Viva Las Vegas!

VEGAS, BABY!

Because Luke stayed in San Antonio for work, my mom flew to SA to help me transport the cubs to Vegas to celebrate my bro-in-law's law school graduation with the fam.

After a fairly uneventful flight, we set Clem loose in my parents' suite and she was in heaven -- an EL-OH by the potty!

Her two favorite things: pretend 'poo poo the potty' while pretend talking on the el-oh [hello=phone]

View of the pool complex

And airport. Clem: 'R PANE, TAKE OFF! 'ELICOPTER, TAKE OFF!' x 1000

Hide and seek.

Head to toe leopard print for Vegas, of course.

The first night we got takeout from Border Grill and played Catchphrase. Since my mom and sisters and I share a hive mind we are very good at this game. Later the rest of the gang went to a Cirque du Soleil show.

And my sister's hair looked amazing.

St Josephine, patron saint of Not-Good-Travellers. She didn't sleep, her skin became blotchy, she wasn't her sunny self, she threw up for the first time in her life, in the middle of the night (then was smiley and back to sleep, crisis averted). Looking forward to our flight tomorrow.... (gulp)

The next day we rented a cabana (good planning, Dad!) Sun, shade, snacks, lazy river... it was fabulous.

so how's your bar exam prep going?

She calls Grandma 'Gammaw' and Grandpa... Pop Pop. And Pop Pop was the person whose whereabouts she was most concerned about all weekend... 

Chirping from the crib first thing in the morning: 'I wanna poo poo the potty. Where Pop Pop go? I want a doughnut.' 

In the airport - 'Where Pop Pop go? Pop Pop in the R pane.' 

Hello Pop Pop!

 C was very happy to sit on the edge and kick her feet.

Inner tube/play pen.

 Mini caftan.

It turned out Luke and I were both surrounded by water this weekend -- he was trapped for many hours at an ultimately postponed wedding venue by catastrophic flooding. Luckily the venue was high on a hill and the wedding took place the next day.

Mommy and me caftans.

A couple of favorite moments from the trip: C finding both the cordless and corded phones -- "MOMMY, TWO EL-OHs!!!"

Walking by this fountain, C said, 'Elephant agua! Elephant agua... an S! Two S!'

The alphabet is everywhere, friends!

Other Clem-isms that I heard about later:
// gently touching my brother-in-law's nipple ring, shaking her head, and saying, OW-EE!
// warning fellow diners of a steaming plate at a nearby table, 'Careful, HOT!' and waving her hands - 'HOT, HOT!' They thanked her for the heads-up.

Mandalay Bay's Shark Reef Aquarium where C was able to 'naco fishies!' [look at fishies]

thank you, Laura, for the romper!

We had dinner at Lupo that night and it was delicious - caprese salad, papardelle bolognese, gnocchi with mushrooms, squash blossoms.

The flight home was nonstop. Nonstop crying, I mean. Actually Josie slept for about an hour but the earsplitting screams for the final 45 minutes erased that memory.

In the airport C caught sight of Luke: DADDY! I WANT DADDY! I want Daddy hold youuuuuuu [me] Daddy hold you!!! 

Thank you, Mom! And thanks, fam, for being so fun to hang out with - the next time we get together we will have another baby girl in tow - my sister's first is due in July. #girlpower #xx #noboysallowed