Thursday, July 10 - Vegas Day 2.

Once we all arrived in Vegas and got settled in, we were exhausted!!! I was signed up to help with preparing registration materials. This was a fun place to connect with others from 2 years ago and meet new people. I was also asked to help with the silent auction. Little did I know the work that would be!!! And the fun!!! Jetlag and Nyquil hit so I went to bed soon after the kids while S and GmaB checked out the slots! (She won $100 on penny slots!)

We stayed at the Riviera Hotel on the north end of the strip. It isn't known for being child friendly, but it was fine for us. We had connecting rooms so it was nice to have such a large space. The Riviera is one of the oldest on the strip and is showing it's age in areas.

The old Riviera Sign - there is a glitzier one on the front of the hotel.


The Hilton is near the Riviera and hosts Barry Manilow and the StarTrek experience - neither of which we saw.



A tired EQ on the monorail.


We took the monorail. to MGM and ate at the Rainforest Cafe. Nothing like a margarita at 1030am. The kids were scared of the storms and animals, but TA did enjoy sitting on his favorite animal!



New York New York, Vegas - we didn't have time to go inside.


Meeting Red outside M&Ms World This was 4 stories of stuff related to the candy coated chocolates...Of course we bought some!! I stocked up in the crispy mint m&m's that I LOVE!!!! The kids picked out their favorites as well.



At NOAH's opening session...such cuties everywhere!

July 9, 2008
We're heading to Vegas, Baby!!! EQ and S were on one flight and TA and C were on another. Grandma B met us in Vegas.


Silly Doodlebug!


Loving the Airport Train!


Here he is in Vegas! He looks so small...

DC NOAH Gathering, Sunday, July 6

We try to get together a few times a year. Time we had Carol join us. She is a clown and great face painter. Carol offered us her services for free and the kids had a blast! We also decorated t-shirts for NOAH's national conference later that week. The kids played, the adults chatted and we ended with the 'Watermelon Man' cutting open a juicy red watermelon!!!













and if you rub your hands on your face, this is the result...

I am more of a frozen drink or 'koolaid' drink kinda gal, but this struck me as funny!

July 4th - a little late...

Living on a military base on the 4th of July is a celebration in itself! We went to the area where there were bands and concessions. the kids enjoyed cotton candy and later ice cream (we ate bbq before heading out!) We even met up with some friends - one of them being one of EQ's favorite people - Peanut Butter - the children's pastor from church. I couldn't try to get any photos of fireworks because as soon as they started EQ jumped on my lap and covered her ears. She watched the show, but it was too loud for her. TA on the other hand loved all the booms and was saying, "Oooo, Ahhh, cool!"

Catching up...

TA's birthday was July 1. On June 28, we had 15 3-5 year olds at the local bowling alley. It was great! All I had to do was bring a cake and ice cream. We had 4 lanes...3 with bumpers and 2 with ramps. The kids just wandered and bowled as they wanted. On TA's 'real' birthday we went to Silver Diner to eat. It happened to also be kids nite and Miss Donna brought him a HUGE piece of chocolate cake! Enjoy the photos...

We have been in Vegas, baby! Since last Wednesday. My impressions of Vegas aka Sin City...

HOT!!!! You still sweat in a dry heat when it is 112!
Crowded - There are people everywhere...all the time
Overbuilt - the buildings are so tall and sprawling that you can't see lights down the strip
Overstimulating - to get anywhere you have to walk through a casino. It is noisy with flashing lights and smoky.
Overrated - That sums it up!

However, the conference was great!!! We made new friends and visited with old ones. The kids got to play and we did too. Scott and I went Cirque du Soleil's LOVE show - it was amazing!!!! I could easily go again.



Now I need to sign off and try to get some sleep...

(shhh...don't tell Mommy!! It's TA.)

I'm 5 today!!!! I am big. I'm taller than Mommy's tummy, the easel. I grew. I the birthday boy! That's all I gonna say.

EQ: Can I cook dinner?
S: NO.
EQ: Mommy, Daddy said no. I don't yike dat! (complete with frump!)

C: Where are we going on vacation:
TA & EQ: Vegas Baby!

TA: I don't want to go to sleep. It's boring.

(One of my favorites - wearing sloppy house clothes with hair just up out of my face)
TA: Mommy, you're beautiful. (it melts me every time!)

Where has the time gone? We have been spending evenings in the pool which is wonderful. Both kids are turning into water bugs. Even EQ will now get her face wet and TA can almost float! This weekend we went to PA for Father's day with S's mom and grandfather and a cousin's birthday. (J is 1 month older than TA) Yesterday we went to the pool at S's cousins place. When we returned home last night, we realized that both S and myself were a bit sunburned. EQ also has some spots on her arms where the sleeves of her suit rode up after applying sunblock. We felt awful!

Then TA said, "I'm just plain." Yep - he is plain vanilla. :-)

Happy Father's Day to all out there