Tonight the ZBoys and I are embarking on a road trip to Las Vegas with my parents.

I’ve been prepping for a while now. The van has had an oil change and now has 4 brand new tires. I took EVERYTHING out and vacuumed and Armor-All-ed it. I put in a bag of books and toys for the boys. We’ve got a first aid kit, my toolbelt, a blanket and jumper cables.

Our suitcase is packed and already in the van – filled with our clothing, toiletries and pool accoutrements. I’ve got DVDs and audio books on CD for the boys already in the van. I charged and packed up their Leapsters. I brought the Uno cards.

I have their booster seats set up with their seats slightly reclined because we are driving through the night. We have 3 drivers – and 12 hours of driving time ahead of us (not counting potty stops and meal stops).

I’ve got snacks – pumpkin seeds, Craisins, beef jerky, Mini Fruit Roll Ups, dried edamame beans, trail mix and graham crackers. I still need to stock the cooler with water, juice and diet Coke.

I’ve got to grab my laptop and running shoes and I think I’m done. Anything else I forget we can buy when I get there.

I’ve got 2 plans/goals in Las Vegas – 1) Shop at H&M and 2) Spend a half day at the Spa Costa del Sur

Other than that, it’s pool time and visiting sites time with the ZBoys and meals with my father’s high school friends, including my godfather, who actually lives in Las Vegas.

Some possibilities
Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage
The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay
Lion Habitat at MGM Grand
M&M’s World
Lied Discovery Children’s Museum
Zoological – Botanical Park
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix
The Aquarium at the Silverton Hotel

…And of course the fountains in front of the Bellagio

The volcano is under renovation until October, bummer.

If we do 2 or 3 of these things, that would be more than enough. I plan on spending as much time as we can at the resort pool (and hope that they have cabanas for shade… )