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Poblete Family Blog

Welcome to the Poblete Family Blog, an online journal of our family's thoughts, reflections and experiences. Scroll down below to read up on the latest and greatest regarding our family events, activities, and trips.


A Look Back at 2016

2016 was another year of good times with family and friends. The year began with the San Diego gang bringing in the new year at Casa de Poblete in Las Vegas. The Torres and Bobis families drove up for a mini vacation and on New Years Eve the Cui and Dabu families joined in to bring in the new year with the gang. Celebrations continued throughout the year as Carole celebrated her birthday this year with a Venetian Hotel staycation. Nico celebrated his 24th birthday with family and friends at Lucille's BBQ while for Kiana's 21st birthday the family threw her a surprise birthday party with a few close friends. Papa Rollie and Mama Pearlie celebrated their 52nd anniversary with the family at Peohe's Chart House Restaurant in Coronado while Neveah celebrated her 11th birthday with a painting party in the backyard of Casa de Poblete. Ron and Carole celebrated their 26th anniversary with a staycation at the Mandalay Bay Resort.

Family trips continued in 2016 with frequent trips throughout the year to San Diego and Las Vegas. Other this year's staycations at the Venetian and Mandalay Bay, the family also had their annual staycation at Lake Las Vegas. A couple day trips also took place in 2016 such as driving out to Death Valley, California to check out the wildflowers, exploring the Valley of Fire and the Lost City of Southern Nevada, hiking up Angel's Landing at Zion National Park in Utah, and a snow trip up to Mount Charleston. Carole took a weekend trip to Florida this year to visit her family but the big family trip this year was to Toronto, Canada for Henry and Boisi's wedding. While in Canada they were able to do some sightseeing and got to visit Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, Casa Loma Castle, and Niagara Falls.

Other family hour activities or events the family did this year was watching Cirque du Soliel's Mystere, Mariah Carey in concert, the Pentatonics concert with Us the Duo, Rod Stewart, Band of Magicians, and Criss Angel's Mindfreak. The family didn't make it out to their annual Padres Baseball game at Petco Park or Chargers Football game at Qualcomm Stadium. Mainly because both teams had terrible seasons this year. However the family did make it out to watch the Los Angeles Lakers play a playoff game in Las Vegas as the have in past years. This year the Lakers played the Sacramento Kings at the new T-Mobile Arena. The family also participated in the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K Walk again as Team Poblete also had others join them this year.

A few family milestones to take note of include Carole reaching her 10th year being employed with DelMar Gardens Nursing Home and was given a 32" LCD flat screen television for her years of service. Although Ron has actually worked 11 years for the City of Henderson, he received his 10 year pin this year. (His first year was in a temporary fulltime position and didn't count for actual years of service as a permanent fulltime employee.) For Nico, aside from also working at the City of Henderson as a Visual Communications Assistant, his sideline business Active Motion Media has taken him to various cities throughout the United States filming different wedding and events. (Another milestone for Nico was this year he had welcomed a very special person into his life.) Kiana's cosmetology career continues to grow as this year she's left her assistant position at the Liquid Salon to become a fulltime stylist at the Vent Blotique. Within this year she moved again to take on a hair stylist/make up artist position at the Look Style Society salon where she currently works. For Nevaeh, although she's too young to work yet or start her career she was able to spend a day with Dad at the City of Henderson on "Take Our Sons and Daughters to Work Day". Just like her siblings did in the past years, this year was Nevaeh's very first year attending and learned alot about city government.

Scroll down to read more about all these past events and activities in the blog entries below. We're not sure what 2017 has in store but we hope and pray it will be fun and successful for the whole family and for everyone reading this blog. From our family to yours, "Happy New Year" and may you have a blessed year in 2017.

Bookmark and Share Posted on January 3, 2017 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe


Snow Day at Mount Charleston

With the cold weather this Winter that Las Vegas had been experiencing, there was definitely snow up in the local mountains surrounding the Las Vegas valley. since everyone was off for the day, the family decided to head up to Mount Charleston to spend the day playing in the snow for the last day of the year 2016. So the family got in their Volkswagen Routain van while Nico and Julie drove her car since they brought her dog Simba with them. The trip up to Mount Charleston was about a 30 minute drive from the city. There were alot of other visitors at Mount Charleston on that day as everyone also had the same idea to have a snow day. The challenge was finding a spot to park which they did over by a campsite on the road that takes you from the Mount Charleston Resort over to the Lee Canyon side of the mountain.

With their thick jackets and boots on they trekked up the hillside where they found a spot which had fresh untouched snow. Even Julie's dog Simba had his own snow jacket on. It was definitely cold up in the mountains but that didn't stop the family from throwing snowballs. sliding down the hill and building a snow man. After spending some time in the snow, the family drove back down the mountain and decided to warm up by getting some Saimin and Oxtail Soup at Aloha Kitchen. Check out all the photos or watch the video montage of the family's day in the snow.

Bookmark and Share Posted on January 3, 2017 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe


Ron and Carole's Anniversary at Mandalay Bay

Another Las Vegas hotel resort has been checked off Carole's List as it's her goal to stay at each hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. Since Ron and Carole were celebrating their 26th wedding anniversary, they decided to celebrate locally and booked a room at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. They had never stayed there before and it was a perfect location as they also booked to see the Criss Angel show that was next door at the Luxor Hotel which they haven't seen as well. They made reservations for the Elite King room which was a little larger than the standard room as it provided more living space. It too was a perfect decision to reserve that room as they had no other plans but to stay there for some rest and relaxation. Their room ended up being on the 18th floor and the extra living space provided a great view of the Las Vegas Strip and the airport with the mountains in the background that surrounded the Las Vegas Valley.

Before heading out to the show on the night of their stay, they decided to have dinner at the Bayside Buffet which was inside the Mandalay Bay Resort. The Bayside Buffet was one of their go to buffets for crab legs and shrimp which is served every night of the week but yet does not cost as much as the other high end buffets that serve seafood such as the Bachannal Buffet at Caesars Palace, Wicked Spoon at the Cosmopolitan or the Buffet at Aria. After dinner they strolled through Mandalay Place which was the walkway bridge from Mandalay Bay to the Luxor Hotel that has a few restaurants and plenty of shops. As they arrived at the Luxor they proceeded to the Criss Angel theater. As they entered they saw a collection of his custom motorcycles and masks and outfits that were on display. The Criss Angle show was the only Cirque du Soliel show on the Las Vegas Strip that Ron and Carole haven't watched. The all-new Mindfreak Live show replaced the former Criss Angel - Believe show which was more Cirque than magic. This new show was definitely more magic and was based on his television show. After the show they returned back to the Mandalay Bay to relax and enjoy the lights of the Las Vegas Strip.

The rest of their stay was enjoyable as they walked around the resort and people watched when they weren't relaxing in their room. For lunch they enjoyed a nice Mexican meal at Borders Grill as they dined out on the patio which offered them a nice scenic pool view of the hotel and Mandalay Beach. Click here to see all the photos or watch the video montage of their Mandalay Bay staycation.

Bookmark and Share Posted on December 9, 2016 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe


Nevaeh's 11th Birthday Painting Party

For Nevaeh's 11th birthday, she wanted to have a Painting Party in the backyard with a few of her friends. She had a similar party on her 8th birthday (See 2013 blog entry "Nevaeh's Backyard Birthday Party".) where her and her friends spent the afternoon doing arts and crafts. For this year's party, Ron and Carole commissioned former Art Institute Students/Graphic Design Graduates and family friends Matt and Lisette to help instruct the kids on how to paint just like they do at one of those adult painting classes. So before the painting sessions began, Nevaeh and her friends had lunch first while the tables were being set up with paint trays, brushes, canvases and all the other painting materials that these young Picasos were to use.

After Nevaeh and her friends finished eating, they were all excited to so some painting and each took a seat at the tables. Their first painting project was to paint and customize their own goodie bags. Then their painting instructors Matt and Lisette gave them a choice to paint either Disney animated movie characters Baymax from Big Hero 6 or Dory from Finding Nemo. The girls chose Dory while the boys and the other younger artists painted whatever they wanted and created their own masterpieces without instructions. So Matt and Lisette started painting step by step as the girls followed, each one adding their own style to their paintings.

After the painting session, Nevaeh and her friends were busy taking photo booth pictures in front of her 11th birthday background complete with props and all. Then it was time to cut her birthday cake and sing the "Happy Birthday" song. Afterwards the Birthday Girl and her friends went inside to the family game room where they gathered to watch her open her birthday gifts. Click here to see all the photos from Nevaeh's 11th Birthday Painting Party or watch the video montage to see all the fun and all the artists masterpieces.

Bookmark and Share Posted on November 11, 2016 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe


Nevaeh's 11th Birthday Photo Booth Pics

What's a Poblete party or event without having the traditional event backdrop to take photos in front of? Check out all the photo booth pictures from Nevaeh's 11th Birthday (See blog entry above.) or watch the video clip on YouTube of all the fun and wacky photos.

Bookmark and Share Posted on November 11, 2016 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe


52nd Wedding Anniversary Dinner at Peohe's

This year marked Papa Rollie and Mama Pearlie's 52nd Wedding Anniversary. To celebrate the family had dinner at Peohe's Chart House Restaurant in Coronado. Ron, Carole and the girls drove down for the weekend from Las Vegas while Nico wasn't able to make it down as he and Julie were on a trip up in the San Francisco Bay area. Dinner reservations were made for 6PM and the family was seated at a table by the window which provided them beautiful twilight views of Coronado Ferry Landing, San Diego Bay and the city skyline in the background.

The theme at Peohes was tropical yet elegent with a menu of island-inspired seafood dishes and Polynesian cuisine. Peohe's was selected and spotlighted on "Rachel Ray's Tasty Travels" TV show from The Food Network and is nestled on the water's edge at the Coronado Ferry Landing. For dinner the celebrants, Mama Pearlie ordered the Coconut Cruchy Shrimp while Papa Rollie ordered his usual favorite Prime Rib. Kiana also had the Prime Rib while Richelle ordered the Atlantic Salmon Nicoise and Patrick the Roasted Airline Chicken Breast. Nevaeh ordered her usual Chicken Fingers and Fries while Ron and Carole shared a Pupu Platter for two. For dessert the waiter had brought out two slices of ice cream cake which was drizzled with chocolate and macadamia nuts and had a lit candle for each slice. Throughout dinner there was alot of story telling, reminicing and laughter. After dinner the family decided to take a stroll along the waters of San Diego Bay and the Coronado Ferry Landing. Check out the photos from dinner or watch the video montage of this intimate celebration and the breathtaking views of San Diego Bay and the city skyline of downtown San Diego. Happy 52nd Wedding Anniversary Papa Rollie and Mama Pearlie!

Bookmark and Share Posted on October 25, 2016 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe


2016 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K Walk

It's the month of October and Team Poblete was at it again as they participated in this year's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K Walk. This was the 5th year straight Team Poblete has participated in this walk (as well as other 5K walks) to bring awareness for the cause and to also walk in memory of Carole's sister Timi who had lost her battle with breast cancer 3 years ago. This year Team Poblete was joined by the TEHO Ladies, Christine Mari, Anna Cui and Lannie Valdecantos from Eagle Broadcasting Corporation Las Vegas Bureau's online talk show "To Each Her Own". Not only did they join the team on the walk but also broadcasted a segment of their show on location via Facebook Live on Eagle News Live which featured Team Poblete. (Click here to watch the video of the Facebook live feature. Facebook login required.)

The weather was perfect on the Sunday morning of the walk which started and finished at the Red Rock Casino Resort Las Vegas. Before the start of the walk, all the participants stretched and warmed up and gathered at the starting line. When the signal to start sounded off, the 3.1 mile course began from the parking lot of the Red Rock Casino and through the streets of the Downtown Summerlin Shopping Center. Thousands of participants walked the course, some who consisted of breast cancer survivors, some who were currently fighting the disease and the rest who were there to support and bring awareness to fighting breast cancer. Team Poblete reached the finish line a little less than an hour and a half and were met by family friend Junen Diaz and her daughter Mia. They had joined Team Poblete in past breast cancer walks but wasn't able to make it in time to join the walk this year but came out for support.

It's always a great feeling to donate or volunteer your time for a worthy cause. As the family's religious beliefs remind them, they should always take the time out of their busy schedules to not only spend time together but also spend their time doing good for the community. "Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it." -Proverbs 3:27 TEV. Click here to see all the photos from this year's Breast Cancer 5K Walk or watch the video montage of this special day. A special "Thank You" to the TEHO Ladies from EBC Las Vegas Bureau for taking the time to join Team Poblete this year. And for anyone else who could not join the walk this year but would still like to support the cause, donations can still be made on our Team Poblete webpage.

Bookmark and Share Posted on October 20, 2016 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe


Lakers vs. Kings 2015 Preseason Game at the T-Mobile Arena Las Vegas

As in past years, the Los Angeles Lakers would play one of their preseason games in Las Vegas. The last two years the family watched them play at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Years prior they've watched them play at the arena at UNLV's Thomas and Mack. This year the Lakers were scheduled play two playoff games in Las Vegas. The first game against the Sacramento Kings and the second game against the Golden State Warriors. Both games were scheduled to be played at the new T-Mobile Arena that had just finished construction on the Las Vegas Strip and had opened to the general public this year. Because of their schedules, the family wasn't able to watch the second game against the Warriors who were the defending NBA Champions of last season. However they were able to watch the first scheduled game against the Kings which Ron was able to get tickets for. It was also good timing as the kid's cousin Marcel and Whitney were in town visiting and were able to join the family for a night of NBA Basketball.

When they got to their seats the players were already on the court warming up. This was the first NBA game to be played at the T-Mobile Arena. This was also the first season for former Lakers player Luke Walton to be head coach of this all-new Lakers team, a team who no longer had the great Kobe Bryant on the floor as his NBA career came to an end last year when he retired from the game. The Lakers starting lineup were Ingram, Clarkson, Calderón, Nance Jr., Jianlian and Young. As the game started the Lakers seem to be behind for most of the game as the Kings lead at the end of the 1st quarter 30 to 25, 2nd quarter 62 to 44 and at the end of the 3rd quarter 82 to 80. The final score at the end of the game was Kings 116 and Lakers 104. Although it was only a preseason game it was a disappointing lost for Lakers Fans but a great night for Las Vegas Fans to have the opportunity to watch two NBA teams go head to head. Check out all the photos from this night of NBA action or watch the video montage on YouTube of all the Lakers and Kings game highlights.

Bookmark and Share Posted on October 20, 2016 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe


Visit to Niagara Falls

Before leaving Ontario Canada, the family trip would not be complete without visiting North America's natural wonder, Niagara Falls. It was about an hour and a half drive from downtown Toronto to the falls where the family met up with the Nery, Cui, and Tejada families. Niagara Falls is the collective name for three waterfalls that straddle the international border between Canada and the United States, between the province of Ontario and the state of New York. They form the southern end of the Niagara Gorge. From largest to smallest, the three waterfalls are the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. The Horseshoe Falls lie mostly on the Canadian side and the American Falls entirely on the American side, separated by Goat Island. The smaller Bridal Veil Falls are also on the American side, separated from the other waterfalls by Luna Island.

After strolling along Niagara Falls and Queen Victoria Park taking photos and enjoying the breathtaking beauty of the falls, some of them decided to walk over to the United States side by crossing over Niagara Gorge on the Rainbow Bridge. The Rainbow Bridge connects the tourist districts of Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, New York. With passports in hand they were surprised to find out they had to pay a toll of 50 cents to go through the turnstiles to the United States. (What ever happened to the phrase "It's a free country?") They walked half way to the middle of the bridge to the marker that marked the international border of the United States and Canada and took photos from that vantage point of the majestic falls with both the province of Ontario and the state of New York in the background.

Niagara Falls Park offered many attractions like a zip line and boat tours but after all the walking they did, the gang decided they wanted to eat and do some souvenir shopping. So they walked up to Clifton Hill which is the most famous street in Niagara Falls. The street contains a number of gift shops, wax museums, haunted houses, video arcades, restaurants, hotels and themed attractions. Prominent attractions on the street include the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum and 4D Moving Theater, the Guinness World Records Museum, the Niagara SkyWheel Ferris wheel, and the nearby Louis Tussaud's Waxworks. Out of the many restaurants and eateries that Clifton Hill had to offer, the gang decided to eat at The Works which was a gourmet burger bistro that served unique hamburgers made from 100% Canadian beef as well as other sandwiches, salads, and of course poutine. After their hamburger meal, the gang continued sightseeing and souvenir shopping along Clifton Hill as well as as returning back to the falls to take one last look before heading back to downtown Toronto. Click here to see all the photos or watch the video montage of the family's exploration at Niagara Falls.

Bookmark and Share Posted on September 3, 2016 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe


Casa Loma Castle

While still in Canada, the family got to visit yet another Toronto tourist destination as they visited the majestic castle named Casa Loma. Casa Loma (Spanish for Hill House) is a Gothic Revival style house and gardens in midtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that is now a museum and landmark. It was built as a residence for financier Sir Henry Mill Pellatt who is notable for his role in bringing hydro-electricity to Toronto, Ontario, for the first time. He was also a soldier serving as Major-General with the Canadian Armed Forces. He joined the Regiment as a Rifleman and rose through the ranks to become the Commanding Officer. He was knighted for his dedication to the Regiment. Pellatt later served as the Honorary Colonel and was promoted Major-General upon retirement.

Casa Loma was constructed from 1911 to 1914. The architect was E. J. Lennox, who designed several other city landmarks. The house cost about $3.5 million and took 300 workers three years to build. Due to the start of World War I, construction was halted. At 98 rooms covering 64,700 square feet, it was the largest private residence in Canada. Notable amenities included an elevator, an oven large enough to cook an ox, two vertical passages for pipe organs, a central vacuum, two secret passages in Pellatt's ground-floor office, a pool, and three bowling alleys in the basement.

Casa Loma is a popular venue to hold wedding ceremonies and rites. Due to its unique architectural character in Toronto, Casa Loma has also been a popular filming location for movies and television. It has served as a location for movies such as X-Men, Strange Brew, Chicago, The Tuxedo, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Warehouse 13, Twitches Too, and The Pacifier. Comic books and children's novels that have used it include the Scott Pilgrim series and Eric Wilson's murder mystery, The Lost Treasure of Casa Loma. It was also temporarily transformed into Hogwarts for the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Check out some of the photos of the spectacular grounds of Toronto's premier historic landmark and the estate gardens or watch the YouTube video montage of the family's explorations through this majestic castle.

Bookmark and Share Posted on September 2, 2016 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe


Ripley's Aquarium of Canada

As part of the Toronto City Pass, the Ripley's Aquarium of Canada was another attraction the family visited. After taking in the views from up above at the CN Tower (See blog entry below), the family and friends headed over to Ripley's Aquarium which was right next from the CN Tower in downtown Toronto. Originally planned in 2004 to be built in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Ripley's Aquarium relocated to downtown Toronto and was open to the public in 2013. It is one of three aquariums owned and operated by Ripley Entertainment.

The aquarium features several aquatic exhibits including a walk-through tank. The aquarium has 5.7 million litres (1.5 million gallons) of marine and freshwater habitats from across the world. The exhibits hold 13,500 exotic sea and freshwater specimens from more than 450 species. The aquarium holds 5.7 million litres (1.5 million gallons) of water and shows marine and freshwater habitats from around the world. The aquarium is organized into nine galleries: Canadian Waters, Rainbow Reef, Dangerous Lagoon, Discovery Centre, The Gallery, Ray Bay, Planet Jellies, Life Support Systems and the Shoreline Gallery. Click here to see all the photos of this amazing aquarium which is home to 16,000 animals or watch the video montage on YouTube. Ripley's Aqurium is definitely an attraction not to miss when visiting Toronto.

Bookmark and Share Posted on September 1, 2016 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe


Toronto Canada Vacation 2016

This year's big family vacation was held in the city of Toronto in the province of Ontario which is in east-central Canada. This trip was planned around good friends Henry and Boisi's wedding which was to be held there in Canada. Since Nico was asked to film the couple's special day and Kiana and Ron were both in the entourage, it was decided to just make it this year's family vacation destination. So after months of planning, securing passports, purchasing tickets and reserving hotel accomodations and transportation, the family along with Crystal Joy who was also part of the wedding entourage departed on a direct red eye flight on West Jet Airlines from Las Vegas McCarran Airport to Toronto Pearson International Airport.

When they arrived in Canada, they met up with Henry and a couple of other friends for breakfast at Zet's Restaurant which was right by the airport. Afterwards they checked in at Residence Inn Toronto Airport which was to be their home for the next few days. Once they were all settled in with their accomodations and it was time to plan on their sightseeing plans. To experience all the best that Toronto had to offer, they decided to purchase the Toronto City Pass which for one price of $60.00 total which included admission to the CN Tower, Casa Loma, Royal Ontario Museum, Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, Toronto Zoo or Ontario Science Centre.

Their first sightseeing venture was to explore downtown Toronto which is a commercial, distribution, financial and economic centre, and third largest financial centre in North America. Toronto is also the largest city in Canada and the capital of Ontario. To get the best views of all the tall buildings and skyscrapers, they decided to view them from up above on the observation deck of the 1,815.4 ft concrete communications and observation tower. The CN Tower is the world's 7th tallest free-standing structure. It is the third tallest tower in the world and remains the tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere. In 1995, the CN Tower was declared one of the modern Seven Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. One of six high-speed glass-fronted elevators speed up to the 1,136 ft. lookout in a mere 58 seconds. Once at the observation level you can look straight down from the world famous Glass Floor or take in the stunning views on the outdoor terrace at 1,122 ft.

When they got back down below they continued their sightseeing by strolling around the streets of downtown, visiting Rogers Centre which was the home of the Toronto Blue Jays, grabbing at bite to eat ordering some Poutine which is a Canadian dish made with French fries and cheese curds topped with a light brown gravy and other dishes from street food vendors and stopping at one of the many Tim Hortons which is a cafe chain based in Canada, known for its coffee and doughnuts. Check out the photos of their downtown Toronto excursion or watch the video montage on YouTube.

Bookmark and Share Posted on August 31, 2016 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe


Annual Lake Las Vegas Summer Staycation

As in past years since Ron, Carole and the kids relocated to Las Vegas from San Diego, summers would not be complete without their annual staycation weekend stay out at Lake Las Vegas. Every summer when the kids would usually spend their summer breaks off from school and head to their hometown of San Diego to spend time with family and friends, Ron and Carole would make reservations at one of the hotels out at this lake resort rather than taking a staycation on the Las Vegas Strip. Because living out in the desert where it is dry and hot, the sight of water such as the lake at Lake Las Vegas is such a refreshing feeling and it is truly an oasis out there in the middle of the desert.

This year Ron and Carole checked in at the Montelago Village Resort and stayed in a one bedroom suite at the Veira which is the hotel adjacent to the village. They love staying here as the suites offer a full kitchen so they can bring and prepare their own food during their stay. This year with the opening of the new Seasons Market right in the resort's village, they didn't have to bring alot of groceries since the market was just walking distance from the hotel. After picking up a few things at the market they hung out by the pool most of the afternoon until that evening. Since it was a Saturday night and the village offered free live music by the lake, they were able to hear the band playing from the pool. Later that night, Nico and Kiana came out to join them for dinner. Being older now, the two no longer spend their summers down in San Diego unlike Nevaeh because they are both now working adults. Julie and her mom Lisa also came out to join the family for dinner and they all went to Sonrisa Grill Restaurant to enjoy some fine Mexican cuisine. Towards the end of dinner, the waiter brought out a plate of churros for dessert with a lit candle to surprise Ka Lisa for her birthday. After dinner they all strolled around the village and by the lake.

The next day before checking out, Ron and Carole took a morning stroll by the lake and got coffee at the Seasons Market. They also requested for a late check out so that they could continue to get more rest and relaxation while they were there. As they checked out, they were surprised to find out that the Aston Hotel and Resorts who managed the Montelago Village Resort was pulling out at the end of summer and will no longer operate the hotel. The desk clerk was not sure whether another company will take over or if the suites will be sold as condos. If the suites do go up for sale, Ron and Carole would definitely be interested as Lake Las Vegas is one community where they would someday like to retire. Only time will tell. Click here to see all the photos from this summer's Lake Las Vegas staycation or watch the video montage on YouTube.

Bookmark and Share Posted on July 16, 2016 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe

 

Hiking Angels Landing at Zion National Park

It's been years since the family visited Zion National Park in Utah. After taking about going back for awhile now, it was decided to stop taking about it and actually do it. So Ron, Carole, Crystal, Nico, Julie and her Mom Lisa set out at 3AM on a Saturday morning to drive up to Zion National Park to hike up to the top of Angels Landing which is a 1,488-foot tall rock formation. Located in the southwest part of Utah, Zion National Park encompasses some of the most scenic canyon country in the United States. Zion is know for its slot canyons, towers and monoliths, rivers and waterfalls.

After a 3-hour drive from Las Vegas, they finally arrived at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center in Springdale, Utah where they were to park and catch a shuttle that would take them to The Grotto Trailhead stop to Angels Landing. But before boarding the shuttle they first ate a light breakfast and packed their backpacks with sandwiches, snacks and drinks for the day's hike. It was a beautiful sunny morning and the temperatures were in the mid to high 80s. From The Grotto Trailhead they crossed over a foot bridge that went over on the Virgin River where the trail to Angels Landing started. The length of the hike is a 5 miles round trip and this strenuous hike takes about 4 to 5 hours to complete. They proceeded on the West Rim Trail along the floor on the canyon and along the Virgin River to the base of Angels Landing. Then they proceeded up the first set of switchbacks that climbed the canyon wall that lead them to Refrigerator Canyon which was pleasantly cool and very scenic. Then the trail continued to climb with another series of switchbacks called Walter's Wiggles. These 21 switchbacks are very tight and gain elevation rapidly. At the top of Walter's Wiggles, you are lead to the top of the ridge at Scouts Lookout which offers amazing views.

The group stopped here for lunch and waited there for Nico and Julie who bravely tackled the last half mile of the trail which follows the narrow steep ridge to the summit. An anchor support chain is embedded in the rock along this part of the trail for safety as one would drop down 1,400 feet to the canyon floor if not careful. (Since 2004, six people have died falling from the cliffs on this route.) It took awhile for Nico and Julie to make it up and back as there were so many people on that part of the trail but they successfully reached the top and got to see for themselves the spectacular views the summit had to offer. The descent down the trail from Angels Landing was a much easier hike although the temperature on the way down was now in the low to mid 90s. But there was a reward at the end of the trail as you are able to cool down by the river that flowed through Zion Canyon. Check out all the photos or watch the video montage on YouTube of this epic hiking trip. The family will definitely come back as there are more trails at Zion National Park to conquer.

Bookmark and Share Posted on July 1, 2016 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe


Nico's 24th and Kiana's 21st Birthday

The months of May and June are usually celebration months at the Poblete household as Ron's birthday falls on May 4th, Nico's on May 23rd and Kiana's on June 4th. This year the family had no big celebration plans. Unlike last year when Ron celebrated his milestone 50th birthday with a party at Casa de Poblete during the Pacquaio vs Mayweather fight, this year the kids surprised him the day after his birthday with a birthday cake and late lunch/early dinner at home with a few of the other extended family kids.

For Nico's 24th birthday, all he wanted to do was to celebrate over dinner with the family and a few close friends. He chose Lucille's Smokehouse Barbeque restaurant at The District at Green Valley Ranch to have his birthday dinner. Aside from the family, those who also joined to celebrate with him were Julie, Kyle, Mayette and her kids Jonah and Gabby. To feed the whole family, the Chicken & Rib Platter was ordered which included 3 whole chickens, 3 racks of ribs, and endless biscuits with apple butter and muddy waters (half iced tea half lemonade) to go around.

For Kiana's 21st birthday, after making a comment that she's always the one planning and giving surprise parties for everyone, the family took that as a hint that she wanted to be surprised. So Kyle asked her to go shopping with him at Target on the night before her birthday so that the family could prepare the house and run out to get the food for her late night birthday party surprise. A few close family friends were invited to join the celebration and arrived right after their choir practice and waited for her to come home from shopping. The surprise was a success and the party started with a light dinner that consisted of edumame, miso soup and trays of sushi and spam musubi. At the stroke of midnight Kiana blew out the candles on her small birthday cake and then everyone gathered around to watch her open her gifts. The surprise came as all the gifts she opened were either cheap gag gifts or items that were taken from her room and gift wrapped. Click here to see all the photos from Kiana's as well as Nico's birthday celebrations or watch the watch the video montage of both their birthdays on YouTube.

Bookmark and Share Posted on June 15, 2016 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe


Nevaeh's Spends a Day at Work with Dad

Just like her older brother and sister participated in when they were growing up, Nevaeh attended her first Take Our Sons and Daughters to Work Day event where employees are encouraged to take their children between the ages of 8 through 18 years old to work with them for a day. The event is designed to motivate children in achieving their desired goals for the future and for them to experience and see what their parents do in the workplace. Since Ron as well as Nevaeh's brother Nico both work for the City of Henderson, Nevaeh got to see first hand what happens down at City Hall. Nevaeh started off her day at the Department of Information Technology where Ron is the Webmaster for the department and watched her Dad updating and maintaining the City's website.

Throughout the day other departments sponsored different events for the kids to attend that were very educational. Nevaeh attended a presentation given by the City Clerks Office where the kids did a mock Council Meeting in the Council Chambers. During the meeting both the Police and Fire Departments gave presentations about their departments. Afterwards she attended an Emergency Management and Safety presentation given by the Emergency Management Division where she learned about safety in the home and even learned how to put out a fire with a fire extinguisher. The rest of the day she got to visit the City Manager and Mayors Office an got to sit at Mayor Andy Hafen's desk. While she was up there she also visited her brother Nico's office at the Public Information Office where he works as a Visual Communications Assistant. Although Nico was off that day, that didn't stop Nevaeh from raiding his office, tagging his white board and playing in front of the green screen and photo backdrop. Nevaeh didn't stay the entire 10 hour day of her Dad's work schedule as her Mom came to pick her up early. But before leaving Nevaeh did get the chance to stop by the Police Department and got to meet a few of the officers and dogs from the K-9 Unit. Check out all the photos from Nevaeh's day at City Hall or watch the video montage on YouTube. All in all Nevaeh had a great time participating in her very first Take Our Sons and Daugthers to Work Day event and is looking forward to attending again next year!

Bookmark and Share Posted on May 6, 2016 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe


Exploring Valley of Fire and the Lost City

Since it was the first day of Spring, what better way then to spend it outdoors. After taking a day trip out the Death Vally National Park earlier in the month to see the desert wildflowers (See blog entry "Day Trip to the Wildflowers" below.), Ron and Carole decided to take advantage of the nice Spring weather and take another day trip to enjoy being outdoors before the hot temperatures of Summer come. And since Nevaeh was studying about the history of Native American tribes in Nevada, Ron and Carole took her on a little exploration out to Valley of Fire State Park and to the Lost City Museum in Overton, Nevada which was about over an hour drive north of Las Vegas in Moapa Valley. It was in this valley and at the Pueblo Grande de Nevada archaeological sites at the Lost City Museum where actual dwellings and artifacts of the Pueblo Indians were found and are on display.

When they arrived at Valley of Fire, there is no wonder why it is actually called Valley of Fire because of all the flaming bright red sandstone landscape all around. The aww-inspiring rock formations were formed from great shifting sand dunes during the age of the dinosaurs more than 150 million years ago. Valley of Fire is also Nevada's first state park and offers not only beautiful scenic views but also areas for hiking, picnicking and camping. The Visitors Center located in the center of the park provides exhibits on the geology, prehistory, and history of the park and is open daily. After exploring and climbing a few of the rock formations, Ron, Carole and Nevaeh got a little hungry. Since they had packed some food for the day, they decided to pull over by the Seven Sisters rock formations which were a group of 7 tall red boulders that provided some shaded areas for picnicking.

After having lunch they got back in the car and headed to the town of Overton where the Lost City Museum was located. Formerly known as the Boulder Dam Park Museum, it was built in 1935 and is used to exhibit artifacts from the Pueblo Grande de Nevada archaelogical sites. The museum is located on an actual prehistoric site of the Puebloan Indians. The people of the Basketmaker Period of 500 B.C. to 750 A.D. are considered to be the very first Pueblo Indians and were the first inhabitants in this area. The museum has displays depicting the excavations of the sites, artifacts unearthed during the excavations, an excavated pithouse and reconstruction of the Puebloan houses where these Native Americans dwelled. Click here to see al the photos from this exploration or watch the video montage on YouTube. Since Nevaeh was studying about this era in school and has a big project due when she returns from her Spring Break, it was great for her to actually see all the artifacts and dwellings which willl help her with her school project and appreciate even more what she is learning.

Bookmark and Share Posted on March 23, 2016 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe


Day Trip to the Wildflowers

Death Valley National Park is known to be the hottest and driest place in North America. The average annual rainfall is 2 inches per year and, sometimes, it gets no rain at all. Every spring, a few wildflowers bloom before it gets scorching hot but once a decade, the hottest place on Earth encounters a rare "super bloom" of wildflowers. This year due to El Niño weather patterns and heavy October rainfall, an abundance of wildflowers blossomed for the first time since 2005. This was something Ron and Carole wanted to see for themselves and they decided to take a day trip out there while the flowers were at full bloom because they heard the flowers will wither in the next few weeks as the temperatures start to rise. On this particular Sunday morning when they had planned to go, the weather forecasted wind and rain but they decided to go anyway. Nico and Kiana had other plans and did not go so Ron and Carole took Nevaeh with them. It was a 2 hour drive out to Death Valley National Park from Las Vegas and as the weatherman predicted, it was windy and it did rain on the way there. However as they got closer to Death Valley they noticed blue skys with a few clouds ahead.

When they arrived at Death Valley National Park, the sun was out and there was no sign of rain anywhere. However it was a bit windy. Before heading to see the wildflowers they decided to drive up to Dantes View which was a a viewpoint terrace on the north side of Coffin Peak, along the crest of the Black Mountains, overlooking Death Valley. Directly below were the panoramic views of the salt flats down at Badwater Basin which was their next stop. (Note for Star Wars Fans: Dante's View was also used as a filming location for the 1977 film Star Wars as the characters overlook the fictional Tatooine spaceport of Mos Eisley.) As they left Dantes View they got back on Highway 190 and drove towards Furnace Creek and turned left on Badwater Road to the salt flats of Badwater Basin which was what they saw from up above. Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America, with an elevation of 282 ft (86 m) below sea level. In fact, one can see how much below sea level they are as they look back at the mountain side behind them at the sign indicating where sea level is. The salt flats in Badwater Basin cover nearly 200 square miles and are among the largest protected salt flats in the world. After walking around on the salt flats for awhile, they got back in the car and proceeded down Badwater Road in search for the wildflowers. As they drove down passing some spectacular rock formations along the way, they started seeing some wildflowers along the sides of the road. However it took several more miles before they reached the areas of the valley where the abundance of flowers could be seen along entire hillsides and vast areas of the valley floor. It was definitely a sight to see and well worth the drive out there. Check out all the photos from this day trip out to Death Valley National Park or watch the video montage on YouTube. Despite the name Death Valley, there is definitely life out there in the desert and much more beautiful landmarks to see. This will not be the family's last time to visit.

Bookmark and Share Posted on March 14, 2016 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe


Carole's Venetian Birthday

For the past few years now, Carole has spent her birthdays with a mini staycation on the Las Vegas Strip. It's a goal of her's to stay overnight at each of the luxury resort hotels on the Strip and so far in the past years on her birthday (as well as during her and Ron's wedding anniversaries) they have stayed at the Aria, Cosmopolitan, Vdara, Mandarin Oriental, Luxor, Excalibur, Orleans, New York New York, Monte Carlo, Planet Hollywood, Paris, The Linq (formerly Imperial Palace), Harrahs, Trump, Circus Circus, and the Stratosphere. One hotel that was still needed to check off the list was the Venetian which is where she stayed for this year's birthday. Although the kids couldn't stay overnight because it was a school/work day the next day, they accompanied Ron and Carole as they checked in and spent the rest of the day at the resort to celebrate with their Mom. After hanging out in their lavish hotel suite, the family decided to take a stroll around at the Grand Canal Shoppes. With it's Venetian themed architecture complete with water canals, bridges and the painted sky above, it felt as if you were strolling outdoors along the alleys and small squares of Venice, Italy. Ron took Carole and Nevaeh on a gondola ride but because it only sat four people, Nico and Kiana opted out from joining them. As they floated away down the canal, the gondolier sang the "Happy Birthday" song in Italian. After the gondola ride and strolling around the shoppes, the family decided to have Carole's birthday dinner at the Grand Lux Cafe where after dinner they brought out a dessert with a candle and sang "Happy Birthday" to her, this time in English.

As the night ended, the kids went back home to get ready for the next day while Carole and Ron continued to enjoy the architecture and decor of the themed hotel, strolling around the shoppes and outdoors at the Venetian as well as at the adjoining sister hotel Pallazo. The next day they decided to have breakfast at world-renowned chef Thomas Keller's French Parisian-style bistro Bouchon. It was a warm and elegant dining room with views of the beautiful garden and pool. After breakfast they continued to stroll around, especially outdoors since the weather was so nice. They also got to visit family friends Mariel who worked at the Bouchon Bakery and also Allison who also worked for the hotel. The rest of the day was spent relaxing until later that night when Ron took Carole to see Mariah Carey's concert show at Caesars Palace. Her residency show was at The Colossium and called "Mariah #1 to Inifinity". The production features all 18 of her timeless and No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 together in one concert. Hits spanning nearly two decades that she performed were everything from her ballads like “Vision Of Love,” “Love Takes Time,” “I Don’t Wanna Cry” and “My All” to her R&B hits like “Fantasy,” “Honey” and “We Belong Together,” among many others. Overall it was a great show and production and Mariah can still hit those high notes. Click here to see all the photos or watch the video montage on YouTube from Carole's Birthday at the Venetian and also from Mariah Carey's show. Happy Birthday Carole!

Bookmark and Share Posted on February 25, 2016 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe


Bringing in the New Year 2016 at Casa de Poblete

This year to celebrate the new year, the gang from San Diego all wanted to go to Las Vegas to bring in 2016 and made reservation plans months before. And as the months passed by, anticipation kept building and the excitement of getting together finally happened as the Torres and Bobis families arrived on New Years Eve. Unfortunately due to Papa Rollie's health situation and recent hospitalization, he, Mama Pearlie and Richelle changed their plans last minute to join the festivities. It was best for him to get his rest and recuperate but despite them not joining, the celebration went on as planned. Since accomodations were now available at Casa de Poblete, the Torres Family cancelled their original hotel reservations and stayed at the house and the Bobis Family stayed at the Grandview at Las Vegas Resort by the South Point Hotel which was only just down the street. The gang all arrived by lunchtime which was perfect timing as Ron had just finished making his homemade chili. Raising Canes Chicken Fingers was also ordered for the kids. The rest of the afternoon was spent hanging out in the backyard around the firepit, playing arcade games and table tennis in the family game room and napping while the turkey and ham was roasting in the oven for that night's last feast for 2015.

Around 9PM the rest of the guests who were invited started to arrive. First was Kyle who brought along his mother and sister, then the Dabu and Cui families arrived. After all the food was layed out on the kitchen island, a prayer for the food and for the year and upcoming year was conducted. Then with Ron and Junior carving up the turkey and ham, the eating festivities began. The rest of the night before midnight was spend eating, playing games most especially the Pie Face game and catching up with one another since the party was more of a reunion since everyone invited was originally from San Diego. Minutes prior to midnight, noise makers were passed around and everyone gathered around the television in the family game room for the countdown. Once the clock struck 12 o'clock midnight, Happy New Year hugs and kisses filled the room as everyone watched the fireworks go off on the Las Vegas Strip on TV. Soon after the kids all went to the backyard to light up sparklers and had their own fireworks show. The celebration ended with playing the White Elephant Gift Exchange game and a group toast with sparkling cider to toast the 2016. Check out all the photos from the New Year festivities or watch the video montage on YouTube. Happy New Year 2016 to all from everyone at Casa de Poblete!

Bookmark and Share Posted on January 16, 2016 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe


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