8/12/10

We finally made it to California with more than a few bumps in the road on the way...
But before we get to Cali we made a pit stop in Vegas or what Jason calls "Disney in the desert. We got there okay, but things quickly went downhill upon arrival.
So we get to the hotel where we have PRE-PAID and requested adjoining, non-smoking rooms only for the clerk to tell us that there aren't any rooms like that available and the closest they can get us is 6 rooms apart. After a little negotiation, she mysteriously finds us two rooms that she claimed were only two doors apart. Okay, that's not so bad right? Sure we can totally do that. I haven't even mentioned the fact that we reserved room with two beds and they claim not to have any of those either... Well we get up to the floor where our rooms are and lo and behold! They're in completely separate halls! One smells like the inside of a stale nasty ashtray! AND they only have one bed in each room!! Of course I am having a fit, but "cool as a cucumber" Jason calls and speaks to another clerk and then a manager and what did they find for us? Two rooms, adjoining, both non-smoking! Huh, imagine that! So that's settled. Once we were all settled in the rooms we decided to do the total touristy thing and "walk the strip".
Okay, I'm usually that person that will try anything once, you know live for the experience blah blah blah, but I really don't see the draw that people feel to come to this dirty, smelly (I wish I could get my lungs sterilized!) smut filled place. The name sin city is totally adequate! Also, I don't know about everyone else, but I prefer NOT to be herded along like cattle to and from everywhere. By the end of the first night, I was ready to LEAVE Vegas!!
Day two in Vegas or "America's trash can" as I like to call it was a little bit better. We went to the little amusement park inside the hotel. The kids had a blast and we definitely got our money's worth out of this place! Even those kids that claimed not to be having any fun were caught smiling and on the rare occasion laughing too! lol By the end of the day the roller coaster ride count for Ceara was sitting somewhere around 9, for Robert was 4, and even though Derrick didn't ride the coaster, he mastered the laser tag area! At the end of the evening everyone was exhausted, we returned to our rooms and slept...HARD!
Non-stop coasters and non-stop buffet eating sounds like fun right? Sure, but it does have it's consequences...by the time we checked out of the hotel, Ceara complaining of severe stomach pains! We get checked out and load up the car and ready to go...and the car won't start! I am now panicking! All I want to do is leave this place and get to my sorta kinda final destination. Jason goes to see if the hotel staff can help us with a jump, and NO DICE!! Sitting in the car, I begin to pray for someone, anyone to come and help us or at least be open to our request for assistance. And God answers!! He brings us John! A kind gentleman from Missouri, comes and offers to give us a jump. PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE! Robert said he wanted to bring Jesus to "Sin City" but obviously He's already there!
Now on the road, we are not far from California and a nice long break from long distance driving. Car is running again and everyone still excited about "all you can eat" and "unlimited rides" and things are looking up...until...out of nowhere, a spray of VOMIT!! All over the back of my seat, the center console, the back doors, pretty much the WHOLE BACK SEAT! Ceara tossed her cookies, EVERYWHERE! Pit stop at a McDonald's parking lot finds us cleaning up the car with wet wipes that I just happened to pick up in Ne and couldn't seem to find a use for, and everyone is scrambling to get out of their puked on clothes.
Well Ceara's stomach feels MUCH BETTER, and we are on the road again and after Jason sprayed the car down with some fabulous febreze type "smell good" stuff. There isn't even a hint of odor! YAY!!
We finally arrive in Moreno Valley to spend some time with our first group of family, Jason's parents. We're all very happy to be here in a place that feels like home, immediately the kids want to hit the pool and after a little while swimming, we head back to the house for dinner and a movie. It's been a really long day and we are ready for bed. I have the feeling this adventure is only just beginning...