Vegas in February

Going on a trip to Vegas during February was the best idea. Not that I can take any credit for that, as it was not my idea. My good friend Jenessa moved their last summer and life just hasn't been the same since. Her husband called me up before Christmas one evening to discuss the possibility of me flying out to visit at some point. He said, "All Jenessa wants for Christmas is you." She is the sweetest friend there ever was. I was of course on board, and feeling  like this Christmas present was more of a gift for me. We chose a date and mid February I took off for a glorious 5 day trip to warm and sunny Vegas. 

She is the greatest.

Despite the fact that I was exhausted after traveling all day and that it felt like midnight my time, we did not delay in getting our girls nights started--it was also Valentine's Day, so of course we had to have some fun! We went down to the strip (me looking nice and grungy in my leggings and sweatshirt) and got some dessert at Milk Bar in the Cosmopolitan. 

I felt pretty pressured to try something with their cereal milk in it since so many of the options had it and ended up going with a fruity cereal milkshake. I regretted it pretty quickly. Thankfully Jenessa's chocolate fudge cake milkshake was amazing and she kindly shared way more than she needed to with me.

We walked around for quite awhile talking and taking in the craziness of Vegas on Valentine's Day. A girl at a beauty shop was passing out little moistuerizer packets and we got roped in to the store to get our wrinkles fixed. She looked us both up and down and then looking very disgusted by my appearance grabbed me and told me that she would help fix my wrinkles. She put this cream under one of my eyes and then asked Jenessa to tell me how much better it made me look and she was like, "Uhhh, I can't really tell a difference." She tried to sell the cream to us for a V-day discount of $199, opposed to the normal price of $600, but we kindly declined. It was definitely a highlight of the evening.

After awhile, we found a secluded area in the casino with a bunch of big tvs and couches where we decided to hang out and watch the Olympics while we finished off the shakes.  I couldn't get over all the fancy chandeliers and decoration all over! It was really a sight. 

Needless to say, I was exhausted by the time we got to her house as it felt like 3 a.m. to me, but it was worth it. I slept nice and soundly that night. 

The next day we hung out at her house, went for a beautiful walk with the sun beaming down on us, and hung out at the park. That evening, when her husband got home from work, we took off again (I didn't realize before going out there that the other part of the Christmas gift was going out to try out all the yummy food that Vegas has to offer each night).

We decided on Korean BBQ which I had never had before. It was AMAZING. So fun that you could choose whatever meats/veggies you wanted and grill them right there. At one point the waiter came over and started turning our meat for us because we were so caught up in conversation that we weren't even paying attention to the meat. Oops.

The after picture (because I forgot to take a before picture).

We then made our way over to the Venetian where we did some more walking, people watching, and dessert eating. These casinos (hotels? not sure what you call them) are SO cool! (I mean, kind of awful too overhearing everyone talk about all the money they lost that night, but all the shops and themed decor are really fun). 

Gelato! 

We had to stop at Buchon Bakery while there as well and tried our first macarons. I hear people talking about macarons all the time and they just don't look that good to me, but holy moly were they good (We tried Salted Caramel and Pistachio).

The next day we played with the kiddos, went to Eppie's dance class (which really made me so excited to put Belén in dance some day. Eppie did teach me a lot of cool moves that I got to come home and teach Belén and Shae which they were excited about). We also did some BBG together just like the good ol' days. We went and did some pants shopping that evening and then went out for Mexican food at Lindo Michoacan (I miss good Mexican food so much!)

Saturday was so relaxing. We went hot tubbing and relaxed by the pool, reading and sleeping for a couple hours. We wanted to make sure we weren't tempted to eat anything at home since we were going to a buffet that afternoon. The weather was perfect. Vegas definitely grew on me those few days I was out there.

We headed back to the Cosmopolitan to go to the Wicked Spoon that afternoon/evening. We spent almost 3 hours there! Just trying to get our moneys worth you know. We were so scared that someone was going to kick us out. But it was nice to just take it slow and pace ourselves while we conversed and ate and conversed and ate. Also, very nice that they sat us right next to the dessert counter.

Chocolate covered strawberries dipped in crushed Heath bar! I will definitely be making that someday.

Stuffed for the rest of forever.

 We squeezed in one final food trip early Monday morning before I took off. We went to Hash House A Go Go and split this massive plate of chicken and waffles. 

Then it was off to the airport for the sad goodbye. I loved every second of my visit and miss this girl and her sweet family so much! Move back to NY!

School Happenings

Shae's preschool is unique in that it is part of a vocational school program for high school students. There are about 8 high school students in his classroom, which means that the adult/teenager to student ratio is great, which Shae clearly loves. Being part of the vocational school means that they get to go on a lot of on campus "field trips." They have gone to the culinary school to make cookies, the vet school to feed animals, the engineer school to play with robots, etc. Last month they got to go to the cosmetology school and Belén and I were invited to join in which was so exciting for her (she was heaven).

They got their nails done. (Complete with a pre-painting hand massage).

 Belén got her hair braided.

 They played with mannequins. 

 Getting her nails painted after her hair was done. (I was so impressed that they could braid her hair! It is so wispy and thin and curly and I just never know what to do with it. The braids didn't last long as the little hairs poofed out, but so cute while it lasted!)

 Belén: I take this one home, okay?

 Working on some fake fingernails to bring home. (Look at those cute braids! If only I could recreate it).

Shae's teachers are so sweet and have let Belén stay a few times now and she just loves it so much (as do I, clearly, as I get some kid free time :). 

Here's a couple picture from our co-op Toddler School. But first, can I just say how much I love doing these little co-ops? I know that co-ops aren't everyone's cup of tea, but it just fits perfectly with my personality. I'm definitely not meant to be a full time teacher, that is for special people like my incredible mother-in-law. Not just anyone has that sort of a gift--to command a classroom full of little ones day after day after day. That is a lot. Not one of my gifts. I admire those amazing teachers and the gift they have to work with little ones so much. However, I do love getting a taste of the more structured teaching world through these co-ops. I love seeing my kids, and their friends learn and play and sing and do crafts and imagine together in a different way than your everyday play date. I love using some of my own creativity as I come up with little activities and lessons for us to do. I also love that I only have to do it a day or two a month :). 

These kids sure are great. This was our last day with our sweet friend Peter who moved away last month.

 Painting rainbows on our Rs with our new little friend who we welcomed in to Toddler School last month. Belén is so excited to have another girl in the group. 

I wish I were better at doing more structured teaching at home when it's just me and the kids. It's kind of sporadic when it happens, and usually because the kids ask for it, like, "Mom, can we do a Science Experiment?" or "Can we work on some flash cards?" (Kids and their craving to learn just amaze me, and terrify me at the same time if we're being completely honest--cue that mom guilt of I'm not doing enough to satisfy that craving). When they do ask for it, I try to deliver. One Sunday afternoon Shae wanted to do some science, so we got out some baking soda, vinegar, food coloring, and play dough equipment and made up some different experiments. It was so easy and so fun and made me wonder, why don't we do this more?!

3rd Birthday

This sweet girl turned THREE on Sunday! 

It's been a bit confusing for her since we kept saying her birthday was after Shae's, but she still doesn't have much of a sense for time. She has asked pretty much everyday since Shae's birthday, "My brfday now?" This past week it was so cute to see her understand more and more that it was coming as she started getting cards/packages in the mail. Oh how her face would light up when we'd open the mailbox and there would be a card for her. "For me!" 

And all she wanted in the whole wide world was a ballerina party, as she so sweetly told us a thousand and one times in the weeks leading up to her birthday. We turned it in to a "Dress Up" party since she loves dressing up so much. 

Of course there was dancing. (Darin was a pirate--hard to tell without seeing the eye patch).

 I was a demonic butterfly.

 J/k j/k, just some crazy dance move that was caught on camera.

 There was, of course, storytelling. 

 And bean bag throwing.

 We played a game of charades where the kids got to act out different animals. At one point they all turned their hats into rhino horns and went after the butterfly. 

 I was so sad that my cake stand got shattered a few weeks before the kids birthdays. So a pizza pan had to substitute. I had also ordered Belén a little ballerina cake topper that didn't end up getting to us in time (it ended up arriving that afternoon!) So we grabbed a couple princesses and called it good. Love these little kids, they are so easy to please, (you know, most of the time).

  So fun throwing these little kid parties with my main squeeze. 

 We let her open up a few of her presents on Saturday (after changing in to a new costume of course).

All the kids had a blast dancing around to this CD from her aunt to finish off the party.

 Barely took any pictures on the actual day of her birthday...just a couple quick shots after church, waiting patiently to open her presents. 

 She got this Rapunzel hair from  my parents, I'm dying looking at these pictures. 

So stinkin' cute. But American's REAL next top model is definitely this one:

Ohhhh yesssss. Watch out world. 

We had a few friends over for dinner and cake that night. She had a blast running around with her little friends. It was the best to watching her glow with excitement on this special day. She's just the best.