Vegas Day 2: Pool Time, 1st Brazilian Steakhouse and Cirque!

Better late than never, right? I really tried to get this uploaded last night...go figure that the biggest, most expensive hotel/resort that we are staying at also had the crappiest wifi. Anywho...

Another awesome day in Vegas. If you've never been, you have to go, with kids if you have them. So. Much. Fun. Chris asked where I would rank it among the other cities we've been to (Barcelona, Paris, Munich) - my thought is that it's like comparing apples and oranges! I like Vegas like I like Disney. It's like a huge amusement park for adults. 

We got up semi early and headed for the pool. The kids were itching for some pool time...believe it or not, the pool closed at 8pm (I just figured it would be open all night! Things don't close in Vegas, do they?) The Mirage has a nice, big pool, but you can tell the resort isn't new based on the pool. No water slides or lazy rivers...just a big ol' pool! What a fantastic way to start the day!

By 9:45 we were changed and headed to the world famous breakfast buffet at the Wynn. It looked absolutely incredible online - crazy selections, amazing decorations, food + experience! Unfortunately, we were too late. We got there around 10:30 and there was a 35 minute wait. Bum-mer. Lunch started at 11 and Chris wasn't really looking for lunch (I was secretly hoping the timing would work out and we would get to enjoy both! Once you're in, you can stay all day if you want!). So we took this pic...and with the lighting, you can't even see the fun decorations. Wynn was not a winner.

Their decorations were pretty incredible though!

Bender must look super trustworthy. I've never seen someone get asked to take pictures like Bender does. Not just in Vegas either!

They also had a fountain out front that rivaled the Bellagio. It was way smaller, but it was constant shows and the water moved in more exciting ways. We are such water people. Give us a fountain, we'll watch for hours.

Then it was time to visit the Venetian. So weird to be taking pictures in front of replicas of things we were actually in front of last year at this time! They did a great job recreating. Zoe was not impressed with the "canals" though..."they're just little pools mom. That's not what the canals looked like!"

Then it was back to our hotel. The kids needed food and I needed Excedrin. 

Chris and the kids enjoyed their crepes at a little place in the Mirage. We used our $25 food credit they gave us when he asked about complimentary upgrades at check in. Never hurts to ask!

After a quick trip up to the room to kill my headache and do some Creeks Lax social media posting, we were off to explore the strip in the daylight. Hot daylight. 115 is so hot that you're sweating like crazy but it's evaporating so quickly that you don't realize it until you get home and your undergarments can be wrung out (true story).

I love this picture. We were all in such better moods after our breakfast/Excedrin stop.

YaYa this one is for you! It's a real heart decorated with the Helen Keller quote about feeling with your heart. I wanted to take it home with us. And you can't tell from this pic, but this is also around the time that we ended up stuck in a hotel and then taking a shortcut that added an extra mile to our route to get to...

Adidas. Seriously. I really shouldn't fuss because a hour earlier Zoe and I were shopping in Lush which we have at the Town Center. But here was Zack, trying on soccer cleats in Vegas.

He wasn't a big fan, but in full disclosure mode, Chris and I did buy some underware. Wringing out...remember?

I love this pic too. We didn't go in the M&M store. Nobody even likes them. But you have to take a pic with the red guy, right?

Little legs were getting tired. Not sure what we'll do on our adventures when she's too big for this. She's lucky her daddy is a beast...cause she's tiny but solid muscle.

It is completely amazing how much messier a hotel room gets when you're in it for 36 rather than 12 hours!

More pool fun followed. All three Bender kids love the GoPro ;)

Zachary got his dacquiri - Zoe got one too...but her name doesn't rhyme. 

Since we didn't do our crazy buffet for breakfast I was angling for something super fun for dinner. We had never done a Brazilian steakhouse before (actually Chris did one when he went to Brazil with his soccer team, but that was a lifetime and a continent ago), so we were all excited - and maybe a bit nervous - to give it a try. We knew Uncle Brian wouldn't lead us astray though!

So the salad/appetizer bar was the first step. I think I would go back just for that!! Awesome cheeses, fun salads, and even pastas and other entrees.

Then, the meat started coming. This guy was our favorite! We tried at least 15 kinds of meat. Tri tips, prime rib, NY strip, lamb, bacon wrapped turkey, chicken, and the special of the night picanha (-ish...not really sure how it was spelled) that was delish! We had a lot of fun. There was a little card you flipped over when you were tapped out...Zack would like the record to show that he was the last to flip...although I think Bender ate more meat.

Great Carmenere wine too!

Then it was over to Treasure Island for Cirque du Soleil. First we stopped to get a picture taken with one of the two corvettes we are going to win come January 15th. Zack thinks it's going to be his first car... Bwahahahaha!

I've been to see a couple of Cirques now...it's truly one of the coolest experiences ever. It was fun to share something I love with Zack and Zoe. Zoe had been to the one in Orlando with some of our best friends from gym (hi Em and Jordan!) but Zack was a Cirque virgin. 

Mystere was so good y'all! So good. Funny, death defying, amazing, beautiful! Insane. I enjoyed every single moment. I'd go back and see it again tonight...except that we'll be in Texas. 

Vegas day 2, done. Tomorrow we're hoping to hit the Vegas sign on our way out of town towards the Grand Canyon! 

Viva Las Vegas!

XOXO,

Benderz