This summer, Nicole, Victoria, Lizzie, Josiah, Jeri and Tim flew to the Midwest to visit family. We started our trip by waking at 3:00 AM for an early morning trip to LAX. We flew non-stop to Des Moines. After spending a night with Grandma Stogdill, we drove our rented SUV (a Kia Sorrento) to Moline, Illinois to visit Grandma Pau.
Most of the time, we just hung around the house. We would watch Wheel of Fortune in the evenings. We (especially Tim) helped sort through stuff.
Here’s Lizzie playing the electronic piano. Lizzie playing piano. Click photo for full size.
We worked (but never finished) a tortuous 1000-piece puzzle. Victoria, Nicole and Jeri working on a 1000-piece puzzle. Click photo for full size.
Josiah still found time to create new things. He turned a model plane launcher that was nearly 50-years old into a dart launcher. Josiah working on his dart launcher. Click photo for full size.
Grandma made a lot of yummy food including sushi. Grandma Pau fixing supper. Click photo for full size.
We really liked the vegetarian sushi that Grandma made for us. Nicole and Lizzie enjoying vegetarian sushi. Click photo for full size.
On a sunny, Sunday evening, some of us went to the Pacific Amphitheatre at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, CA to see an acapella group, Straight No Chaser. It was a lot of fun! Joanna treated us with the tickets.
Here we are prior to the show.
Nicole, Victoria, Jeri and Tim waiting to see Straight No Chaser. Click photo for full size.Jeffrey and Joanna waiting to see Straight No Chaser. Click photo for full size.
Jon McLaughlin was the opening act for Straight No Chaser. Jon McLaughlin opened the show for Straight No Chaser. Click photo for full size.
Straight No Chaser featured nine guys. The music and the visuals were fun and entertaining. Straight No Chaser performing Twistin. Click photo for full size.
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.
