Waterslides and the Las Vegas Strip

We will be spending the day in Las Vegas today with our friends.  The kids started off the day with some crafts.  Morgan hasn't crafted in over a week so she was itching to get out the scissors and glue.  The little kids were excited to join in.

Waterslides were on the agenda for the day today.  We all headed over to Ron and Hayley's community pool and water park.  We had a blast!  The pool is huge and there is a water playground with slides.  We all went down the slides over and over like a bunch of kids.

Hot tub selfie

We stayed at the pool for a long time until it was time to go back and get cleaned up for the night.  Ron and Hayley had arranged for a sitter to come watch all the kids while we went to the Strip to watch a Vegas show. 

We had dinner first at a Mexican restaurant and then headed to the Strip.  We parked at the Paris casino and walked to our show at the MGM Grand.  We saw the Circ de Soleil show, Ka.  It was very good.  I don't think any of us completely followed the story line, but the acrobatics and staging were amazing.  There were several parts when I simultaneously thought I could watch them do this forever, but I also really thought they should stop because they were surely about to have a terrible accident.  One charlie horse and that girl was doomed.  Luckily, they pulled it off beautifully and it was amazing to watch.

These guys were up on a platform above the entrance to the show.  They were playing music on these strings that were stretched across the atrium.  It was impressive.

After the show, we walked back down the strip to our car.  It is Saturday night and everyone was out.  This was my very first time to see the Las Vegas Strip or go inside a Vegas casino.  It was every bit the spectacle that I have heard about. 

As a person whose experience with Vegas consists of walking up and down the street twice and passing through 2 casinos, here is my impression.  The Strip was like Times Square meets a fancy resort meets a Miami nightclub meets a Mexican tourist trap.  Where Olaf stands on one corner and showgirls on the next.  And many parts smelled like the bathroom of the smokers' lounge.  The casinos reminded me of a giant Dave & Busters, but adults only. 

I really did enjoy seeing the sights and I'm glad to have had this experience with Vegas (albeit very small), but it certainly didn't suck me in.  Maybe I missed the best part?  The show was really good so I would do that part again. 

We saw Excalibur, where Rodney stayed with his family when he was a kid.

The light show was happening across the street at the Bellagio.

The kids did great with the sitter while we were away.  It was a great night for everyone.  Thanks to Ron and Hayley for planning a great time!