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| Our last day in Vegas |
We ate lunch at The Studio Café in MGM and then walked across the skybridge to New York New York. Chad and I wanted to take Ali and Jackson on The Manhattan Express roller coaster. Ashley is still too short to ride, so Leah took her shopping in SoHo Village. The Mahattan Express is the roughest roller coaster I'be ever ridden. There is a 144-foot drop at 67 mph, as well as this crazy “heartline roll” that simulates a jet fighter’s barrel roll, and it’s completely wild. Our faces smashed against the padded safety bars so hard, I thought some of my molars were getting knocked loose. But it was a great experience and something the kids will remember forever.
We then stopped at M&Ms World because Leah had told Ashley that since she couldn’t ride the roller coaster, she would buy Ashley some personalized M&Ms. Ashley was so happy, and talked about it for days. (Side note: I check height requirements on all rides ahead of time, while creating our vacation itineraries. It helps soften the blow for the little ones who are too short to ride, and then you can plan a little something special for them on the side. You should try it, and I won’t even charge for the tip.)
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| Ashley creating her personalized M&Ms |
Now, I know M&Ms are popular and delicious, but I didn’t know they are
four-stories-worth-of-M&Ms-themed-memorabilia-popular. Wow!
They were even selling a $3,000.00 leather jacket made with Swarovski
crystals. The coat sort of reminded me
of those tacky 8-ball jackets that wannabe-gangsters used to wear in the early 90s. At M&Ms World, they charge
$12.99 per pound, and even more for the personalized ones. But it made Ashley’s day to select her own
phrases and colors. She chose “Ashee
Too,” “Yummy Nummy,” and a heart shape, for her rainbow colored candies. Leah saved the day!
We went to World of Coca Cola, and bought what's called, “Tastes of the
World.” It’s a sampler of 16 different
sodas made by the Coke company from around the world.
When Chad and I went in 1997 (when samples were free), we tried “Beverly” from Italy, and it was the single grossest soda we’ve ever had. We wanted to share it with our kids, because
you can’t just share good things with people; otherwise, they’ll get used to it
and start expecting only pleasant things from you. Every now and then you've gotta throw some disappoints their way, ya know? We discovered a new flavor called, “Sunfill
Mint” from India that tastes like the mouthwash they use at the
dentist’s office. Anyway, Chad recorded
us drinking Beverly. Click here to see how Ashley seems to be the only one who liked it.We decided to go back to the RV and rest a bit before continuing on. It was 105 degrees outside and the sun actually caught my skin on fire, nearly burning me to death, leaving my kids without a mommy to love them. Well, it felt like it, anyway.
Back in the coolness of the RV, we rested. Leah and Ashley went to the Midway at Circus Circus to play, some of us fell asleep, and others just relaxed. It was just what we needed.
Around 5:30 we drove downtown to the Fremont Hotel & Casino to have dinner at Paradise Buffet. It's Kenny's favorite restaurant downtown. I really loved the ambiance. It was 70’s-tropical with dim lighting and lots of different foliage surrounding the tables, giving everyone privacy while we shoveled massive amounts of food in our mouths. Darn you, Las Vegas.
Leah and Kenny didn’t want to return to the The Strip with us to see the Bellagio water show, they are big downtown fans,and so we left them alone to spend quality time together. You never know when the 5 of us might send someone over the edge or off to the nut house, so I'm sure the break was nice for them. We drove to The Bellagio, and got ready to view the water show, which we’ve wanted to see it ever since we watched Oceans 11.
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| Some complete strangers getting engaged |
When we got to the spot we wanted, we noticed a circle of rose petals and tea lights in white paper bags on the ground. A few guys were standing shoulder to shoulder, blocking off that section of the viewing area and I thought, “are we about to witness some voo-dooey, witchcrafty séance or something?" Instead, we got to witness a beautifully touching marriage proposal. All the couple’s friends and family were there and the girl was completely surprised. They had only minutes to celebrate—all of them hugging, and crying, and laughing, and hugging some more—before the water show began. And the song that played was “God Bless the U.S.A.” The show was incredible, and I kept getting choked up. But not by the water - it was the newly-engaged couple next to us. I was very thankful to have watched. I went over to them and said, “Congratulations, you guys! There is a 50% chance this won’t last.” No I didn’t.
We watched two more shows, and then walked through The Bellagio. We decided to
return our rental car, go back to the RV, and pack all of our things up so we
can just leave first thing in the morning for the trip home. It’s now almost 1:00 AM, Leah and Kenny came
home about 30 minutes ago and everyone sleeping. I can see taxis bringing people back to their
motor homes and trailers, and I’m thinking that we’ve been in Las Vegas for
long enough. Although I’m glad to have
had the chance to explore this town with my family, it’s not for The Niemeyers. I think we’re more Disney Princess and les Las Vegas Showgirl.
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| An impressive water show at the Bellagio |
“And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I won’t forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
where at least I know I'm free.
And I won’t forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
And I gladly stand up,
next to you, and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the U.S.A.”
next to you, and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the U.S.A.”
- Lee Greenwood
- The Niemeyers
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