December 19, 2009

Father of the Year nominations are now closed.



A few facts about the next few days, along with an inescapable conclusion.

Fact: Two of my best friends are getting married in Las Vegas on Monday.

Fact: They have asked me to take pictures at the event, which I am thrilled to do.

Fact: Julie cannot attend, as she has to work.

Fact: Julie can't watch Schuyler while she works, and school is out for the year.

Fact: Schuyler also turns ten on Monday. (Yeah, I know. Ten.)

CONCLUSION: I will be taking my sweet little girl to Vegas for her birthday.

When Child Protective Services meets us at the airport, I hope they'll help with our luggage.

25 comments:

MelD said...

Have a fabulous trip.

Tobi said...

Awesome! Hope you and Schuyler have a wonderful trip - maybe you'll get to see the amazing aquarium at Mandalay Bay!

Princess Talana said...

Moved to Vegas a week ago, and be at the airport on Monday picking up my early interventionist sister... we'll help you hide Schuyler!

OM said...

I think as long as you don't put the house with her included on RED, you should be fine. (put it all on BLACK, though).

Flygirl1 said...

Have an awesome time. I have heard really good things about the helicopter tours of Vegas (especially at night...pretty lights) if you are looking for a (sadly not cheap) treat for your fly-girl.

T.C.

notanillusion said...

I bet she'd dig on Cirque or something like that. Or Penn and Teller! :-D
Wait, ten?! How in the hell did that happen?!

Barbara from Boston said...

Just remember children to be moving through a casino, they can't stop and look, or visit with family.
Theres a free white tiger show, a huge aquarium and birds flying through a lobby just can't remember what hotels. The dancing musical fountains at Mandalay Bay are a hit, and theres a statue of a purple dragon, i think its at Excalibur.
Also, there are penny slots. Have a grand time.

Barbara from Boston said...

P.S.Also if you rent a car, you can drive to red Rock Canyon where wild burros stick their noses in your vehicle

Elizabeth said...

My parents took us to Vegas in the late seventies as part of a "western tour." We stayed at Caesar's Palace and in our room, alone, while my parents were down at the casino. It just seems so crazy, now that I have kids. Have a wonderful time with your daughter in Sin City.

Omar said...

Two words: seafood buffet!

Two more: double down!

I'm pretty fond of the roller coaster atop New York, New York if that's something Schuyler would be into. It's pretty awesome and gives you a great view of the city.

j. packer said...

Must sees:

MGM Grand Hotel - the Lion exhibit. Some times you can pay to have a picture taken with lion cubs.

Mirage - Siegfried and Roy's dolphin and tiger habitat. $16 per adult, unsure about kids, TOTALLY worth it.

On the far south end of the strip, past the Mandalay Bay is a place that does a simple HOT AIR BALLOON trip - it never really goes anywhere other than straight up, tethered the whole time, so you can go up after dark and take pictures of the whole strip, lit up. No idea on pricing, but we saw it every time we walked outside.

M&M Store, unless there is one of those in your neck of the woods. Also on the strip, across from the New York New York.

Speaking of NYNY - a city inside the hotel, and a really outrageous roller coaster.

And of course Circus Circus has performers as well.

We saw some stunt bike riders on Fremont Street, right as we got to the main street for the amazing light show that they do on the quarter hour.

The forum shops - many if not all of the statues in the atriums, located throughout the place, move and talk at different times of the day, and at the very end of the mall there's an enormous aquarium.

Can you tell we were just there?

Iguana said...

I see a CSI episode in the making...

Shawna said...

What better way to enter the double digits, really?

Suzanne said...

Awww, I went with my parents in the 70's when I was 7. I don't know how I knew, but I taught my mom how to play slots and the security guard came rushing over to move me away from the gaming area. I've been back many times since, but I will always remember going as a little girl - the glittering lights and excitement - Circus Circus especially. Schuyler will take the good parts and probably won't even notice the old business men with surprisingly young and attractive dates. ;-)

Solcat said...

I took Rymer to Vegas for his 7th birthday to see Sigur Ros, he loved it (too much, he asked why we can't move to Vegas) And no, CPS weren't waiting for us at the venue ;)

Keith Wilcox said...

HAHAHA. I had to stop in Vegas for two days when my kids were 4 and 5. Needless to say, we didn't do much except hang out at the pool

7th House Doula said...

Well as long as she can count to 21...

I went with my parents to Reno when we were kids. Yay, Circus Circus! The last time I was in Vegas I collected hooker business cards... Probably not a fun hobby for Schuyler though.

-Katrina

Nancy in Calif. said...

Oh, piddle on wimpy hot air balloon rides, or slightly less wimpy helo rides. Take her indoor skydiving. No age limit, she has to be between 40 and 160 lbs, easy peasy. (Think vertical wind tunnel with foam walls and a trampoline floor.)

And yeah, what MelD said. Have a fabulous trip. See a show (go blank on the ticket prices, it will ease the pain). Watch the volcano erupt and the pirates fight.

Jeanine said...

I'm pretty sure 10 is the target demographic for much of Vegas these days.

Anonymous said...

One note about the NYNY casino -- whoever saw to the decorating and planning on the inside had a level of attention to detail that completely freaked me out. There are just so many visual references to New York city proper I was boggling -- the Times Square zipstrip, the "Imagine" mosaic in the fake "Central Park", "Gray's Papaya" types of hotdog stands -- even a fake apartment with a "no menus please" sign fashioned from an actual, genuine takeout menu from an actual Greenwich Village Chinese takeout place.

No Empire State building, though, I don't think, so this many not have the same appeal for Schulyer...

KimHewes said...

Take girlfriend to the observation deck atop the Eiffel Tower at Paris. Panoramic view of the whole strip and the mountains.

And she'd probably LOVE the pirate show at Treasure Island. Matter of fact, I know she would!

sndmaven said...

Happy Birthday Schuyler! Have fun in Vegas... and I absolutely agree on the indoor skydiving. I've never felt so amazing in my whole life :)
- your birthday buddy, Jennifer the Producer from Boston/NYC/DC... you are 10 and I am 40... you're going to have more fun than I will, I suspect :)

Navi said...

happy late birthday! she shares one with me, though I'm 21 yrs older (I found you on twitter, from @bubblygrl)

Heather said...

I'm jealous. When I turned ten, I got a doll.

Erin_NV said...

There's some good advice in the comments, and also bad advice. IE - do not take her to the double down. it's a 24 punk bar that YOU will love. SHE, however, will not make it past the Happiest Place on Earth Sign. DO take her to Circus Circus's Adventure Dome, on the strip (on the north end). She will love it. Also, one evening, go down to the Fremont Street Experience and watch the light shows above your head. They are fun & free.