Friday, March 1, 2013

A Little Trip to Las Vegas

 Reed wanted a little getaway in February, so off we went to Las Vegas for a few days.  Travel is always an adventure, with unexpected pleasures and pains...our flight was quick...getting into the taxi line at the Las Vegas airport and waiting with 500 other people took quite some time.  We checked into the MGM Grand, put on our walking shoes, and headed out for the Wynn Buffet...the picture above is IN the restaurant...beautiful...and the food is divine!!  Below, we found that many hotels had decorated with a Chinese New Year theme...still at the Wynn.

 We had to visit The Venetian...the gondolas, the canal...inside and outside...
 Inside looks like outside!  Embarrassing moment...as I passed this lovely statue, I looked at the railing and saw many dollar bills just lying there...no, I did not pick one up, but rather too late realized this was a human being PLAYING a statue that might be found in Venice!!

 At Caesar's Palace, there is a Serendipity's restaurant...originally found in NYC, this restaurant has been featured in a movie or two, and their signature treat is frozen hot chocolate.  Had to have that!  Does it seem like we are eating our way through this city??  Just wait...there will be more.
 I had researched "free" events and venues online...one was the botanical gardens in the Bellagio Hotel...
 once again, the Chinese theme...lovely!



 Ah, now here's something French that we found fascinating...
 that is a chocolate fountain to behold!  Ceiling to floor...dark, milk and white...we didn't taste, we just admired!

 Everyone we talked to before the trip recommended the Fremont Street Experience...
 well, it was patriotic, awe-inspiring, unique...the whole show, set to music, is projected on a canopy over the street!  Not to be missed!
 Here's a Vegas hot spot...I do love Ross stores!  This one was special!
 We attended the Beatles Love Cirque du Soleil show...  Reed had expected a concert by a "cover" band...he wasn't sure what it would be.  Surprise!  It was fantastic!  Love Love Love!
 While we were at Fremont Street, we happened upon a little eatery that had been there since 1938...the waitresses wore uniforms with aprons and little caps...charming place...Du-par's (see the plate)...according to their advertising, Esquire magazine had selected their pancakes as the BEST in the U.S.  Not one to ever miss an opportunity to eat pancakes, I had to try them.   Oh Yes Indeed!!!  They are the best pancakes I've ever had!  Seriously!
 Last, but not least, we ventured to The Gold Coast to find one of the 10 best Chinese restaurants in the U.S....Dallin had come across this information and insisted we find it and try it.  Well...it, too, was fantastic...very authentic...not Americanized at all.  I even dusted off my chopstick skills and enjoyed the experience thoroughly!

Girls' Basketball

 McKena and Brooklyn both played in the Caldwell Rec 5th grade league...McKena wore number 20, her Auntie Eden's old number, and Brooklyn wore 33, her daddy's old number.
 McKena's daddy coached her team...even though they were in the same league, they never played each other...I would have been cheering for both teams at once!  
 It actually got pretty intense out there, and up in the stands...I tried to stay really calm, but basketball is a very exciting game!  I may have tried to help the refs out with a few of their errant calls along the way...but it was lots of fun watching the girls progress, and be part of a team.

Nerf Wars Birthday Party

 Gather up lots of Nerf guns, ammo, set up a "war zone", make each boy an ammo pouch to wear on his belt,  design and print logo Tshirts, stand back and let the party begin!  Eden created a little boy's dream.
 The boys made "shrinky dink" key chain fobs, watched as they did their magic in the oven.
 Then, they finished designing and beading the rest of the key chains.
 Happy Birthday to you, Cache...have a cupcake (with fake Nerf bullets on top!)

Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland



We expected a reprieve from winter when February rolled around...huh uh!  This is what it looked like several mornings when I went for my walk...beautiful, right?  OK, now I'm done with winter!!