Las Vegas 2010

  So, I've come to the conclusion that there are some MAJOR perks to working... like, for instance, going to LAS VEGAS!  Last month, April 12 & 13 we took a short business trip to attend this years NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) convention.

Now I've been to conventions before but this was my first time at NAB and I was not prepared for what I saw.  It was almost overwhelming!  So much cool and interesting stuff all in one place.  I read on their site that there were more than 85,000 professionals there from more than 157 countries and 800,000+ square feet of exhibit space!

We got to see some major industry professionals including the DP (Director of Photography) of the show 24 and Garret Brown (pictured above), inventor of the Steadicam system, demonstrating his latest invention the Steadicam Tango.

You know you've always wanted to know what the inside of a lens looks like...

Later that night we attended an exclusive party with special guests Kevin Shahinian and Ray Roman as well as several other well known event filmmakers!  Kevin was there to showcase his new movie "City of Lakes" which Andy went to the next day and said it was amazing!  It was so fun getting to meet so many talented people AND to top the night off I even won some free training during the raffle!

The view from the executive hospitality suite at the Aria Resort where the party took place was so amazing!  Andy was totally rocking that Film Tools shirt...  he was asked at least half a dozen times that day if he worked there.  Also notice the Vegas Strip on the far left! 

Andy's super, amazing, awesome cousin, Jenny, took care of the kids for us while we were at the convention.  {Thanks again Jenny!  You are one in a million!}  The kids had such a great time.  She took them to the park the day we were at NAB and Preston didn't stop talking about the "butterfly park" until at least two weeks later.

Jenny also introduced us to this wonderful little piece of heaven on earth.  Cane's chicken and toast is my new all time favorite love.  I crave it all the time.  I'll never eat at another chicken place ever again.  Now I just have to petition to have them build one in my city.

The next day Jenny took the kids and I to the Springs Preserve.  I loved this place!  Seriously:)  Such a great redemption after our last museum trip.  Everything about the Springs Preserve was awesome!  I highly recommend it the next time you're in Vegas with kids.  Lots of fun stuff to see like live animal habitats, a flash flood exhibit, exhibits about the original Vegas inhabitants and fun educational Vegas style games. 

They even had this recreated railroad car from the early 20th century complete with about a half dozen statue people and these 3 adorable kids;)

Ok, I just can't help but throw this one last picture in.  Total BFF's Homer and Evelyn were in the process of making homemade play dough.  When I asked them to look at me and smile this is what I got.  Makes me smile every time! 

Andy shot video of Jenny's 3 boys during our visit with them.  They had so much fun with it, almost too much I think;)  Stay tuned for that!