Las Vegas and Hoover Dam

November took us to Las Vegas for one of our best friend's wedding.  We got in the day before and decided to explore the Hoover Dam.  On the way there, we stopped at Lake Mead (the lake created from the Colorado River when the Hoover Dam was built).  Lake Mead is so beautiful and crystal clear blue.  What an amazing accomplishment that project was of the Hoover Dam.  We enjoyed learning the history of the politics behind the project, the impact on the economy during the time of the Great Depression and of course the construction feat of the dam - which was completed under budget and ahead of schedule (imagine that ;)..).

http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/

 

This is a picture of the power plant on the Nevada side.

This is us on the way to the Hoover Dam, stopping along one of the overlooks for Lake Mead.

A wonderful view of the lake and the desert.

A picture of how the dam works - with the water flow to the power plant and safety valves.
We also took a tour into the dam (just reopened for tour this year after being closed since 9-11).  Our tour guide had grown up playing inside the dam, because her father was a manager at the plant / dam... she had some fascinating stories and history behind the building of the dam.  This picture is inside one of the air ducts within the dam.

A picture from within the dam - looking upward.
Another picture from within the dam looking down and out - what a view!
And here's a picture with the happy couple at the reception!
Afterwards, we went to the Bellagio on the strip to see the decorations for the holiday and the water fountain music show...
Another pic inside the Bellagio..
Water fountain show to music...
Another shot of the water fountain show...

A quick trip West

We spent time in SLC to support our friends Josh and Moriah for their wedding and while there spent some good, quality time with my family....

We picked up Susie and Emily and took Jim for a tour of my old stomping grounds at BYU. Fun pics from a BBQ at Mary and Joey's (thanks guys).

How many grillmasters does it take to grill shish kabobs? 3, one to grill, one to make jokes and one to taste test :). Thanks guys for yummy cooking.
Cute Emmy and Jayden...
Cute Boston - who needs a bib - take off the shirt and go crazy :).... (I love this kids big, bright blue eyes!)
"Marwy, you make me waugh!!" Kelsi loves Aunt Mary :)
Girls just want to have fun - Nicole Okeson, Emily, Susie and Mary
More girls just want to have fun :). bottom - Nicole, Emily, Susie, Jayden, top - KJ, me, Mary and Kelsi
Oh... how cute Mary and Joey :) - great hosts!
Kelsi - "Mary gave me sprinkles, so I am happy :)..."
Yeah for a group mug shot....
The happy honeymooners - Josh and Moriah. We are happy for our good friends!

Jersey Shore - Sunday afternoon picnic

We took a picnic dinner to the Jersey Shore a few Sundays ago with our good friends Allison, Kent and Natalie... What a peaceful and fun family activity :)...

Happy One Year to us - Boston

Wow, a year sure passed super fast! It has been a wonderful first year as a married couple. To celebrate we took a long weekend and drove up for some exploring in Boston. We love Boston and would like to live there! Great, clean place, easy to walk everywhere or take public transport, great parks, restaurants and historical exploring... Enjoy the pics from our exploring...

The start of the "Freedom Trail" walk - a 3 mile trail through the city - following a red painted or brick line from famous historical site to historical site. Here we are at the Boston Commons - a fantastic park, designed by the same guy who designed the NYC Central Park.A funny random statue... no personal political statement either way here .... just a funny statue... "standing in a republicans shoes against the democrats...

Another cool statue - one of the former mayors of Boston.
A Holocaust Memorial - sign at the beginning....
Then all these glass towers with quotes from survivors at the bottom and then rows and rows of #s from the concentration camp victims lined up in the blocks of glass up the sides of the towers....
Skyline view of Boston (and my handsome husband :)...)
A neat park area...
Paul Revere House....



Paul Revere statue of his "night ride" with the church in the background where the lanterns where placed in the bell tower to warn how the British were coming - by sea or land...
Church tower - signal of the lanterns...

Bunker Hill Monument Obelisk
Bunker Hill Monument visitors center
Park along the way with an interesting fountain... Fish statue on the edge...
Fountain itself...
Fun railing along the bottom of the fountain...
Bronze casting of Larry Bird's basketball shoes - (this one's for you Dwayne :))
Another interesting bronze set of statues - ducklings for the "Make Way for Ducklings" children's book...


Gardens at the Boston Temple
Boston Temple
Harvard - statue of the 3 lies... says John Harvard founder 1638... John Harvard did not found Harvard, rather it was named after him, it was founded in 1636, and there is no known picture of John Harvard - so the likeness of the statue is after someone else...