vegas.

this weekend, since both stephs had time off, paul had the weekend free and i'm all done with school, we decided to go to

vegas

saturday

so saturday morning, paul and i drove up and picked them up from the vegas airport.

we went to breakfast, and sat and talked for over 3 hours. 

then we went to the hotel, checked in and took a long, long nap.

we woke up and went to dinner, where we also sat for over 3 hours. 

discussing everything from jesus, to friends, to cults, to the future, to the poverty line, to celebrity gossip, to memories.

saturday night dinner

 after dinner we drove to our ever-so-loved fremont street. 

we went from casino to casino, playing penny slots, nickle slots and quarter slots.

i made $5 and cashed out.

fremont

while on fremont we went into the back of a casino where we found a pub/cigar lounge. 

we had chicago deep dish and beer and continued our conversation.

at around 3am we left, and went back to the hotel.

sunday

we woke up around 1pm, and started day 2. 

paul called this the "big day" since we'd be waking up and falling asleep there.

on our "big day" we drove to a place called sushi factory for all you can eat sushi.

we had miso soup, sunomono, about 12-15 rolls, as well as green tea ice cream.

we sat, ate, talked and laughed for another, you guess it, 3+ hours. 

then we went back and decided to walk the strip. 

paul was dying to see the bellagio's christmas decorations so we strolled on in.

we also saw steph [s]'s favorite: paris paris.

steph [f] and i were dying to see new york new york... so we did.

bellagio tree

beside's being our "big day" it was also our celebration of new year's eve. 

since we can't celebrate it together we decided to make our own.

that night we also went to see "new year's eve" the movie, which made us all laugh and cry.

after the movie we got a bottle of champagne and walked around the town shouting "happy new year!"

my favorite part of the evening was during our paris paris exploration. 

we stumbled upon a piano bar, which was so fun. 

we sat and drank our bottle of champagne, listening to amazing piano and entertainment performers.

then at around 2am we went back to new york new york to get some food. 

after that we went back to the room and played board games till 4:30am!

monday

we woke up, again at 1pm. 

we got ready, then headed out for another afternoon on the strip.

we went to pink's hot dogs, which is a los angeles favorite, that paul and i both have had, but both stephanie's hadn't. 

then we walked through the miracle mile shops.

after the miracle mile we ran through caesar's palace to get a dress for me for our next exciting vegas experience. im proud to say, i walked in, took 3 minutes to pick a dress, try on a dress over my clothes, by the dress and be out the door.

i kick paul's butt at speed shopping.

we ran back to the hotel to get ready. steph [f] and i slipped and fell from the rain.

we got the hotel, got ready and took the shuttle to mandalay bay to see

the lion king

the worlds cutest friends at lion king

it was my 5th time seeing it, and all three of their 1st times.

we loved it. it was the best rafiki i've seen.

paul cried like a baby the whole time.

after the show

after the show we went to an irish pub and got beer and corn beef and cabbage.

we analyzed the show as well as talked about our christmas memories as children, how we want to raise our children, values and ideas, etc. it was delicious, emotional, insightful and enjoyable.

we wanted to go to the luxor to the bar where we all went one year earlier, but it was closed, so we went to a different lounge. we had a loving time of sharing why we are thankful for each other, and how our friendship as a group is so special. 

we discussed struggles and hardship, encouraging each other and speaking truth to one another.

we went around the circle sharing goals of resolutions, since it was a new years vegas celebration after all. we vowed to keep each other accountable.

these are my best of best friends. 

who hold my heart, point it towards jesus, and adore it.

i am loved for simply being me. 

which is how i feel about each of them.

it was one of the best weekends of my life.