What a great trip! We stayed at a casino hotel in Henderson, 20 minutes from the Las Vegas strip. Gambling opps everywhere - we passed folks on the slot machines every morning on the way to breakfast. We spent a few relaxing afternoons under the palm trees at the hotel pool. Temps were in the 80's - perfect! Jaime tried her luck and won $100 at a few slot machines. She then promptly lost $20 of it and decided to cash out. Smart girl. The boys got a kick out of her winnings (she gave them each $20), and Andrew kept trying to convince her to try again. He was drawn to the kiddie video arcade, definitely in the spirit of the place. We spent one evening on the strip and we all enjoyed that. The lights and energy and sense of fun were infectious! We left at around 9 pm, before it got too creepy. The boys adored it and want to go back. In fact they would like to live there. A perfect example of Unintended Consequences. 
We spent a morning at the Hoover Dam, which was a yawner since we have already seen the Grand Coulee Dam in our own fair state. Seen one big fat dam, seem 'em all. Then there was a lovely morning in the Red Rock Canyon just west of Vegas. Gorgeous desert landscape, lots of short hikes to choose from. And the Grand Canyon itself: magnificent. We spent a few hours up on the rim, then the next day hiked down a little into the canyon on the Bright Angel Trail. If we ever decide to go back, I would make reservations a year in advance so that we could stay in one of the lodges on the rim of the canyon and plan an overnight down to the floor. You can hike (or ride a mule) all the way down, stay in a lodge overnight, then hike or ride up the next day. Here are a few shots of our trip: the boys and me on the Bright Angel Trail, all of us at Red Rock Canyon, and Andrew at the Bellagio, waiting for the synchronized fountain display. I'll post more pix to Picasa later.
That's it for now - I have to check out the sale at Timberland. Thanks, Patti!
