Las Vegas {Day 1}

For my birthday last month, I told my husband that all I wanted was a trip to Las Vegas to visit my sister. So for President's Day weekend, I took a few days off to spend time with her and her family.

I arrived late on Thursday. Bethany told her children that I wasn't arriving until Friday. She did this so she could get the kids off to school easier. She thought that if they knew Aunt Laurie was already there, they wouldn't cooperate. Getting a 3 year old and a 16 month old out the door is challenge enough!

On Friday morning, Bethany had made reservations for us to go to the newly opened Mob Museum. When I say newly opened, it had only been opened for 2 days.

The museum was designed by the same people who did the Spy museum in Washington DC and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. The building is the historic former federal courthouse and post office. Some important "mob" trials actually took place in the building during the 1950's.

The presentation of displays was very well done. Though not everything was labled, which we were assuming because it was so new. There was lots of history of organized crime in the US, not just about Las Vegas. Though some of my favorite displays were about the history of Las Vegas, such as seen in the photo below.

Bethany was getting a bit tired, so she found this chair to sit on.

After touring the 3rd and 2nd floor, we decided that we needed lunch. The Mob Museum was located right in downtown Las Vegas, so we walked across the street to eat at the Triple George Grill.

Our lunch took a little bit longer than we had anticipated, so we didn't go back to the museum when we were done. There was still one more floor to see, but we will have to save that for another time.

We picked up Beatrix and August from school and spent some time playing with my neice and nephew.


Beatrix and I put together a puzzle. Then almost as soon as we finished, August took it apart.

We played in the backyard. August is a little monkey and loves to climb.

Beatrix rode her trike around.

Peek a boo with Auggie!

Here the kids are swinging on this ornate wooden swing. Bethany's fiance' purchased it at an auction of things belonging to Slash, from Guns N Roses. Here's the link to the actual auction information: https://www.julienslive.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/21/lot/5009/

After dinner and after August was in bed, Bethany & I went to the Red Rock Casino for a Girls Night Out.

 We played some slot machines, but the real purpose of our outing was to play Bingo! Bethany and I have both become addicted to Bingo Blitz on Facebook, so she thought we needed to get out and play real bingo!

It was very satisfying stamping numbers with our daubers! We had a blast, but we did not win.

We didn't stay out very late. It was my first day in Vegas and I wasn't totally adjusted to the 3 hour time change.