Breakfasts; Buffets; More Basketball

Not sure which team's fan this tackily-decorated vehicle belonged to, but it was sure an eye-catching eyesore every time we walked past it on our way in and out of the casino to forage for food.

The buffet system in Las Vegas as we once knew it no longer exists. So many of the buffets have closed down. Take, for instance, the buffet that we used to enjoy in the very casino we were staying--The Orleans--which is where the arena hosting the WCC Tournament is located. Used to be so convenient for us!

We used to be able to go right down from our room to the breakfast buffet each morning and load up on food before our first session of two women's basketball games. 

Then we would go out once each day to a buffet at another casino which would be our other meal of the day and then hurry back to The Orleans to watch the two men's basketball games. 

Now, with the buffet closed down entirely at The Orleans, and people standing in long lines to get into one of the restaurants for breakfast, we went out every morning to eat breakfast. Not nearly as convenient for us!!

We got into the MGM Grand Buffet for an early dinner the first day shortly before it closed down for the day. It makes me wonder what all the people in the casinos do for regular dinner when the buffets are closed so early.

We were searching the internet to find which buffets were actually open and the hours they were open. It appears the information we read about the Bellagio was not correct. The buffet was closed when we arrived for our early dinner. SAD!!

But happy for me because we [I] got to enjoy a [very] quick walk through the hotel and the Bellagio Garden to see what theme was depicted there. 

Glen was in a hurry to find another place to eat, but [patiently] waited for me to snap a few [rushed] photos as we [unleisurely] walked through the display.

The Year of the Tiger was being represented at the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens with a festive Lunar New Year display to share the culture and stories of China and Asia.

We ended up going back to The Orleans and ate at a restaurant there. We got seated right before a line started to form. This allowed us to be back in the arena in time for the evening session of basketball games to begin.

Glen would have liked to see BYU as champion on both sides of this bracket chart, but alas--neither team won the champion spot. Gonzaga won both the Men's and the Women's Bracket Championships.

The Wynn was one of the few that had a later buffet dining option. It was a beautiful setting, not too many people there, beautiful food displays, and we must say we enjoyed our delicious meal.

My favorite displays were in the dessert section. There's Glen standing at the rotating ice cream station.

Yes, we did find room in our tummies for some dessert. LOVED that meal and that dining experience!!

We ate at a different breakfast restaurant every day. We went to BabyStacks Cafe one of the mornings in honor of Sarah who requested that restaurant on her birthday. The strawberry pancakes were DELICIOUS!!!

Our last dinner was at the All-American Bar and Grill Restaurant in the Miracle Mile Shops attached to the Planet Hollywood Casino.

I realize my rendition of our Las Vegas trip included lots of food information and photos. That's the part I enjoyed about the WCC Tournament. Now if Glen were giving his rendition of our Las Vegas trip, he would give you play-by-plays on every one of the basketball games we attended.

If you prefer Glen's version--contact him personally and he will fill you in on all that I missed reporting about.

We left home with no snow on the ground and the temperature warming up to feel like spring weather. We came home to a LOT of snow on the ground, in the trees and bitter temperature making it feel like we're back in the depths of winter.

We came home to a snowless driveway thanks to Grant who had used our snowblower to clear the snow off both his driveway and ours. With that much snow, we are pretty sure he was happy to use a snowblower instead of a shovel.

It appeared to have been a very heavy snow as we noticed we had several broken tree branches on the ground and more broken ones still in the trees.

We are thankful for all the moisture. We are mostly thankful we were in a sunny place when the snow was falling!

Las Vegas WCC Tournament; Spending the Sabbath With Sarah

It's that time of the year. March Madness!! 

Those words might not mean much to someone who doesn't know what that means. For Glen it means never-ending basketball games. For me it means Glen watching never-ending basketball games. 

For both of us it means game after game after game after game each day of the West Coast Conference Basketball Tournament.

Our drive to Las Vegas was pretty uneventful. The weather was beautiful. We just had a minor delay when Glen had to stop at a Maverik Gas Station to pull out his computer to do a little work.

When Sarah texted to ask when we would be arriving in Vegas, I sent her the photo of her dad sitting at the picnic table working--causing a delay in our arrival time.

I laughed when she sent this photo as her response to that news.

Happily we weren't delayed for long and we were able to spend some time with Sarah's family. The little boys were playing in the back yard when we arrived. 

Jonah impressed us with his trampoline flipping skills.

Their family loves to go to Ohjah when we visit them. The boys are always enthralled with all the coins in the fountain and the dollar bills on the ledge.

The fire displays always entertain the boys.

The shrimp tossing at each of us is always exciting to see if it will land in anyone's mouth.

That evening we had tickets to a magic show at the Mirage.

The theater lobby was very impressively beautiful.

We had seen Shin Lim on America's Got Talent and thought he was very talented, so it was a fun time to see him in person. 

We really liked his special guest magician Colin Cloud who was very personable and made us laugh whenever he was on stage. 

We were each given four playing cards and ripped them in half and shuffled them up and kept throwing one over our shoulder as we were performing our own magic trick which left us with two matching halves. 

It was quite the magic trick. It made quite the mess all throughout the theater.

It was a very entertaining hour and a half. So fun to watch something other than basketball games!!!!

Now let's get down to what really took us to Las Vegas. BYU basketball! Happily the BYU men's team won their first game. 

Unfortunately, despite all the screaming and yelling (by the blue-haired fan) they lost their second game. Boo hoo! 

This photo was taken before the final score. Otherwise, I'm sure there would not be such a happy smile on Glen's face.

It was nice to be able to spend the Sabbath Day with Sarah's family during the Sunday break in the tournament. 

Several people in their ward remembered Glen's last visit when BYU had a football game there. He assured them he would be back in the fall to watch BYU play football. One might assume we only go to Vegas for sports and not for family...!?!

Sarah fixed us a delicious roast beef dinner. She said Glen had to earn his dinner by teaching their family Night Light lesson. He did a great job having the boys act out the story of Joseph being sold into Egypt. 

We had the traditional Sunday popcorn and watched a movie after dinner. 

I was enjoying the DELICIOUS homemade cinnamon rolls Sarah had made especially for me. I find it hard to believe I did not take a picture of the delectable dessert!!

I did notice other members of the family were also enjoying them, but I was absolutely touched and thrilled and ever so happy Sarah put in the effort to make them for my consumption.

YUMMMMMMY!!!!!!

Quotes of the Week

 Me message to all of my sisters who may be wondering where their place is in the Church is to absolutely affirm that your place is in the Church...giving your talents and time and abilities to lifting and blessing those around you.

--Jean Bingham

When you look back on what may now seem trying times of service and sacrifice, the sacrifice will have become a blessing.

--Henry B. Eyring

We cannot afford--and this world cannot afford -- our failure to put these gospel concepts and fortifying covenants to full use personally and publicly.

--Jeffrey R. Holland

Rebecca's Birthday; No Santa Dave; Madison's Surprising Birthday Dinner Request

Rebecca had a birthday and we wanted to celebrate with them, so we let her pick her restaurant of choice--Texas Roadhouse. Woman after my own heart!! The rolls are so delicious!!!!

Dallas took a photo of his meal. Apparently he was a happy diner that evening along with the rest of us.

Dallas told our server we had two birthday girls--Rebecca that very day and Madison in a week. They both got a birthday dessert of ice cream, syrup and lots of whipped cream. We walked out of there feeling very full and satisfied.

We finally got a couple of small snowstorms. This has been a sparse-snow winter. This snow was unique. When I looked out the window the snow looked so sparkly. I stood and actually watched the snow melt. The individual snow pellets would pop one by one. It was quite entertaining.

We had to cancel our El Matador date with Dave and Bonnie back when I was sick with Covid. It was good to see them once again as it had been several months. 

I cannot believe how much they LOVE that Mexican restaurant. They are always so willing to drive up to Bountiful to eat at their favorite restaurant. We almost didn't recognize Dave with his clean-shaven face. 

We both agree we don't miss Santa Claus Dave.

Madison very much surprised us when we asked where she wanted to go to eat on her birthday. Without hesitation she said, "Del Taco!!" 

That made us laugh because it was such an unexpected response. Rebecca explained that on their Disneyland trip, they ate at a Del Taco and Madison loved it so much she wanted to relive that experience once again.

Del Taco was completely empty except for our birthday party group. 

Since we were the only ones there, one would think they would be paying lots of attention to us and to our order. Alas, that was not so. Dallas's order was wrong. And the birthday girl's order was wrong.

Madison ordered two hard shell tacos with just meat and cheese on them. They came with lettuce. UGH!!

Second try for Madison's order they gave her two soft shell tacos with just meat and cheese. UGH AGAIN!!

Third try she finally got what she wanted. HURRAH for the birthday girl!!!!

By that time she was so hungry she decided to eat the two soft shell tacos after she finished eating her two hard shell tacos. 

Happy 8th birthday to Madison. We will be celebrating again soon with her when she has her baptism.

But first...Glen and I will be spending the week in Las Vegas going to watch BYU play in the WCC basketball tournament. 

And, of course, we will be squeezing in some time to see Jeff, Sarah and their boys. More about all that in my next post.

GO COUGARS!!