Las Vegas Report

I have been home from my vacay for a week now, so I probably should report on my 4 days of bliss.  4 days of no children and no responsibility, nothing to clean, no one to cook for, no phone calls to make or emails to respond to.  Did I mention that I enjoyed myself?

We stayed at Mandalay Bay, which was quite nice.    I would get up each morning (after talking to Brandon) go running for a bit, then wander around looking at different things and then head to the pool area.  They have a huge wave pool with a beach, a lazy river, and about 3 other regular pools.  The only problem was the water temperature, I am a snob when it comes to cold water.  I am very particular about how hot water has to be for me to get in.  This is why I love Mexico in August so much, 90 degree water!

Usually around lunch time Bryan would come find me and we would walk around or sit and talk by the pool.  Then back to his meetings he would go and back to relaxing I would go.  I would get bored sometimes and switch my locations at the pool.  About the time Brandon would call me for the second time each day, I would head up to the room and get ready for the day.  Bryan would get done with his meetings and we would head off to find dinner.

The first night we walked all the way down to the Venetian to eat at The Grand Lux, which Bryan knew he would like.  On our walk back we toured the ENTIRE world.  We also stopped at CVS and got sunscreen (which I had forgotten) and snacks to keep me fed during the day.  We wore ourselves out at night walking and walking and walking, but it was fun.

The second night there, the conference Bryan was attending had an 80’s party.  Only the conference attendees were allowed to the party by the pool, but I snuck in.  I figure neither of us were drinking so we were saving the company money by being there.  I did go around and help myself to the appetizers.  Bryan decided he had enough of the party and so I took his badge and stayed for the fun to really get going!  Just kidding, I just wandered around fascinated by all of the people and thinking this was the coolest thing.  I stayed and listened to a few songs by Huey Lewis and the News, who were performing.  Once people started heading into the beach pool to dance I knew I had to leave or I would stay all night!  I had so much fun, but was a nice wife and headed back to the husband.  Oh and how could I forget the 3-6 phone calls from Brandon each night?

(This is at the party, the crew members were going around taking pictures with people, I got a big kick out of it.)

Now the only problem with the trip was the food  situation.  I was there with BE and so that means no good food for me.  He wouldn’t pay to eat at any of the “fancy” restaurants so we spent  A LOT of time looking for food.  One night I told him we were eating at the next restaurant we came to no matter what.  The last night of wandering the strip we were ready to be away from Vegas and to get home for some home cooked food!

My Dad and his wife Judi watched the boys which was so nice.  They all had a great time, except for at night when Brandon has anxiety and calls me a million times.  Also my sister Bethany and BFF Tiffany helped with Jonah which was oh so kind!

Cable Tv?

So here in our family we do things the old fashioned way.  We don’t have cable TV, if we want to watch something then it better be on regular TV or else we won’t see it.  We don’t really watch much TV so it hasn’t been an issue.  We had to explain once to our dear friend Quin Kofford that he would not have to pay for TV in his new apartment once he got married.  We showed him how our TV worked and the channels we got.  He was amazed, he had no idea that people could get stations for FREE!

So back to the statement that is hasn’t been much of an issue.  Well the times when it is an issue is during college football season and the NBA (Jazz) season.  Luckily we have our bestest neighbors the Murdock’s who let us come over and watch the BYU football games whenever we want.  We invade their house and have such a great time watching the games.  Last season there were 2 Jazz games a month on regular TV.  It was very exciting on those nights because we could watch the game on our very own TV.

O.K. so now to my point.  ALL of the Jazz games are on cable this year, every single one of them.  This has caused quite the stir in our house.  This week Bryan has been researching cable.  Every night we discuss the prices and we come to the conclusion that it is a RIP OFF!!!  I mean, why should I have to budget money to watch TV?  Plus I don’t want my kids to want to watch TV.

Well this will continue with each passing Jazz game and we may end up being people who have cable.

What am I doing?

I have several blog posting roaming around in my head and I can’t seem to find the time to get them typed out.  It isn’t that hard and it doesn’t take that long, but why can I not find the time?  Remember back in the summer when I was so busy and so mad that I wasn’t enjoying summer?  Well now that is happening in the fall (and some days winter now).  I don’t know what is going on, but I can’t get a grip on ANYTHING.  I walk around not remembering what I am doing and starting something else.  I can’t get a hold on cleaning my house, I have projects that I want to do and can’t seem to “find” the time to start.  I am in maintenance mode and only what absolutely has to get done is getting done.  O.K. so I at least have expressed my thoughts, now maybe things will clear up.  I bet it has something to do with the fact that I haven’t been to a movie or lunch in a LONG time.

Viva Las Vegas

I don't really know what that means, but I know that tonight I am flying to Vegas with Bryan. Definitely not my first choice of places to go, but hey really I will take anywhere! So this week while Bryan is in meetings I will be sitting by or in the pool reading one of the 4 books I am taking. I know I know, I have such a hard life. If I could say this without Tiffany reading it I would say, "But I haven't been on vacation since April"! Whoops, I guess I said it and she will be mad.

Anyways here is to my relaxing 4 days and no alarm to wake up to in the morning! Oh and I can't forget about the warm (hopefully) sun that will be shining down on me.

Apples and more Apples

We have two apple trees in our yard.  They are both golden delicious and they really do create delicious apples.  The problem most years and especially this year is that there are way too many apples for me to do anything with.   This year was a bumper crop, we actually have had several branches break from the weight of the apples.  Saturday we set out to pick the apples and rake up the apples on the ground. 

Jacob loved being at the very top of the tree, of course he didn’t have anything way up there with him to put the apples in .

Jonah loved throwing apples to Marley.

(O.K. this picture is from earlier in the summer, but this is what Jonah does every day when Marley comes on vacation to our house)

We picked so many apples and then raked up enough to fill the garbage can 3/4 of the way full.

Yesterday I spent ALL day making applesauce.  For some reason it was extremely time consuming this year, last year it was no big deal.

So here is the end result of my canning experiences this fall.  I am done no matter how many thousands of apples are still on my trees!

Ha that looks very Betty Crockerish.

Hmmmm what to write today

So I noticed that I haven't posted in awhile and thought I better come up with something. The trouble is I don't have a specific thing to blog about. So here comes some Friday randomness.......

My Dad and his wife Judi got sealed in the Bountiful Temple today. It was very nice and I am happy for them. This could be an issue, but I have the belief that it all works out in the end. I believe my Mom is happy for them as well today. We all love Judi and are so grateful for her in our lives and especially my Dad's life.

I am loving the weather today. No complaining coming from me, not that I do that anymore. I had to take off my fleece this morning while running because it was so warm, or maybe it was the hills and how fast we were going! Right now I can feel the warmth coming in my back windows and I love it.

Jacob just came inside and informed me that he can do a back flip on the trampoline. Sure enough I went out to watch and he can. I hope he doesn't back flip right off!

Bryan and I are watching The Office on DVD, we are almost done with season 2. I seriously cannot believe how funny it is. I can't wait until tonight when we can watch another 2,3,4 or more episodes! I love things that make me laugh my guts out and low and behold a TV show can do that to me!

I just read Sophie Kinsella's new book called, Twenties Girl. It was so good. I love all of her books, I wish she had a new one everyday so that I could always have a great book to read (great meaning entertaining with no thought having to be put in it).

Well that seems to be enough random of my life today. I hope everyone enjoys or enjoyed a fantastic weekend!

New Goals

In the past few months I have made 2 goals which I am trying to stick to.

The first is to slow down, not always be in a hurry everywhere I go.  This was brought on by the UK commercial about texting, which I never saw, but heard enough about.  I realized that even though I don’t text while driving (except for one time) I am distracted because I am in such a hurry.  So I am trying to slow down, which means I am usually a little bit late!

The second which is very hard for me is to stop complaining about the weather.  I am a complainer and the weather is my favorite topic.  It is never just right for me, unless it is upper 90’s in the summer and snowing at Christmas time.  So I am working hard on accepting the weather for whatever it is, there certainly isn’t anything I can do about it!  With that said though, really is this how the end of September and beginning of October should look?

(If my tomatoes and peppers don’t make it through, then there will be serious complaining!)

Yes that is snow and I didn’t get pictures from the day before when there was 1/4 inch on the trampoline.

I do have to admit it was a little thrilling to get out my cold running gear and run in the cold yesterday morning.  This morning on my bike was not thrilling, it was just down right FREEZING!