This Hoopla

Happy 18th Anniversary to us!! 

We were married in the Las Vegas LDS Temple on May 4, 1996. That was eighteen years, two kids, three houses, numerous trips to Disneyland, zero dogs but one desert tortoise, and several extra pounds of fat ago AND we still like each other, so I guess we are doing something right!! 

May 11, 2014

Mother's Day!! 

The best thing about it is that Lauren and Jace are absolute angels on that day. They smile for pictures, make me lunch, and keep the peace. It is wonderful!! And I'm not being sarcastic, it is for real!! We had family dinner at the Judd's house, and the guys planned, cooked, and cleaned up dinner. The kids were outside and saw these adorable baby birds emerging from a bush in the backyard. We told the kids not to touch them, but as you can see by the picture, Jace is practically strangling one. Hopefully they survived but I told my sister not to tell me if they died because they were so cute and fuzzy it would break my mama heart. To top it all off we got a few "mom" pictures; some intentionally hideous- gotta make fun of yourself once in awhile!!

*oh and I finally got a new computer- HOORAY! 

Celebrating Lauren

 April 28, 2014

Time is a train

Makes the future the past

Leaves you standing in the station

Your face pressed up against the glass

-U2, "Zoo Station"

That's how I feel about my little girl turning 15!! Only my distorted face is pressing on the glass wide eyed in amazement, drooling in denial as my jaw lies wide open like Picasso's "The Scream." Time has once again tricked me.  I'm not going to lie: this teenager, freshman in high school stage has not been all lollipops and roses, more like hormonal flares and outbursts, but we are all hobbling along and doing our best. Lauren wanted clothes for her birthday, so we went out shopping and picked out some things that she opened up on her birthday. Grandma and Grandpa Nelson stopped by and brought her a gift as well. Lauren chose Red Robin for dinner so we all met there, including cousin Ava, for her birthday dinner. It was a pretty low key birthday (gotta save our energy for the Sweet 16) but we all made Lauren feel special and loved and that's really all that matters!!

This happened one night......

we must have a teenager that somebody has a crush on, right??

End of Freshman year Legacy choir concert. They really were impressive!! Way to go Taylor and Lauren!!

June 2014

Girls night at the Spring Mountain Ranch. Lauren, myself, Sydney, and her mom Liz enjoyed an evening watching the hilarious Monty Python's Spamalot. Before the play we walked around the grounds at the Spring Mountain Ranch, it is so lovely nestled in the mountains. It was a fun and relaxing night for sure!!

Lauren and Sydney

Lauren holding the tree

Easter 2014

April 20, 2014

Easter morning.

In years past the Easter Bunny found it amusing to hide all of his Easter surprises around the house or outside in the yard. The kids would search high and low to discover all of the fun things he had left behind. This year, due to the teenage plague having infected our home, the Easter Bunny found it quite acceptable to put the goods in a simple Easter basket. In fact, he was so nonchalant about it that he neglected to put the hollow chocolate Easter bunnies in the baskets and they were later discovered hiding in the refrigerator. After Lauren and Jace checked out their goods we got ready for church. Somehow, someone thought it would be a fabulous idea for me to speak in church on Easter Sunday. I wholeheartedly begged to differ, but ultimately I agreed, took on the challenge, and survived. 

Normally we would have a Saturday Easter party then a Sunday Easter dinner with my family, but this year there were too many conflicting schedules so we combined the party and dinner on Sunday. My mom had the tables decorated festively and we enjoyed ham, potatoes, and all the fixings. Afterwards the Easter Bunny, aka Grandma Nelson, joined us for an Easter fun hunt. Everyone got lots of goodies and we enjoyed time together. Can't wait to do it all again next year!! (well minus the speaking in church part)

My mom's cute Easter table decor

Hannah, Grandma Bunny, Lauren, and photobomber Steph

finally set free from his box prison, only to be mutilated and dismembered!!

When the Stars Align......

May 18th, 2014

When I was a teenager we rarely had big music concerts come through town. If you were a Burt Bacharach babe, loved Liberace, or died to see Debbie Reynolds, then this was your town, otherwise it was hit or miss. Although, I will admit that some good bands (in my opinion) started to filter through Vegas as I got into my late teens thanks to places like the Huntridge and Aladdin Theatre. (few favorites: James at the Huntridge, Depeche Mode front row at Aladdin, can you believe Morrissey played the theatre at UNLV-5th row) 

My point, though, is that these days every casino has a concert venue and tons of music festivals/award shows are here, like all the time. If I had the money and the inclination I could be singing along to bands I actually like, at a live concert every weekend. That being said, the Billboard Music Awards came to the MGM. Lauren and her friend Sydney really, really wanted to go. We didn't have tickets, nor did I want to drop the amount of cash they wanted for tickets, but the had a red carpet event that was outdoors and they nagged me into taking them to that. We got there but didn't see much.... they did get a photo with Drake Bell, but that was about it..... we were ready to head out but wandered around the MGM for a few and hung out by the venue....

.....and before long the girls were given some tickets by a couple that was leaving- Jackpot!! They missed maybe the first hour but were able to see the rest of the show and lots of great performers. They even ran into some Magcon guys, Carter Reynolds and Matthew Espinosa- I don't really know much about that world but they were quite excited about it. At the end of the night we stopped by the Welcome to Las Vegas sign for some photos. Took our chances and it ended up being an awesome night!!

Lauren and Drake Bell

Lauren, Sydney, and Drake Bell

Carter Reynolds, Lauren and Sydney

The girls with the guy from"So You Want to Marry Harry"

The night before we procured some tickets to the One Republic concert at Mandalay Bay. Lauren brought along her friend Taylor and Jason joined us as well. They put on a great show, plus 

All American Rejects opened for them. Bonus!!

...and just like that

I was blind-sided by 40....it swooped in like a magpie, nearly knocking me off my feet

Inconceivable!!* That's how I feel about this weird turning forty nonsense. According to the stereotype I created in my head, I should very well be wearing elastic waisted pants, eating dinner at 4pm and complaining about my bad hip. Yet, surprisingly, I feel great. Really great, in fact. I think 40 is going to be OK after all!! (>stops frantically biting nails and realizes this with a grin)

March 12 was the big day and I woke up to find the yard "amply" decorated in an "uplifting" way. Evidently you need more "support" when 40 hits. Thanks to my mom and sisters for reminding me and the entire neighborhood of that!!

That afternoon my mom, sister Tiff, and I enjoyed lunch at BJ's Restaurant and I got a tasty Pizookie for my birthday dessert.

That night we had cake. 

I put in a special request for a Baskin-Robbins mint chocolate chip ice cream cake- Jason and the kids delivered. It was a good birthday!

 My 40th fell on a Wednesday, sandwiched right in-between two awesome weekends. The weekend before it I was whisked off to Disneyland with my mom and sisters and then the weekend after Jason surprised me with a faux trip to Europe.

Backstory: Since I was about fifteen I have wanted to go to Europe; mainly England.  Most of my music loves are from there and c'mon who doesn't adore a British accent. Plus I am amused by architecture and old, ornate buildings. I have claimed the past few years that I would get there before I turned forty (because, let's face it, after that I would be old and stuffy) Yet, here I sit in dusty old Vegas, dreaming of the day......

So my brilliant husband concocts a plan to sorta make my dreams come true and for that I love him even more! The first clue was driving up to the Paris hotel, where we got a great room with a view. After relaxing and getting ready we headed out to dinner. Not just any place though... we went all the way to pretend England to have fish and chips at the Crown & Anchor British Pub.  After dinner we returned to Paris where we took a tour of the Eiffel Tower. Then we wandered the strip for a bit and got some ice cream at the Sugar Factory. The next morning we slept in, then went to Town Square for lunch and some shopping. It was a lovely get away, even if it wasn't the real thing it still meant a lot to me. 

I really am blessed in my life and it seems the older I get, the more I truly realize it. Forty used to scare me but now that I have arrived I think I kind of like it. 

*BTW did you say it like Vizzini from "Princess Bride" haha!