What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas Part 2

Click here if you didn't see Part 1.

Saturday was the big day for my little-brother-who-is-still-just-a-baby to tie the knot. Us sisters had fun cruising to the site with the windows down blaring "I Wear My Sunglasses at Night" with our sunglasses on and acting like total dorks. Proof:

Walker married Lissette in the LDS Las Vegas Temple, which is a beautiful temple set over in the mountains in Las Vegas. Lissette looked beautiful and was quite composed, in my opinion, throughout the entire day. I had teased Walker earlier that when it came time for him to answer the question of whether or not he took her for his wife that he better not squeak out a little "yes" like I did on my wedding day. He totally squeaked!

I got TONS of pictures with the wedding party afterwards, mainly by being like an annoying little fly and following behind the professional photographer and trying to get a snap in as he'd get everyone arranged looking good. Here are a few of the pics:

Let me tell you that it was hot standing out there in the Las Vegas sun! So we (the sisters) took off as soon as we knew we weren't needed anymore. We headed back to the room and stripped off our pantyhose as quickly as we could and just chilled for the next hour or so before we needed to be at the reception.

The reception was very nice and I don't want to know what the bill was for it. There was a private friends and family dinner beforehand, also, and we enjoyed ourselves getting to know the groomsmen and eating really good food.

Ali and I getting "toasted" on the sparkling cider

The reception was after the dinner and I had a blast. It was so much fun to dance and celebrate. It started out (for about 4 minutes) very subdued with a traditional receiving line until my brother went over to the DJ and told him he needed to shake the place up because he couldn't stand it anymore. So out comes "Play That Funky Music White Boy" and that was the end of the "traditional" receiving line.

I'm sure I made a fool out of myself, but I had good company with the other Solid Gold dancers (i.e. my sisters and Mom) that were also out there cutting a rug the whole time. Some highlights included our Thriller and Ice Ice Baby quasi-impersonations. My dad even got on the dance floor a few times (there is photographic evidence below). I'm sure people thought we must be drunk, but it was fun. Here are a few pics:

Boogie

Caught the garter

Cutting the cake (duh!)
Demonstrating how to create a sundae at the sundae bar

The happy couple and his two older sisters who will keep him in line

The following clip pretty much sums up my family's personality, refusal to follow boring traditions, and the fun time we had at the reception. For your entertainment, here is a Mother/Son dance I'm willing to bet is like none you've ever seen:

Walker also did the worm at one point during the Blues Brothers' "Shout" and we all got nice and sweaty shaking our groove thing. Close to the end, we realized that no one had decorated their getaway car, so I sacrificed a tube of lipstick to write on the windows and draw lots of hearts! They left amid a walkway of sparklers and bubbles and drove off into the sunset. Well, it was already dark, but you get my drift.

We were so tired by the end, but that didn't stop Tori and I from going back and cruising the strip at midnight (we actually were trying to find a specific souvenir shop and kept getting caught in traffic and taking creative "shortcuts"). I had to get up at 4:00 a.m. in order to return the rental car and catch my 6:15 flight, but since I was flying with no kids I was able to sleep some on the plane. Aaaaah!

Now I've been scrambling around trying to get us all ready to head down to Texas tomorrow morning for 4th of July and the Texas reception. Then we will be off to Florida for vacation. Then back to Texas so I can go to the big Mary Kay Seminar in Dallas. Eventually, we will make it back home!

What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas Part 1

I am back from a too short trip to Las Vegas for my brother Walker's wedding. His wife Lissette is from there, so oh darn, we had to go to see them married. Correction - I had to go - by myself - without any kids - to see them married. Jealous?

I flew out Thursday night and flew back in very early Sunday morning, so in reality there was only Friday to paint the town and then Saturday was devoted to all that marriage stuff. So here is a recap:

Thursday evening - I flew to Vegas. This in and of itself was exciting only due to the fact I had no small children to entertain on the flight. I didn't even have to ask for my drink to have a plastic cover put on it also so it wouldn't be spilt. My mom picked me up at the airport after valiantly sacrificing her Tournament of Knights tickets to do so. My sister Tori flew in later, so I met her at the rental car place because she is a big chicken and didn't want to drive by herself. I don't think we went anywhere besides our resort that night.

That's right, our resort. I like to travel anytime my parents are involved because we stay at their time share resorts and it is luxurious. And free. :-) That night I slept well, but woke up at 4:30 (6:30 our time) because that is when I would normally be getting woken up at home. I forced myself to lay there in and out of consciousness and then I couldn't stand it anymore so I was up by 6:15. Tori couldn't sleep either. So we got up and sat around waiting for everyone else to wake up. We were VERY QUIET (right Mom?).

Friday was filled with no schedule. So my mom and I jogged around the non-jogger friendly blocks because we both hate treadmills, and then we all went to the pool and layed out. Did I mention this was without kids? Very different experience than with. Here is the pool (this shot is from my room):

Then we got cleaned up and waited forever while eating free popcorn and brownies while my parents did some business with the time share people. We entertained ourselves by taking pictures like this (that's a cardboard dude, in case you can't tell):

Finally, my sisters and I took off to go to Caesar's Palace (which I mistakenly kept referring to as Little Caesar's) to eat. At least that was the plan. Tori, Ali and I took an unintended detour and by-passed the Palace and ended up on the highway headed to Salt Lake City! We were laughing our heads off as I repeatedly warned my sister not to wreck because we had declined the extra rental insurance even after the Budget lady made it very clear to us what a dumb decision that was. Eventually, we did end up on the opposite end of the strip and worked our way back only to get a call from my mom saying they were on their way, but they had also ended up on the highway so they would be a little late. It must be hereditary...

We ate at Cafe Lago in Caesar's Palace, which was very nice. Then we hit the floor. Let me tell you what kind of high rollers my sister and I are - I won $33.75 at the penny slots. Oh yeah! Here is proof:

If it's been a while since you've gone hard-core gambling like us, then you will notice gone are the days of those flimsy plastic cups collecting 3375 pennies pouring out of the machine. Instead you get to print a voucher and take it to a machine that cashes you out. It's kind of like that ticket monster machine that eats the tickets and gives you a receipt at Chuck E. Cheese's. I am glad to say that I am not an addictive gambler, and would only put in the puny dollar here and there and then quit when I broke even. Yeah, I'm crazy like that. Not like my sister who lost $24 on the quarter slots. I think I need to call Gamblers Anonymous on her...

We spent most of the afternoon in Caesar's Palace watching the sinking of Atlantis show and buying overpriced toy swords and shields for the kids. Tori and I got even crazier and took off to the games at Excalibur. Lest you think I am talking about blackjack or other games of that nature, I blew 5 bucks trying to win an ugly stuffed dog and she won 2 bears for her kids.

I have too many pictures to choose from, so I will spare you having to look at too many. But I will put more pics and videos (wait till you see the Mom and Son dance at the reception) to come in Part 2. Here is a taste:

First Day of Summer Party

Last Friday, June 20th, was officially the first day of summer. Did you know that? I only did because the boys got in their heads that they were going to have a party last week and started telling their friends they were invited. So I figured that since we were going to be gone for most of the summer and they wouldn't get to see their friends much, they could indeed have a party. I looked at the calendar and that day - the first day of summer - was the best time to have it.

I asked them what kind of party they wanted to have and suggestions ranged from an Xbox party to a Star Wars themed party. I was able to use my powers of (strong) persuasion to convince them that a "First Day of Summer" party would be way cooler. So we grilled hot dogs, had popsicles and ice cream cones, and lots and lots of water - sprinklers, water guns, and water balloons. I think we had about 10 kids show up and they had a great time. They've already asked if every year they can have a "First Day of Summer" party. I think we may have just started a tradition by accident!

I Wish I Thought I Could Dance

Not to take away from my earlier, more important (ahem...)post tonight, but can I just say that I love So You Think You Can Dance? I know nothing about dance, and last year was the first time I had ever watched this show, but I love the concept of taking all these dancers, usually only specialized in one specific style of dance, and having them learn and compete in all these other styles. If a dance gives me chills, it is deemed good in my eyes.

Last year, what won me over was Kameron and Lacey's contemporary routine on the very first Top 20 show:


This week, these next two routines were deemed worthy because they gave me chills. I am amazed at how much I am drawn to the contemporary style. I use to just think it was really weird. But I love how they tell a story. I really, really liked this dance by Courtney and Gev. I enjoy her dancing and the emotions she conveys, and I love how he tosses her around in this routine with these crazy lift things. The fact he is a break dancer by trade is even more impressive:


I was also touched by this dance. Besides the story behind it (the choreographer created it to touch his handicapped daughter who has no movement except with her eyes, but responds to dancing that touches her), I just think Kherington is so beautiful and a beautiful dancer. And again, the dude "Twitch" is a freestyler/ hip hopper and he totally partnered her. This still brings tears to my eyes:


And I have to put a shout out for little Mormon girl Chelsie!

She's a great dancer. I was laughing when Nigel was saying she needed to sleaze up her Argentine Tango a little more....

True Confessions

Remember my True Crimes post? Well, I have another one to report.

THE PERPETRATOR:

*Sidenote - those are the diamond earrings JC gave me for our 10 year anniversary, for those of you who wanted pictures. Who says you can't wear diamonds to a T-ball game?!?

THE WEAPON:

THE CRIME:

Last Monday, as in the Monday before this past Monday, I went to pick up Little J from an Art Workshop at this really fun children's museum called Wonderscope. In my rush... in my distraction of making sure he was indeed buckled as claimed... I backed up and turned into the telephone pole. (That is stupidly placed right in the middle of a parking lot behind the parking spots, I might add, but that's beside the point). What is even worse, is that even after I hit it, I still didn't know what I had hit until I got out of the car. I didn't/couldn't even see it at all. - Go ahead, make snide remarks here and/or women driver jokes.

When I saw the damage, I was surprised at the extent of it and then immediately felt sick. The bumper was crushed, the panel above it was cracked, and the light cover was broken. I did not want to go home and tell JC I had wrecked the van - again. Yes, that's right, again. Not that long ago (I want to say it was in the fall, but I'm not sure) I backed into someone who pulled in behind me in a friend's driveway. Well, actually she had pulled in behind the car next to me and then decided to switch over to behind me after I was already backing out. She was switching and I was backing at the same time. Anyway, it was my fault, and our van was damaged.

But back to THIS moment of incompetency.... We get home and I'm trying to figure out the best way to inform him of the accident and Little J blurts out, "Mama wrecked the van! She crashed into a pole!" To his credit, he handled the news well with minimal jibing. I was required, however, to make penance by letting the entire world know of my ineptitude by posting pictures on this blog.

Our van was in the shop all week so they could fix the $1400 worth of damage. Thankfully, our deductible is only $250 of that, plus the $11 extra per day our insurance doesn't cover for a rental that is big enough for all of us, but still. AND to make matters worse, I get home from picking up the van today and get out of the van to hear a loud hissing sound which quickly deteriorated to this:



I give up.

So That's What It's Called!

Tonight Big J was laying in bed and trying to clear his throat to no avail. He then asked me,

"Mama, I have smug in my throat. Can I go get a drink to wash it down?"

"Smug? What exactly is smug in your throat?"

"Something that bothers me."

"Where'd you hear that it's called smug?"

"I don't know. I just made it up. Can I get a drink?"

"Sure. Go wash that smug away."

It's a Nubbin

Little J has some type of skin irritation on his chest way over to the side by his armpit. It looks like some type of eczema-type of outbreak, but he's never had eczema and it is only in this one spot, so I'm not sure what is going on. However, Little J offered the following suggestions in a conversation last night while he was in the bath:

Him (Diagnosis #1): "I think it's a tick. In the book Gross Out it says that ticks get bigger as they suck your blood, and this has gotten bigger, so I think it's a tick."

Me: "It's not a tick. A tick is a bug. We would be able to see if there was a bug hanging off of you."

Him (Diagnoses #2 and #3): "Oh. I think I'm growing a boob then. Or maybe another nipple."

Choo Choo!

This morning, while JC headed out to play football and help two families move, the boys and I took off with some friends to go ride the train in Belton, MO. It is an antique train that you can take a 5 mile roundtrip ride on. The first half of the ride we sat on the open-air car which used to serve as a flat bed car to transport Civil War army materials, and on the second half of the trip we rode inside the 1920's passenger car that was used in the movie Biloxi Blues. Then we got to explore the caboose and engine when it was all over. It was perfect weather for this kind of fun, and then afterwards we walked to a small cafe/malt shoppe around the corner, where we had over-priced hamburgers and double scoop ice cream cones.

At the ticket station. The other little boy is my friend Heather's son, even though he looks like he could be one of mine.

About to get started on the open air car.

On our way. The boys liked to hang off the side and then dive out of the way at the last minute so the trees wouldn't swat them in the face. We also had a lot of visits from butterflies that would camp out on us. Little Man, however, kept a very serious face (as shown) for this half of the trip and wouldn't get off my lap.

He liked riding inside much better. I could never get all the boys sitting down at the same time to get a pic inside the passenger car.

The engine. This was after the ride, but they would have probably done this during it, if they could have.

The caboose.

The appropriately named malt shoppe we stopped in afterwards.

Now we're off to our neighborhood block party. I love summer!

Hospital Hill Run *edited

Just a quick report that I did run and finish the 10k (6.2 miles) this morning. It was a much more pleasant experience than the freezing cold, windy, out-in-the-sticks experience the half-marathon was. Instead, it was HOT (even at 7:00 a.m.), HUMID (75% or more), and HILLY. I was on my own, though, so I don't have any pictures. That's probably a good thing since I was sweating like a pig before the 1st kilometer was over.

I was pleased with my results, although, I admit that I walked up half of one of the hills. I know I could have made it running all the way up, but I wanted to be able to actually finish the race so I made the choice to walk it the last half of the hill in order to not pop an artery trying to make it all the way up. The fact that I could break the hill down into proverbial halves should give you an idea of what kind of hill it was. That was really the only terrible hill on the 10k course, so I'm glad I chose to do this race instead of the 1/2 marathon this time around. There were other hills, but they were more comparable to what I am use to training on.

My results* were as follows:

Time: 1 hour 1 minute and 41 seconds
Overall place: 257/809
Gender place: 79/464
Division place: 15/89

So, overall I did better than when I ran the last race. I was secretly hoping I could finish it in an hour flat, but alas, the mother hill killed my plan. I will definitely have to be in much better shape for the October half-marathon now that I know what kind of terrain I will be dealing with.

*Today (6/14/08) I checked back for the final results and the numbers were a little bit off in the preliminary results, so here are the real numbers:

Overall: 262/814
Gender: 82/466
Division: 16/90

Quirky

Little Man is a funny little man. He continually cracks me up at his need for things to be "just so." A few examples of his most recent eccentricities (Is that a word?):

He has a book he likes called What Should Eddie Pack? It's about one of the Fisher Price Little People characters who is going on a trip and has to pack his suitcase. He keeps loading it up with all his favorite toys and games until his suitcase overflows and falls out everywhere and then he realizes all he "really needs is my very best friend Teddy" his teddy bear. Anyway, on the part when things are falling all over the place the picture shows Eddie trying to keep the pile in his suitcase with his arms outstretched. It shows him from the back and his shirt is a little bit up, showing some of his back, like it really would be if he was stretching to keep a pile from falling. The little bit of skin showing bothers Little Man. Everytime we get to that page he points it out and, since he is still not really talking, makes his "I'm bothered/disgusted" sound.

He also apparently does not like the teacher's neck in Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Everytime we get to the page where it says "Teacher, teacher, what do you see?" he points at her neck and makes his "I'm bothered" sound. I think it's because there is a little white space in the crease between her neck and head. Maybe he doesn't like looking at technically decapitated people.

He's just funny like that. A few weeks ago when my parents were here, we were grilling and all of the sudden the grill became possessed and shot up flames and some grease or something spilled out onto the patio. That grease spot bothered Little Man. He'd crouch over it, saying, "Uh oh! Uh oh!" over and over and over again until it was taken care of.

He likes his one certain blanket, he likes to have a paci for him, one for his little bear, socks on, and a water cup when he goes to bed. It's not to the point that it's annoying, but he does have his particulars. And he likes things how they are suppose to be, where they are suppose to be. Hmmm.... That may actually be nice to have someone in the house that thinks that way...

Little Einstein

As in Albert.

The following is a conversation I had with Little J tonight:

Little J: *sigh* I can't wait to be a grown-up.

Me: Why?

Little J: Because I want to invent Star Wars things for real.

Me: Invent things? Like what?

Little J: Like things people can get in. When I make my first speeder, I will take it out of my shop and try it out. It will be so awesome!

Me: That sounds really cool. Will you give me a ride?

Little J: Yeah. I can build it with two seats so you can sit in the back.

Me: What if I want to drive?

Little J (said mockingly at the audacity of the idea) : You'll probably crash. It goes really fast AND it doesn't have seatbelts. That's really dangerous.

Me: I see.

Little J (after a long and pensive pause) : I think I will wear a Scout Trooper outfit and drive my speeder around like a car. (This is followed by giddy laughter at the awesomeness of this idea...)