After planning our trip out to Utah Ray's mom mentioned that it was her parent's 65th wedding anniversary on January second. 65 years is pretty big so I wanted to make sure Ray could get down there so we added on a few days and a couple of stops to our trip.
We drove from Park City into Las Vegas. It was a long day of driving and the kids were a bit fussy when we got there. In hind sight I should not have pushed to get there for dinner. We should have stopped and had dinner before because we got there and had some pretty cranky kids and some hungry adults. It seemed to take forever to park and get checked in. Then we had to take all of our stuff up to our rooms before trying to find a place to eat. After checking out several options and making a decision Joe threw a fit and I lost it a bit (I may have been one of those hungry adults...just maybe). I took all the kids back up to the room and told Ray to bring us food. Luckily we had Ray's parents with us because his mom was able to help me take the kids up while his dad helped with the food.
Once everyone was fed and happy we tried to figure out sleeping arrangements. We thought the sofa in the room would be a pull out bed for the kids but it wasn't Luckily the are young enough to not mind the floor. We took the comforter off of our bed and laid it out on the ground and told them it was like camping. I think traveling with kids has taught me to be way more flexible than I used to be. No bed for the kids....no problem...just put them on the floor. They had a great time snuggling together and watching a little show before falling asleep.
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| One of the sweetest sights for a mamma is all of her kids sleeping! |
The next day we had planned to stay in Vegas and do some sight seeing. We got up and had some breakfast at the little cafe. Lilly happily scarfed down and entire adult egg breakfast. I am a little afraid of what is going to happen when they are older. Our plan for the day was to go to the Aquarium at Mandalay Bay, walk to the MGM Grand to have lunch at the rainforest cafe, then stop by the M&M store. If the kids were good we planning on bringing them back through the Exacalibur so they could look around the kids area. Let me tell you our plans were way to big for four little kids that have been traveling for over a week already. We ended up having to make some adjustments.
We did go to the aquarium but we got there an hour before it opens. I know that most people don't have as many rambunctious kids as I do but most parents know and hour of time with nothing to do can be a killer of all things fun. Luckily the aquarium is right near the convention halls and they were absolutely deserted. So we held some races and let the kids run up and down this huge hallway. I was nervous the whole time about someone coming and telling us to calm our kids down or get out of there but Ray just laughed at me like he normally does. I can't help it I am just a worrier. So we let them run.....and run.... and run. They were pretty tired after that but they were excited to go see the Sharks.
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| Doesn't everyone run races in a Las Vegas Hotel convention center? |
While we were waiting in line they started complaining about being tired but once we got into the exhibits they forgot all about it. They loved looking at all the tanks and the different animals. They are so interested in learning new things at this age. Nick was interested in the piranha exhibit but I didn't really want to get into the details of how they shred all meat from the bones within seconds. We also tried to pet the sting rays but I am not sure if any of the kids were actually able to reach in and touch them. Joe kept trying but he would jerk his hand away as soon as they came near him. I am pretty sure Lilly just wanted to jump in with them. That little one thinks she is a little fish.
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| I try to remember to take some pictures of all of us. Someday I know they will appreciate these family pictures. |
At the end of our Aquarium adventure it was clear that we were not going to be able to continue with the day without going back to the room for some lunch and maybe a little rest. I didn't know what we were going to be able to accomplish the rest of the day because several of the kids were just lost in fit land. So we went back to the room and Ray brought us some lunch. Traveling and staying in hotels can be so hard because sometimes I just need time to let my kids be fussy without being in public. After lunch we watched some TV on our lap top and tried to get the kids to relax a bit.
After and hour or two we decided we could venture out again to try and do some of the other things on our list. The kids really wanted to go see the big M&M store. We only had one umbrella stroller for Lilly which means the boys had to walk. Everything in Vegas ends up being farther than I think it is. In my head I think "oh it's only two or three hotels away." but that ends up being a mile. Luckily we made it with minimal fits about being tired of walking. They had a reason to shape up because they had been promised some M&M's from the store if they had good behavior. I know its kind of bribery but by that point I was desperate.
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| So excited about the giant M&M wall |
They were so excited when we got there and saw the giant wall of candy. They could hardly wait to get their bags. Last time we were here they couldn't reach the levers so we had to help them. This time they could do it all by themselves which resulted in some very full bags and a very large bill for us. Unfortunately for Lilly she didn't make it all the way to the store. She fell asleep in the stroller so I grabbed a small bag of pink and purple M&M's just for her.
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| Poor Lilly! |
Initially we thought we would stop in the MGM Grand and see the lions and have dinner but apparently those lions haven't been there for years....oops. So we were there at 3 in the afternoon with nothing else to do and we told the kids we could eat at the Rain Forest Cafe. So we decided to have appetizers and fun drinks. Little did I know that was going to add up fast and we should have just had a meal. The kids had a great time though. They each got a smoothie with a light up glass so that was very thrilling for them. Of course we were able to have a little drink as well. A mojito was just what I needed to relax after the amount of fussing we had that day.
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| Hanging out at the bar with Grandpa. The kids loved the animal bum chairs. |
After that we headed back to the hotel without looking at Excalibur. The kids were so tired we ended up all having to carry someone. By the time I got back to the hotel my arms were burning and numb at the same time. Ray's parents had said we could take a little time to ourselves and they would watch the kids in the room. So we ordered Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 for the kids and headed out for a few hours of time to ourselves. It is amazing how nice it can be to get away just for a few hours. The stress of traveling and holidays and driving can really start to build up. It was great to have a few hours to ourselves before we started the next leg of our trip
One thing Ray and I have learned from our travels is that in different cities our family is viewed differently. Having a big family, especially with the boys all being the same age is not the norm. I am aware of that. I am used to stares and comments. In LA people are always amazed and impressed that we handle it all so easily (I think we come off that way even though we feel like we are just keeping our heads above water sometimes). In Utah no one even bats and eye at our large family. In Vegas people look at us like we are completely nuts, or like we have the plague or something. A year and a half ago we stopped in Vegas on our way home again but it was summer so we had all the kids at the pool trying to tire them out so they would sleep good and we got so many weird looks. We just brush it off. Our family is big and loud and they can be fussy and cranky but they are great kids, even in Vegas!
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| My loves! |
The next day we got up and started on our journey to Arizona.
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