Weekend Trip

Todd has a Wendy's Convention every fall.  I try to go with him when I can.  The meetings were scheduled for Las Vegas this year.  I have been with him there several times and have opted not to go the last few years because Vegas is not my favorite destination.  However when he asked me if I wanted to go this year I thought, "it has been a long time and if the other couples will go I won't hesitate to escape to warmer weather any chance I can get even if it is Vegas." So I said I would go.  I checked all the kids schedules and there was only one football game I would miss.  However as the weeks moved on there was much more that ended up on the schedule.  With a lot of help from neighbors and family we got all the rides figured out and we were on our way.  (Thanks to everyone who helped!)  We flew on Allegiant direct from Idaho Falls (only 1:18 flight.)  We enjoyed a fun weekend together including: (I didn't take my nice camera, I snapped some shots with my phone but they are not great.)

Cirque Du Soleil "O" This show was amazing especially the set.  It was a water show and it would convert from a pool deep enough for the performers to dive from the roof to no water at all.  It was just awesome, some parts were weird but the set was awesome!

We drove to the Grand Canyon.  This was soooo scary.  We were right on the edge of the canyon.  People (including Todd and Rob) were looking right over the edge.  I do not do well with that, however I did manage to get my picture taken while hanging on to the edge of the cliff!?!?!

We were about two feet away from the edge of the cliff, yes that is a fake smile on my face!

It has been a long time since I have been to the Grand Canyon and it is beautiful.  We had a very pleasant day and had fun on the Skywalk, walking out over the edge of the canyon with a glass floor.  

(This part scared me too, I am terrified of heights.)

We went to Terry Fator, and just let me tell you he is so talented.  We liked watching him on America's Got Talent and loved seeing his show, it was fun and amazing to watch.

The temperature was perfect, upper 70's to low 80's which meant I got to spend a couple hours at the pool soaking up some sun and reading this book:

It was a great book.  Elizabeth is an amazing person.  I admire and look up to her.  What a terrible journey she has been through, yet overcome and is truly making the best out of the situation.

Our last night we went to the buffet at Caesars Palace.  

Very fancy, we tried lots of everything and left feeling sick.  

After dinner we went to Shania Twain in the Colosseum.  It brought back so many memories of seeing Celine Dion for a girls trip with my mom and sisters 9 years ago!  The show was great.  Shania is beautiful and was very personable with the audience.

We really enjoyed everything we did.  That being said, I HATE Las Vegas.  What a dirty, ugly place.  So many bad things go on there.  There was more crap going on than I have ever seen before.  It is just depressing and not an environment I like to be in.  But the company we were with was fabulous!

Braeden Homecoming 2013

Homecoming 2013!

Braeden has gone on quite a few dates this last year, but this was the first Boy's choice dance he has wanted to go to.  It is an exciting time for teenagers and I love to help my kids plan and create fun memories.  He knew who he wanted to ask.  She is a good friend and a beautiful young lady!  So his fun started a couple weeks ago with him creating this football to ask her!

She answered him by decorating his room!

Next up was the Homecoming game!  It didn't go over so well, we got killed by Highland.  We have had a rough year, so at least we weren't expecting to win? :-)

This was Braeden in on this tackle!  Good Job Braeden!!!!

Braeden was in a group of 8 couples for their Date.  So we planned a picture scavenger hunt and divided them into two teams.  They had to follow the directions on this paper and all 8 team members had to be in the picture, so that meant they had to find somebody to take their picture at each location.

After they took their picture they emailed it to another one of the moms and she then put together a collage and had them developed in the 1 hour photo lab!  Braeden's team beat the other team by 20 minutes!  They finished at our house with prizes and Rootbeer Floats.

Next up was pictures.  We met at the river and took their couple and group photos.  It was a little cold, but they all had a fun time deciding how to pose and took lots of fun pictures!

Braeden about died when he saw Shay's socks.  You see he is a sock lover.  I never knew someone could like socks as much as he does.  He spends soooo much money on socks.  He loved that she had orange Nike socks to match her dress.  He even went back home after picking her up to change his socks from black dress socks to Skyline colored Nike socks.  He was so disappointed that he didn't have orange socks to match.

What a cute couple!  We had to get some funny photos in!

After pictures they went to Spencer's house for a very nice, fun dinner.  Then off to the dance and finished with dessert at McKay's house.  Braeden was happy with the way things turned out and they all had a great time together.  I sure love my kids and their friends!

Fall

There are only a couple things I like about Fall:

#1 The fall colors outside

#2 Enjoying our garden produce and filling the storage room

Creamed Peas and Potatoes

Carrots

We got lots of raspberries

And picked huckleberries which made. . . . .

The best freezer jam.

Zucchini . . . .

to make bread!

Thanks to the Johnsons for the awesome corn!

Garden tomatoes make great. . . . 

Salsa!

Spaghetti and Butternut squash.

The storage room is now stocked which feels so good, and helps with the grocery bill throughout the winter.  I am amazed at how much food we go through!  What a fun stage of life we are in with our kids.  We find ourselves in the kitchen after games late at night laughing, playing games, talking and eating well into the night!  Time is going by way too fast and they will be gone before we know it :-(
I wish I could say I liked more about Fall, it just gets too dang cold here too fast. (I feel like we go from summer to winter overnight)