07.14.2010: Justice's Birthday Celebration

After getting back from the Houseboat Trip, Christina & Justice were headed to Texas for 2 weeks. Before they left Vince and I took Drake & Justice to Peter Piper Pizza to celebrate Justice's early birthday....since we wouldnt get to see him for his actual bday! The kids had a blast and spent all their tickets on the crazy glasses and vampire teeth. Cute huh? Haha!

07.13.2010: Joining the Club...the Platinum Club That Is

Its official...Vince is part of the club...the Playa-Playa Platinum Club that is! Vince was only a few points away from getting his Platinum Club status with the Harrahs group. This means more free rooms, discounts, special checkin areas, front of the line priviledges, etc! He has been waiting for this moment all year! So, we stayed a few extra hours to get a few points to push him over the edge. In doing so, I won $300 on a penny slot....so, winners all the way around!!! :)

07.12.2010: Houseboat Trip Awards Banquet

As in any true competition, you have an awards ceremony. As is tradition, we had our final trip dinner together at the Rio World Buffett...after showers, of course!! This year, this is where the awards were presented to the winners. Alisa, being the Houseboat Trip Fun & Activity Coordinator was responsible for the competitions, judging and awards...tough job in this group!!

These are the awards & winners that I can remember:
Best Tuber: Chris
Biggest Baddest Fish: Drake
Best Tan: Justice (I think that one was fixed!)
Best New Drink: Christina (for her skinny margarita)
Boat Princess: Who else...Brianna
Best Dinner: tied...Kenny, Chris & Scott...and Alisa & Christina
Most Relaxed: Vince
All Around Winner: ME ;)

The Group...

THANKS AGAIN TO MOM & DAD!!!!
Their planning & organizing (and mostly funding the trip) for the 5th year in a row was again amazing!!! We all had a BLAST as usual and can't wait until next year's trip!!!

07.12.2010: The Long Ride Home

The Long Ride Home....literally long....usually it goes too quick, but this year, as last year, and the year before....the houseboat broke down on the way back. Figures! But it was ok...we didn't really want to race back to the real world anyways. So, we took our time heading back. Olivia, Gina and Leonor spent most of the ride cleaning the interior of the boat andd getting things organized to unload when we got back. Mom & Dad took their boat back. Chris took the SeaDoo back. Think Bill and Kenny road back with them too. The rest of us lounged throughout the boat taking advantage of our last moments on the lake for the year.

Christina survived her first trip...

with great memories and just a few wounds!

Still wearing his sunglasses...

Andrew helping Scott drive us back

Chilling on the upper deck

Drake was very somber most of the ride...

He really didn't want to leave.

Goes by way too fast...and next year is too far away!Big sis making him feel better

Ummm....boys are "working"??!!

Say it isn't sooooo

Olivia & Alisa enjoying some time together

Nana's turn to captain the ship

Yes, that is a boat...almost unbelievable to see....

Yesterday, someone supposedly swerved to avoid a SeaDoo and lost control of their $100k boat and ran it up on the rocks. There were 7 people on board and all were rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Scary! But what a sight to see as we make our way back.

As is tradition, we drink a bottle of wine on the ride back from the top. Alisa picked out this winner at the marina the day before because we forgot to bring a bottle from home! Yes, the price is $5.55!! Lucky number? No, and ice did not really make it better either. Sorry to all those Sutter Home lovers!!

The whinos....

The Narrows...

The first breakdown...all the guys (including the mechanic from the marina)

wondering what's broke, how to fix it....hmmmm.....

After multiple breakdowns, the mechanic just board our boat for good...

and we towed his! Haha!

Back at the marina, the kids headed to the gift shop for ice cream and shade and A/C. Yuummmm!

Nana was BRIGHT red!! It was HOT back at the dock!

07.12.2010: Pack It Up....Our Time Here Has Come & Gone

The houseboat toilets were filled up...yes, that is slightly a gross thought...however there is a warning light that comes on before they actually overflow or anything. So, indoor toilets were offlimits for the last day of our trip. So Vince took Drake on the "man-walk" to show him where the toilet of nature is. Drake decided just to wait till we got back to the marina :)

One last Lake Mead shower...how can you resist!
Praying to the man-tube gods. Or just praying the gigantic inflatable fits back into the tiny box that it comes in. Why do companies insist on making it impossible to fit those inflatable things back into their original boxes??!! Every year...same thing!

07.11.2010: Dancing in the Dark....Dancing on the Ceiling

We finally had our usual dance party...the last night! Turned on the party lights (no strobe light...maybe next year!) and the kids started it off. The little ones have no reservations about their dance moves! Brad joined in with his MJ moves....and Christina helped in that category as well. We spent a few hours up there dancing the night away...and literally dancing on the ceiling!! It was HOT though!! So not long after we took our evening baths in lake at the back of the boat...and other just lounged on the beach...in the dark!! Amazing last evening of a great trip!!!

Brent potificating what dance moves he will bust out first...

Kids...and Mom...getting it going
Brad doing what Brad does...

Christina getting in the spirit!

Alright...everyone's turn...

This looks very Thriller-like...could it be??

Taking a break & taking in the show

Beat it moves...

Midnight beach time

Best showers nature has to offer!!