My parents were leaving for their America trip and so we had a family lunch after spending the morning with the new Mr and Mrs W. We decided to try a different cafe in Encore but it was crappy compared to Terrace Point Cafe so never going back there again!
So they set off with my sister to explore the Venetian and Palazzo and we went down to Luxor to see Titanic the Experience exhibition. Now I admit I was rather reluctant to do so because I thought it would be crap (and the $30 entry fee didn't help) but it was actually really well done. They had walk thrus which were replicas of the 3rd class cabins and also 1st class ones as well as the decks and even a reproduction of the grand staircase like you see in the movie. So many recovered belongings too. It really was like a first class hotel on a boat for first class passengers.
Took some photos of Excalibur and New York New York too. Interesting themes. Then a quick stop at the M&M store and got some chocolate for Erika and a Tshirt for Julian. Then back to the hotel for an early night because I booked our Grand Canyon Helicopter tour for 7am with a 6am pickup!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Las Vegas Day 6 - Wedding day
Today was my sister's big day! In the morning hubby and I decided to go out to the Flamingo and see the flamingos which were at least free. There were also some ducks and turtles there too. It was quite warm that day as well, it was going to be 32-35 degrees Celsius so it was pretty damn warm.
After that we rushed back and I had my hair done and make up done which I thought looked great. The Hair artist, Coco, managed to put my hair up and everyone who walked past said how great it looked. Unfortunately I don't think i took a photo of it from the back so I can't show people how it was done. Then I had make up done by a make-up artist Stephanie who put so much eyeliner in that I was crying from not blinking. And she made me wear full false eyelashes too. I think next time I'll go for the half ones, or at least insist on them. She did a great job, nobody could recognise me and I did get a number of comments, some good some not so good...
"And are you the bride's mother?" - the photographer
"Wow, I didn't recognise you! You were walking down the aisle and I thought I thought J was supposed to be the bridesmaid, who the hell is that." - Amanda, one of my sister's friends.
"And now the second most beautiful lady in the room, may I present J, the bride's sister." - Mike, the best man (though that's not a genuine comment on my looks I think since that's the correct thing to say.
And my poor silk dress got lots of children's paw prints on it as soon as the ceremony was over.
After that we rushed back and I had my hair done and make up done which I thought looked great. The Hair artist, Coco, managed to put my hair up and everyone who walked past said how great it looked. Unfortunately I don't think i took a photo of it from the back so I can't show people how it was done. Then I had make up done by a make-up artist Stephanie who put so much eyeliner in that I was crying from not blinking. And she made me wear full false eyelashes too. I think next time I'll go for the half ones, or at least insist on them. She did a great job, nobody could recognise me and I did get a number of comments, some good some not so good...
"And are you the bride's mother?" - the photographer
"Wow, I didn't recognise you! You were walking down the aisle and I thought I thought J was supposed to be the bridesmaid, who the hell is that." - Amanda, one of my sister's friends.
"And now the second most beautiful lady in the room, may I present J, the bride's sister." - Mike, the best man (though that's not a genuine comment on my looks I think since that's the correct thing to say.
And my poor silk dress got lots of children's paw prints on it as soon as the ceremony was over.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Las Vegas Day 5 - Chinese banquet with the in-laws
I had a bit of a sleep in after my night out, and hubby and kids and grandparents went down to the Mandalay Bay hotel to see Shark Reef. It looks like they had a lot of fun. There was a huge octopus there too!
I spent the morning lazing around with my sister then we had the wedding rehearsal at 2pm.
It was so formal! There is a special way for my sister's fiance to take her hand and tuck into his arm, we have assigned positions and there is a special way for him to take her hrand for putting the ring on as well! It looked rather awkward, it's like we're rehearsing for a play when it's only just a wedding! I think I like it when it's all natural and not rehearsed... geez I hope the kids don't play up during the ceremony.
My cousin and her partner and her daughter and her partner came to see the kids after that, and we did some socialising.
That evening we had the chinese banquet in Chinatown at Harbor Palace (Sorry for the american spelling but that's how it's spelt here!). We had a 10 course banquet which unfortunately came out all at the same time! So that wasn't very good in my opinion.
We had Suckling pork, Abalone, Peking Duck, Crab meat, Sizzling Beef, Abalone, Prawns, Lobster, Scallops, Fried rice. We had quite a bit of leftovers too! But there was no way me or my sister were going to eat anymore, we had dresses to fit into!
I spent the morning lazing around with my sister then we had the wedding rehearsal at 2pm.
It was so formal! There is a special way for my sister's fiance to take her hand and tuck into his arm, we have assigned positions and there is a special way for him to take her hrand for putting the ring on as well! It looked rather awkward, it's like we're rehearsing for a play when it's only just a wedding! I think I like it when it's all natural and not rehearsed... geez I hope the kids don't play up during the ceremony.
My cousin and her partner and her daughter and her partner came to see the kids after that, and we did some socialising.
That evening we had the chinese banquet in Chinatown at Harbor Palace (Sorry for the american spelling but that's how it's spelt here!). We had a 10 course banquet which unfortunately came out all at the same time! So that wasn't very good in my opinion.
We had Suckling pork, Abalone, Peking Duck, Crab meat, Sizzling Beef, Abalone, Prawns, Lobster, Scallops, Fried rice. We had quite a bit of leftovers too! But there was no way me or my sister were going to eat anymore, we had dresses to fit into!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Las Vegas Day 4 - Hen's night
The morning started off with a bit of drama! Erika slept with her grandparents so we had a reasonable night's sleep. The drama was with Julian...
My parents are in the adjoining room which has a connecting door. So we had that door open so we could traverse both rooms easily. There is a door for each room so essentially it's 2 one way doors. So you can't open their door from our side and vice versa.
While we were in my parent's room Julian wandered back into our room and shut the door. And neither of us had our card key on us so we had to contact security to come and open the door. It took a good 8-10 minutes for them to arrive where I was listening to Julian dropping all manner of things on the floor and hoping to high heaven that he didn't put things into the toilet - like cameras, wallets, hair dryers etc. Security unlocked the door to open it and we found that it was bolted from the inside - hubby likes to bolt the door at night. So then security had to go find a tool with which to open the door. Julian by that time had come to the door and then got upset when the door didn't open so he was wailing at the door and refused to step away from the door. Eventually we got the door open and my son was reunited with the family after his little half hour ordeal.
We had Italian for lunch and I did some shopping at Victoria's secret to get some undies for my sister that we could play with on Hen's night (was going to get everyone to write on the undies) and some bras for myself and then we made a bust of Julian which doesn't really look like him I think. It's cute though. Then it was back to the hotel so I could go and get ready to go out. The girls had a great time at the Pole dancing stripper class and unfortunately they didn't take any pictures (or weren't allowed).
We headed to Nobu for dinner and had a great dinner, which wasn't too pricey either (it was $110 a head with 8 dishes, cocktails, and dessert as well, and tip was included in that). The worst part was that I don't know what half the dishes were - I know a couple of the dishes, but the pictures at least capture the memory of what we ate. There were 8 girls there altogether. I had 2 lychee martinis - very nice.
Then we went back to Wynn so we could go to Surrender nightclub which was packed. It seems all these hotel night clubs are always packed! With huge queues! We had a table prebooked so that cool. We had a little room to ourselves and we had to have a minimum $100 per person spend so we got 3 bottles of vodka and some champagne too. I had 3 or 4 glasses of champagne and 3 or 4 glasses of vodka/orange as well and 1 cocktail. I don't think I've been intoxicated for a long time. Everyone was much looser after all the alcohol and it was easier to talk to people after that, and find out more about them.
We all left around 4am and I put some money on some tables and lost it (I didn't spend all I was going to spend though) and then I went to bed. Fortunately woke up in the morning without a hangover! (Though I did vomit once at the club - after I'd had 2 successive champagnes very quickly I was feeling rather off - went to the bathroom and threw up a tiny bit and surprisingly felt lots better and then I went and had another vodka/orange and a cocktail)
My parents are in the adjoining room which has a connecting door. So we had that door open so we could traverse both rooms easily. There is a door for each room so essentially it's 2 one way doors. So you can't open their door from our side and vice versa.
While we were in my parent's room Julian wandered back into our room and shut the door. And neither of us had our card key on us so we had to contact security to come and open the door. It took a good 8-10 minutes for them to arrive where I was listening to Julian dropping all manner of things on the floor and hoping to high heaven that he didn't put things into the toilet - like cameras, wallets, hair dryers etc. Security unlocked the door to open it and we found that it was bolted from the inside - hubby likes to bolt the door at night. So then security had to go find a tool with which to open the door. Julian by that time had come to the door and then got upset when the door didn't open so he was wailing at the door and refused to step away from the door. Eventually we got the door open and my son was reunited with the family after his little half hour ordeal.
We had Italian for lunch and I did some shopping at Victoria's secret to get some undies for my sister that we could play with on Hen's night (was going to get everyone to write on the undies) and some bras for myself and then we made a bust of Julian which doesn't really look like him I think. It's cute though. Then it was back to the hotel so I could go and get ready to go out. The girls had a great time at the Pole dancing stripper class and unfortunately they didn't take any pictures (or weren't allowed).
We headed to Nobu for dinner and had a great dinner, which wasn't too pricey either (it was $110 a head with 8 dishes, cocktails, and dessert as well, and tip was included in that). The worst part was that I don't know what half the dishes were - I know a couple of the dishes, but the pictures at least capture the memory of what we ate. There were 8 girls there altogether. I had 2 lychee martinis - very nice.
Then we went back to Wynn so we could go to Surrender nightclub which was packed. It seems all these hotel night clubs are always packed! With huge queues! We had a table prebooked so that cool. We had a little room to ourselves and we had to have a minimum $100 per person spend so we got 3 bottles of vodka and some champagne too. I had 3 or 4 glasses of champagne and 3 or 4 glasses of vodka/orange as well and 1 cocktail. I don't think I've been intoxicated for a long time. Everyone was much looser after all the alcohol and it was easier to talk to people after that, and find out more about them.
We all left around 4am and I put some money on some tables and lost it (I didn't spend all I was going to spend though) and then I went to bed. Fortunately woke up in the morning without a hangover! (Though I did vomit once at the club - after I'd had 2 successive champagnes very quickly I was feeling rather off - went to the bathroom and threw up a tiny bit and surprisingly felt lots better and then I went and had another vodka/orange and a cocktail)
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Las Vegas Day 3 - My parents arrive
Then off we went to get ready for our big dinner. Joël Robuchon was named France's Chef of the century, and his restaurant in Vegas bearing his name at the MGM Grand is the only restaurant in Vegas awarded 3 Michelin stars. You can read more here.
Now this was not my favourite dish because of texture though it was fine in taste. Basically an upscale pea and ham soup! The sweet onion foam was nice and light and so was the soup but there were heavy components in the veloute like the peas and the bacon which I think would have been better if they were light also.
Risotto of soy bean sprouts, lime zest and chives. Strong flavour. Those are almonds decorating it.
Onto the first dessert. This was supposed to be almond pannacotta and pineapple but the pannacotta seemed more like a gelato. Still nice, quite tart because of the pineapple though.
Raspberry sorbet with crunch honey bits. Nice too. Gosh I was getting full by this stage.
The petit fours cart was as impressive as the bread cart!
Las Vegas Day 2 - Getting settled
Woke up at 8am - the kids got up once at night so we got a good night's sleep! My sister rang us and woke us up at 830 and asked us to meet her at 10am at Terrace Point Cafe which was nice, met some of her friends there who were all dressed for poolside lazing around. Hubby had pancakes for brekky and I got 2 mueslis so I could have one and kids could have one. Erika wasn't feeling well yesterday, saying she had tummy pain, and she looked miserable. So we gave her some juice, muesli and she seemed to chirp up a bit after eating. Then she started eating some of Ivan's pancake (he'd only eaten maybe half of one of the 3 giant pancakes) and then she vomitted all over his breakfast. Fortunately my sister's friends had already left. Took her upstairs to clean her up and they even doggie bagged the rest of the muesli for us (apparently they do that everywhere, even at flash restaurants!)
So after breakfasts we went off to find a pharmacy and supermarket so we could get more nappies and some breakfast items for the kids. Walgreens was not far from Palazzo so we walked there with the kids and through shopping arcades... wow the shopping here is fantastic. Hard to shop with kids around but I can't wait to do some serious shopping!
Julian seems to have hardly any clothes, so we went to Baby Gap to buy some more clothes for him. Just a couple of cheap Tshirts and some swim shorts.
Oh and while I'm on the subject of things I forgot to pack, I forgot my swimsuit.
Had lunch at Pizza place, Erika was asleep though.
Went out at 7pm to go watch the Sirens of T.I which was a free show outside Treasure Island hotel which had lots of fire, explosions and scared Julian because he cried. Then we went to watch the volcano eruptions at the Mirage.
I booked dinner at Joel Robuchon at MGM - which is gonna be expensive and pricey and we're taking my sister along as well (edit: she's pulled out at last minute)! I'm looking forward to eating at my first 3 star Michelin restaurant! And the bill that comes with it! Hopefully mum and dad don't get waylaid in LA like me and hubby and get here on time!
So after breakfasts we went off to find a pharmacy and supermarket so we could get more nappies and some breakfast items for the kids. Walgreens was not far from Palazzo so we walked there with the kids and through shopping arcades... wow the shopping here is fantastic. Hard to shop with kids around but I can't wait to do some serious shopping!
Julian seems to have hardly any clothes, so we went to Baby Gap to buy some more clothes for him. Just a couple of cheap Tshirts and some swim shorts.
Oh and while I'm on the subject of things I forgot to pack, I forgot my swimsuit.
Had lunch at Pizza place, Erika was asleep though.
Went out at 7pm to go watch the Sirens of T.I which was a free show outside Treasure Island hotel which had lots of fire, explosions and scared Julian because he cried. Then we went to watch the volcano eruptions at the Mirage.
I booked dinner at Joel Robuchon at MGM - which is gonna be expensive and pricey and we're taking my sister along as well (edit: she's pulled out at last minute)! I'm looking forward to eating at my first 3 star Michelin restaurant! And the bill that comes with it! Hopefully mum and dad don't get waylaid in LA like me and hubby and get here on time!
Las Vegas Day 1 - The long road to Vegas
Today was the big day! Bags were packed and we were off! My sister in law came and dropped us at the airport and we told the kids how exciting it was to be catching a plane!
There was a slight disagreement about what we should be carrying on. In the end I got my way, we took the Trunki, my camera case and the blue backpack and stroller. The stroller was great - you can take it to the door and it will be waiting for you when you get off the plane.
Once on the plane I dosed up Erika with 6mg of phenergan which was enough to knock her out for 4 hours, and 5mg for Julian which only worked for an hour. Then I did a second dose which was 10mg for Julian and he slept for 6 hours and was still sleeping when we got off the plane. There was lots of crying though from both kids. For some reason Hubby and Erika had Premium economy seats and i had standard economy but we got mine upgraded and I had a Premium seat. But then we weren't sitting together but the guy who was stuck next to the two kids realised he'd be better off sitting somewhere else and swapped seats. Erika did 2 poos on the toilet and Julian didn't do any poos (he pooed at home in the morning). I don't like United Airlines - it doesn't have on demand movies and they don't give you anything to entertain the kids with. Don't think I'll be flying with them again. We did put the kids to sleep on the floor though, so that was quite good. We had the seats right next to the front of our section so you couldn't put the arm rests up because the tray tables were in there.
At Los Angeles there was a long wait at passport control. Fortunately Julian was still sleeping and in the stroller and Erika was happy on her Trunki (and she got lots of comments there too - people were looking at her, smiling and pointing). I thought we had plenty of time but we didn't! It took us ages to get out and then we had to collect our baggage, and then we had to figure out where our other plane was which was in the terminal next door but we didn't realise that and then we had to get through security there too which was the full take off your shoes deal and the line there was huge and we would have missed our plane - but it turned out our plane was cancelled (but we didn't know that!) and the next flight was 630 pm but there was an american airlines one at 445 but we'd have to go out and go through security again. I couldn't be bothered doing that though maybe in hindsight it would have been better, we could have gotten there early. At least United gave us some food vouchers but I only used 2 of them, I went to the bar to get some of their nice sandwiches and they don't accept the vouchers because they also dispense alcohol and the vouchers are not for alcohol.
Anyway, arrived at Las Vegas and my sister paid for a limo ride to the hotel. Swanky! That was really fun. Julian was asleep for that too! Stayed up late with kids and put them to bed with me at 11pm - they both refused to go bed though for a while and they both wanted to sleep with mama! So I ended up with both of them in my bed, and I was scared someone was going to fall out of bed, but neither of them did.
There was a slight disagreement about what we should be carrying on. In the end I got my way, we took the Trunki, my camera case and the blue backpack and stroller. The stroller was great - you can take it to the door and it will be waiting for you when you get off the plane.
Once on the plane I dosed up Erika with 6mg of phenergan which was enough to knock her out for 4 hours, and 5mg for Julian which only worked for an hour. Then I did a second dose which was 10mg for Julian and he slept for 6 hours and was still sleeping when we got off the plane. There was lots of crying though from both kids. For some reason Hubby and Erika had Premium economy seats and i had standard economy but we got mine upgraded and I had a Premium seat. But then we weren't sitting together but the guy who was stuck next to the two kids realised he'd be better off sitting somewhere else and swapped seats. Erika did 2 poos on the toilet and Julian didn't do any poos (he pooed at home in the morning). I don't like United Airlines - it doesn't have on demand movies and they don't give you anything to entertain the kids with. Don't think I'll be flying with them again. We did put the kids to sleep on the floor though, so that was quite good. We had the seats right next to the front of our section so you couldn't put the arm rests up because the tray tables were in there.
At Los Angeles there was a long wait at passport control. Fortunately Julian was still sleeping and in the stroller and Erika was happy on her Trunki (and she got lots of comments there too - people were looking at her, smiling and pointing). I thought we had plenty of time but we didn't! It took us ages to get out and then we had to collect our baggage, and then we had to figure out where our other plane was which was in the terminal next door but we didn't realise that and then we had to get through security there too which was the full take off your shoes deal and the line there was huge and we would have missed our plane - but it turned out our plane was cancelled (but we didn't know that!) and the next flight was 630 pm but there was an american airlines one at 445 but we'd have to go out and go through security again. I couldn't be bothered doing that though maybe in hindsight it would have been better, we could have gotten there early. At least United gave us some food vouchers but I only used 2 of them, I went to the bar to get some of their nice sandwiches and they don't accept the vouchers because they also dispense alcohol and the vouchers are not for alcohol.
Anyway, arrived at Las Vegas and my sister paid for a limo ride to the hotel. Swanky! That was really fun. Julian was asleep for that too! Stayed up late with kids and put them to bed with me at 11pm - they both refused to go bed though for a while and they both wanted to sleep with mama! So I ended up with both of them in my bed, and I was scared someone was going to fall out of bed, but neither of them did.
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