Vacation [on a strict budget] is BOOKED.

For months now, we've been researching vacation spots. What was first supposed to be a trip to Mt. Rushmore, turned into a road trip to Chicago. While I, admittedly, would have preferred a staycation, similar to last year, the husband was extremely for getting away.  While we did have fun here, here and here and here and finally here, I don't think I am really rooting for the beach this year.

Also... it's June/July. Always a tight time in our budget. Plus, school starts in about a month (Aug. 6), I have back to school clothes and supplies for THREE children this year (a first!). I was not ready to spend money.

They wore me down, those crazy people I share a house with. But, I was smart. I KNEW we could drive to Vegas in 6 hours and I knew that we could get a hotel room for super cheap.

I have a co-worker/friend in Las Vegas and she was able to give me some family friendly ideas for us to do for free (like M&Ms World) or for cheap.

We also plan on taking a day trip to the Zion National Forest in Utah - and hopefully get ourselves up to Salt Lake City. We've never been - so I think it would be a great experience for the kids. And the perfect opportunity for me to practice my photography skills. I seem to do MUCH better out in the wilderness than in my house or shooting my kids.

We will be spending five days in Vegas. I've been ONE time; we literally drove down the strip, and back out through Henderson. lol... Maybe 30 minutes total?!

This time we are STAYING. At the Stratosphere. The rates were CRAZY good. And it's not so far from Phoenix, we can make it on a tank of gas.


Btw. When I told the kids we were going to Vegas, I mentioned that we should try to get the Hugh Hefner suite at the Palms. Isabel stared at me blankly.

I said, "You know - the Girls Next Door?!"

Blankety Blankness

"Kendra?!"

"OH!!!" Isa said. "You mean their father?!"

lol. She thought that Hugh was their FATHER. I had to explain that he was their BOYFRIEND.

"Gross."