Okay, so 2 weeks ago, Bill went to Vegas for a SEMA convention. I was so upset he went without me I didn't talk to him for 2 days. Then something unexpected happened! When he came back, he asked me if I had plans for the weekend of the 15th. I told him I did! He then asked me if I could cancel or reschedule those plans. I asked him Why? It turned out that Bill had planned an early trip for us for our 9th anniversary!
It was AMAZING! Bill kept me in the dark about the whole trip except for the dates (Friday, the 14th- Sunday, the 16th) and the fact that it was in Vegas. Even up until today, I had no clue what was coming next! Right from the get-go when we got off the plane in Vegas, Bill was acting a little suspect. When we got to the baggage claim area, I understood! Bill had hired a Limo to pick us up! She was holding up a sign that had our names on it and everything! It was pretty cool! I couldn't stop smiling! Our chaufeur then drove us to our hotel- another detail I didn't have a clue about! When we pulled up to Mandalay Bay I was SOOOOO excited! It was too early to check in so we left the bags with the bellhops and walked the strip. When I say we walked the strip, I mean literally the entire strip, from one end to the other! Bill had gone to the great Italian restaurant on his last trip and wanted to find it again. However, he didn't know exactly where it was. So we walked til we found it! It took us around 2 hours! But we found it! The food was delicious and totally worth it! The restaurant was next to a mall, so we went inside and I had fun shopping for Bill! He let me choose out a shirt, jacket and shoes for him! After that, we took a taxi back to our hotel to check in. Bill didn't want me around while he did that to keep things a surprise, so I went and played some slots to kill the time. I played $20 and won over $100, but didn't quit so I ended up losing it all! Of course! So Bill came and found me and then we headed up to the room. Only it wasn't just a room! It was a suite on the 2nd to the top floor! Next to the penthouse! It was really cool! And once again, I was totally blown away and couldn't stop smiling!
Prior to going to Vegas, Bill told me I could choose one show to go to. I chose Mamma Mia! Luckily, Mamma Mia is in Mandalay Bay so we got discounted tickets. So we went to book it for the next night since there were no shows on Friday night. After booking the show, we went back to the room to get ready for the night Bill had planned for us that night. He told me we had to dress nice so I assumed it was a show. We took a taxi to the Stratosphere and I just followed Bill wherever he was going. We got in an elevator and went up 107 floors! We got out and we were at The Top of the World restaurant! Its a restaurant at the top of the Stratosphere that rotates slowly around! Bill had made reservations long ago for this evening! There was also a live band, a professional photographer and excellent food! The waiter told us that the chef there is the highest paid chef in Vegas! This was really a special experience for me! When I was younger, there was this restaurant in Hawaii called John Dominis. It was THE restaurant to go to. I remember thinking, one day I will be rich enough to go to that restaurant. So I never went to John Dominis but I did get to go somewhere even better! And with someone I love!
It was soooo romantic! We had a candle lit dinner and we had a table right next to the window, so we could see the city as we went around! We both had steaks and they were mouthwatering delicious!!!!!! It was great just to hang out with the love of my life enjoying the atmosphere and food and company!
The next day, we just relaxed! After walking the strip the day before, our frail old and unexercised bodies had taken a slight beating. Between that and not really having a break for so long Bill needed a day to just relax. So, while he slept in til early afternoon, I read Eclipse, book 3 in the Twilight series (I'm addicted!) After Bill woke up, we went to a Sushi joint in the middle of the casino in Mandalay Bay. After eating, we went back and got dressed up again and then headed down to go to Mamma Mia! I was super super excited! In case you didn't know, I've always dreamed about doing a Broadway Musical one day. My happiest memories from high school were the musicals I did! Anyway, back to Mamma Mia- We had AWESOME seats! We were 8 rows up and dead center! We were literally eye-level with the actors! We were so close we could see their "hidden" microphones, every facial expression, the slight body language nuances, and best of all, the musicians in the pit! they were seriously the perfect seats. Any closer and we would have had to look up and wouldn't have been able to see the musician pit. Any further back and it wouldn't have seemed so intimate! Perfect! I had never seen Mamma Mia - even the movie - so it was fun to see it with fresh eyes and without any expectations! Even Bill was able to feign enjoyment at times! Plus, I love ABBA! I was dancing through out the whole show! I swear the actors could see me because they would make eye contact with me! After it was over, I was on such a high!
Bill and I walked the casino and made our way to the Luxor. We were looking for a steak place to eat dinner at and saw a restaurant called American Bistro. Sounded good, so we went in and got seated. They brought us our drinks and told us that the waiter would bring us the menu. Finally after 10 minutes and speaking to the water guy, our waiter came and brought us the menus. The reason they waited to bring the menu was because they had to explain how to use them. The explanation? Its a la carte and every item is 2 oz each. And they only serve one item at a time. Yes, that is what we waited 1o minutes for. Then when we looked at the menu, there wasn't really anything "American" on it! There was sushi and some other weird stuff! We didn't want any of that so we asked for the check and left. I think it must have been one of those trendy restaurants. It sure had a blase name for a trendy restaurant. It was really misleading. So we left and found a real steak place! It was super delicious! They had new zealand grain fed beef, american kobe beef, japanese kobe beef and others! Now thats what I call a steak house! After dinner, we played a few more slots and then went back to our room. We had a jacuzzi in our room, so we relaxed in the jacuzzi and enjoyed each others company. We got ready for bed and then Bill watched tv and I finished Eclipse! Awesome day!
The next morning, we woke at 8 am because Bill had a surprise for me at 8:30. We got in the elevator and when I attempted to get out at the lobby, he held me back. We went to the floor below the lobby- the pool, beach and spa. When we headed towards the spa, I was blown away! We were taken into the separate women's and men's spa to relax until our appointment at 9. There was complimentary snacks and drinks, every temperature pool you could want, a sauna, waterfalls, cucumbers for your eyes, and a very comfy robe (a little long on my short body, but comfy nontheless!) and slippers. It was soooo relaxing. When 9 came around, Bill and I met up again in the lobby of the spa and we were taken to a room for a couples massage! I chose the hot stones massage and Bill chose the deep tissue. It was sooo relaxing I fell asleep a couple of times! It didn't last long enough! But it was still awesome!
After leaving the spa we went back to our room and packed. We checked our bags with the bellhops and went to the casino. We ate breakfast at the House of Blues ( I had one of the best omelets of my life!). Bill isn't fond of gambling, so while I stayed in the casino and played the slots, he went to see the shark reef aquarium. Bill and I both had been to the aquarium twice previously, so I didn't feel the need to go again. Bill on the other hand, can never turn down an opportunity to see aquariums! After the aquarium, we met up and went to the bookstore. We bought Breaking Dawn (the 4th book of the Twilight series) and we sat in the food court while I read Breaking Dawn and Bill read a magazine. After an hour, we headed back to the luggage pickup and got our bags. A limo was already waiting to take us back to the airport. AWESOME! Part of me didn't want to leave this perfect weekend behind and another part of me couldn't wait to get home to see my kids! After 9 years of marriage, Bill still loves me and I still love him and even better, we get to share this love with our wonderful sons!
Shortly after we finished cooking everything, the power came back on! We all cheered! It was kind of funny! All in all, it was a different, but fun Thanksgiving after all. 
