sin city

The kids are growing up fast and I've been too busy globe trotting to write it all down!  Actually, I've only been on one trip but it feels like more for some strange reason.  Getting away for 5 days was good for my soul. 

I recently joined Ryan on a business trip to Las Vegas and had the time of my life.  The highlight was not "the strip" or all the glam and lights but rather the outskirts of the city.  Nevada landscape is beautiful.  The deserts and mountains and shear grandeur of it all was truly breathtaking.  I love and miss the mountains so.  People who get to experience them regularly are very fortunate indeed.  

I decided not to tote my big camera around with me on this trip and since I'm still the only person on the planet without a proper phone, I have no pictures of my amazing week.  I planted the images in my  head mentally and know that I'll never forget it.  I also borrowed some images from the internet for your viewing pleasure.  

I was on my own for a large part of the week which was also part of the magic.  I haven't had so much time alone since becoming a mother almost 4 years ago!  I slept in after Ryan went to work and headed to the pool for a daily swim when they finally opened at 10 a.m….. where I was the only person around.  I discovered people don't go to Vegas to get up early and exercise, but I did.  Our hotel was right across the street from New York New York and the roller coaster attracted me instantly.  That was my first stop Monday morning.  So Much Fun.  I had butterflies.  

The view from our hotel  - New York New York Casino and roller coaster.  

Later that day when Ryan resurfaced from his laptop, we took a trip to the Hoover Dam.  That thing is big.  Super cool too.  Highly recommended by yours truly.  

Hoover Dam and the recently added highway bridge.
Ryan and I walked out to the middle of the bridge for an epic view.

Since I was with Ryan for this adventure, he had his iPhone and we got a few pictures of us.  (to be added soon). 

Friends of ours (and a colleague of Ryan's) moved to Vegas two years ago.  Troy isn't working at the moment so he was my tour guide when I wasn't entertaining myself in Sin City.  First stop Tuesday was a place called Red Rock Canyon.  Just 10 minutes outside of downtown and everything changes to wilderness.  We saw wild burros (or donkeys) and extremely beautiful terrain.  

Went for a hike in between mountains like this.  

These are the red rocks.  Gorgeous.  Very, very big! 

The next day we went to Mt. Charleston, a small-ish 70's style ski resort.  There were a few million dollar log homes thrown around, but mostly simple, old ski chalets.  From there we headed a bit further out into the desert and drove until we saw wild horses!  They walk in packs of about 10 - 15 and we saw several packs.  This was the highlight of my trip.  

Mount Charleston, Nevada.

One of the mansions mentioned earlier.  

Most of the homes looked like this.  

Like I said, none of these are my photos, but they could be.  This is exactly what I saw.  I was just bedazzled.  It was a gorgeous sunny day like this too.

Wild Horses.  

The horses I saw were walking, not running.  But they could have been.  

I almost forgot to mention the Cirque de Soleil show!  The entire group went to see Michael Jackson One.  It was the most amazing show I've ever seen.  Definitely the icing on the cake to end off an fabulous week away.

I'm not sure if it was the sun, the lights, the 'me' time I have been lacking, the horses, the mountains, or a combination of all of it, but I had a an amazing vacation.  I came home feeling completely satisfied.  And, I found the most amazing nachos in the world.  (Little did I know that Twin Peaks was a Hooters restaurant, but after an hour of walking the strip, starving, in search of a place I could eat lunch by myself and feel comfortable, I didn't notice the boobs until I actually sat down to order.  The boobs were big.  The nachos delicious.  And, the beer fantastic!!)  

There was a flip side to the awesomeness of the trip - our kids were home sick with a very tired and stressed out grandma.  Leo was the first to get sick and his fever spiked to 40 degrees for two days.  Ruby was next.  Bad timing is all I can say.  

Everyone is better and things are finally back to normal now, or at least as normal as they get around here.  

I want to move to Las Vegas.  No kidding.  And, after just getting whopped with 40 cm of snow on the 27th of March…. I really want to move to Las Vegas.

P.S.  A very BIG Thank you to Ryan for inviting me along on this trip and making it happen.  It was nice to spend time alone with you, too.   And finally, to Grandma - Sorry the kids got sick and didn't sleep and you didn't sleep and nobody could go outside and the stupid hospital was so crowded….. Thank you for taking such good care of my babies.  We all love you so much.  

-L

"taking care of Christmas!"

It's March Break and we're keeping busy.  Poor Leo has a gastrointestinal issue but it's under control.  The weather is chilly so doing things indoors is best anyway…. 

So far, we've been to the library, had a sleepover at Nana and Poppy's, been to the Y twice and took a long drive (both kids napped and I almost fell asleep myself). We've also been doing a lot of dancing.  I turned the radio channel on television yesterday.  "Galaxy Party" it was called.  During a very energetic game of musical chairs, I ran upstairs to get something… a snack probably.  When I came down, Ruby was dancing around with no shirt on singing "taking care of Christmas!"  The real version, Taking Care of Business by Bachman Turner Overdrive was playing in the background.  It was hysterical.  At that moment I was reminded of how innocent she is.  How young she still is.  I sometimes forget she's only three and a half.  I think she forgets too…. 

Leo's growing up as well.  He's talking.  I think he learns a new word or saying about every two days.  

He's not feeling well, like I mentioned, and when he's having pain he pats his stomach and says, "belly" with a sad voice.  Poor Leo.  I hope he's feeling better soon. 

Ryan and I are heading to Las Vegas on Sunday.  I'm quite excited to be going for the first (and likely last) time.  He'll be in a business workshop for 3 days while I find things to do on a very limited budget.    As long as the sun is out I'm happy.  A little break away from the routine is always welcome.  

There are no pictures of our March Break adventures yet, but stay tuned.  

… to be continued.