Our church had their usual picnic at Murdy Park today. The main activities are eating, talking and playing.
Here’s Lizzie wearing her “smart” glasses. She really doesn’t need glasses. But since Jeffrey has been wearing glasses to look smarter, Lizzie had to do it as well.
Lizzie with her friends, Stephanie, Christeen, and Kendra. Click photo for full size.
The weather was sunny with the temperature around 70 F…which is really nice. However the location of the picnic tables plus maybe the canopy creates a wind tunnel effect. So it is ALWAYS cold sitting at the tables.
Nicole and Jeri chilling out in Murdy Park’s wind tunnel area. Click photo for full size.
Victoria and Joanna enjoying the day. Victoria and Joanna at Murdy Park. Click photo for full size.
Josiah trying badminton. Josiah trying badminton. Click photo for full size.
Volleyball is a favorite sport. Here’s Jeffrey serving the ball. Jeffrey serves the volleyball. Click photo for full size.
We finally gathered up enough people to play Ultimate Frisbee. Here’s Jeffrey (near the center) preparing to throw the Frisbee. Jeffrey ready to pass in Ultimate Frisbee. Click photo for full size.
Tim looks to pass the Frisbee. Tim looks to pass the Frisbee. Click photo for full size.
Jeffrey goes up to catch a pass. Jeffrey tries to snag it from Maureen. Click photo for full size.
Justin (yellow jersey) and Andrew go for a pass. Justin and Andrew go for the Frisbee. Click photo for full size.
Tim tries to catch a Frisbee. Tim tries to catch the Frisbee with Lizzie behind him. Click photo for full size.
From left to right, Jeffrey Pau, Christeen, Tim Pau, Tim, Stephen, Justin Pau, Lizzie Pau, and Jason Pau (slightly cut off). From Left to Right, Jeffrey Pau, Christeen, Tim Pau, Tim, Stephen, Justin Pau, Lizzie Pau, and Jason Pau. Click photo for full size.
More action. More Frisbee Action. Click photo for full size.
On Sunday, Jay met up with Jason, Jeffrey, and Tim on Fashion Mall on the Strip in Las Vegas. We ate supper and then enjoyed wandering around seeing stuff.
Jay, Jason, Jeffrey, and Tim on the Las Vegas Strip. Click photo for full size.
On Monday, Josiah, Sarah, Joanna, Nicole and Tim drove to the Strip and saw some sights. One of the things that Tim and Josiah did was get in virtual reality pods that give the sensation of moving. It was pretty realistic!
Josiah, Sarah, Joanna, Nicole, and Tim inside on the Strip. Click photo for full size.
We saw the small version of the Eiffel Tower.
Nicole and Joanna on the Las Vegas Strip. Click photo for full size.
On Tuesday, the entire family (minus Jeffrey who flew back *early* Monday morning for coding school) made it down to the Strip. We arrived just in time to see a show of the famous Bellagio fountains.
Nicole, Victoria, Sarah, Joanna, Lizzie, Jeri, Justin, Josiah, Jason, and Tim in the Bellagio. Click photo for full size.Victoria and Lizzie in the Bellagio. Click photo for full size.
We drove to see the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge and the Hoover Dam. The weather was nice. A little on the cool side…sunny in the 60s. The bridge was completed in 2010 and now allows traffic to avoid crossing the Hoover Dam.
Victoria, Jeri, and Tim on the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. Click photo for full size.
We walked across the bridge into Arizona and then back. Here we are on the bridge.
Pau family sans Jeffrey on the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. Click photo for full size.
Here’s a picture of Sarah and Justin taking pictures.
Sarah and Justin taking pictures on the Hoover Dam. Click photo for full size.
Here’s a picture taken while we are on the dam with the new bridge in the background.
Justin, Jeri, Nicole, Victoria, Joanna, Lizzie, Josiah, Sarah, and Jason on the Hoover Dam. Click photo for full size.
Here’s a view looking down from the first overlook. Tim is wearing a red jacket and is in the center of the picture. Jeffrey and Josiah are close by. Red Rock Canyon with Tim in the red jacket, Jeffrey, and Josiah in the center of the picture. Click photo for full size.
Here’s a selfie of Lizzie and Jason.
Lizzie and Jason at Red Rock Canyon. Click photo for full size.
Here’s Jeri and Tim.
Jeri and Tim at Red Rock Canyon. Click photo for full size.
Josiah REALLY enjoyed riding on the back of Jay’s motorcycle!
Josiah on the back of Jay’s motorcycle. Click photo for full size.
Afterwards we all went to Red Robin’s in downtown Summerlin for dinner. Lizzie enhanced their welcome board.
Lizzie beautifying Red Robin’s board. Click photo for full size.
Most of us drove up to Las Vegas (actually Henderson) Friday during the day. Jason and Jeffrey left late on Friday night and arrived around 2:00 AM.
So Saturday, we headed out to Red Rock Canyon Park. We met up with Jay, a friend from our days in San Jose.
We checked out the visitor center while we waited for Jay to arrive on his motorcycle. Justin, Joanna, Sarah, and Lizzie at Red Rock Canyon. Click photo for full size.
A few of us climbed out on some of the rocks. Jeffrey, Josiah, Jay, and Tim. Click photo for full size.
At Red Rock Canyon. Click photo for full size.
Here’s a group shot. The children are from youngest to oldest (left to right) with Mom and Dad in the middle (kind of). Josiah, Lizzie, Jeffrey, Victoria, Joanna, Sarah, Jeri, Tim, Jason, Nicole, and Justin at Red Rock Canyon. Click photo for full size.
Afterwards we drove to downtown Summerlin and ate at Red Robins.
Victoria, Nicole, Joanna, Sarah, and Lizzie in Downtown Summerlin. Click photo for full size.
Jeri, Justin, Victoria, and Jeffrey went to the Huntington Beach Air Show on Saturday. Nicole, Jason, Joanna, Lizzie, and Josiah went on Sunday.
Jeffrey, Justin, and Victoria eating lunch at the air show. Click photo for full size.Victoria and Jeri. Click photo for full size.The Blue Angels viewed from the beach. Click photo for full size.Jeffrey, Justin, and Victoria taking pictures at the air show. Click photo for full size.
Today, Jeri, Lizzie, Josiah, and I (Tim) went to the LA County Fair. The weather was pleasant…partly cloudy with a high in the low 70s. Good thing that we brought our jackets when it cooled down later in the day.
Our first stop was the Magical World of Dragons, Wizards, & Beasts. The place had *lots* of fun kids stuff including animated dragons and a “spinning” tunnel to disorient you.
Here’s Josiah with a live owl in the background.
Josiah with a live owl. Click photo for full size.
One of the highlights of the day was the food. This year, a vegan food truck was at the fair, Plant Food for People. We had lunch there and came back at the end of the day for more.
Jeri, Josiah, and I had the vegan tacos.
Tim and Josiah with vegan tacos. Click photo for full size.
Josiah absolutely loved his!
Josiah with a plate of Loaded Tacos. Click photo for full size.
Here’s a picture of them.
Plate of Loaded Tacos. Click photo for full size.
Lizzie wasn’t so sure about the “jackfruit” (though they had other/soy vegan meats). So she opted for a HUGE plate of Mexican curly fries…which she readily shared.
Lizzie shared her plate of Mexican Curly Fries. Click photo for full size.
Lizzie and Josiah needed new sunglasses. We found a place and all of us ended up getting a new pair. It was one for $10; two for $15; three for $20. He sold us four for $25.
Jeri, Josiah, Lizzie, and Tim with new sunglasses. Click photo for full size.
We then saw a little magic by Brian the Wizard. For one of his tricks, he had fun pulling money from a little boy’s ear, hair, sleeve, etc. and filling a can with coins.
Brian the Wizard Magic Show. Click photo for full size.
We did a lot of walking and ended up with around 16,000 steps for the day.
Josiah and Lizzie at the LA County Fair. Click photo for full size.Jeri and Tim at the LA County Fair. Click photo for full size.
We always enjoy seeing the Chinese Circus of Beijing. They had a number of amazing feats. One guy had plates spinning on rods.
Spinning Plates. Click photo for full size.
Another guy did amazing feats with a pot…he could catch it with his head and back.
Amazing feats with a pot. Click photo for full size.
The literally breath-taking feat involved setting four glass bottles on a small table. Then one by one as he climbed the stack, the guy would slowly add a chair. Each time that we thought that he was done, they would bring out another chair. Finally there were six chairs and he was nearly to the ceiling. First he does a handstand on top.
A top of six chairs. Click photo for full size.
Then he balances himself on one arm.
Balancing with one hand. Click photo for full size.
Here’s Josiah and Lizzie in front of a burger truck. Some of the meat eaters in our family would have enjoyed the Double Diablo burger that they were selling (see the sign above Lizzie’s head).
Double Diablo. Click photo for full size.
The sign read “Ghostpepper Cheeseburger – Fresh All-Natural Angus Beef, Ghostpepper Cheese, Sliced Jalapeños, TastiChips, Avocado, Jalapeño Cheese Sauce and Chipotle Mayo on a Fresh Pretzel Bun.”
Josiah and Lizzie near a burger stand. Click photo for full size.
We got some Dole Whip (non-dairy ice cream).
Lizzie, Jeri, and Josiah with Dole Whip. Click photo for full size.
And watched a show by Cirque Mechanics.
Cirque Mechanics. Click photo for full size.
We visited the historic train engines kept at the fairgrounds.
Tim, Lizzie, and Josiah on a steam locomotive. Click photo for full size.Josiah in the caboose. Click photo for full size.
This train engine looked a lot like Bill Peet’s Smokey.
The Santa Fe 3450. Click photo for full size.
Here’s Bill Peet’s illustration.
Smokey – (c) Bill Peet. Click photo for full size.
We loved the vegan taco place so much that we returned for an evening snack. We got an order of their nachos. Muy bueno!
Loaded Nachos. Click photo for full size.
Lizzie bought a sleeve of cookies…freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies. Yum!
Josiah and Lizzie with freshly baked cookies. Click photo for full size.
We ended our day looking to buy a sleeve of fries. But we couldn’t find the place that we had seen earlier in the day.
Night time at the fair. Click photo for full size.
