Viva Las Vegas!

Hi Everyone, yes, I realise we haven't added anything to our blog for a wee while but Shane and I have been living it up in Vegas Baby, Vegas!

Yes, that's right, we went and spent 3 nights, 4 days in Las Vegas!

Man, unbelievable comes to mind when I think about the place. I wasn't that keen to go at first but for the small amount of money to get there I thought, why not!

Am so glad we made the trip, believe me, you will not see anything like this anywhere else and it is worth just going to Vegas to see the 'extremes' that make the place the way it is!

Everything is done on such a HUGE scale and so 'Way Out' that little old NZ pales in comparison with our buildings - not saying this is a bad thing, just trying to put it all into perspective for you. For those of you that have already been, you will know what I am talking about.

O.K so Shane and I went to Las Vegas on Sunday night. We stayed in the Luxor Hotel/Casino - now my friends from Lumsden will see that I got to stay in a pyramid and I wonder who can see what was right at the front of the Pyramid?

In Vegas the temperature was a mild 45 degrees so it was a little hot outside!

In the time we stayed in Vegas we were able to go down 'the strip' a few times. Once via the monorail, stopping off at each Hotel Casino to have a look. The second time we walked most of it but did not go into the hotels, more sight seeing than anything - did have to take cover in shops as we went just to get away from the heat - but hey, I'm not complaining!

So as I have said the place was just too unbelievable for words - to try and put a small understanding of it for you I will describe some of the AMAZING things we saw inside the Hotel/Casino's. Each Casino/ Hotel has a theme, and within their space they will stick to this theme throughout the building.

In the MGM Grand, which was one of my favourites, they had a natural, wildlife sort of theme going on. There was a rain forest restaurant where you sat amongst (pretend) wild animals, vines, fish tanks, and the night sky on the ceiling. While you ate there was a simulated rain storm as well as you got to see the animals move and make sounds - really quite AWESOME!

Now, the rain forest might have been set up and pretend but the lion enclosure was not - yes you heard right, there was a big lion enclosure right in the middle of the casino, so while you gambled you could watch the lions at play - AMAZING!

Now, one of the Casino/Hotels was called the Paris - I wonder if from the photos you can figure out why? I am sure you all can!!! Here the whole set up was of France and was just magnificent.

I have forgotten to mention that each casino/hotel has a multitude of restaurants a shopping centre, clubs and pubs, theatres, shows, concerts, some even have roller coasters and theme parks and this is all INSIDE the building - see what I mean - UNBELIEVABLE!!! The Venetian even has water canals throughout the building so you can go for a Cruise along the water - now remember, all of this is inside the building!

Some of you may already know about the famous water feature outside the Belligio Casino/Hotel. This water feature comes on every 30 minutes and is a presentation and display of water dancing to music - FANTASTIC!

We managed to see two shows while we were there. One of them was put on by Cirque Du Soleil! WOW, now that was AWESOME!

Now of course there are the standard icons Vegas is know for - The Strip, Elvis, and chapels. We got to see all of the above!

There were even stores dedicated to particular merchandise such as M & M World and the Coke shop! Yes, both were a few stories high and at Coke you could get a drink (coke of course) and walk around the shop with it as you shopped! Unfortunately you couldn't eat M & M's as you shopped in M & M world - I was a little disappointed about this!

O.k, so I know many of you are wondering if we came away either bankrupt or millions of dollars richer! Well, neither! Yes we gambled a little - well hey, we were in Vegas! But to put all of your minds at rest, we were there for the atmosphere and fun so very little of our time was spent gambling.

Did we enjoy ourselves? We sure did! But as fun a place as Vegas is, both Shane and I agreed that the 3 nights was enough! Would we go back again - sure would! It seems that if you are American, it is the norm to return to Vegas at least once every two years if not every year! It's like a place where people go to get away from it all, which does sound hard to believe but is true. Even though we know it as the Gambling Capital of the world, there were so many families around! And yes it is true that it is the City that Never Sleeps - there is always something going on no matter what time it is and there are always crowds of people everywhere and anywhere we went! Truly AMAZING and an experience both Shane and I would recommend to anyone and everyone!

So now we are back to good old Edmonton with Lorna, Sanford, Tegan and Leah and the fun is here is also continuing. Tomorrow the four adults take a road trip to Calgary, where we will be attending the Famous Annual Calgary Stampede! Can't wait! We are all really looking forward to it and have each gone out of our way to get into the theme of the event - watch for upcoming blogs to see how we got on!

It should be another AMAZING experience for Shane and I and we just can't wait to see the events and take part in the celebrations later in the evening!!!

We are going for the weekend so I will hopefully have a post on the blog when we return!

Now I need to return comments to our wonderful friends and family members who are adding their own comments and questions to our blog;

Firstly; lovely to see that Uncle Tony you are making an effort to keep up to date with latest technology and of course our whereabouts! Wonderful to hear from you and it was so nice for Shane and I to read your comments and know you are thinking of us! Keep tuning in for new instalments and we look forward to your continued comments - hint hint.

Well done Kirk for finally adding a post - was wondering where you had got to! Big Ern's 30th sounds like a hoot! Can't wait to see photos from it! Will be back before you know it so will have to have a marathon phone catch up when I get back and I will get back into my helpful big sister mode! Shane Dogg was impressed you noticed his Clive attire he has been wearing on the trip - Cougars have also featured a little bit - had you noticed?

Michy, am very sad to hear about the Brown's - I am actually hoping you might send me a happy post soon!!!!! Please keep me informed about them! Poor little Daniel! I hope he gets better soon!

Anita Frew where are you? You start off with a fun blog and then nothing!!!!! Please add something so I know you are still out there!

Trace, am assuming you are fit and well - add another post please so I know!

Marzie, am sure things are all good with you and that beautiful little baby of yours!! If you get some spare time drop us a post would love to hear from you and what's new with Kiara!

RuBays where are you??????????????????????

Want to hear from you all again!!!! Tanya and Ivan and Ngaire you all would have loved Vegas - Ivan did you see who I got to meet - ok so it's not the real King but hey, it's the next best thing!

Ok so now my friends at Lumsden!!!!

Firstly Zara - Ka pai to you for practicing your commitment and sending me interesting stories from Kindy - I love reading about them and also love how you are finding interesting information for me to read - keep them coming! Thank-you for keeping Maggie and Sheree under control!

Wow Anna, I have also been to the craters of the moon in Taupo and know how cool it is - thank-you for telling about your visit. When I get back to Lumsden you will have to tell me all about it - we could compare stories!

Now what is this about Kahis? He sounds like a WONDERFUL friend for Kahu! I can't wait to meet him! Is there a list to take him home too? If there is, maybe you could add my name to it so I could take him home when I return! What an AWESOME idea Anna - you are truly so creative!

Bye Bye Bryny - I am really going to miss you! Am glad to know Llewellyn has started!

Sad to hear so many of my friends have left but I am really excited to meet all the new children that have started since I have been gone!

Oh I hope Collie was ok at the Vet! I remember how she gets a little scared about going! Did you all remember to tell her to practice her courage?

Now Mags and Shirl, good luck with cleaning out the big shed - do not throw out anything that I think we should keep - I will know!!!!!!

Oh, I am really disappointed I missed the digger and Darren! I would have liked to have gone for a ride on a digger too! I hope you took photos so I can see it when I return!
Well done Jack for noticing the optical illusion I did at the Science Centre - It was a really really big one and it made everything look so HUGE after 20 seconds of looking at it!

Now about the blog - my suggestion, why don't you write down what the children say then type it on the post? I know it is a bit of a double up but this way the children's ideas get to be heard and I get to read them. If it's a problem no worries! Shame I am not there to see the renovations though I can't wait to come back and be surprised! I am assuming you are documenting all of the progress!!!!!!!! another project maybe????????

Also, I ask quite a few questions in my blogs to you guys so if the children answer my questions I would love to know who answered it and what they said - ie, I loved knowing that Jack remembered the optical illusion experiment - see that's what I like to know too!!!!!!!

Ok, enough moaning from me will send another post after Calgary but will check to see who has been on and reading - means you need to send us a post ok!!!!!!!!

Until next time,

all our love

Rak and Shane. xxxxxxx

Tellus World of Science!

Tegan, Shane and I visited The Tellus World of Science Centre! WOW, AWESOME! The Palmy Science Centre pales in comparison - and I am not meaning that in a horrible way just as a comparison.

We were able to take part in a lot of hands on experiences and experiments - Maggie you would have loved it!

We even got to watch an actual science experiment - how to make 'Pop', that's the name for fizzy over here.

Tegan even got to help out with part of the experiment.

We really enjoyed learning about how fizzy drink is made, watching the 'dry ice' bubble over the container onto the floor, then of course getting to sample it! AMAZING and quite nice too!

Lumsden can you see that they had one of the experiments like we have at Kindy. A lot bigger though!

As part of the Science Centre there are Imax theatres where you can go to watch educational movies. We watched one about Dinosaurs!!!!!

We spent the whole day here and still didn't quite through it all!

Now, on another note, the Science Centre was cool but ladies I have found something even bigger and better - yes, I have found IKEA.

Man, we thought Briscoes, Freedom and Spotlight were AMAZING, Nah, think again. Ikea is absolutly FANTASTIC and is just as HUGE as everything else over here. It took me a good two hours just to look around one floor - yes, more than one floor to this baby.

They even have paper and pencils availiable to write on for you to make lists of items you would like to buy! Lets just say I loved it and am hoping to go back again with my list and hopefully purchase a few items - unfortunatly, I have no way of getting units, furniture and frames back here but I am sure I can squeeze something else in my suitcase - I sure am going to try!

O.k so that's me for another post - thanks once again to all those who have replied - love hearing from you all.

Michy, sorry to hear your kids are unwell - lucky you have the hols to recooperate. Hope all gets better for you soon.

Yey, Trace! Glad to hear from you! Slacker! Yep, tell Pete anything over here can get shot at - it's all fair game and kill! He'd love it! Look forward to hearing from you again.

Thanks Sheree, Zara and George for writing me an interesting blog. Zara thanks for the information about Tarauntulas, Tegan and I tried the fork on the comb trick - it was a cool sound but Tegan did say that Rose does not make any noise. He thinks if she did she must make it really quitely.

Now Zara I think you should tell Sheree she might need to practice her Utanga for her bosy in regards to wearing her glasses. It is not good that you and Maggie both are looking after your eyes and she is not - you may have to talk to her about this!

Whoa George the builders sound really exciting. I am a little upset I am missing all the action. Thanks for keeping me updated with whats going on! Cool about the digger doing skids - AWESOME.

Sheree, what a great idea about keeping the blogs in a folder - Ka pai te Mahi! Like the idea that this is not just a boring mat-time thing and the children can add comments any time through out the session - makes it more fun and gets them to initiate the learning! Keep them coming!

O.k I will be back later on with more blogs so keep checking in and of course adding your say.

love to you all,

Rak and Shane.

Ukranian Village.

So today is the offical holiday in lew for Canada Day falling on a Sunday.

Sanford and Lorna thought it would be nice to carry on the history theme and take us out to the Ukranian Village. The Ukran's came out to Emonton in the early 1900's and developed their own farming village.

Yet again the village had been recreated and everything was in theme, costume and character - it was lovely and nice to see another side to Edmonton.

While we were there I got to try on a real buffalo jacket that used to be worn by police officers way back then. Wow, it was really heavy and very very hot. It was worn in the winter months by the police when they had to go by horse back to visit people in the other villages. As it snows in winter here, they had to wear the jacket to keep warm.

We also got to have a ride on a horse and cart. (I thought Zara, Ffion and Harriet would like to see these pictures.)

It was a lot of fun and the horse's names were Blues and Ralph!

When we left the Ukranian Village we stopped at the cafe to have Poutine - this is traditional Ukran food - it's potato strips folded with cheese inside then cooked. you then add bacon bits and lots of sour cream to it - yum!

On our travels back home Sanford decided to take us on a 'ticky tour' and try to show us more of the Canada wild life - I was hoping to see a moose but unfortunatly we didn't. We did however, see beaver and Buffalo!!! One Buffalo was just standing beside of the road. These animals can be a little bit Ferocious and will charge at you like a bull will. I stayed in the car for this one as I was just a tad scared. Shane got out but he did stand behind the car.

We saw quite a few buffalo as we traveled and Sanford even got out of the car and walked right up to the fence to talk to one. The buffalo did not like this at all and began snorting and stamping his foot. Sanford said good-bye and came back to the car!!!

Even though the animals are different here and can be a little scary, they are still really cool to get to see! Shane and I are loving traveling around and getting to see the country side - it is just truely AMAZING!

So no plans for this week as Lorna and Sanford are back at work so Shane and I are fending for ourselves. We will go back into town we think and hang out at the Mall again - Oh no!!! (yeah right). We have other big stores we want to visit too such as Ikea and Walmart - don't worry I will let you know what they are like too.

Now before I sign off just a HUGE thank you to the many responses we recieved last post great to hear from you all it really does make our day when we log on and see that people have read and replied to our blog. It is even better when we hear what you think of the posts and of course tell us what is going on in your own lives.

It was GREAT to hear about your concerts and rugby matches you have been to Skanky - GROUPIE! Keep us posted on what is happening with All Blacks and Honky's rugby - we need a laugh - Nah!

Yey Ngaire and John, well done Shane, Lorna and I are very, very impressed! It was also really lovely talking to you last week! Can't wait to see more posts from you guys, maybe even without Tanya's help this time!!!!!!

Yep Ruth, you are still out on top!!! GREAT that you were able to send an even longer post last time just to keep that edge - well done, keep up the good work - do not know what has happened to my brother though - can you give him a reve up from me. I know he started reading the blogs just thought he might have added his bit at some stage. Say hi to Terry from us and it is also good to hear our Baby Girl is doing well - thanks Ollie.

MARZIE, yey, you are still alive, we were worried. Your post was just what I needed so thanks for that! Even though you don't seem to have as much time anymore it was good to see that you haven't lost your WONDERFUL sense of humour!! Keep it up. We look forward to your next instalment.

Thanks also Tanya for your post. Sorry we missed your call but Shane is planning to ring you back sometime this week. Glad to hear all is going well with you too. Will talk soon, but don't forget to keep adding your posts.

O.k my Lumsden friends, now so far I have not had pancakes but they are on my to do list. I am also looking forward to having a donut too - yummy!

Yes, Shane does look like a cowboy now that he has his cowboy hat. He has been wearing it quite a few places - he really likes it. Maybe I could bring it into Kindy when I get back, to show you. I also bought one but it's not quite as good as his.

The snake wasn't too scary and it wasn't slimy just really good and very very smooth. I wouldn't have held it on my own that is why Tegan had too - he's not scared of any animals!!

Yeah the bear was AWESOME! We actually saw a bigger one than that - it was a Grizzly Bear but I didn't have my camera. Shane had the video camera so he took footage of it so I could bring that into Kindy when I get back and show you.

Remember to keep telling me what you are up to I would rather you said more than just questions to me so I can hear what is happening at Lumsden. Great to hear the builders are starting, I can't wait to see what it all looks like when I get back. I challenge someone to send me a story post or something about what is happening at Lumsden - who is up to it?

Trace, what's happened to you? You started with a hiss and a roar and now nothing!! Come on girlfriend, add your bit!!

O.k enough from me, will add a new post later in the week and keep you updated on what we are doing here in Canada.

Love to you all

Rak and Shane. xxxxxxx

Canada Day!

O.k so the 1st of July is celebrated big time over here as the offical day of Canada! Everyone goes all out getting into their Canada attire - anything that is either red and white and has a maple leaf on it is acceptable.

The whole of Canada has parades, fairs, partie's just an alround day of celebrations.

We all went to watch the Edmonton town parade first. It was quite low key but still well worth seeing everyone getting out in spirit to support such a special day.

Saw some interesting floats too!

From here we detoured to Dairy Queen - I just had to put this in as Shane and I had heard so much about this special ice-cream take-out bar - yep really yummy! Have the most AMAZING flavours and con-coctions of ice-cream sundaes!!! Yes, we will be going back there again!

O.K, back to Canada Day celebrations, we then traveled a short distance to Spruce Grove. Here we met up with Lorna and Sanford's freinds, Lisa and Robin and their children Kayla and Kayden. We watched some street performers and ate pickles on a stick - yeah, another Canadian thing to eat - weird but yummy - if you're not into pickles/gerkins you would not find it that nice!

From here we went back to Lisa and Robin's place for a BBQ, cold beers for the boys and wine cooler for the ladies - yep, wine cooler, the new drink I am into. It is really yummy, not as alcholic but can be easily drank but I am not too silly at the end of it all - Yeah right, I can hear many of you mutter!!!

The whole day was lovely and it was WONDERFUL that Shane and I were able to be there to celebrate this festivity.

As it fell on a Sunday means everyone gets the Monday off as a day in lew - how AWESOME, so no doubt we will be up and about doing something AWESOME for the holiday day!

Watch this space ...........

Rak and Shane.

Fort Edmonoton!

Hello Everyone,

WOW, what WONDERFUL responses we had from our last posts - I wonder did it have anything to do with my GROWL? Well, whatever the reason, Shane and I have really appreciated the feedback, comments and general communication from you all - so thank-you!

Well, yes we continue to sightsee and trip around parts of Canada. At the moment we are getting ourselves familiar with Edmonton and it's history.

Sanford and Tegan took us to Fort Edmonton Park which has re-created the 1846 Fort and the Streets of 1885, 1905 and 1920 depicting Edmontons early history.

The whole park was set out as it was back in those times and there were even people in costume who played roles within the different era's. I just LOVED it and I got to meet so many AMAZING people. Shane on the other hand enjoyed it too but he was there to learn about the facts and how things worked - he was not that interested in talking to the characters like I was. Tegan enjoyed trying out some of the sports equipment of the time. All in all it was a lot of fun and we spent the whole day here and just loved it!

I wonder if my friends from Lumsden can see who I met at Fort Edmonton? Don't forget to send me the answers so I know that you know. (hint hint Sheree and Mags)!

After such a busy day, it was decided by Lorna and Sanford that we should have a relaxing night just the four of us going to the local Comedy Club - actually it wasn't that relaxing as we were all in fits of laughter the entire time! I even got the stitch from laughing so much! What a blast! (I know almost all of you reading would have just loved it - Shane and I are even keen to go again to watch another act - yep, groupies!)

From here we went to the Casino and checked it out. We put in $5 each and each had a turn at chosing where we put the money - well you wouldn't beleive it - yep there was a machine called 'Rakin it In.' Well, with a machine that has my name in it I just had to play - Yep, won us $100!!! We were winners and of course I told all the other gamblers there as well - they of course not at all impressed as $1000,000 is seen as a win not $100 - well too bad, cause as far as were were concerned we came out on top - BIG TIME!! Just so you know, yes we did keep the money and have decided to spend it on a night having Caesar's! Caesar's are the in drink over here. It's vodka and Clamato juice - not tomatoe but Clamato! Don't ask me what the difference is but they taste damn nice and go down a treat!!!! So I will keep you posted on when we have these!

Rak & Shane.