Pictures of our Christmas Togetherness Fun

After my brother informed me that he never actually reads our blog (he can't be bothered to read so he just looks at the pictures), I told him I'd do a post from the trip that was primarily just pictures, so he didn't have to strain his eyes or brain too much. Here's some of my favorites from our trip, with as little text explaining them as possible, just for Uncle Johnny.

Christmas Eve, after mass, I wanted to do a family photo. Drew went to great lengths to try to avoid this, which is unusual of him. He ran around the house hiding and screaming "Don't take my picture Mommy." So I, of course, took his picture until he giggled his way out of his little fit.

Here he is trying to blend in with the presents.


And here he is hiding under one of my parents' end tables.


He finally gave in and we got our family photo.


Christmas morning: Drew playing with his new airplane and trying his hardest to use the remote to stop the plane at the very top of the loop each time.


Aunt Katie and Drew patiently awaiting present time.


Drew & Uncle John are ready for presents...is it time yet?


Another family photo...Bill secretly loves it. Don't let him tell you different.


Oh no, Uncle Johnny has trapped Drew in the tickle hold!


Finally, it's present time! Drew is thrilled by removing Grandma's wrapping paper and bringing it over to the garbage bag. Drew enjoyed helping others unwrap their presents as much as he enjoyed his own. And fortunately for Santa's elves, Drew liked passing out the presents so much that he was willing, for the most part, to wait until all the presents were unwrapped before requesting to open his new toys.


Grandpa and Drew work on one of Drew's puzzle books


Drew and Mommy have built a train track so big that Drew can sit inside it!


John concentrates on one of Drew's new puzzles


One morning we thought we'd take a brief trip down memory lane and revisit the Excalibur where we stayed on a family vacation to Vegas my junior or senior year of high school. My siblings and cousins and I spent hours in the Arcade, riding on Merlin's Magic Motion Ride, and enjoying big hot dogs and nachos at the closest snack bar. Our new trip to Excalibur only partially lived up to the hype of our memories. The Magic Motion Ride was far more expensive than we remembered and had added the 3D experience (see Drew's glasses).

The arcade was mostly similar, but now that we're 21 we were more interested in spending our money on different kinds of games. And perhaps most disappointing was that the snack bar with our beloved big hot dogs and nachos was nowhere to be found. We ended up having lunch at a restaurant in one of the casinos near my parents' house, where they conveniently had Keno available in the restaurant. Drew and his love for numbers were in heaven. Each time a new game started Drew would yell out all the numbers that lit up.

This is a boy that is ready to drive around looking at Christmas lights.

There were some really beautifully decorated homes in my parents' community. Drew was very impressed. There were also a few places that looked, in my opinion, like Christmas had thrown up on them...there's such a thing as too much people! I thought about driving around a second time to take pictures of my least favorites and do a post on the Top 10 Worst Decorated Houses, but I ultimately decided that was a little Grinch-ish of me.

My parents' friends invited us over for brunch one morning and Miss Joyce was kind enough to share some bread crumbs with Drew to throw to the ducks on the other side of their fence. Here Uncle John and Drew load up their hands.

Drew & Daddy at the Bellagio Conservatory's Christmas display. Drew was far more interested in checking out the water arches than he was in looking at the camera.

Aunt Katie & Drew in front of Bellagio's Christmas tree

Drew & Mommy in front of huge rocking horse

Drew points out the big Christmas tree to Grandpa

Drew with Grandma & Grandpa in the Conservatory

Grandma & Drew in front of huge Bellagio Christmas tree

Family shot in front of Santa's sleigh

Making our parents proud with our big drinks from outside the Paris.

Drew on New Year's Eve showing us his excited face

Family shot before New Year's Eve dinner


We had to be sure we got a picture of Drew with Grandma & Grandpa on New Year's Eve, because on Christmas Eve my dad was feeling pretty ill and didn't even make it to mass with us. So pictures were pretty much not an option.

Uncle John, Drew, & Aunt Katie on New Year's Eve

Group shot on New Year's Eve

Drew amused himself at New Year's Eve dinner by typing into the notepad on Aunt Katie's new phone

On New Year's Eve, Bill, John, John's roommate Sydney (who came in for a couple of days) and I went down to the Fremont Street Experience for a multi-stage tribute band concert (including a very talented U2 cover band), several Viva Vision light shows (http://www.vegasexperience.com/), fireworks at midnight, and some gambling in Binion's Casino. There was even an Elvis sighting!

John & Sydney show off their boots of beer.

Not the best picture in the world, but it was the only one we took and I had to have evidence that we actually went out and celebrated New Year's Eve.

On New Year's Day Katie, John, Sydney, Bill and I went to the Beatles Love Cirque de Soleil show. No photos allowed, but even if they had been I'm not sure I would have known what direction to point the camera in. There was so much going on I didn't know where to look half the time. But it was an amazing show...highly recommend it if you're ever in Vegas.

The End: Hope it wasn't too wordy for you Johnny.