Wednesday, September 21, 2011

A week in Vegas

Last week I went with Lee to Vegas. Lee went to a Conference and I explored Vegas and its amazing art, read three books, laid by the pool in the shade, and took a day trip to the West Rim of the Grand Canyon! When Lee got back from his meetings we would go eat delicious food and then come back to the room where Lee had to do the work that he was missing while being at the Conference. For me it was a relaxing, refreshing week! I enjoyed the free stuff in Vegas, the fall of Atlantis show at Caesar's Palace, the Bellagio fountains, and we did gamble... once. We were on our way to the airport and I said that we had to gamble once, so I took 4 pennies in my wallet and headed to the penny slots at the hotel. However, they only took dollar bills! We lost the first time and then won the second time. I quickly cashed out with the six dollars that I had won!

Vegas felt like a different world, when you were inside the hotels you felt like you were outside (the ceilings are painted like the sky). We stayed at the Palazzo where you could go on a gondola ride (for $64 for a private ride)!



I was amazed at all of the art in Vegas. The Bellagio hotel lobby adorned with a Chihuly glass ceiling was breathtaking.

the Bellagio

The Chihuly Gallery at CityCenter was amazing, just amazing. And free!

the ceiling of the Venetian hotel.


Great places that we ate at in Vegas.
Todd English's Olives in the Bellagio
Emeril's Table 10 in the Venetian
Mon Ami Gabi in Paris. We ate here for dinner and I came back for breakfast.
Hash House a Go Go or breakfast in the Imperial Palace.
Serendipity 3 outside Caesar's Palace. Best $10 frozen hot chocolate milk shake!
Wynn hotel buffet. Incredible dinner & okay breakfast. No blueberry muffins!

us at the Wynn

my dessert plate at the Wynn. marshmallows dipped in chocolate were the best!

My day trip to the West Rim of the Grand Canyon was such fun. I signed up in the hotel and definitely did not get a great deal but had a great time. Some people recommended calling 1800-2-canyon next time for a better deal. Next time... I was so glad to walk on the skywalk and had a wonderful time.


The skywalk was so scary (we were 4,000 feet above the canyon), but the view was so breathtaking. No cameras, cell phones, or bags were allowed because people had dropped them and I was so glad. For about 30 minutes I just looked and did not worry about trying to capture anything with my camera. God is amazing.

eagle point by the skywalk. Notice the eagle in the rock over my right shoulder.

The Grand Canyon is just awesome.

On our drive back to Vegas (about 2 1/2 hours) we stopped at Hoover dam.


I loved seeing the Hoover dam and also the incredible new Hoover bypass bridge.

I made a lot of great friends being by myself!

this sums up my week in Vegas.

Monday, September 5, 2011

#26 Thing to Do in Dallas with Kids

Attend the annual WRR Labor Day Picnic at Northpark mall outside in the CenterPark. We heard a Rhythm and Blues Band from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, 5 Second Rule, and the Dallas Wind Symphony. It was free, it was not 100 degrees, we ate outside with the wind blowing in our hair, and the kids ran around, twirled in circles, and had a great time. This was the 17th year for WRR to host this Labor Day concert, it was awesome!

It doesn't get much better than ballerinas (advertising the nutcracker ballet) telling you to go hear the concert!


Folks dancing!


My children running circles around us as we sat on our picnic blanket. No one cared! It was wonderful!


The kids had a blast!