People

It is amazing to come into contact with so many different people. I mean we all do this on a regular day to day basis but this trip seemed so different for us that I couldn't help. I mean we are pretty used to the whole "are they twins"? question and in Las Vegas it was no different. The only time I didn't get that was at the conference as everybody knew we had twins and so nobody asked.

So here are some of my encounters with people on this trip. It starts with the taxi drivers. Some of them speak to you others just find out where you are going and you ride in silence. There are so many different taxi companies in Las Vegas. We found that one in particular asked us to buckle the boys for their safety. As they weren't in car seats. I made them in every taxi but some requested it before I even got in. Which I am thankful for. If you've ever ridden in a taxi in a big city - you know why!

While at the buffet in Mandalay Bay.....well let me first explain that their was a Harley Davidson dealership convention in this hotel, so biker dudes everywhere.....we were in line and 2 Harley couples were in front of us. The boys were um being boys and this couple asked "are they twins"...we said yes and they told us they are expecting twin grand babies. I said congrats! Then they said they were going to observe and not to say a word. We just laughed. Having twins is great - but! :)

My last encounter with "people" was at the airport. We experienced two different types. We were standing up waiting to board. On Southwest you board in 3 different groups - A,B,C. If your boarding pass isn't in the A group and you have kids 4 and under then you board after A and before B. So that was our case. So as we waited for A group to board there were these 2 older ladies that stood next to us. I was standing back about a footstep from Brett and the boys. This lady could do nothing but stare at the boys. First at Dylan then she would lean in to look at Cody. Then I just watched as her eyes stayed fixed on Cody. I was going to say something but didn't. I mean don't stare - it's so rude! Ask a question if you really want to know something. The worst thing for anybody to do is stare. UGH! Thankfully we ended our trip on a positive experience. After our plane landed and people got off (we were waiting to board this same plane), I had the boys in the bathroom. This guy got off and set his bags down by our stuff. After he returned from the rest room he sat down and enjoyed a quick sandwich and waited to board our plane again. He boarded before us. After we got in our seats the stewardess came back to us with a pack of gum and said "the gentlemen that sat next to you at the airport wanted to make sure the boys had a piece of gum for take off". I was so moved. That was soooo nice of him. I wondered how I could thank him but we didn't sit close. So as luck would have it - he had forgotten his wallet on the plane and was coming back on the plane to get it when we were getting off. So I got to say thank you in person. Brett and I talked and we realized this guy reminded us of Brett's Dad. About the same height, age, had clothes on like Jim would wear, this guy was probably a grandfather himself.

Fun on the Strip!

We went to the strip 2 nights. With the conference going until 5 every day and with the time change that meant it was 8 our time the boys were so tired. So we went Monday night for our first time. They tried to walk and take it all in. It was over whelming to them. Heck, it was to us our first time too. These hotels are like mini cities and walking through them isn't quick. So on Monday, we got dropped off at the Flamingo Hotel & Casino. We were quick to find the outside landscape and take in their beautiful fountains and then of course - flamingo's! Once we found our way to Las Vegas Blvd....we quickly walked up 3 casinos to Treasure Island. We waited not long for the Pirate show - and they LOVED it! We had to hold them each on our shoulders which probably ticked the people off behind us but oh well. We asked if they had a viewing area for kids and they said no. So on the shoulders they went. They loved every aspect. The girls on their ship - the guys come from behind the crowd on another pirate ship - they squabble and then the girls sink the guys ship (literally, it goes under water) and the guys swim to the girls ship. Now for the adults enjoyment - the eye candy is fantastic! The girls are all beautiful and in bikini's and the guys are super buff, tan and (gulp) you get the picture! After the show we found our way to the gift shop where the boys got to spend their money and the whole taxi ride home they talked about the show. Once we got back to the hotel it was all pirates!

We went back to the strip on Wednesday night. This time we went straight to Mandalay Bay to see the Shark Reef. Dylan loves sharks - he was a shark for Halloween, he has shark swim shorts and towel, he loves shark week on Discovery channel (which starts Sunday). We tried so hard to show him a shark last year in Niagara Falls but the huge exhibit they spoke of - was um very small. One nice thing was 4 and under were free. We were given what looked like a tv remote and as you came upon the exhibits you punched in the number and it was like a little guided tour. So we saw a yellow alligator - that was cool. Some other fish - then we walked through the tunnel. The first tunnel was filled with smaller sharks and other fish. Then we came into a viewing area and we saw some jellyfish (that was cool as the tank was full of them), a petting area where you could touch a sting ray. So I did - the men of my family were all to chicken! What a cool feeling that was - they are so slimy feeling. Then we got to the next viewing area. It looked like a pirate ship had been sunk and at the front of the ship was nothing but glass and all of these much larger sharks, stingrays, saw sharks, a huge (and I mean huge) turtle. The sharks swam in front of us - and above us. It was awesome! Then we went back into another tunnel (same tank) and they swam around. The boys loved it! We loved it! Worth every penny. We got some good pictures and then of course they take professional pictures of you - and we got those too. I'll have to scan them.

After the shark exhibit we went and ate at a buffet. Las Vegas is known for their fantastic buffets and this one wasn't any different. The food was great and you could get just about anything. It was a little pricey - $26.99 an adult - luckily 4 and under was free. So we did luck out with their age. Glad we did it. We ended up getting a really friendly waiter - his name was Tom - and he was super funny. The boys had a favorite drink for the entire trip (chocolate milk) and he brought them 2 right from the start. Cody found his favorite - pizza, and Dylan enjoyed the meatballs - and then they both got a huge chocolate ice cream cone.

So that was our strip experience. If we had had an entire day to just do the strip it would of been better. We wanted to take them to the Mirage but the volcano was under reconstruction and closed down. So that will have to be for another time. The time change was tough and they were tired early. Next time we'll have to do circus circus but most of the rides are for older kids.

More to come later.............

We are Home!

We are home. Got home later this afternoon. We were all super excited to see Tyler. He has been a little love bug all day. I missed him so much! He had a really fun week with my Mom.

So much to share about Vegas! We had a great time - a couple stressful moments - but for the most part a wonderful time!

I have a ton to share! Lots of pictures! I am going to try and break it up though as I could write a book and I am super tired. The time change was hard to adjust to!

This is it....

My last night on the PC. I work all day tomorrow, will get on the Internet right at 5:10 pm tomorrow and print our boarding passes, come home get my gang and off to Cuba we go. We fly out on Saturday at 5:10 pm - landing in Las Vegas at about 7:30.

I am pretty much all packed. The boys have more than enough stuff. I probably took way to much. The middle bedroom is filled with suitcases. I gathered the boys backpacks and filled those with goodies. Just have to get a couple more snacks tomorrow and we'll be set.

We got the conference lay out today. I am so excited as we are at a new venue this year - the place looks really beautiful, good size rooms, pools, etc. I can not wait to see all our old friends and meet new ones this year. This will be an amazing opportunity for Cody and Dylan. Even though they are 4, this will open their eyes that the world just isn't filled with "beautiful" people. That there are some that look different. Cody looks different. I want my boys to know that the world "beautiful" has many meanings to it and it's not what is on the outside that counts. However - all of these kids are beautiful plus they have an amazing spirit and personality!

So I am enjoying my quite night as I know the next few won't be so quite. Not to mention I will miss Tyler to pieces. It's already hard to think I'm leaving him behind. He will have much fun with my Mom but a part of me still feels bad for leaving him.

So for the next week - be thinking of us in sunny, hot, very hot, Las Vegas! I will have lots to share and many pictures when we return!!!!

My K9 Nephew

As many of you know my brother is a K9 officer. We all waited for the day that Kevin brought Tacko home. He was instantly accepted by the other dog members of our family (and human members too). Kristie sent us a link to the PD's newsletter and they had a section titled "Getting to know your K9's". There are 5 of them on the force. Here is Tacko's bio!

Birthday: August 28, 2001
Birth place: Czech Republic
Handler: My brother
Time with PD: 3 years
Certification: Narcotics/Patrol
Hobbies: Swimming, resting in
puddles, lusting for plastic
bottles, being affectionate and
brightening up the Officers,
playing with little sister Feebe
Interesting Fact: Tacko earned
2 International Schutzhund Ring
Titles for his suitability to work

These dogs hold a pretty special place in my heart. They don't get the same life as our "pet" dogs do. Tacko has a job. He goes to work and sometimes works longer hours than humans. He's trained to come into contact with criminals and most importantly he is trained to protect my brother. Officers have partners - Tacko is Kevin's! The bond they share is one you would share with your child.

So next time you see a patrol car marked "K9" stop for a second and remember these dogs help save lives too.

Counting down...

As the ticker to the right says - 3 days till we fly. I did a lot more packing tonight. Most all the boys stuff is done. Their closet and drawers are about empty. Just left the "play" clothes for the next couple of days. Couple last minute stuff for their suitcases and we are good to go. Then I started on mine. I have no idea what I am wearing when. Basically packing everything. I do have my outfit for the dinner so that is good. Brett has to start his. I do think though its going to be so much easier checking our luggage than carrying on. Just carrying on a small bag. My mind is whirling and I have lists all over the place.

So last night I called Southwest to ask a couple questions. I know from our past trips that the only thing we need to board the plane is our boarding passes and ID. Well Cody and Dylan don't have ID's so I was curious if I needed them. Turns out I don't. But the anal me will take their birth certificates anyway just to be safe. I spoke to the nicest agent ever. She told me to "bring the store" meaning all the snacks I wanted. So I got little packs of crackers, chips, gold fish tonight. Will pick up a few more things tomorrow. I also got on the TSA website to see what advice they had for traveling with kids. As most of these agents have no personality and small talk at security is really frowned upon. So.......the website just said to talk with the kids about what they will encounter, metal detector, their bag going on the x-ray machine, etc. Then is said "tell them that saying 'I have a bomb' is a serious matter and even out of the mouths of kids will be taken seriously". Which I understand really - but there is no way in heck I am putting that thought into my 4 year old heads. My luck - we would get up there and one of them would say "hey mom is there a bomb in my bag". Then we would never make the flight.

Packing

I started the grueling task of packing tonight. I will most likely pack everything but the kitchen sink. I'm not so much worried about our stuff but I am about the boys. I just want to make sure I have enough outfits packed in case they go through 2 a day. Which they probably won't as I see the swim suit on for a while and anytime in the hotel they will probably be in their undies but with not having a washer and dryer handy......I hope we make it. Plus I have to remember that we actually have to carry (or pull) these suit cases through the airports. I am also hoping I have enough stuff to keep the boys busy for the ride. I've gotten a couple small surprises to pull out in flight, we are taking the portable DVD player so that should help. Not to mention I am really hoping they sleep. Especially going to Vegas as we land at 7:30 Vegas time, 10:30 our time.

Let's just say this trip is going to be an experience.

Not to mention on my plate besides this trip is our Lucky Smiles family picnic. I feel like I am behind the 8 ball on this one. So much more work planning a picnic for lots of people. I really wanted invites out in the mail before we go but tomorrow is Wednesday and that doesn't look like it's happening. I'm hoping though because we already sent the save the date cards that if the invites go out the last week of July then we should still be fine. That is probably going to have to be my next goal.

A short little funny: I am a girl - I'll admit it. My dad calls and wants me to take measurements of our cradle as he is starting to build baby Flower a cradle. So I head to our attic and it's a 100 degrees up there. He is asking me all sorts of measurements and I suck at that. I just hope the cradle doesn't turn out big enough for a giant! ha,ha.....

Oh and another funny - the boys wanted to know if I had a pee-pee? Um.....how do you explain that. Tyler asked if it was "cut off". No not exactly. I just told em I pee sitting down. Seemed to keep them quite for a while. Where is their Dad when I need him!