"Things Are Different Now"

We hear a lot about the R word on the news but we, thankfully, don't see a lot of it where we live. In Las Vegas the evidence was very clear. The first sign was at the airport. Typically the wait time for baggage claim is 45 minutes to an hour. One time, Chris took the bus to the rental car place, had to wait for a bigger minivan (the Wrights were with us), and returned to pick us up and we were still waiting for our luggage. This trip, the wait time was only about 20 minutes at most.

Next, the line for taxi cabs was very short. The first time I went to Vegas, in 2000, the wait time was about an hour. When we left Vegas this time the security line at the airport had no wait time. In the past we usually waited 45 minutes to an hour. We always thought the lines at the airport were worse in Vegas than other cities. A few years ago, I read that it was the third busiest airport in the country. That is not true now.

We stayed at a brand new resort, Encore, that was very nice. The resort cut their prices in half, in an attempt to fill rooms, thus we were able to afford to stay at the latest luxury resort.

Everywhere we went it wasn’t as crowded. The casinos weren’t as busy, the shopping areas, were emptier, and there were fewer people waiting for tables at restaurants if they were waiting at all. For example we went to the Bellagio champaign brunch on Sunday. We go there about noon and we expected there to be a line as in past years at that time. We walked right in, paid, and got at a table.

We also saw the signs at the tables. I like to play Pai Gow Poker. I don't consider this gambling (I know some of you reading this would never gamble). Typically you don't win a lot of money at this game which is fine with me. I just want to play for as long as possible before losing all of my chips (which is why it doesn’t really seem like gambling to me). It usually takes me about three hours to lose $100 so I feel comfortable spending that once a year to play cards at the tables and enjoy a couple of “free drinks." It is really fun to talk to the dealers and the other people at the table.

In past years, we had to really look for places where the low limit was $10 or $15. Usually on the strip, you can only play for $10 a hand if you sit down before 11AM. This was not the case this year. At Encore, one night we played for $15 a hand and watched another table change from $15 to $10; we have never seen the tables decrease. Of course, we switched tables so our money would last longer.

We also saw $10 a hand at 8PM at ....Bellagio which is known as the nicest place in town! We have stayed there four times. On all of those previous trips the low bet at 8 AM was $25 a hand and by 8 PM it was $50 a hand thus we have never played a table game at the Bellagio.

At the Bellagio is Prime Steakhouse. I have "always wanted to eat there." But two things stopped me. One - Chris was usually resistant to the high prices and "jacket required." Two - I usually called one or two weeks ahead of time to get reservations and they were full.

This year, I called last week and made reservation for 9 PM which wasn't ideal but at least we got a table. When I inquired about the dress code I was told it was business casual. When I asked, "Wasn't it jacket required in the past?" the person responded, "Things are different now."

Differences in Dining

While Chris is out of town going to a fancy steak restaurant with a celebrity, riding in a limo, meeting the president of the hotel/casino, getting a complimentary room upgrade, and ogling new technology, I am choosing a restaurant (to take my parents and kids to) based on where I can use a "buy one entree get one for 1/2 price" coupon.

The kids love this restaurant with the fish tanks, free toys, and free kids appetizer - peanut butter with celery, carrots, and crackers.

Lydia used a carrot stick as a spoon to gobble up the peanut butter.
I have to try this snack idea at home.

Sleeping Bags

If you have ever given Wesley a stuffed animal, chances are he sleeps with it.
Some of the stuff animals fall off the bed and some get stuck under the sleeping bag, but he keeps track of them. We have tried down-sizing by removing some of the animals when he isn't looking. He always remembers them and ask for them. Why are our kids sleeping in sleeping bags? We got tired of Wesley yelling "banket on" in the middle of the night so last winter we got him a Mickey Mouse sleeping bag. We put it away this summer and when it started getting cold again, he started yelling "banket on" again. We kept forgetting to get out the sleeping bag until one night before we went to bed. Wesley was already asleep and we just picked him and put him in it without waking him up. The next morning Lydia called it his sleep sack. Of course, it wasn't long before she started asking for a "leaping bag."
She likes to sleep on her tummy and she often wants us to put her special blanket on top of her. She puts Baby Pooh and her baby dolls on their tummies for sleeping.

Outside Play in January

I really am trying to take the kids outside more when the temperature is above 40. On Saturday, Chris took them to the playground while I went shopping. I felt only slightly guilty.
I am sure Lydia was asking to be pushed higher - she loves it.

Their hats look a little small, but the kids seem to like them.

Wesley loves jumping off this platform. He usually "sticks" the landing. Chris had fun using the new camera in sports mode.

Today I went to the playground. It was 45 degrees and I thought it would feel cold, but I really was comfortable in my winter jacket (I am such a cold weather wimp).

Lydia has recently mastered climbing this ladder by herself. She can also sit safely in the big kid swing while swinging slowly.

At one point, Wesley, Lydia, and Max (who is 4 y.0.) were going down the slide together in one big heap. They all seemed to love it. In the photo below, Wesley and Max are rolling in the mulch. They spent a lot of time doing this.

I think this is a very cute picture of Rachel. If she and Janet had not come over, I probably wouldn't have thought about going outside today but I am so glad we went to the playground. Tonight, when I was praying for Lydia she wanted me to thank God for the playground.

We took the double jogger so Baby David could nap some and, of course ,Lydia wanted to ride in it instead of walk. It is hard to make her walk when there is an option to ride. My kids took great naps today!

Bath Time

On Wednesday, after David, Amanda, and the girls left, Lydia wanted to get in her crib and hold her blanket. She often likes to have some down time in the crib and snuggle with the blanket. Wesley gets in the crib with her sometimes.

Well, after a few minutes in her crib, she started screaming. I assumed Wesley had taken her blanket away from her so I started up the steps to give it back to her. He casually started walking down stairs right after she stared screaming.

I asked, "Why is Lydia screaming?" as we met on the stairs.

Wesley replied, "Because she is taking a bath.''

"What do you mean she is taking a bath?" I asked.

He answered, "I poured water on her so she could take her bath."

Oh my! He did what? I found Lydia soaking wet in her crib and crying. Wesley had filled up a cup in the bathroom sink and poured it on her head. Her hair and clothes were very wet as was her crib. She quickly calmed down once I picked her up.

Here is what she looks like during a real bath. Her hair is getting longer.

Speaking of baths...we know Frank Beamer enjoyed getting the Gatorade bath at the Orange Bowl. Woo hoo the Hokies won a BCS Bowl!

The Cousins

I only have two cousins. Both of them are 18 years older than me and I never got to know them. Chris has no cousins (well no first cousins).

We are thrilled that our children have cousins to play with at family gatherings. We just wish they got to see each other more often.


The boys.

The girls.

Christmas in SC

We drove to SC to celebrate Christmas with Chris' family. His aunt and uncle drove down from Blacksburg.

Chris' brother, David, who lives in Texas and his family were there. Here is our oldest neice checking out the gift we gave her.

Look how excited Wesley and Lydia are over her new sweater from Grandma.

Chris gave both of his brothers and his dad the same thing for Christmas.

Wayne probably guessed what he was getting ready to open.

Wesley was thrilled with this pirate ship from Grandma.

We gave Dianna audio books and a gift card.

Chris with the little girls of the family. Lucy is about 2 1/2 months older than Lydia. There was a lot of "MINE!" while these two played together.

Here is Lydia saying "bye" to Mike and Ieda.

A couple of days later we exchanged gifts with Chris' oldest brother, Stephen, and his family. Tricia and I have similar taste and we gave each other purple sweaters that were similar but different.
Our nephews - Ryan, Daniel, and Jacob. I love their expressions.

Lydia loved playing with her cousins. She called all of them Jacob and seemed confused over the suggestions that they all had different names. She especialy enjoyed playing with Ryan.