This past week, we have enjoyed a visit with some good friends from Texas. We haven't seen Angela, Ben, and their two kids since we left Germany three years ago, and we were so excited to catch up and show them around Las Vegas.
First things first: momma needed a night out. Jonathan and I have been in desperate need of a night out for some time, but I have been so nervous about leaving Matty with a non-family/non-friend sitter. However, I took a chance on a girl who came very highly recommended from another wife in our squadron and booked non-refundable tickets to see 'Phantom of the Opera' so that I couldn't back out of it at the last minute. :)
So, with minimal tears (from mommas and babies), the adults headed down to the Strip and hit up the Venetian for some dinner, gambling, and a show. The guys weren't all that excited about seeing a musical, but it was something Angela and I had wanted to do for awhile, and they were gracious enough to sit quietly through it (possibly because we said they could go gamble for a few hours afterwards). Anyways, the showing of 'Phantom' in Las Vegas is unlike any performance of the show elsewhere. The theater was built specifically for the show, and it is, in a word, amazing. I wish I could have taken pictures inside, but they were pretty strict about it. Here's the only picture I have; the outside of the theater. . .
As expected, Angela and I loved it (I'm STILL singing songs from it!), and the guys tolerated it. After the show, they headed straight for the craps tables and Angela and I decided to play some slots. I was actually "hot" that night and made a profit. Okay, so maybe it was only $30, but that's still more than I've EVER made at a slot machine.
The guys were even more successful (and by that I mean they won MORE than $30). All in all, it was a VERY successful parents' night out, and we came home to safe and happy babies much more relaxed than when we left.
We also decided to take the kids down to the Strip and check out the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay. Although MJ was born in Las Vegas, we have never taken him down to the Strip. I've always felt a little weird about it. There are TONS of kid-friendly things to do down there, and I see kids down there even younger than MJ every time I go. . . but it still doesn't feel right to me.
BUT, the aquarium was calling, so we headed down. We were inside Mandalay Bay exactly ten minutes before the first break-down happened. Out of the blue, no reason--MJ was screaming. Hysterical, unconsolable screaming. It took almost 15 minutes to get him calmed down, and we still don't know why he started screaming in the first place. It was only the beginning of what Jonathan and I are now calling the "Mandalay Bay Massacre."
As with all places on the Strip, you must walk through the casino to get anywhere inside the building. And, I don't know if you've ever been to a Las Vegas casino, but they are loud, smoke-filled, and crowded. In other words, the perfect place for another melt-down. This one wasn't as bad as the first, since I was carrying him, but it was still completely uncharacteristic for MJ. After what seemed like forever, we made it through the casino and began to search the restaurants and shops area for some lunch. We didn't get far before we noticed a sign advertising a meet and greet with Gale Sayers, the former Chicago Bears player. Jonathan's lit up like a little kid. We, of course, had to stop.
Jonathan chatted happily with one of his heroes as MJ and I stood by quietly. Jonathan then brought Gale over to say hello. The football great smiled broadly and leaned down towards our son, tickling his heels. "How are you, little man?" he said.
Our normally happy, smiling baby turned into a. . . well, baby. His lip quivered, his eyes watered, and he clawed at me as if trying to escape from the terrifying, nice, smiley man. It was also at this point that I happened to notice (in other words, smell) that he also desperately needed a new diaper. Yep, we were THOSE parents with the crying, stinky kid. My son met his first celebrity--and he cried and pooped his pants. Fantastic. Luckily, however, Gale and Jonathan didn't seem to mind. And we did get a couple of good pictures, at least.
A few more MONSTER break-downs occurred, including MJ hitting his head on the floor, being scared of the echoing toilets in the restroom when I changed his diaper, me freaking out (and, in turn, him freaking out) thinking he had swallowed the charm from my necklace after he ripped it off, and the absolutely overwhelming lights and sounds of the casino as we walked BACK through it. To make a long story short, both mama and baby were EXHAUSTED by time we actually made it to the aquarium. I debated about whether or not to take him in but finally decided that we were here, we'd already bought our tickets, we were DOING THIS.
We let Ben and Angela go separately so their children could actually ENJOY the aquarium as we walked through, paying close attention to MJ's break-down cues and moving on quickly from one exhibit to another when we saw them. He seemed to enjoy it (as much as a tired, fussy baby could enjoy it), and I think we'll try it again on another day that isn't so dramatic.
He honestly seemed to be more interested in the rocks than the fish. . .
Chasing the fish. . .
"Hey! Come over here!"
"Daddy! Did you see that shark?!"
Looking at jelly-fish. . .
So, bottom line, we had a wonderful time catching up with great friends. And, my Las Vegas baby seems to not care so much for the lights and noise of the city. He may be more Midwestern than we originally thought. :)
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