Vegas Saturday 10-17-09

Our last full day of vacation was just that - a full day. We started it late because of the late night on Friday. First stop of the day: 7-11 for coffee and donuts.
We toured the Ethel M chocolate factory and cactus garden. The factory was not running on Saturday but we had fun exploring the grounds and sampling the chocolates in their store. Sarah, Aaron, Joel and I spent the afternoon at the top of the Stratosphere, a space needle type hotel/casino with amusement park rides at the top. I was content just photographing the experience. The others braved the Big Shot ride that took them up to the top of the 1,149ft structure and then dropped them 45 feet. Yikes. Sarah and I watched as the boys also tried the Insanity, a spinning ride that hangs out over the edge of the tower.
We all made it, just in time, to Bill and Kelly's wedding at the Little Chapel of the West. It was nice, mostly. There was some drama when we realized the bride's ring had been left at the rental house. To bad the couple didn't go for the $100 "bill" ring that Grant cleverly crafted. LaRae made a dash back to the house to fetch the ring right after the ceremony. Sarah was a huge help shuttling people around after the wedding. Sarah's taxi service should have been charging (I definitely owe her for saving my poor sore feet in ridiculous shoes). Joel and I got in a confrontation with a guy randomly enforcing the chapel's rule against SLR cameras. He could not explain to us why every other camera was allowed in but not ours. At first I thought the rule may have been because of the noise that the SLR makes but now I'm fairly certain they just didn't want anyone to be able to take GOOD photos during the ceremony. There were lots of photos taken but I don't have any.
Afterward we got take out, and watched Viva Las Vegas (Elvis and Ann Margaret) at the rental house. It was relaxing and fun. The birthday celebration for LaRae and Bill that was the original reason for the trip took place late Saturday evening. Joel, as a special gift for LaRae, did his Marlyn Monroe Birthday song. It was memorable. LaRae has the photos.
Early Sunday morning we woke up to say goodbye to Sarah who had to go to work.
The best part of Sunday was picking Jace up at Gary and Elaine's house. His eyes got big and he threw his hands up when he saw us. It was great to get home.