Yesterday, after picking up k from school, I decided to take the kids to KBF.  It was a bit overcast, which was nice (no whining about the heat is always a good thing).  This was our first trip without D, but now that the kids are getting older, it is more manageable. 

It is so nice when the lines are short.  We never had to wait more than one “rotation” for any of the rides.  At this skateboard ride, the ride attendant was just waiting for people because no one was in line!

We were also able to ride the ferris wheel in Camp Snoopy for the first time.  It was not operating all of the other times we have visited.  The kids said it was their favorite ride of the day.  It fits three people, so it worked out. 

This ride also worked because k is tall enough to go by herself and n and I went in the next car.

We also watched the Calico Saloon show for the first time.  Tip: if you don’t like audience participation, I suggest you not sit at the table directly front and center of the stage.

Couldn’t resist this photo op.  I guess we’ll have to get one of the whole family someday.   

On Saturday I went to the baby shower for my friend at her cousin’s beautiful home in Claremont.  It was one of those homes that I associate with Pasadena—large front porches with stairs, lots of woodwork, etc.

The happy expectant parents.  I thought it was so cute that the husband is SO excited for their baby boy.

A lovely spread of food and cute diaper cake.  I didn’t take a picture of the sandwiches from Cheese Cave—Yum!

I sewed part of my gift—a diaper/wipe “clutch” with velcro closure.  Good for organizing within the diaper bag, or when the baby turns into a toddler, and you really only need a couple of diapers and wipes.  Pattern found here.

Cute cookie favor! 

It was fun to chat with old friends and meet new people.  Best of wishes on the arrival of baby Wong!  Thank you to D, who took k on a six mile bike ride (he ran) and went swimming with the kids in the afternoon. 

While D was out eating his fancy filet mignon at the VooDoo Lounge I was enjoying a chipotle chicken sandwich and cobb salad from Earl of Sandwich (Planet Hollywood).  I had the sandwich for lunch and saved the salad for dinner back in our room.  We still haven’t visited the EoS in Downtown Disney, but it was as good as I remembered. 

I brought a lot of stuff to work on/read.  It felt so good to have so much time to myself!  I also ended up watching a lot of the Boston Marathon coverage since there wasn’t anything else good to watch on t.v.  I was even able to start and complete our family portrait in cross-stitch!  I used patterns from Martha Stewart.

The last night we celebrated our nine year anniversary at Lotus of Siam. 

Kind of dive-y outside, but pretty nice inside.

We had spicy chicken wings, pad thai and red curry with beef.  Not the most authentic dishes to order, but we really liked the chicken and pad thai.  (Thai Nakorn has better beef curry).

Afterward we had dessert at Luv-It Frozen Custard. 

We shared a Western Sundae.  Again, kind of dive-y, but at least there was still daylight!

I think I wanted to order something with nuts just because we didn’t have to worry about kid-allergies.  Ha!

The convention that D went to for work was held at the Rio Hotel, so that is where we stayed.  It is off the Strip, which is both good and bad.  I took the shuttle during the day to the Strip, but it was not the most convenient (although the driver was very nice).  The rooms are all “suites”, which just means that there is a sitting area. 

It was way bigger than the studio I lived in for three years during law school.

I really appreciated the refrigerator.  The Rio keeps room prices down by charging for “extras”, such as wi-fi, the workout area, and in-room coffee.  D paid for wi-fi since he needed it for work, which was definitely nice to have. 

This was the view from our room of another tower.  It was unusually cool for part of our stay.  There was also a dust storm:

Cha-ching, cha-ching.  We did not play, but this is what the casino looks like.

The first night we ate at the Carnival World Buffet in the Rio.  We bought discount tickets in front of the Fashion Show Mall @ Tix4Tonight.  This was only one plate of several.  The amount of food is overwhelming.  D wasn’t into it, and started feeling queasy.  I picked out some fruity gelato for him, and he started to feel better.  He then proceeded to eat almost every flavor they had, no joke.

The pool area was SO LOUD on Sunday.  There was a DJ and it sounded like a major party was going on.  We tried to go on Monday, but it was closed due to the wind storm.  On Tuesday, we went for a quick dip during one of D’s breaks, even though it was overcast. 

One of the items D wanted to check off his travel list when we went to Vegas was the Hoover Dam.  I had been when I was young.  My parents like to tell the story of how I was “dying” because it was so hot.  Yes, it is true, I do not do well in hot temps.  Fortunately for us, the weather was not too hot the day we went. 

On our way to Vegas, we actually ran into really heavy fog, which was kind of scary.  This picture does not show the worst of it.  People were driving with their emergency blinkers on.  I was so relieved when we turned a corner and the sun suddenly appeared!

We ended up taking the Power Plant Tour (admission $11).  It started off with a short movie about the history of the dam.  It certainly is an engineering marvel. 

I found it interesting that the dam was built with tourists in mind.  Check out the fancy flooring.

Our tour guide was quite lively.  It’s nice when people at least appear to enjoy their job.

The Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial bridge, which was not there when I visited before, is impressive. 

Lake Mead, a manmade lake, has a “bathtub ring” which shows how high the water used to be.

Boulder City, where the Dam is located, had some interesting architecture.

I’m pretty sure the kids would not have appreciated the amazing feat that the Hoover Dam is, so I really don’t have any regrets about not bringing them.  On to Vegas…

Today D and I celebrate nine years of marriage.  It has been a journey, and I look forward to where it will take us in the future.  We just returned from a trip to Vegas (the kids stayed with my parents).  D was there for work, and I tagged along.  Tonight we had free “Samurai Surf & Turf” from Pandy X for dinner.  Although not fancy, not having to cook after coming home, picking up the kids, taking k to and from a Girl Scout field trip, grocery shopping and laundry, was a gift in itself!