Vegas Family Vacay

Awhile ago, as in June, a family known as mine went to Las Vegas for a good ol' fashioned family vacation. I am sure you can picture it…organized travelers, perfect weather, getting to the airport early, no rushing to our flights…..

WRONG! First there was a torrential downpour that soaked me while trying to pick up some sandwiches pre-airport. 

Then we had to get all these bags checked  (if you look closely, you can see above that is the curbside line of people out of control because of rain delays earlier in the day). Plus get the car parked. Plus get wheelchairs. And of course we were on time. <insert major sarcasm>

And who came to the rescue? None other than my little sister. …I still sit here in shock months later. Dad and I parked cars and she got all boarding passes, all bags checked and we headed straight to security.

And upon arrival, Dad gave up trying to figure out taxis and got a limo. In Las Vegas there is a limo line and a taxi line which is very convenient for people like us traveling with an army of family.

After we had arrived and checked-in, the three of us headed downstairs at The Bellagio to get To-Go food for dinner.  As you can see by our drinks, we weren't just going to sit there waiting for food without entertaining ourselves.

Monday night (unknown to Kristina or me) kicked off the beginning of the double vacation Kristina and I were on that week in Las Vegas. Family Vacation by day….and sister Vegas vacation by night….

Night 1: Kristina and I hit up Marquee Nightclub at the Cosmo….the next morning I got up early to share coffee with Papa….let's not judge my appearance. Then after about 4 hours we finally made it down to the pool….it only took a few fights and an act of Congress...but we were on our way….

The Bellagio has lots of pools. Lots of beautiful and amazing pools. It is also approximately 115 degrees in Las Vegas so you don't want to do anything but spend the entire day in the a/c or in a giant pool of water. Once we finally made it down there, it was amazing. 

For the next few pictures please just sing the words "I'm so fancy….you already know…."

And then after dinner…..it was sister Vegas vacation night 2 at Hyde at Bellagio:

Imagine being eye level with the fountains, behind a huge glass opposite side of the strip. You can feel the wind as the fountains dance. It's also funny that while everyone else on The Strip is watching this set to the tunes of Frank Sinatra you are listening to the tunes of Usher. 

And that brings us to Wednesday morning and another day of family vacation: 

This quickly became our ritual…morning coffee, splitting a cherry danish with Papa….and for me also Tylenol.  

Later in the day Wednesday, we decided to venture down The Strip to the Venetian. To say we looked like a parade would be an understatement….

That plus a hungry sister who can.not.function. when she is hungry had us all in lovely moods by the time we made it to lunch at The Venetian….

In the family…a little food and a lot of wine goes a long way….

The best part though was when my Dad got tired of us. Not a joke.  After we took the family picture, he started talking to the table next to us. It all started so innocently with Dad saying "so where you guys from…" and 10 minutes later I was snapping photos to document the evidence. <That is my Dad in the middle in the dark blue shirt>

One of the funniest moments though was when Kristina and Papa decided to wander along pretending to be part of a tour group….they totally blended in well don't you think?

Then began Night 3 of Vegas Vacation:

Fizz Champagne Lounge which is one of my favorite places in Las Vegas. Gregg and I discovered this little gem during our visit last December.

Then we spent Thursday, our last full day, wandering around with a lot of ridiculousness: 

 Kristina jamming out in the O souvenir shop.

And then there was her big production in the Shania Twain gift shop…

A little Grandpa-Granddaughter gambling at Caesar's Palace  

And after watching the Spurs win the finals we had our own finale to our Sister Vegas vacation week Thursday night at Encore Beach Club:

When people ask how our vacation was I tell them "it was a nonstop circle of we love each other, we are having the best time, we want to kill each other, we are all fighting, we are eating, we are drinking, we are laughing, we love each other" and so on and so on…." 

These people are crazy but these are my people. 

The LC & AW Summit 2014

In honor of Memorial Day weekend and my proud to be American pride, I thought it was time for my long awaited DC trip recap. Long awaited by who? I have no idea but out there I know someone has long waited for this.

Background: I have these two friends, LC and JC who I met studying abroad in Europe during the summer of 2005. We were a ridiculous trio who became friends together while we wandered the streets of Europe, in between important study abroad activities. JC was the scholar. LC kept us in line. I was there to distract and make everyone dumber. It really had the precise makings of an excellent friendship.

One minute JC would be sitting in conference rooms asking big dignitaries questions I seriously did not understand...and the next minute he was outside participating in a money pouch photo shoot with yours truly:

Because if you studied abroad, you know exactly what an under your clothes money pouch is from back in the day of travelers checks, currency and whatnot.

 Then I went on a search for the perfect hat for Paris. And I mean I searched and I searched. Guess who was there in every H&M along the way providing her feedback and approval, LC. 

You know you have found your bff soulmate when they will not only help you search for the hat but then completely approve as you journey to the Eiffel Tower wearing it. 

Fast forward to 2012: LC and JC got married. At some point way later, I am talking a la 2008, they decided they liked each other. For the record I secretly and I do mean secretly thought they'd end up together eventually and what do you know, I was right.

Now they live in DC. JC moved there in March 2010 and LC moved there in August 2010. Less than a week later she was back in Texas for my bachelorette party. Again, another story for another day.

But they have lived there for now four years and I have not been to see them one time. Not one time. And that's just not okay. Especially because I love DC. So I decided no more excuses. No more Gregg in an MBA program. It was time to commit and head East!

****

To begin I was pretty excited that I would be arriving right in the midst of cherry blossom season. Upon arrival I was ready for the frolicking and picture snapping and as I was greeted curbside by LC she said, Snap a picture of that one because it's the only one you are going to see.

Apparently I was ONE week too early. So. Freaking. Typical.

It was also dreary and rainy and honestly I could care less. First of all I had been awake since about 4:30am for my flight and second, I have been to DC in a very touristy way. This was more parts reunion with DC as a background. Don't get me wrong, a huge bonus background, but still a background.

We finished the evening the way all former roomies and best friends should finish the evening regardless of what city you are in...

Wine & Cheese

Reality TV

And forcing JC to make me a cookie cake

Because nothing says happy Early 30th Birthday like this right here. Disclaimer, JC is quite the chef/baker/master of all things in the kitchen. I did not exactly have to twist his arm for this deliciousness. 

Here's the great thing about visiting LC & JC....these people are both equally my friends because we all met each other as friends together. So visiting them is like the trifecta of reunions. It's quite perfection.

Saturday I woke up only to discover JC working on his home brew as in home brewing beer...his new hobby. Because as LC said, it makes perfect sense that in their cozy townhouse they have room for an entire home beer brewing operation on the landing of the 2nd floor:

I mean do not even ask me what any of this is.

JC realized he needed some new brewing part so he dropped LC and I off at the monuments and met back up with us later. My only request was I need to see Lincoln and lo and behold here he is looking dapper as ever:

After this LC and I witnessed a real life motorcade and JC nearly unfriended us in real life when he found out we'd taken pictures...AND video. Allow me to demonstrate how much I am afraid of JC's patriotism:

Motorcade

Apaprently if you look on instagram with #POTUS you can actually find all the other people out there who JC should be mad at too. Then I stumbled upon this other gem of a patriotic hashtag #PODUS and life with JC and LC has yet to be the same since.

During Senior Awards for Pi Phi, I was voted Most Likely To Be First Lady of the US. Gregg has totally ruined this dream for me so now here I sit on the outside of the gates.

We headed to Georgetown for lunch I got to see a DC protest while JC was stuck in traffic trying to park the car. I was yelling stand up for your liberty and JC was just yelling.

And because I am their favorite Catholic ever, they took me to this great amazing Catholic place I cannot remember the name. Catholic Basillica? I just texted LC and JC- it is the Basillica of the Immaculate Conception. Sounds much better than my version. Amen.

That evening we headed down to Alexandria, Virginia for a little outdoor shopping, sightseeing and eating. It is such a cute town area. While intensely debating the purchase of a scarf LC snapped these lovely gems:

Do I want the scarf?

I'm still trying to decide if I want the scarf and now I think someone is staring at me.

What the heck! Boom. Here it is in the flesh. The infamous "Analisa look." And this attitude is the majority of the reason LC and I are friends.

At dinner while LC and I split a bottle of wine, Mr. Home Brew taste tested/stole ideas.

 

We can drive this guy crazier than anyone else on earth in the shortest amount of time on earth possible...especially with nonsensical historical questions. This is why he named my trip the LC & AW Summit 2014.

Cobblestone streets.

A beautiful sunset but sad to see because it meant the weekend was over.

Even though I didn't see the flowers, I did see the Cherry Blossom Festival fireworks. I swear DC is the only place you can just wander around and find fireworks. Well that and probably Vegas.

It was cold. Like really cold.

And because the weekend would not have been complete without a blind taste test:

Which one did John brew? Which one did he brew last week? And which one did the store brew? I've never felt so much pressure in my life.

This post doesn't even do justice how much fun I had and how thankful I am to these two for a wonderful weekend! They are my best friends and I am so lucky to have inserted myself into their married life forever!  I am already counting down to my next adventure to see them!

#PODUS