We rang in 2016 with family and friends in Las Vegas! A group of our friends stayed together at the Orleans Hotel and Casino.

On the first night we were there together, we took the kids bowling at the hotel.

The mamas hung out while the kiddos (and one mama) bowled. As we were leaving the alley at midnight, we noticed that there was a long line of people wanting to pay for a game of bowling. We realized that at midnight, games are just $1!  What a deal.

I started each day with a morning workout then would go back to the room to wake the family up and head down for lunch. Some of the food I enjoyed at the Orleans included the yummy seafood chowder from Big Al’s Oyster Bar, the duck noodle soup from Koji, and steak and lobster from TGIF. The kids ate lots of caramel apples from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory–sprinkles, chocolate chip, M&Ms, buttermilk, and more. It’s fruit so it’s healthy, right?

In addition to eat and eat and eat during our stay, we drove to Trader Joe’s to pick up some of the truffle salt marcona almonds, coconut body butter, chocolate, cookies, and so much more.

We also took our friends around to take some pictures and also to Fashion Show Mall and Premium Outlets so they could get their shopping fix in. We went to the movies and saw Star Wars, Daddy’s Home, and Hateful Eight. The kids saw more movies than I did~I think they also saw Joy, the new Hunger Games, and Sisters.

The whole gang of 20+ friends all got together for our New Year’s Eve dinner at the hotel buffet. After the buffet, we went up to a suite on the top floor of the hotel for our private party to watch the Las Vegas fireworks.  We had a view of the entire strip from the windows of our suite.  It felt like the casinos on the strip offered a fireworks extravaganza for our personal viewing pleasure.  It was amazing.  What I did not expect was that the casinos synchronized their fireworks show.  Incredible. What a great way to close down 2015 and kick off 2016.  I don’t know what I’ll be doing next NYE, but I don’t know how our gang can top this one.