Tis the Season for Bowling....

Friday, December 23,2011



Christmas + bowling.

Who knew that would be the perfect mix for the annual Robb Christmas get together. Everyone has fun and there is no mess to clean up!

There is also a great trophy that goes to the person with the highest score.....

Roger was returning champ, but Lee, Jason and Spencer also wanted the title...

And the winner with a high score of 150.....

(drumroll please)

Jason!!!!!

Which means he gets to display the coveted trophy all year....

Evolution Lunch

There once was a little hole in the wall on Fremont Street named El Burrito. It was dark inside because you walked down into it, like a basement apartment, only it was a restaurant. As a child, we often went there with my mom to have lunch with my Grandma Dottie and Aunt Pam. As we grew El Burrito closed it's doors and moved to a strip mall on Decatur/95. Our lunch dates continued, and often times four generations would enjoy the lunch special together. Over the years El Burrito has become synonymous with time spent with my mom's family. A few years ago El Burrito once again closed it's doors, but as luck would have it there was another location at Desert Shores that was run by a member of the same family that owned the others. Grandma Dottie and Aunt Pam have since passed but the tradition lives on in their honor. Every Christmas break my mom gathers us four girls, my cousin Rachel, cousin Marvin and all the kids together and we have lunch at El Burrito and celebrate together.

The Nutcracker

Every December, without fail, we receive a flyer in the mail announcing The Nutcracker headlining a posh theatre for the holiday season. And every year, without fail, since Lauren has been about four years old, Jason has wanted to take her to see it. But somehow it always got pushed aside, we got too busy or it just was not in the budget. This year, however, Jason was determined to make it happen- and he did.

 Jason and Lauren enjoyed the ballet at the Paris hotel, where they also had dinner and enjoyed a crepe afterwards for dessert. Jason even let her choose a few sugary candy treats at Sugar Factory. Spoiled, I tell ya!!

.

As normal pre-teen angst rolls, Lauren wasn't as enthusiastic about going as she could of been, but when she came home she couldn't stop talking about how great the ballet was and how much fun she had. Hopefully they can turn this into a daddy-daughter tradition and enjoy it every year!!

So please, please, please.....

Every year as Christmas speeds towards us, we try to find a smidgen of time to mail our Christmas lists off to Santa and to soak up the holiday splendor that the atrium at Bellagio provides. This year we went the Monday before Christmas. The dinner of choice was Sweet Tomatoes, all -you -can -eat and something for everyone + ice cream! Our next stop was the Fashion Show mall. Macy's was our destination there, and we easily found Santa's mailbox. Lauren and Jace both dropped in their letters with their fingers crossed for good luck!

While at the mall we perused a few stores. Lauren and Jace found these furs quite entertaining...

Bellagio was adorned with spectacular holiday decor. Every sparkle was eye catching and every display breathtaking. I don't know how they do it, but they do.

It was a festive family night and one of our holiday traditions. Hopefully we can keep this one up for years to come!

A Visit From Santa

Jolly old St. Nicholas, lean your ear this way

Don't you tell a single soul, what I'm going to say...

Sunday dinner at Grandma & Grandpa Nelson's started out as a typical night with the family... that is until the faint sound of jingle bells drew closer and closer til finally a boisterous HO!HO!HO! echoed through the front door and the jolly man himself appeared to the delight of all the kids. Each of the thirteen grandchildren got their chance to disclose their Christmas wish list; some with excitement, some with shyness,and a few of the older ones with hesitance.  

Santa and the grandkids

(I forgot, two of the grandkids were in trouble and couldn't come. Who's missing??)

Lauren, Santa & Jace

After Santa said good-bye the kids dressed up, and while I read, they acted out the Nativity. It was a great night and a wonderful way to feel the Christmas spirit.

Ugly Sweater Party

 December 9, 2011

Admit it. We have all worn our share of ugly sweaters. So how can we celebrate the warmth and style they once brought to us(or so we thought)? Well, by having a holiday party in their honor, of course. We had a great night filled with itchy, homemade, chenille, turtleneck and 80's sweaters. There was plenty of good eats, a game of name that sweater (you had to guess the name of the star wearing the sweater whose face was covered up) and a hysterical white elephant exchange. A great night with great friends!!

 Doug won the golden sweater trophy for ugliest sweater.... the dickie sealed the deal!!

 Angie, I see you back there!!



You Might Think I'm Crazy......

.... but I really do love him, now does that sound mad?

So imagine my delight when I learned he would again perform here in this dustbowl we call Las Vegas. This was my chance, I would fight for the pleasure to embrace, or likely, just brush fingertips with this man I have loved for so long. In the past we have opted for the comfort of an assigned seat, this venue however, was general admission only,which allowed me this maniacal opportunity.

 Apparently, when designing the Cosmopolitan hotel, the genius architect left out the drawings for the concert hall, because what I walked into was a ballroom with a temporary stage and some speakers hanging from the ceiling. Talk about a let down. Especially considering the mass of concerts I heard advertised that were being held at the Chelsea in the Cosmopolitan. So the venue sucked. Luckily we had the smarts to arrive a few hours early...even then there were about 100 people in front of us. When at last our bodies were packed in front of the stage, there were about four heads in front of me- none of which were very tall.

Preconcert photos...

Overall it turned out to be a so-so concert. Morrissey played a lot of his newer stuff, which I like but don't adore. The venue wasn't great. Worst of all: though I fought and literally crowd surfed my way over those four heads and the rail in front of the stage, my hand went home untouched and forlorn.

BUT...

don't get me wrong it was still awesome and I wouldn't have missed it! The man is a genius and I can't help but have an unconditional love for him. Thankfully Jason is a big fan too. I just hope that I will have another chance to see him again because Morrissey...

if it's the last thing I ever do

I'm going to get you!!

from our concert.....