You Say It's Your Birthday....

This was me when I found out how old I was turning:

Luckily I was at my favorite lunch spot on the strip: Mon Ami Gabi.

And I was with friends...

Aren't we a darling group??

They are my first Vegas family...plus one.

It's Teresa, Viv, Melinda, Me, Julie B, and Manda.

No, not Amanda.

Yes I am 35. I'm not really sure how it's supposed to feel...only that I feel 25.

I still play with my kids on the playground at Town Square.

My BFF that I have BFF'ed since the eighties came to hang out all week! Vivian has celebrated 23 birthdays with me. We were friends for every single one.

Even the years we were roomies in college and I wasn't her favorite person.

Love you VIV!!

We always check out the atrium at the Bellagio. They totally reused that stuff from last year, just rearranged it.

It's a recession Folks. And she took me to see O at the Bellagio

SO AMAZING!!

Although the contortionists below were slightly disturbing...

They could SIT on their HEADS!

Viv's favorite part were these guys who were suspended high above the stage on a tic-tac-toe-lookin board that flipped and rotated. Oh yeah, and it was raining on them.

My favorite part was the russian swings...they were flinging themselves off these swing things. Looked like so much fun! Luckily I had enough self control not to jump up from the 3rd row and fling myself off...

This girl was pretty amazing, I GUESS. Being that she hung from one foot 100 feet in the air and did crazy twisties with her body.

It was eerily similar to this picture taken when I got my first strike for the night at Sunset Station:

I almost look like I'm missing a leg...

Viv and I did soooooo much fun stuff on my birthday week that it has taken 3 days for me to recover. Even though I feel 25, I don't quite bounce back like I am.

She must really love me. I want to give her a public shout out. She is my sistah. You know who else loves her? George and Bella. Come back soon Viv! And thanks to everyone who made my birthday week awesome!!

What Recession?

If there is a decline of folks vacationing to Vegas,

thank goodness!

Last Monday we adventured down to the Strip for a fabulous staycation to the Luxor.

It was a MONDAY evening, people, and there was a Disneyland ride-type line just to check in. With every twist and turn of the line I thought, "What day is it?" and "Are they sure there is a recession?" and "I'm hungry."

Our fabulous view from the 27th floor.

Unfortunately that was just about the only fab thing about our room in the Luxor hotel and casino! I hate to say it, but hieroglyphics decals on veneer would be acceptable at the Hotel 6 Luxor. Not at the one on the famed Las Vegas Strip!

Georgie on an overused armchair...thank goodness for the portable DVD playah!

And the beds were sucky. Five inch mattresses and flimsy sea foam green spongy blankets. (do you know which ones I mean?)

My bed and room at the Best Western in Whistler blows this one out of the water!

But the hotel itself is pretty fantastic...during the late 90's many a weekend night was spent shakin' it at RA with the girls.

And there are big Egyptian statues everywhere.

Our trip was super fun, despite the sleepless nights. And we had so much fun doing Vegas-y things like squeezing through M&Ms world.

With ba-jillions of other travelers.

*You can't tell from her award-winning smile, but Lizzy has a raging case of swimmers ear. She was a trouper!

Emily appears to be posing for paparazzi while flying above Vegas...

And one last shot...Bella was tired of all the peeps by this time. And Bret had let George out of the stroller so he was running down the front of the MGM trying to catch him. We did lots of other fun things...with the millions of other vacationers in Vegas.

And we enjoyed each other.

Here I could insert a witty twist on the "What Happens in Vegas..." slogan but I won't.

I will just wrap-up our vacay with a picture of Bret and the kids squished into a photo booth. Thank goodness I took this picture because the one we paid $5 for was Lizzy's chin surrounded by little m&ms. Hilarious.

Bellagio....like Formaggio

So last night I took my girls down to the strip for a

Friday night of crazy Las Vegas fun.

Actually we just went to the Bellagio to see the atrium and the water show. I was trying to explain to them that Vegas is a very famous town. And most places don't have a 10 mile stretch of road filled with elaborate themed hotels. They never really got it. The Atrium was of course GORGEOUS!

Bella does not enjoy having her "picture made."

These two enjoy it a little too much :)

But the water show, which is my favorite thing, was

SPECTACULAR!

Even though there were a gazillion people.

***And BONUS!!***

There were a couple guys dressed like Batman and the Joker.

These were the best shots I could get.

They were more popular than the smut handlers!!

Complete with full make up and persona!

Scared the crap out of Bella.

I really wanted to get a picture with them,

but Bella burst into tears so no picture.

But all in all, a good night.

Lizzy says, "Awwwwww, Yeah!"

IT'S VEGAS BABY!