Molly and I headed out to Las Vegas last week for some girls bonding time while I attended the US Conference on AIDS. I had to give a few presentations and attend some informational sessions but the rest of the time it was my girl and I out on the town! Auntie Beth was kind enough to drive all the way from Los Angeles to hang with Molly while I was working and they did alot of shopping and eating - what could be better?
The only flight we could get left Bradley at 5:28 am so we had to beg Papa to drop us off at the airport at 3:45 am. We were tired but really excited.
Papa doesn't look tired at all!
Headed to Las Vegas with my girl.
Molly hasn't flown in a few years so she was excited to see all of the views from the air - she even made me take a few pictures!
10 hours of travel and we finally arrived in Las Vegas!
Molly was exhausted but so exicted to see our hotel and then later on to see Auntie LuAnn and her cousins.
Shannon and Gary dropped everything when we got there to come hang out with us. The kids all came over to Auntie LuAnn's house and we had pizza and salad and caught up on everything!
Saturday night - our first night in Las Vegas and the 2 Molly's slept in Auntie Cathy's bed for a sleepover! These two acted like they had seen each other yesterday. They had so much fun!
Auntie Beth drove from LA to hang out with us at Auntie LuAnn's and then come back to the hotel the next day so she could be with Molly during my presentations.
Our first room service meal - and our last after we got the bill!!!
Auntie Beth and Molly were headed out for some girl time while I had a working dinner with the CHC crew!
The CHC crew - Dr. Haddad and Amanda - we had to give a presentation and then we got to head out for dinner and drinks.
Our presentation went really well and we made some great contacts!
Auntie Beth and Molly at the Sugar Factory for lunch. Auntie Beth was tired after lunch so she went back to the hotel to sleep while Molly Girl and I did some exploring! It was at this point that I gave in and bought a cheap camera because I was tired of taking pictures with my phone - I was worried that they would not come out good.
Clearly these are not in order becuase this is from our dinner the first night with the CHC staff - cactus pear margaritas and dessert - amazing!
Letting our hair down after our big presenation.
Molly and I found a picture of Jeff Dunham and posed for Peter.
My beautiful daughter!
Silly pictures after our trip to Zumanity one night.
Just one of Molly's many bubble baths in our giant jacuzzi.
Molly and I ventured out to the wax museum and had a blast together posing with all of the celebrities.
Molly and Will Smith
Cameron Diaz - I love how enthusiastically Molly poses with each person and how her smile and personality changes each time.
Mama and Hugh Heffner - Molly had no idea who he was and I had trouble explaining it.
My boyfriend George Clooney - ha ha ha!
Molly and Michael Jordan
We couldn't wait to see Gaga
Molly thought it was hysterical that I hung out with Snoop Dog
Molly and MJ
My silly girl dancing with MJ
Molly could rival Oprah in the talking department.
Molly Girl taking calls for Obama
Molly thought I was being disrespectful to Obama but I was just having fun.
Martin Luther King jr
Molly posing with the first men to walk on the moon.
The Kennedys - she had no idea who they were.
Molly was so excited to see Abe Lincoln - she is a bit of a history buff!
Molly had no clue who Marilyn Monroe was but thought the diamonds were cool.
My girl is a star!
Molly took this one for Daddy even though she had no idea who it was.
In front of the Vewnetian Casino.
Mama and her girl.
Our favorite casino was La Mirage - it was so beautiful inside and had an animal habitat that we visited a few days later.
My little beauty - she was really tired at this point so she went back to the hotel and climbed inot bed with Auntie Beth for a few hours while I headed out for one more night with my CHC friends.
Dr. haddad and Amanda and I headed to the trendiest restaurant in Las Vegas - Tao.
The meal was great but the desserts were amazing!
My gorgeous girl sleeping like an angel.
Molly hung out with me at the conference for one of the days and got to spend lots of time with Amanda and i as we went to some of our sessions and explored the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
Lunch at our new favorite restaurant, Serendipity. Look at how huge those menus are!
Loving our frozen hot chocolate!
My cousin Gary was nice enough to bring the three oldest Russell kids over for a swim in the pool only to have them close the pool. We sent Gary off to shop for a while and the kids and I did the next best thing.
We filled up the jacuzzi and started the huge shower and had a blast.
Kate is such a doll - I would love to take her home with us!
Molly Russell being silly.
Luke even had fun "swimming" with the girls!
The two Molly's could not have been happier hanging out together!
Kate rinsing off
The kids loved the shower with three shower heads and plenty of room to splash and play.
Back into the tub again!
The view of the strip from our hotel room - Caesar's palace was phenomenal - by far one of the most indulgent hotels on the strip from what we could see.
Getting ready for bed!
Auntie LuAnn spent her entire day off with us visiting the Hoover Dam and then getting some delicious pizza. Molly and I loved having Maggie with us all day and that night we got to have another big dinner with the whole Russell Family and Auntie LuAnn.
Molly checking out the generators for the Hoover Dam - it was 98 degrees outside so we were thrilled to be underground for a while. Las Vegas is one hot state,
The Hoover dam tour was really interesting - poor Auntie LuAnn has been through it about 10 times but she did a good job pretending!
Auntie LuAnn and her nieces!
Molly and Maggie at the Hoover Dam.
The Hoover dam was absolutely beautiful - hot but beautiful!
I am so glad that we got to see the Hoover Dam - it is kind of amazing and Molly was blown away by it.
My girl posing in front of the rocks around the dam.
I love this picture - she looks like a movie star!
I remember loving this quote but now I can't read it!
Molly and maggie - the white line around the rocks is where the water used to be but it has evaporated alot because of the severe heat.
Molly is standing on two states - Arizona and Nevada.
Gotta admit I thought this was really really cool - thus the 20 pictures!
Two very tired girls taking a breather on the way back up the mountain to the car.
Never too tired for a swim in Auntie Shannon and Uncle gary's pool.
My sweet baby Maggie - she is adorable! She is defintely at the stage where everything that comes out of her mouth is cute!
Kate is much quieter than maggie but equally as sweet!
Molly made me a potholder to take home to remind me of my visit to Las Vegas.
I had to get some Molly love foir this one! I am hoping that we figure out a way to get molly to CT next summer to spend some time with us!
Auntie LuAnn and Molly - they literally love 100 feet from each other - Molly called them Lucky Ducks!
Molly and Caesar at Caesar's Palace.
Yep, that's my girl taking pictures of the naked statues! Love her!
Last day at Caesar's Palace - we had grown very fond of our luxurious digs so it was hard to say goodbye on our last day.
Back to Serendipity for one more iced hot chocolate.
Our favorite breakfast place - Central.
My girl has now decided that she loves omelettes.
The Dolphin Habitat - at La Mirage. This place was so cool.
Molly with her dolphin friends.
Molly and i enjoying our afternoon at the Dolphon and Tiger habitat - this was probably one of our favorite places in las Vegas. It helped that the day was slightly cooler than the day before - and by that I mean 89 degrees.
I mad Molly touch the water in the Buddist longevity well. She was very cute.
The animals were so close - this was the lions.
There was a huge orange tiger behind Molly and he was growling - so cool.
Molly made me take a picture of this tiger for the little girls.
White Bengal tigers.
A little fozen yogurt before we head back to Auntie LuAnn's for a rest and our trip back to the airport for our trip home.
Molly's forzen yogurt!
In retrospect the red ete back to CT may have been a spcial kind of torture for my daughter. We left Las Vegas at 11:37 pm and then got off the plan in Chicago three and a half hours later. Spent two hours in the airport before hopping back on a plane for the 2nd leg of our trip which was 2 hours long. Molly slept on and off but it was really hard with the stops and starts and the fact that on the first leg of the trip a guy spilled a drink on Molly's seat! She was a trooper but we could not have been happier to get home to CT and her Daddy!
Papa picked us up at the airport at 9:30 am our time and he found two very tired ladies ready for a nap. I had to rush home to shower and head out for a doctor's appointment with Bob and Peter but Molly headed home with papa for some much needed rest.
Molly and I had an unforgettable trip. We saw lots of new things and got lots of girl time to talk and hang out. Auntie Beth came and spent time with us and we got to spend lots of time with Auntie LuAnn and our cousins in Las Vegas. i could not have asked for a better experience and i will always treasure the time I had with Molly. She is a bright, beautiful, wonderful kid who is growing up way too fast for my taste! GNm - ILY!
