Fun in Fredericksburg

We traveled today to attend a special basketball game and because traffic was so light around the DC beltway we arrived very early.  We stopped by the Fredericksburg Battlefield visitor's center  for a look around.  This is a Civil War area that we have not explored yet and look forward to going back.  It was raining and we were in and out a bit until the history buffs bought tickets to see a movie in the museum.  That meant that Mason and I could roam the old cemetery and search for cannons.  (He calls them "canyons".)  

Gotta love these OLD trees.

See who's hiding behind this one?

He took interest in every map and photograph.

Wanted to know how each cannon worked
and if he was alive when people used them for real.

Well the rain picked up and the movie ended so off to the game we go.

  

Mason is a BIG fan!!!

 

BIG WIN!!!

 

 

Favorite Foto Friday...

This was the best souvenir I could bring back to my 5 year old son.  

He is a huge Star Wars fan and was very impressed that I met Darth Vadar.

Then had my picture taken with him.

Then fought him in a light saber battle.

and WON!!!  I am STRONG with the force.

The Venetian

The Venetian is one of my favorites in Las Vegas and I wanted to make sure my mom saw it also.  I love the WOW factor it provides and it didn't disappoint.

It's quite a trek to get up to the entrance.  There were several levels of inclined moving sidewalks.

Some were using their time wisely.

We stopped to take a look.

Then up, up, up we kept going.

Having so much fun with my friend.

Finally the entrance.

Where you enter it looks like any other casino.  We wandered through and came upon this art display.

The Asian aspect of this area surprised me in the Italian-themed casino.  

It was quite beautiful and really drew me in.

Then we made it to the canal area.  This was a scaled representation of the Grand Canal in Venice.

The ceiling is painted beautifully like a clear summer day.
I couldn't take my eyes off it.

We enjoyed lunch at this beautiful sidewalk cafe.
There were even street performers and a few pigeons.  

  

My sister is great!  She takes more pictures than I do.  

She took photos before this meal like a real foodie.

 

I saw this cigar shop and knew what I would bring home to Michael.  Bridgette walked in and told the salesman what we wanted.  He took us into the glass room and the wonderful, fresh smell took me back in time to my Aunt Mary's barn where the fresh cut tobacco hung to dry.  What a wonderful memory.  Back to shopping.... we picked a cigar and then off we went......To the gondolas please!!! 

This one's for you, baby!

Francisco was our Gondolier.
He sang beautifully and then interpreted
the meaning of each song.

He sang Happy Birthday to Mary.

 

So much fun!  We never stop laughing.