Vegas

A few years back Jeremy and I decided to go see in vegas... CELINE DION, we saw this advertisement on tv that we could stay at a hotel for free if we went to this 2 hour presentation. We figured sure. So we went down and the first night was to see CELINE DION...she cancelled her show and I was sooo devastated because I really really wanted to see her perform. Well the next night was our presentation that we had to visit and in the end we were suckered into buying a timeshare called Tahiti Village. We are able to stay at our time share for free every other year on the even years, but we can go down at any time and stay we just have to pay the nightly rate.

This year for our vacation we decided to go down and stay to get away, spend some time as a family and have some fun.

Monday the beginning of our trip. I have to express that the kids did fairly well riding down. There were times where they were just exhausted from being in their car seats, but overall they did so well.

We stopped in Beaver so the kids could get out and run around, so we decided to get lunch and have break at McDonalds.

Jack eating his chicken nuggets, yum, yum!

Abi just happy to be out of her car seat

Jack and Dad having some crawling around fun

We then made a stop in St George and Mesquite to let them crawl around for a little bit then made the last and end treck to Vegas.

We arrived in vegas about 8:30 pm and I always remember as a kid when we would head into Vegas I loved coming around the last bend and all of the sudden the city with a thousand lights.

Abi had fallen asleep by then Jack was just admiring the view so we decided to get off at Sahara Ave and cruise the strip. We opened the windows and the sun roof and Jack just didn't know which way to look.

We made it to our timeshare Tahiti Village and got checked in. We headed to our room and decided to unwind.

Tuesday Abi decided to get up really early and so we all decided it was probably time to wake up. We got some what dressed and went across the parking lot to Denny's for some breakfast. The sky had turned over cast and it started to rain. We were bumbed that we might not be able to swim. After breakfast we raced back to the time share and bought some milk for Jack, we then noticed the signs on the pool doors that the pool was closed until further notice...bummer! So we headed back to our room, by this time it was time for the kids to take their nap. We all decided to take a nap and that is what we did. After naps were done we decided to look out the window and what did we see...Sun shine and people swimming in the lazy river.

So we got dressed and headed down to go swimming. We started in the lazy river. Here is a shot I found online at night

After going a round a few times Jack was getting cold so we thought it would be better to go over to the actual pool.

We weren't quite sure where to start, but soon enough we knew... The Beach!

That's right in Vegas there is a beach. Jack at first wasn't sure but then he didn't want to leave.

Abi on the other had loved every minute of it.

It is really cool, the beach is right in with the pool. We weren't sure if we were seeing what we thought we were seeing, but sure enough, you can plan in the dry or wet sand and then immediately walk into the pool.

Here is dad and the kids and see what I was saying the pool.

After a couple of hours at the pool we decided to head back to get ready to meet up with Shantae and Mike, however as we were getting organized here are the kids trying to get warm. Aren't they cute!

We met up with Shantae and Mike at a restaurant called Hash House A Go Go. The restaurant serves twisted farm food. Shantae and Mike told us that their food comes in big portions so we decided to share.

We got the grilled Swordfish on top of mash potatoes and a garden salad

Shantae and Mike got a Fried Tomatoes and I can't remember the name of their other dish

Fried Tomatoes

And their other dish and they were right - sharing was just enough.

Here we have Mike and gangsta Abi.

Thanks Mike and Shantae for coming and hanging out with us. We miss you guys!

Wednesday was about the same as Tuesday - except we decided to go hunt (drive) around for breakfast. In the end we got Einsteins breakfast sandwhiches and their little bagel rounds dipped in cream cheese - yuuuuumy! After breakfast and naps, swimming and second naps we decided to walk the strip.

We are ready to go. We parked at the MGM Grand and walked all the way down to Caesars Palace to eat at Serendipity. As we made our way to our destination on foot you never know what you will end up seeing. We passed this trinket souvenier shop and did a double take at this bubble blower...

Its a bubble butt. The arm lowers the bubble blower down into the bucket of suds then raises it to blow bubbles out of its bum. We thought that was hilarious and also thought about buying it for the Hone Bunko Christmas Party gift. However don't worry any one in the end we didn't buy it.

We were then stopped by the yellow M&M and got our picture taken. We finally made it to Serendipity at Ceasers - It funny that a year ago I came back from maternity leave with Jack and Lauren and I came and ate here at our little get away - that was a really fun trip - Thanks Lauren for going with me.

What a cute little family

Jeremy ordered their chicken alfredo

I got their Veggie Burger with Sweet Potato Fries - they were way good

Logan isn't that appetizing!

Thursday we did the same routine, went and found breakfast although we went to IHOP then went back for naps and then got ready and since it was colder we decided not to go swiming, so we got ready and headed to Mandalay Bay to see the Shark Reef Aquarium.

It was a little pricey however it was pretty neat. They had a golden crocodile, a dragon, lion fish, a tunnel to walk through as the aquarium swan over and beneath you, sting rays, horse shoe crabs, octapus, and then at the end the huge shark reef aquarium.

Here are the sting rays and horse shoe crabs.

The octopus

Here is a video of the one side of the aquarium.

From the Shark Reef Aquarium we started driving back to the timeshare and here were our precious kids...

Abigail zonked out

Jack just coolin'

The family at the end, we decided to go and get our picture taken by the famous Welcome to Vegas sign. We were amazed on how busy this attraction is. You pretty much have to wait in line and we saw so many bride and grooms getting their wedding pictures done there. So now every other year when we go down we decided to get our picture taken here as a tradition so we can look over the years and see how much we have changed.

In the end we had so much fun that in 2012 we plan on going again for our family tradition and I invite anyone who wants to join us.