The BALD and the BEAUTIFUL are off to see SNOW WIPE again!! A Nov 2011 PTR! pic heavy

[reyasmommy]

I am so with you. The motto in my house is "people before things". Its the time together that is the most important thing. My girls and I were just talking about the trips we took when they were little yesterday at Disneyland (yay!) and while they don't remember the trips from when they were really young I will never forget seeing the magic through their little eyes. If I had waited until I was sure that they would remember some of that "magic" would have been lost. My girls are 11 and 14 and while Disney is still very magical to them, there is something about a toddler or a preschooler looking at Cinderella and really believing with all their being that it really is the princess or that Mickey really is a giant mouse. The memories we made last week at the parks are no less precious then the ones from when they were little - just different. So to anyone who tells you it was a wasted trip because they won't remember well then pooh on them - you will never forget the look in their eyes as they "bought into" the magic 100%.

Well said!!!!

 

[reyasmommy]

November 9th- Day 2 ​

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5:30 AM- Wake ((Yuck- hate having to wake at the crack of dawn while on vacation, but we have a LONG drive ))

7:00 AM- Breakfast

8:00 AM- On the Road Again


**Pictures of our Last Road Trip driving from Colorado to Vegas (for your viewing pleasure**

We will need to make SEVERAL rest stops along the way. It’s a total of 8 1/2 hours of driving. But due to the fact that I have a 5 year old and an 1 year old I estimate a total of 10 1/2 hours.

We will have Lunch at WINGERS in Richfield Utah. We don’t have any of these restaurants in Colorado and we try to eat at one whenever we happen to be somewhere in Utah.

**Pictures from our last trip to Wingers in Richfield**

** My dorky brother**

After 10 hours of driving and MANY meltdowns I'm sure, I estimate we'll be in Vegas around 6:00 PM. ((Hopefully earlier))

We’ll be checking into the NEW Planet Hollywood WESTGATE tower.

((The next 3 months I'm going to keep my eye out for a better deal on a Vegas hotel, so it's not 100% we'll be staying here.... I wanted to book it however because the prices keep going up on a daily basis))

After we've checked in and freshen up in our room, we'll walk over to Ceasars Palace. Once we arrive I will sign up for a players club card in hopes that we'll get some good coupons that we can use?

I’m sure we’ll be starving by this time and will need some dinner. For kid friendly options I’m either thinking Planet Hollywood or Serendipity 3?? Planet Hollywood in my opinion has some pretty good food, and the Cocktails are AMAZING. The “Legally Blonde” and “Terminator” are particularly YUM-YUM-YUMMY!!

But I was checking out the menu for Serendipity 3. Their food looks EXTREMELY fattening, but SUPER delicious. These items look particularly mouth watering.

Nachos

vodka ravioli

Onion Rings

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After dinner we'll walk around Ceasars palace for a little while and make our way to FAO Schwartz where we'll play around a little and let Reya use some of her money to buy something if she'd like.

After Dinner we'll cap our night off by watching the BEAUTIFUL fountains at the Bellagio.

When we arrive back to our room, Reya will notice another gift left by tinkerbell. ((TBD.. will let you know what I decide)) Then we'll settle in for the night for some MUCH needed sleep.

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[DizNee Luver]

They weren't kidding when they called Vegas....Sin City......lol The food looks sinful but oh so delicous!!!!

 

[kindakrazy2]

You're making me hungry!

 

[Belle Ella]

Keep the plans coming

 

[reyasmommy]

They weren't kidding when they called Vegas....Sin City......lol The food looks sinful but oh so delicous!!!!

I plan on starting my diet at the end of the month...... obviously I plan on blowing my diet once I go on my trip. Looking forward to it though. Mmmm Mmmmm Mmmmm

You're making me hungry!

Sorry...... Looks good though, huh?!?!

Keep the plans coming

They're coming.

 

[reyasmommy]

DISNEYLAND 2008 PICTURES​

**Getting ready to TAKE-OFF on California Screamin

**My nephew and niece meeting Belle

**My nephew Logan with his FIRST pair of Mickey Ears

**My Nephew Logan meeting Elastigirl(sp)

**My DREAM fast passes

**My Brother trying to pull the sword from the Stone

**Reya’s first pin-trading experience

**My Brother and Reya waiting for Turtle Talk to begin

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[skiingfast]

Nice photo interlude.

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

Awww. Reya is really cute.

 

[reyasmommy]

Nice photo interlude.

Thank you! It's SOOOO fun going through all my old photos and then sharing them all with you.

Awww. Reya is really cute.

Thank you! I think so too. It's so funny seeing her without her hair. She was so bald until she was three. She didn't get her first haircut until less then a year ago.

 

[reyasmommy]

November 10th- Day 3​

8:30 AM- Wake up

10:45 AM- Go to the MGM Grand
Take the Kids to see the Lion Habitat

11:00 AM- Lunch at Rainforest Café
((BTW for those that don't know. If you have a AAA card you get a 10% discount at Rainforest Cafe restaurants ))

After Lunch walk over to M&M World to shop and hang out for awhile.We'll let Reya and Jayden both fill up a small bag of their own m&m's.

Then it's off to Mandalay Bay where we'll go to Shark Reef to enjoy some of the beautiful Sea Life.

After we're done at Shark Reef we're going to head up the strip to visit some more animals. Not just any animal though, my FAVORITE animal ......... Dolphins!!!! We'll be going to the Mirage and seeing Siegfriend and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat.

It will be an early night for the kids. So once we're finished visiting the Tigers and Dolphins we'll head back to our Hotel. We'll most likely walk around the Mall inside Planet Hollywood for a little and grab some Ben and Jerry's to bring up to the Room.

It will be early once we get back to the room, I'm estimating around 6:00 PM. But when we arrive I'll give the kids a bath and put them in their PJ's so they can relax in the room for the rest of the night.
DH will stay with them and hang out watching TV, Playing Games, etc, etc, while I go down to the Casino to gamble for an hour or two. ((DH hates to gamble))


I only plan on hanging at the casino until 7:45 or so. I'll do my thing, then pick up sandwiches from Earl of Sandwich to bring up to the room for dinner.

After we eat our sandwiches, it'll be lights out. I'm Hoping the kids will fall asleep early since we'll have another drive ahead of us the next morning. I'm also hoping for some peace and quite so I can get comfy and watch some BONES and maybe read a book.

Up Next: More Photos of vacations past. And Day four of PTR.
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[WDWJonasGirl]

Your kids are so adorable.

 

[kim3339]

Love your pre-trip report and your kids are so cute!!! It sound like it's going to be a fun trip. I saw you're going to Seredipity at Caesars; it is so good. You guys have to get their Frozen Hot Chocolate, it is the most delicious dessert I've ever had and it's huge so everyone can share it!

Can't wait to read more!

 

[reyasmommy]

Your kids are so adorable.

Thank you!

Love your pre-trip report and your kids are so cute!!! It sound like it's going to be a fun trip. I saw you're going to Seredipity at Caesars; it is so good. You guys have to get their Frozen Hot Chocolate, it is the most delicious dessert I've ever had and it's huge so everyone can share it!

Can't wait to read more!

Thanks and thanks for reading.

I saw and heard about the frozen hot chocolate. Mmmmmm, think I need to try it for sure.

 

[reyasmommy]

Since I just finished the “VEGAS” portion of my trip planning, I thought I’d share some old pictures with all of you.

OLD 2006 VEGAS VACATION PHOTOS

* Our Hotel Room at the MGM Grand. I think it was called Bungalow Suite? Was a nice size, but the bed was far from comfortable.

* View from our Room

* Reya jumping in the archway of the bathroom in our hotel room. ((6 months old))

* Reya ordering some room service

* Reyas first visit to the Rainforest Café

* Reya and DH at Rainforest café

* Reya doing some shopping at M&M world

* DH and Reya posing in the window of our room

2008 VEGAS PICTURES


* Our favorite little Ice Cream Spot at the Wynn

* Our Hotel TI

* Niece and Nephew enjoying the bed and watching some Bugs Life

* DB and DSIL riding some crazy ride on top of the stratosphere

* Reya at the top of the Stratosphere

* View from our room

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[blabbermouth]

Wow, I missed a couple updates!

Wasn't Reya such a happy smiley baby, so cute.

I didn't realize there were so many things for families to do in Vegas! Very neat, should be a fun few days. I would have to gamble a bit too, but my DH would also want to... I'd have to keep an eye on him!!!

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

Loved the updates!!

 

[skiingfast]

So in the last post, is that one trip or two? It's hard to tell when Reya is looking down, , if she is older or not.

 

[reyasmommy]

Wow, I missed a couple updates!

Wasn't Reya such a happy smiley baby, so cute.

I didn't realize there were so many things for families to do in Vegas! Very neat, should be a fun few days. I would have to gamble a bit too, but my DH would also want to... I'd have to keep an eye on him!!!

Yes, she sure was. She still is pretty smiley.


There really is a lot for families to do. We're never bored, whether we go with or without children. This will be Jaydens first visit, he's going to go into visual overload when he sees all the lights.

I'm lucky my DH doesn't like to gamble, he keeps me grounded. If I didn't have him I'd be a crazy gambler. Even though I NEVER win.

Loved the updates!!

Thank you...look for another one soon.

Frozen Hot Chocolate is a must-have. The sandwiches at Serendipity3 are pretty good also.

It's on my TO-DO list.

So in the last post, is that one trip or two? It's hard to tell when Reya is looking down, , if she is older or not.

That was taken in 2008..... So she was 2 1/2 years old.

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I'll have another update in just a few minutes.

 

[reyasmommy]

November 11th-Day 4​

6:45 am: Wake up

9:00 am: Have Breakfast at the Buffet at Caesers Palace

10:15 am: Hit the Road


We have a 5 hour Drive. With a few stops in between I estimate we'll reach our destination around 4:00 PM.
Once we get to California we plan on going to La Jolla and visiting SEAL Beach. There we'll see the wonderful Seals, do some tide-pooling, and watch the Sunset.

Afterwards we'll head to Old Town San Diego where we'll have dinner at our Favorite Mexican Restaurant.. Casa Guadalajara.

After what I'm sure will be an absolutely delicious meal, we'll head to our hotel for the night. We'll be staying at the Homewood Suites, Carlsbad. I reserved a room with a seperate living room and kitchenette. The kids will have some extra space to run around and have their own tv. I look forward to having a realxing evening with some great primetime tv, reading, and hopefully some yummy leftovers to satisfy a light night craving.

Up next..... Day 5 and some WDW photos.
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