Vegas, Baby!

I am sorry, again for the dry spell. Please forgive. I have been busy - you know taking care of the kids, helping with homework, Christmas shopping, taking Reagan to the doctor, going to Vegas, baking Christmas goodies, reading, running on the treadmill. Huh?! VEGAS? Yes, I splurged and mooched off yet another good friend. Sallie (Hunter and Brantley's mom)mentioned that she was going to Vegas on business about a week or so before the trip and casually asked me if I wanted to go. At first I said, "No, don't be silly." Then I checked into using my credit card points to get airline tickets and I had plenty. So lined up Granny to keep the kids and I was set to go!

I arrived in Vegas Thursday afternoon, and the trip did not start off well. My luggage was lost and the shuttle was late, but once I got to the Las Vegas Hilton to meet up with Sallie, things started looking up. We met up with her colleagues for dinner at a fabulous Italian restaurant (Trevi) at the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace. Oh my, was the food good in Las Vegas. Everywhere we ate was delicious. On Friday I took a tour bus to the Hoover Dam. Amazing! Of course, I couldn't help but think of Dustin the entire trip. I think he would be proud of me for going on the trip in the first place, but I would have loved to have had him there to say "Wow" to over and over again. Friday night, Sallie and I went to see Stomp at Planet Hollywood Hotel. We ate in the restaurant there - Planet Dailies. Oh my! Some of the best crab cakes and garlic mashed potatoes ever to touch my tongue! Then on Saturday, I took a long siesta - I slept in and then went shopping for souvenirs. Around 12:30, I met up with Sallie and we ate lunch in the Hilton. Tortilla soup and a greek salad - YUM! Next it was off to see Ka (Cirque du Soleil) at the MGM Hotel. Sallie had "connections" and we ended up with the best seats in the house for FREE (a $165 value)! Oh my, it was unbelievable. If you ever have the opportunity to see a Cirque du Soleil performance, go! Riley and Reagan would have loved (most) of it! After the show we went to Emeril's restaurant. Bam! It was good too! By this time, I was exhausted, so we dragged ourselves back to the hotel to get packed up and ready for our 6 am shuttle to the airport the next morning. Flights were good, but my connection in Atlanta was delayed, but I met two very nice ladies and it made the time go by quickly. It is so good to be back home with the kiddos. I missed them so much, but it was a nice little getaway weekend. Sallie and I did not once have to say any of the following:

• turn around
• take a bite
• leave your brother/ sister alone
• let me cut that up for you
• sit down
• calm down
• be quiet
• quit playing with your food

..... and it was lovely. We had grown up conversations, but I must admit, most of them involved something to do with our kids and hubbies.

Here are some photos from our adventures.

Sallie will be much better at telling you which hotel what was in. I put my brain in neutral and let her lead me around. I think these were at the Bellagio. The reindeer are covered with pecans! The trees at the bottom are made out of flowers. It was a beautiful display.

The amazing fountains. I could have watched them much longer, but it was cold!

Dam!

They are building a bridge to relieve traffic over the dam. The tour guide said they have stopped construction for now because they can't figure out how to build the rest of it. The wind keeps breaking the cranes! I would not want that job. It was a beautiful sight, though!

Sallie and I in the lobby Sunday morning at 6 am. Notice the Christmas tree with the slot machines in the background! Thanks so much, Sallie for the wonderful trip and thanks to my mom and Holly for watching the kids!

Christmas Card Disclaimer:



I will not be sending out a Christmas card, but I will be sending out a Happy New Year card once we get back from Disney(beginning of January). I think mom is doing the same, so don't be alarmed when the 25th rolls around and you haven't gotten a card. Expect it around mid January and forgive me. I wanted to do something different and I have put most of my pics on the blog, so I wanted a new picture... blah, blah, blah... there are my excuses, I mean reasons.