Vegas, baby!

Very early Wed morning, Joe, Ainsley and I headed to Las Vegas!

We flew out of Dallas in ridiculous hrs, but we chose this on purpose.  For Ainsley's first plane ride, I needed her to sleep most of the way.  I get so motion sick, I didn't know if I was going to be able to help her.  So we flew out of Dallas at 720am-we were there much earlier than that!

She did GREAT!  Slept the entire ride!  I took some dramamine (with my dr's okay) and the flight was actually good for me, too.

With the crazy time difference, we landed in Las Vegas a little after 8am...???  Threw me off!

But we had breakfast and used the potty and headed down to wait for the rest of our crew to arrive.

(on a side note: I am pregnant and my brain isn't always functioning properly.)  I always thought to myself that if I ever saw anyone famous (ANYONE) I would either not recognize them or act like a blubbering idiot.  But while I was trying to get all our stuff together and head to the bathroom, I heard a voice...

I turned around and saw TED DANSON!  (he does have an unmisktable voice)

I almost peed!  They were walking right in front of us...it was him and the guy who plays "Hodges" on CSI.  Of course, we were in Vegas...where CSI is!  It made my whole day! LOL

The picture is fuzzy...but it was the best I could do.  I really didn't want to interupt thier convo or turn into a babbling idiot! 

After my fun "celebrity sighting", we headed down to the baggage claim to wait for everyone else.  While we were waiting Ainsley decided to become a photographer and snap some pics.

She gave us "specific instructions" on what pictures needed to be taken...

Joe had to take one of me and her

I had to take one of her and Joe

She took one of the two of us

And then Joe had to snap one of the three of us!

(she knows what she wants!)

After everyone finally arrived, we couldn't check into our hotels yet, so we headed to the Fashion Show Mall.  We walked around for a while and grabbed something to eat...then we headed back to Treasure Island to check in and hit the pool.

It was EXTREMELY hot, but surprisingly, the pool was VERY COLD!  That didn't seem to bother Ainsley in the slightest!

The pool was really beautiful and had it not been so miserably hot, we probably would've stayed longer!

After that we headed back to Mammmy/DanDan's room to rest and change.

Ainsley (again) took advantage of there being a camera for her use.

They aren't the best pictures...but it's fun to see things from her view.

 

 



After we had dinner, Joe, Ainsley and I headed to Circus Circus and fell right to sleep!  We needed it!

GOOD MORNING VEGAS!

This man was passed out in our lobby!

The next day, Noah, Mammy, Buddy and I had to bowl in the morning.  So after breakfast we headed to the Gold Coast.  I was a little nervous because I am so much bigger than the last time I bowled.  But it went pretty well.

The lanes were good and we had a good time.

While we were bowling, Joe and DanDan took Ainsley to the Adventuredome in Circus Circus.

They played putt putt and played games to win prizes...but her favorite was the carousel!

She rode and rode and rode!

I think she said she rode all of the animals!

After we finished bowling, we met up and got Ainsley and headed to the outlet mall!  OH. MY. GAW! 

I could've spent a fortune there!  It was a really nice mall...with really nice stores.  :)

We had reservations at Margaritaville for dinner-so off we went!

There were some characters on stilts making balloon animals and Ainsley said she NEEDED one!

The nice pirate lady made her a dolphin!

She waited so patiently...

and Buddy got a "good" view, too!

Her dolphin.

(she told me the dolphin didn't want her to smile!)

After dinner we headed back to Treasure Island to watch the Pirate Show.  Along the way we saw some fun characters...Buzz, Woody and Spong Bob.  However, she wouldn't let us get NEAR them!

We also got to see the volcano light show at the Mirage.  It was hot even from across the street.

I wasn't sure if Ainsley would like the pirate show or not.  I assumed it was going to be loud-but I tried to stay really excited so she would be excited, too.

It was a little different than I expected.  Lot more singing and dancing-and it was loud.  She cried just a little, but we made it through!

After the show, we headed back to our hotel. Ainsley wanted to watch the acrobat show again...but fell asleep before we even got up there!

 

The next day we had to bowl again, but later in the afternoon.  So we headed to the Adventuredome again...and guess what we did??

THE CAROUSEL!

 

She got another bracelet and played and played.

We didn't bowl as well on the 2nd day...I took a little fall and Mammy didn't quite bowl up to par!

(which Noah will NEVER let her forget)

While we bowled, Ainsley and Joe checked out of our hotel and headed over to play with DanDan some more.

And again, can u guess what Ainsley did...she grabbed the camera!  (I think she may be a photographer someday)

We finished bowling just in time to get ready for Buddy's birthday dinner.  We all headed to an italian place called Battista's.  It's a little hole in the wall off the strip with authentic italian food and atmosphere. It reminds me of being in an old mobster movie!  Joe and I went the last time we were in Vegas-and I love it!  I just almost licked my plate clean!

And since it was Buddy's 50th bday, Tracy rounded us up a limo to cruise the strip in!

It was really fun!

Noah, Sandy and Ainsley

Tracy and Eva

Nana and Buddy

DanDan and Mammy

Miss Ainsley

Me and the Hub

After we cruised, we went to the Bellagio and looked around.  Tracy and Eva had a very nice suite at the Bellagio, so we took a grand tour!

Isn't this just the coolest chocolate fountain ever?!!?

We had to leave and head to the airport so we could come home.  We flew into Dallas, TX so we could take Ainsley to the American Girl store.  (also we could eat breakfast at Cafe Brazil!)

She skipped around the store...and I think we have the biggest bag there is!

We needed to get out of the car for awhile so we went to the Galleria and watched some ice skating.  Ainsley was VERY impressed.  I think next time I may remember to pack her some socks so she can give it a try.

We all had a really good time in Las Vegas. It was definitely a fun vacation for this little family.

Now for some rest...and a very busy month of August. 

Amelia will be here before we know it!