dumont we headed to Vegas BABY!!!

Chuck and Kevin doing the pre-flight check- me right before we took 0ff- Kev before we took off- Kev and I and a view of our area from the sky.

Landing at the North Pole in Dumont. The boys just thought these pictures were totally cool since we have been there many times before. Kevin put a note in the box for Santa.

Susan and I also posed by the mail box for Santa!

While flying outside Dumont area, we saw from the sky a heard of wild rams (or whatever they were). We tried to take some pictures of them-- it was totally cool. There are also some pictures of our first views of Vegas from the sky.

So the stupid thing I did was leave my camera in the helicopter so I did not take any pictures while out and about in Vegas-- I know-- how stupid of me!!

Here is us flying over the Hoover Dam on our way out yesterday.

These are some pictures of the Grand Canyon. Since we were a private helicopter we were not allowed to fly into the canyon and we had to kind of stay on the perimeter, so it limited the pictures we could take but it was still amazingly beautiful and we were totally in awe.

It was totally cool because while on our way out of the grand canyon-- maybe about one hour out- Susan had to pee really bad. So, we found this totally cool bluff and landed there and went off to pee. It was totally cool just to land in the middle of this bluff that probably never had people actually on it-- way cool!!

Anyway, that was about it! While in Vegas we stayed at Balleys which is right in the middle of the strip so we were able to walk to everything. When we left the airport on Thursday to head to our hotel we stopped at one of Chuck and Susan's favorite seafood placed and had an amazing dinner. After that we checked in and relaxed in our room for the rest of the night. I know that sounds pitiful but we were more happy just to relax without kids than to go hang on the strip. So, we went to bed early and slept in till late. The next day we went to breakfast around noon and then went shopping at Cesar's Palace. We then went back to the hotel to relax and get ready for dinner. We went to dinner at an amazing restaurant my brother Brad suggested-- Bucheon at the Venetian. It was great food. After that we went to the casino and hung out for a while and then back to our hotel. We are so pitiful but we again went to bed before 1am-- which for Vegas is pitiful!! Anyway, the next morning we woke up, went to a great breakfast and then flew off to the Hoover dam and to the grand canyon and then home.

Once we got home we had Reign hockey tickets so we were off to the game. I will post game pictures tomorrow-- some cute one. Tonight we are heading to the Ducks hockey game with Brian and Heather so we will have pictures of that as well. So, this has been a busy weekend but should have some great pictures!!

Have a great Sunday and next week!!!