Despite the protests of the cats and their attempts to become one with the luggage, the boys and I piled into our Griswold Family Wagon and hit the road last week.
It was Viva Viagra! LAS VEGAS! Argh, I hate that stupid commercial which makes it impossible for my brain to sing that song the right way!!!
We had Sport’s Boys bud in the back seat so that they could keep each other happy during the 5 hour drive. His parents caravaned with us. I was blessed with the sounds of pre-teen boys playing video games against each other – and reacting vocally to the games. Not in their indoor voices either. That was charming. Music Man kept the tunes rolling for me up front so the overall decibel level was kinda challenging! We managed to get their faces off the video screens as darkness descended and we approached the neon mecca. They were duly impressed with the sight of the strip, particularly the Luxor and it’s beam of light shooting up into the sky. A little after we arrived and checked in at New York New York, a few other families also drove in and we immediately converged in one room. One ever so kind and patient mom volunteered to take the kids to the hotel arcade while the rest of the adults sat in that room and drank 🙂 They returned a little over an hour later and she reported that the arcade turned them into “crack addicts” doing anything they could to win some prize tickets. Here they are with their loot:
Since their first games were not until Thursday evening, we were able to get up slowly and gather together to wander around Vegas. Here’s something weird – I’ve stayed at the MGM Grand twice in the last 5 years for a work conference and NEVER knew they had lions there!
See that roller coaster? That’s pretty much what the kids who arrived Wednesday night did all day Thursday when they were not playing their games. They all got wrist bands which allowed unlimited rides for 24 hours and ride, they did! Thursday and Friday nights we turned in fairly early because of the games. The field was out in Henderson about 20 mins away from the strip – seemed like a world away as it was surrounded by desert foothills and vast empty spaces.
This was the first time that MusicMan came along to a tournament to hang out. Of course, it was Vegas, right? His first chance to go since he turned 21. Plus, the girlfriend had just dumped him and he was ready to get out of the house and shake himself a bit. Well, I am very glad he did because everyone had fun getting to know him. He had a couple of guys to play around with at night, and the kids decided he was pretty awesome.
OK, enough writing – here’s more pictures!
Those last few are from the post game activities and celebration after the Big Game Saturday. Those of us who stayed walked the kids down the strip to watch the Bellagio fountains and then we wandered into Caesar’s Palace for dinner and some shopping at The Forum. Of course, after dinner the dads took the kids back to our hotel for more arcade and roller coaster fun while the moms did the shopping 🙂 Then we got the kids all settled into one room and we stayed downstairs and danced and sang until we were hoarse. Or, err.. 2am or so! Needless to say the drive home was loooon and we were dog tired:
Trees & Flowers & Birds! 
Good times! Great pics!!! 😉
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