It all started with an innocent little question: “Would you like to get together for a sisters weekend?” The next thing we knew the plans were made. My sisters and I were meeting in Las Vegas to hang out and visit with my dear 97 year old grandma and our aunt. Well, where Laynie travels so does Sophia and as luck would have it, our cousin Deana was in town. Boom. We were a party of seven representing four generations.
Monique and I arrived late Thursday and we able to meet Grandma and Renee for Mass and Rosary. The morning had a lovely nostalgic feel evocative of my aunt’s celebration of life just a year ago.
After Mass we went to The District for coffee and a little shopping. Browsing at this higher mall with Monique, Renee and Grandma was so fun.
The shopping gods even granted my secret wish to get to an Athleta for some new athletic wear.
Monique and I headed off to pick up Laynie and Sophia from the airport after a wonderful lunch at Purple Potato. Why, oh why, don’t we have anything like this in out town?
After collecting Laynie and Sophia from the airport, we settled them in at their hotel and then returned to Auntie Renee’s house for a short visit. More giggles were had and hugs shared.
The seven of us dined out on a new-to-me fare at Sweet Poke. (Poke refers to chunks of raw, marinated fish which is then tossed over rice and topped with veggies and unami sauces.) It was YUMMY!
After dinner said goodbye until Saturday, making a quick pit stop at Trader Joe’s, of course.
In the morning, Laynie, Monique, Sophia and I met for coffee, breakfast and a little shopping. I don’t have Home Goods near so I voted for a walk through. A podcaster I really enjoy loves a certain tea she finds at her store. In fact, this was her store and I did find her tea.
We had lunch, the seven of us, at a Korean BBQ. It was an all-you-can-eat menu of 36 items that we could cook on the grill at our table. The variety was great and it was a lot of fun.
My job was to cuddle Sophia while she used chopsticks to eat her rice. When Sophia reached her limit, I took her outside. We walked around, looking at flowers and practiced colors. Every now and then a plane would pass overhead. I pointed one out and she exclaimed, “Helicopter!” That was a pretty unexpected answer for a two and a half year old.
We commemorated the day with a few photos outside before heading to Mass for the Sunday Vigil.
About halfway through, Sophia tuckered out. She missed the great chat we had with the New Yorkers I met. Imagine my great delight to meet a man who was born at Hoyt and State streets, just a few blocks from where we lived. It is such a small world. After Mass, we picked up take out and had dinner at Renee’s. Then we said our goodbyes. We all had flights returning home on Sunday.
We had a great time and I suspect this is just the first of more trips like this in the future.
Awesome.