here and there around Vegas

It was hard deciding how many pictures to post. There is so many neat things in Vegas. This is taken by the Bellagio fountains. One of our favorite things to watch. The Paris Hotel is behind us. You can see the Eiffel tower which is half the size of the actual tower.

People has asked about London's blue eyes - she gets them from her father.

This is inside Caesar's Place shopping area. This is the entrance to FAO Schwartz - the toy store is three levels. I think this picture shows some of the grandness of how HUGH everything is.

Only in Vegas would you see escalators that are curved to fit the decor.

These plant ladies were at the Venetian. They were very graceful while walking on stilts. I thought they were beautiful.

Bellagio Hotel

Inside the Bellagio's garden area.

Happy Birthday Jerry

Today is my little brother's birthday. I wish that we could be with you to help celebrate. He literally lives across the country in Washington DC. We miss spending time with you and hope to see you soon. Have a fantastic day in whatever you do! Love Jenni

From Russ: Happy Birthday Jerry - hope you have a great birthday and don't drink too much.

London sends her love - by blowing kisses to you. (her newest trick)

Truman and Nixon say - MEOW

Sites of Las Vegas

Our Las Vegas trip was the much needed break away from life in Kansas. I will start out with our hotel - The Venetian. This is the most wonderful place. It is beautiful facility and they have practically everything you could imagine. It was a piece of heaven away from the chaotic strip. The grounds are very serene and peaceful, staff catered to your every need, shopping, restaurants and so on. . .

The front of the Venetian

This is our suite, approximately 700 sq. feet.

This is actually inside the hotel in the canal the shopping area. They also have gondola rides out in the front of the hotel.

This is the ceiling between the hotel foyer and casino.

We had a beautiful view of a garden with a pool and tub.

This is where I would pick to get married.

The Venetian is gorgeous and one of my favorite hallways to walk down on the way to our suite was along this garden/pool area. The inside the walls were lined with gas lanterns. Thank you John and Liz for introducing us to your little piece of heaven in Vegas.

Viva Las Vegas

Vegas here we come . . . . thanks to some good friends, they have graciously invited us (we are going kicking and screaming ha ha) to with them to Vegas this weekend. I am very excited and can't wait to get away. Russ and I have not had a chance to get away alone for a very long time and it will be a chance to move forward in our lives. Just pray that we have a safe trip and that London does well being away from us for a couple days. This will be the first time for her to spend several days without us. She is staying with an aunt and some friends. I know she will have fun packed days with them and just pray that she sleeps well at night. She seems to have trouble adjusting to different places at night. Hope you all have a great weekend also, and I am sure there will be many great pictures from the weekend.

I Did Not Sign Up for This. . .

Who signed me up for this??

I know that when I married Russ - I did say the words "for better or for worse"

It is tough enough being a stepmother but this??

Loosing a stepchild - wasn't part of what I signed up for at all!

As a new mother - right now the most difficult thing for me to accept (and this may be selfish) is that my daughter, London will not remember her wonderful older brother, Konley. How unfair is that to a child? She will learn about Konley, who he was and all the things he enjoyed and how much he really loved her in the first 15 months of her life. Konley was soooo excited to be a big brother. He has always been the baby - never thought that he would have a chance to be an older sibling. I am thankful that London joined our family when she did - she gave this opportunity to Konley that no one else could of done. Even though it was a very short period - he loved her and she loved him to the fullest and I thank Konley for loving her as he did and teaching her the little things that he could.

Konley being a big brother

kisses

she watched him play soccer - this was after his last game

he loved putting her in the bag of his walker and taking her around the block for a walk

another crazy ride

introduced her to the Memphis Redbirds

reading stories at St. Jude

He was so excited when London came to St. Jude with him. He had to take her all around the first night and the next day to show her everything he loved about St. Jude.

towards the end he just wanted to hold, touch and kiss her

Thank you Konley for loving her.