Back in the Windy City!

 I returned from Las Vegas to find that Spring had finally arrived, although slowly. After a few rather cold days it appeared that Spring was over and summer had arrived with temperatures in the low 30's! Not doing the spring flowers any good!

This led to a couple of water balloon 'sessions!

Filling up the pool and balloons was always with the understanding that I wasn't to get wet. With two little imps saying "We won't wet you Nanna Lesley" to then getting a face full of water and the two of them in hysterics! It was usually a full blast from the hose! I always ended up with wet clothes - the joys of being a Nanna!

 We attended Ivy's Dance recital. She was in ballet, tap and acro with three changes of costume. Everyone performed really well. I am sure that Lauren will not let it turn into that TV programme 'Dance Mums'! Oops Moms! As yet I haven't got photos of Ivy in her outfits but here is a 'before photo! She looks so different with her hair in a bun!

We have been to Benny's soccer training and games. He doesn't like getting ready to go but has fun when he is there! We stand on the side lines urging his side, of 5 year olds, on at each game! When I help him get his soccer boots on I am told, "These aren't boots they are cleats!"

 We have been out to dinner to celebrate my birthday. There have been swimming lessons and Ivy continues with horse riding.

I love having the time to get to know Ivy and Benny closely and it's lovely to feel their little hands wanting to hold yours! The downside is that I am aching from playing horses and 'wrestling' - to name but a couple of activities. We laugh a lot and have fun.

 

Benny hates 'going to school and it often a bit fraught getting him to get ready but once he's there he's fine! He has homework ( 5 years old!!) each day which also causes problems! The school year ends on 1st June and schools are then off until middle of August - that's a crazy long time so no wonder they have summer camps!

I am having a couple of days in the city to go to the museums. I found a good deal for a hotel and as I write I am looking out at Lake Michigan. It's the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume. Between tall buildings I can see small boats. The sky is a little grey - rain is forecast and the temperature is down.

Leaving Vegas!

 Saturday saw me have a lazy day but I checked out where I was to get the tour bus the next day - I wasn't going to be late again! I went to the 'Mob museum' which was really interesting and got me out of the hot sun!

Sunday was an early start and I was ready for the tour in plenty of time! I was heading to the southern rim of the Grand Canyon. Luckily there were fewer people on this bus so we all had space to get comfortable and as it was a long trip out to the rim it was needed. It had entered my head that perhaps I could go on another helicopter trip. As the journey progresed it became windier and windier and by the time we arrived all helicopters had been grounded!

The views from the walkways were spectacular!

I didn't arrive back until 10pm but it was well worth the long drive!

On Monday it was another early start and the bus pick up was at another spot! I took a cab to make sure I was at the right place! This was a small group tour to the 'Valley of Fire' National Park. There were only seven people so a good size. It took about an hour from Las Vegas to reach the park and was rather spectacular with all the different coloured rocks. Its earliest inhabitants were probably hunter gatherers, known as the Basketmaker Culture, according to the petroglyphs we saw. The scarcity of water would have made their stay short.

The sandstone and limestone rocks gave the name to the park.

 Elephant rock

We had plenty of time to explore the different areas and because of the early start were not there in the hottest part of the day.

A week had passed and so it was time for my return to a much cooler temperature in Illinois!!

Las Vegas is not a place I would return to even the heat would not entice me!