Four Aces, Food, and FastDancing in Vegas

A few weeks ago Kyle and I went to Las Vegas. Our last trip to Vegas in April 2008 was chronicled here. In fact, the first trip was our very first trip away from little Johnny B. On both occasions this work-cation has been sponsored by Kyle's job since the reason he goes is for a conference. I just pay my airfare and tag along. The conference was at The Venetian this year but unfortunately we waited too long and the hotel prices there were a little over the top. We ended up staying at the Mandarin Oriental in the new City Center complex. Apparently this sucker is a $9 billion endeavor (that's billion with a "B"). Yikes that's a lot of money for a new Vegas super-complex being built in a bad economy.

So we're not big gamblers but Kyle and I enjoy a round or two (or twenty) of Blackjack. I usually watch and let Kyle do the playing and the fast addition. However, I took over the playing at one point and a bizarre thing happened. Clueless me was dealt 4 Aces and under the direction of my husband and the dealer and the other players at the table I "split" the Aces (I know I'm getting way technical here for most people--even me) So this means instead of playing 1 hand, I was playing 4 at one time and had the minimum bet on each hand and the dealer busted so I won all 4 hands! I quadroupled my money all at once. CRA-ZAY! Now this was like someone did a hand-waving jujitsu move in my face and shoved money at me instead of socking me in the gut like last time.

After our big win and quitting while we were ahead, Sunday night Kyle and I went to TAO restaurant again. This place is so yummy. I told Kyle that I had been dreaming about the yellowfin sushi rolls we ate there 2 years ago and they better not disappoint me after all this time. We ordered them again and they were just as wonderful as I imagined. Yes, they were that memorable...weird that I have been craving those for 2 years.

Then later Sunday night Kyle and I went to a club...yes, I said a cluuuub. Like a fast-dancing-shake-yo-booty-Vegas-style club. There was a work event being sponsored at XS Nightclub so we thought we'd check it out....Why not? It's for work! And we could possibly be persuaded to "fastdance" (a term that had been lost in the recesses of my high school vocabulary which my husband used in such a casual everyday way that I laughed for maybe 15 minutes when Kyle mentioned that he didn't really "fast dance" in high school but did so later in life....ah yes, the art of fastdancing). I would like the record to state that Kyle and I fastdanced for precisely 7 minutes until my blistered-feet-in-4-inch-heels and my 1-AM-Texas-time told me I was losing momentum fast. At about the same time Kyle determined he needed to shelf his fastdance moves since he didn't "stretch out" first. Not kidding. The old fogeys enjoyed our few minutes dancing in the 2010 #1 Nightclub in America and headed home to hit the sack.

I got to sleep late Monday morning...that would be 9:30 AM, which was really 11:30 AM TX time. I can't believe that, but I did....I was zonked. Kyle had to hit his conference all day on Monday. I was on my own so I did a lot of walking and taking pictures at The Bellagio, one of my favorite places to just sit and look at things, flowers, people, fountains, whatever. The atrium there is so beautiful. I bought tickets to see Jersey Boys on my own that night. I was warned about 3 different times before I purchased my tickets that there would be "authentic Jersey language". Thank you...at least I was very prepared for the potty mouths but the music and story were really good. I enjoyed the show.

Tuesday Kyle was done with his conference by lunchtime. We walked around some more and after a big decision on whether to see Cirque de Soleil's Mystere or Cher in concert we ended up with Mystere. The acrobatics were very cool. I enjoyed the show but the music was a little scary-ish and alien, maybe a little evil sounding to me but it was a great show too.

All in all I think Vegas is good enough for a once a year visit on the company's dime. If anyone cares about my ratings, the best hotels I would recommend to check out (not based on rooms-I have only stayed at The Wynn and Mandarin Oriental) are The Bellagio, The Wynn/Encore, The Venetian, The Palazzo, and Caesar's Palace for the shopping.

Here are the 2010 Vegas Pictures!

Anna's 1 Year Photos

Dianna from Karelle Photography took John's 1 year pictures almost 2 years ago so I was excited to get her back to take Anna's 1 year pictures. Enjoy the pics here!

The day wouldn't be complete without a little drama from the mama. When we put the cake in front of her she started gagging like we were giving her poison. We were all puzzled by the dramatic reaction to birthday cake. We finally took it away because just the sight of the little cake was making her dry heave terribly. I thought she might puke her insides all over herself and the cake. Dianna kindly stopped taking pictures while the gagging was taking place but I kinda wish we had a video of it...bizarre-O

The Secret Garden

One of John and Kyle's past times is doing yard work. Now that it is light later in the evening John and Kyle can usually be found outside watering the plants, pulling weeds, or planting spring flowers. A month ago they started a garden project. They planted peas, carrots, spinach, lettuce, and potatoes. They also planted some basil and rosemary. Our oregano and chives from last year are still going strong.

So I present to you a photo diary of the Farmers Bethancourt:

Transferring some plants to a new pot

 Gotta give 'em some water, then wait for 'em to grow...

A few days after planting the seedlings in the garden (March 7th)

March 10th....a little taller....

And overnight (really a month later on April 10th) the garden seemed to mysteriously sprout BIG! (kinda like John?)

Check out my peas!

The peas.....

Spinach.....

Potatoes.....

THE HARVEST!!! (APRIL 14TH)

Resident Quality Control Inspectress Anna rolled up in her very official red car.....making sure there are no signs of E. Coli on this spinach farm

A inconspicuous hug bribe from the farmer...yep, we passed inspection

Farmers Bethancourt delight in their harvest blessing of spinach! Complete with an Aggie Gig' Em!

And here is the fruits of our labor.  A beautiful home-grown spinach salad with goat cheese, walnuts, blueberries, and raspberry vinigarette dressing...YUM!

Can you spot John's "salad". The lil farmer wasn't too interested in eating his spinach but, oh well, spinach is somewhat of an acquired taste. I'll give him a pass...
 

Some photos of our "knockout" rose bushes. Now, I have a "black" thumb. Pretty much any plant I touch is toast but I think these knockout roses are the easiest rose to grow. I highly recommend them. We hardly do anything to keep them alive except the occasional watering. And I always pick a few to put in bud vases around the house. Seeing these beauties makes me smile :)

Easter 2010

As I prepared the blog for this Easter I thought about the contrast from last year. Anna was only a few weeks old and I remember getting her dolled up in her Easter dress and taking tons of pictures of her. This year she was already a year old!

We had a small gathering of family over and John did a little Easter egg hunt around the house since it was wet outside. Here he is opening a coveted chocolate egg with a VERY big smile....

We managed to get a quick family picture to commemorate the event despite the squirmy kids!

A funny memory of this Easter is that at one point John was trying to say "He is risen" but instead said "He's a Raisin" (I don't think our Texas accents are THAT obvious?!)

Well, despite it being several weeks late, I hope you had a blessed Easter....

Potty Training: Not For the Faint of Heart

Thus begins the saga of potty training. Something I have been dreading since John was 10 months old and I sat waiting for my Body Pump class to start at the YMCA overhearing a gang of 4 women lamenting the burdens and struggles of potty training their kids. I decided then this would probably be one of the worst parts of parenting.

Because of that traumatizing conversation I have not been one to really push this theme. Changing diapers (to me) is way easier than scouring every place I go for the nearest restroom and keeping one nervous eye on my child. I'm really ok with diapers and at this age you don't have to change too many poopy ones per day.

My pediatrician and many other friends have suggested that boys tend to be ready around age 3 and with Anna being in the 0-12 month range this past year I just let the whole thing slide......until recently.

Now that someone with the initials J and T and B is about to turn three (in May) I have noticed that most activities require kids to be potty trained so I am more interested in getting this thing knocked out.....especially before the next school year.

I was recently lamenting with a friend that we wished we could take our kids to some "potty specialist" and have them housebroken for us. How wonderful would that be? Call me lazy but I would pay for that. Now I am no potty training expert so I am definitely not advertising anything that I do because I don't know what I'm doing, friends. I don't at all. This is fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants style. And the Number One issue is still quite a problem. Lots and lots of accidents here.

I haven't gone the "no diapers in the house" route. No siree. There are still plenty of diapers around. We use them when we go out and at nap time and pretty much any other time we're not at home doing nothing. We have let him run around the house in underwear. The problem with this is that he doesn't like to wear just underwear with no shorts (easier clean up for me). So the other day I had to convince him to go sans pants by taking off my own pants. We hung out in our t-shirts and underroos together. Hey, it worked. And thankfully no Fed-Ex or Orkin man or neighbor came to the door to question our minimal attire.

Where we have made progress is the Number Two arena. This one has been easier and I am so thankful I haven't had to clean up that kind of mess.....yet.

I bid you farewell and a ceremonious salute as I march onward for the cause of acheiving diaper freedom!

Anna's Birthday Party

I'm a week late on this post but here it finally is....pictures and all....

Anna's birthday was last Saturday. However, she and I started partying the Friday before. Kyle had gone to an overnight retreat Friday night and John went on an overnight sleepover in College Station with Mamaw and Grandpa. So it was just us girls and we decided to do some antiquing and junk rummaging at Heights Antiques and The Guild Shop, respectively.


On the morning of her birthday I went into Anna's room singing Happy Birthday (by myself since everone was gone) and she clapped wildly for me....after she woke up a bit....initially, not too impressed by my singing, I gather??



Then we went out to my car to pick up her homemade cupcakes from the Dessert Diva, my friend Gwendolyn. Flat tire. AH! This totally threw off my plans and pinched me for time but it all worked out.

In the end, Anna had a modest gathering of family over for her 1st birthday. The spread included Chick-fil-A nuggets, chicken salad croissant sandwiches, a green salad, a fruit salad, cheese and crackers......


......and delectable amaretto flavored cupcakes by the lovely Gwendolyn.




Besides these store-bought hydrangeas the tablescape decor was provided courtesy of my sweet little garden and rose bushes....
Love. my. rose. bush-ezzzzzzzz!

perfect!

The birthday girl had all her naps in so she was in a fairly good mood. She was a little wary of all the people smothering her with so much attention....

...literally smothering her with love and attention.....

......John, however, had no problem with the attention.....

....Anna warmed up to my Aunt Rosy while sporting her feather boa.....

...birthday girl hated the cupcake....although crying was a better reaction than the previous day when Dianna the Photographess took pictures of her with a birthday cake (more on that story in another post).

.....see, not too bad once you taste it and you don't have 50 eyes staring at you....

Anna opening her Madame Alexander doll from Granny and Papaw.

Happy 1st Birthday, Anna Love!

Anna with her Mamaw and Grandpa...she's a serious one

Toenail Tradgedy & Door-Locking Drama

Well, we've had a few "incidents" lately.

This first story may give you goosebumps so consider yourself warned:

A few days ago John and Kyle were at the back door and John was holding the door shut while Kyle was trying to get in. It started out playful but I guess John let go and Kyle pushed too hard and as Kyle opened the door he took John's toenail off with it. Yes, it was bleeding and basically hinged at the nail bed. Totally dangly and all. Ew! Ugh! I know you're probably shuddering right now. Sorry for that visual. It was a MAJOR YUCKFEST in person. Anyways, we have a doctor-in-residency down the street so Kyle ran down to his house to ask what we should do and Will told Kyle if it was really bad to rip it off. EEEEWWWWW!!!!!!!!! We didn't do that because as we put pressure on it to stop the bleeding it laid back down in place and we cleaned it with hydrogen peroxide and slapped a Band Aid on the sucker. Will came for a house call a few minutes later and said it would probably fall off once the new nail starts growing in so just keep it covered. Nice. It hasn't bothered John much since then so I'm hoping since his toes are small and his toenails are even smaller this saga will be over soon.

So on to the next "incident"....Friday morning I left the house very early headed to the Round Top Antique Fair for the day. Kyle was in charge of the kiddos. I got a call at 9 AM from Kyle saying that John had closed our bedroom door and locked himself in. Wonderful. Now, I changed all our round door knobs to oil rubbed bronze levers when we moved in. I know those locks well since I installed a bazillion of them but I had a hard time explaining to Kyle over the phone how to disassemble them and apparently the non-locking side had no screws underneath the rosette. Our neighbor was home and Kyle was able to get him to help figure out how to undo the sucker. Doug told me today the assembly was like that of an exterior door locking mechanism and it took a while to get open. So John got in big trouble for that little trick. Now he recounts the story this way: "I stuck in Mommy and Daddy's room, Daddy couldn't open it but Mr. Doug saved me!"