My aunt, uncle, and "baby" cousins came up to see us over the labor day weekend. It was great to see them again as it had been over a year. This visit was an awaking for me to realized my "baby" cousins were young ladies now: a High Schooler and College Student! When they left to go back to Kansas City we headed to my grandparents to say goodbye to Sam for the week. Sallie stayed at home and was taken care of by the neighbors.
On Labor Day, my parents and us jumped on a plane for a week in LAS VEGAS! This trip was a different Vegas trip then I was use to as we met up with several of our old friends: Dan & Danielle, Keith, Louis, and Shea & Lindsay. Our first night we met Shea and Lindsay at Margaritaville for dinner and went to Caesar's Palace where a tried on an $8000 runaway dress by Emilio Pucci, thanks to my dad! Not a bad way to start the Vegas trip, eh?!?
The first couple days, family was the main focus. We took my parents to Nellis AFB where we met up with Joel, Kelly, Louis, and Anna. Our timing couldn't have been more perfect as we got to be there when Joel pinned on Major. After the ceremony we went to the Thunderbird museum and were able to go into the hanger. We then went back to Joel and Kelly's house on base, had lunch, and spend many hours catching up with them.
The following morning (aka Kelly's birthday!) we met back up with Joel, Kelly, and the rugrats. This time without the folks but our dear friend Keith tagged along. We went to the aquarium in the Mandalay Bay. We went to lunch with the group in the hotel and then parted ways. The kids needed their naps and Joel & Kelly needed to pack for their trips.
Dan and Danielle met up with us and we started a walk down to the strip. We stopped in the M&M store and Coca-Cola store. Shea and Lindsay also met up with us at the Coca-Cola store. While we were there we go the International Coke Taste Testers. It was about 50/50 on good verses bad. Example: Guana "Sprite" vs. Ginger "Sprite". From there we walked down the strip that afternoon and early evening spending the time catching up since it had been 3 years or more since we had seen any of them.
We spent the next few days enjoying the weather and spending anytime available time when had with my folks and the friends. I pushed for Asian cuisine as much as I could as one goal for Vegas was sushi. There is two places which serve sushi here in Minot but it isn't good... And since I can't have it here, I want it all the time! Matt, Keith and I spent one night at NY NY. We went on the roller coaster and had some drinks in NY NY's downtown area just relaxing and talking the night away.
Matt's close friend Louis came out for the weekend and met up with us. Matt and I went to Cirque de Soleil Beatles Love. After the show we met up with Shea, Lindsay, Keith, and Louis at the Beatles Revolution Lounge for some drinks before heading over to Treasure Island for the outdoor show and NY NY to a bar called Nine Fine Irishmen and had a blast. There was live Irish music and the bar was mainly filled with Irish people on vacation. It was a nice getaway from the crazy Americans! The night was also our last night with half of the group. We said goodbye to Shea and Lindsay as they were leaving in the morning bright and early.
The following morning my parents booking a cabana at the Excalibur for the day so we got up early for breakfast with Keith before he headed out as well. From there we spent a few hours at the pool with the folks. Dan and Danielle swung by and we spent the afternoon walking the strip with them and we went to the Mandalay Bay pool where we saw Dave Chapelle! That night we headed to the Flamingo to see Brad Garrett's Comedy Show and had an unexpected surprise: Ray Romano! He was in town for his own show at the Mirage so for $50 dollars we got to see both guys! Ray would have cost over $150. After the show we went out to dinner and had a great night with Dan and Danielle before they headed out the next day. We were so glad that they were able to make it out to Vegas since they had never been before.
Our last few days in Vegas we spent with my parents and squeezed in as much as we could. We walked the strip to the Venetian where we did a gondola ride through "Venice."
That night we went to David Spade's show. My favorite skit was when he reenacted the housekeeping screen in Tommy Boy. However, this time a bit of it was changed since he is a single man so it ended with the housekeeper being welcomed in (The details aren't very age appropriate for some of our readers so if curiosity is getting the best of you... email me, ha).
We hit the slot machines in the Excalibur afterward only to be unlucky. I didn't even use my own money! Mom gave me a $5.
My folks did much better than we did coming out on top. Our last full day we went to the "world famous In and Out burger" next to the strip and got hamburgers Animal style. It was surprisingly good since Matt and I don't ever eat fast food we were afraid of "adverse effects". Our fast food is Subway. :)
The rest of the day we spent enjoying the strip. We joined up with our close friend, Nate who came in for business, later on that day and were able to have dinner and spend the evening with him and my folks. It was a nice low key, relaxing last day in Vegas.
When we got back to Iowa we were antsy to go back to our girls! Our last few days of leave were busy! We got pictures taken by our photographer Rick and spent a day with the grandparents.
After our long drive back to Minot we hut the ground running again it seemed. We had a dinner and game night with the McPhersons. It seemed like forever since we had played Hand and Foot! The last weekend of September we spent with the Moores. They came to base for the Fall Festival and Natalie and I continued the fall theme by making caramel apples that afternoon. The following day we went over to their house for a day of football. The last few days Matt was loaded with work so I spent a day with Katherine doing crafts and a night with the 42nd spouses at Barnes n Noble for cupcakes and coffee!
.mandy.
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