Lucky lady

Josh recently had his 33rd birthday and my parents gave us a little getaway at Harrah's as his gift - no we're not normally gamblers, but there was a great deal for a one night stay in the hotel, $50 dinner voucher, and breakfast buffet all for only $99.  A great deal and we had an amazing time!  It is much too rare that we have a kid-free night and it was so great to be alone and in a different environment.  Thanks mom and dad!!!!

    We checked in and started out the night at the steakhouse restaurant.  It started off a little slow - with a bread basket with some kind of cheesy/pimento spread (weird) and an average salad, but by the time the main course came - WOW!  One of the best meals I've ever had.  I ordered the parmesian-encrusted sea bass with a creole mustard sauce and side of cornbread stuffing.  It was one of those "fancy-smancy" meals that often are overpriced and underseasoned, but this was amazing! The fish practically melted in your mouth.  It was so mild and absolutely delicious.  Josh ordered a steak and said my fish was even better - saying something from a man that loves a good steak - and he said his steak was really good.

            After dinner we headed toward the casino and I found a quarter on the ground.  Oh yeah!  My luck was starting already.  We got to the door and they asked me for my id.  Oops - been so long since I have been out forgot all about having it with me.  So we headed back to the car to get it and set out again.  We got back to the bouncer and Josh handed him his id and the guy just kind of shook his head - I only need to see hers.  Guess I was looking young that night because he looked back and forth about three times before he okayed my entrance.  Oh well - ego booster for this recently turned 30 year old!

           We headed in and just walked around.  I really don't know too much about gambling and was just taking it all in.  The tables always intrigue me and people were just throwing down 100s at a time.  Too rich for my blood, so Josh and I each put in $10 in the quarter slots.  On Josh's 4th try he hit some matches and had $23 - a $13 payout.  So he cashed out and waited for me.  On about my tenth try I profited around $17 so I stopped playing as well.  We were going to leave and celebrate winning $30, but decided to try our luck some more.

            I tried some dollar slots next and quickly lost about $15.  Bummer - not as fun as winning!  Decided to try one more machine - some old school cowboy penny game and ended up with another $10.  Awesome!  We cashed out our $40 and headed back to our room for a real jackpot ;)  Kidding - dessert people!!  We were going to get dessert.

            We decided we were too full and Josh wanted me to go back to the casino - apparently I'm entertaining to watch win.  Well he was about to see some real excitement.  I went back to my same penny machine and ended up with this screen............

    

I hit a little mini jackpot!  I got 3 jokers and earned 10 free spins, and ended up with our total profit being $75.  Oh my gosh - I was so freaking excited!!  I am easily pumped about free things/winning $ so when the music started playing and the coins falling on the screen I had a huge permagrin and was just clapping along to the music.  A few people may have been staring, but who cares - I just made $75 by pushing some buttons.  Woot woot!  Great night!

Until the next morning when Josh told me to go back again - don't worry I'm not an addict - and I refused.  He kept bugging me and I said fine it's your birthday, but I didn't have a good feeling.  Yep - threw away $35 in less than 5 minutes - UGH!!  I walked away with our remaining $40 and didn't say I told you so too many times.  :)  Got to know when to stop!  Oh well - we had a great time and still went home $40 richer!!

Enjoying our night!

We finished out Friday with a live taping of America's Got Talent at the Fox Theatre.  Such a great time - and saw an amazing 12 year old boy singer/guitar player that sang house of the rising sun.  Incredible - all the judges and audience were on their feet.  Won't be surprised if he's a big contender on the show!

Coach Landon

Mr. Rich, our janitor at school, put a special attachement on the basketball hoop that lowers the net to about 6 feet and lets the kids' basketball self-esteem greatly improve.  I knew Landon would be excited to shoot hoops, so I was very surprised to see him coloring instead - not one of his favorite things to do.  When I asked him why he wasn't playing, he informed me he was the coach and was writing plays/keeping score. Oh well, I see. He kept yelling Double Time which meant two kids scored in a row! Too funny :)

Writing plays and keeping score

I love his bossy coach stance and crayon tucked behind his ear.

Two members of Coach Landon's team - Wyatt and Carter

two 2 two 2 !!

I can't believe Brody has been 2 for almost a month!  I will have to finally post birthday stuff sometime, but for now here's a bit about my little man.....He is so full of life and emotions - for better or worse. :)  He has such passion for food, people, and what he wants!!  Through his tantrums, you couldn't find a sweeter, more loving little guy.  He is a great hugger and is not afraid to cuddle with his mama.  God gave him an amazing smile that just melts your heart - which is good for getting him out of messes!  I love listening to him talk and sing.  He loves music and sang me a lullaby - Goodnight mommy - when I laid down to rest on the couch today.  He can say more words than I can count - probably over 200 - and even said his first full sentence this week.  "Mommy look at me!"  A step up from his usual "watch this!".  He is currently obsessed with dolphins and sleeps with a stuffed one each night.  He frequently will yell out "Dolphin Tale" with such force and volume one might wonder if he struggles with Terrets. 

He also loves Landon more than life and wants to be by him and do exactly what he's doing - even if he busts into his room before the poor guy wakes up.  "My Brudder.  Brudder.  I want Landon."  

He is crazy social and can often be found talking on the phone to Pops (Grandpa Busch)-35 minutes is their longest conversation to date.  He often talks about his friends at school - Rex, Nolan, Maerus, and Brandon, and loves to go Harper and Wucas' house.  He does like to bite and hit on occassion and is trying to master being "gentle, gentle", but this could be quite the feat as he is all boy and a BRUTE as the stats proved at his well visit...

Height: 36 inches 93%

Weight:  33 pounds 95%

Head: 21 inches 98%

The average size of a 3 and 1/2 year old.  "He is big, but proportionate."  Oh if only I had a dollar for all the times the doctors have said these words about Landon and Brody, I wouldn't have to work anymore.  Brody is big in size, attitude, and most of all heart - and my heart couldn't be more filled with love for my Brodman.

Getting his feet painted at school

My handsome boy

He loves his daddy!

Up please - he loves getting OUT of his seat, now we must work on loving IN

Thumbs up for 2!!

The letter T

We were practicing writing the letter t at school and this was Landon's handiwork...

The last line of this cracks me up. He was tired of crossing his t's, so he drew one big line across and went at it. Apparently someone is a major fan of efficiency just like his daddy.

Yes Brody, I am a horrible mother...

Lately Brody has been a terror bit of a handful.  He has protested my parenting techniques and continued to perfect his tantrum throwing skills when I...

- would not let him eat a jelly bean that had been freshly peed on (Brody walked into the bathroom with a jelly bean while Landon was going - put it in the stream - and then attempted to eat the wet candy before mom broke out her ninja skills and intercepted the bean)

- plays splish-splash in every toilet he can find - umm, yes 5 outfit changes were the result this week

- head butting the wall and/or my legs

- making the couch his canvas with a black pen (Josh: "I only turned my head for a second."  Ah - yes, The first mistake with a crazy 2 year old ;)

- trying to eat the remainder of a carrot enjoyed by our pet bunny Rex

Yes Brody, I am a horrible mother, but hopefully one day you'll thank me!