Las Vegas Days 7 & 8

After the fun of Sky Zone, I wasn't sure our planned day at The Adventuredome could compete. But since it was connected to our hotel, and we desperately needed a slower day, we figured we'd give it a try.

And so on that note...it was okay. Well, Ryan LOVED it, but that was because its more geared toward either little kids...or daredevil adults. Keni was blocked from at least 3-4 rides  for being 'too big,' and Ryan and Riki were 'too small' to go on other rides that Keni wanted to go on. This made it impossible to find a ride that all three of them could go on. (It makes you appreciate the thought behind other theme parks like Disney...which although expensive, are at least well planned/carefully thought out.)

It also didn't help that the hotel deviously packs the theme park with attractions that are NOT included in your daily admission, which means you hear a lot of begging throughout the day to go on the climbing wall ($8 per kid), a trampoline ($8/kid), one of three 4-D shows ($8 each), mini golf ($8)...carnival games ($1-5 each), arcade games ($1 each), etc. You get the idea.  It can easily all add up to more than double the price of each admission ticket if you were to indulge each plea.

Still...are these grins not worth it?

One of the 3-4 circus acts we managed to catch at the hotel. We thought they'd be over the shows since they'd just taken them to see a visiting circus a few nights earlier (in HI), but no. Apparently circus acts are fun every day of the week.

The big hit of the day...laser tag!!! Ryan was the tiniest participant...he couldn't even lift the vest over his body. But boy did he LOVE it.

The cousins...heading out for their third and final night on The Strip.

The Venetian

The newly revamped volcano show at the Mirage was waaaay better than we expected. Think large hot, fireballs and tribal drumming. Awesomeness. I think my hair is still singed. 

The pretend version of my favorite city on Earth- Venice.

It's a much brighter, cleaner version, not to mention closer...so it will have to do for now. :-)

Lady Gaga (I didn't notice the boob grabbing by Keni until later...Ryan said he was just trying to touch her hair) at Madame Tussaud's.

The last day...

Riki shaving before heading home with his newly purchased shaving kit. (Notice the toilet seat up in the background? I wasn't kidding, that thing wasn't down once in 8 days.)

We promised the boys ONE Vegas buffet...so we went to the one that will forever remind me of my Grandmother since this place was her home away from home- The Cal's Paradise Breakfast Buffet!

Obviously the circus shows both in Kona before we left, and at Circus Circus made an impression on Ryan. Here he is the next day posing on the garage storage furniture (a surprise for daddy) shipment. I asked him what on Earth he was doing and he said  'circus poses.' Silly me.

Our trip ended not with a bang, but a sputter, as we didn't touch ground on the Big Island until after 2am our time (and we'd checked out of our hotel at 8:30am that morning to begin the looooong crazy journey home that has us in four states in one day). Again, this was a deeply satisfying experience and we have to put out a huuuuge Mahalo to all those who helped us in some way- my Mom and Dad, Joey, Jon and Mika, Kay, Aunty Pat and Uncle Clyde and Aunty Lori. I don't care what everybody else says about you guys- you guys are da best! ;-)

I know that we're land locked for a bit (a little over 3 months). This will give us time to tighten up the purse strings until we head far east to return to my 'other' Mother Land...China. A place where everyone is very meekly quiet, respects personal space and really, not very populated. :-)

Rich and I in the Forbidden City many years ago...where I was much younger, meatier and sweatier.  Please take note of the attractive bangs and acid-washed jean shorts. The cassette audio player purse I am sporting truly completes this classy look, don't you agree?