Our Honeymoon... and it was only 2 years late!

First of all, I would like to thank everyone who helped take care of our kids while we finally got to take our honeymoon. That includes Little Grandma, Oddie, Shayla, Josie, Jewls, Grandpa Craig, Corde, Jeremy, Max, Bridger and Ang, Miles, Taryn and Tristen. We really needed that time to get away and we really appreciate it! It ended up being a great vacation... our only regret is that we didn't stay a few days longer. Maybe in another few years.... mark your calendars!

This is Lucas driving us to Rapid City where we would take off on Allegiant Air. If you ever need to fly cheap to Vegas, this looks like a good option... until you start adding in all the fees, like $15 to check just 1 bag. Then there's the $10 per person fee to choose your seat. Then there's about another $75 in misc fees that you don't find until the end. Oh, and when you think of a no-frills airline you generally think Southwest. Well, these guys top them. You pay for drinks and snacks ($5-$10) and don't even think of asking for a pillow or blanket. They don't even offer those.... but you can buy a souvenir one for $15. No thanks!




This is us on our NO-FRILLS Airplane. I'm surprised we're smiling instead of flipping off the crew.



This is Lucas in our luxurious suite. He should be smiling here because this was the best. It is actually the basic room at the Palazzo but it's nicer than any place I've ever stayed. We payed $179 a night but it was worth it. The bed in the room was like sleeping on a cloud. If we could've smuggled that out we would have tried our best. There were two large flat panel LCD tvs, one in the living room area with the sectional and then one in front of the bed. Then we also had a smaller one in the bathroom... the bathroom with double sinks, separate shower and tub and vanity area for me. I would bet it was at close to as big as Rowans room.... very nice. I was supposed to take some pictures so if we ever got to build our dream house I would include that bathroom. Guess we'll just have to go back and remember to take pictures the next time.



This is the happy couple outside the hotel in front of the fountain. A nice couple asked if we could take a pic of them and then they would do the same for us. As you can see... I'm always a little bit more excited about things than Lucas. We were actually waiting for Aunt Linda to come pick us up to head over to the Bellagio to see the water show.



Me in front of the Bellagio. Once again... to excited for words. We never actually ended up getting to see the water show because of some mechanical problem. That sucked.



This was a beautiful Lexus that I just had to have a picture of. I told Lucas if we won big that he was going to have to get me one again. Maybe not that fancy, but pretty close. If anyone wants to know what I want for Christmas.... you could all chip in.... I'd prefer it in white though. Thanks in advance.



This was inside the French bakery that was the only thing we found to grab something to go. Here are some of their fancy pastries. Lucas ordered some apple fritter thing and I ordered a small sweet pastry and then we ordered a smoothie... a $9 smoothie. I think we paid around $20 for that little snack we had. That's Vegas I guess.... they not only take your money at the tables and the slots... they now take it with every little thing you do.



More pastries.... I didn't buy one because we would've had to mortgage the house to afford one.



And I thought making my Banana Bread and Chocolate Chip Cookies were hard.



The happy couple at the pool. I was so proud of myself for putting on a bathing suit and going out in the water. I have been very conscious of my weight but I figured it didn't matter what I looked like... I was in Vegas.



And you know what??? I saw alot of people out at that pool that probably had the same philosophy as me. Good on them!



Dad lounging by the pool. I think he was talking to Chelsea about baby Madden.



And what do you know... here he is again on the phone. I should just get one surgically attached because it really never parts his side.



Lucas insisted on taking this picture of me. It was right before we went to Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian which is the sister hotel of the Palazzo. Lucas let me buy a few new dresses for the vacation and this is the one that ironed easiest. I was happy to get fancy if only for a few hours.



Well, I gotta say my husband is pretty great. He has fulfilled one of my many wishes in life. I have always wanted to see Phantom ever since I heard the Broadway soundtrack. I just fell in love with the music. I guess you could say from an early age my mother thought that I would love the theater.... my sister would say it's because I'm so dramatic. Anyways, she has taken me to the traveling shows of Cats, Les Miserables, Mamma Mia, The Secret Garden and a few others. The only one I said that I was desperate to see was Phantom. Well, turned out that was the one she didn't take me to... and to top it off she came home and said she hated it. I thought she deserved a pie full of laxatives for doing that to me... but I promised myself I'd see it someday.... and it was more amazing than I ever could have imagined. Unfortunately they cut the show down to 90 minutes for the Vegas theater but it was still spectacular. If you love the theater, I highly recommend it. Lucas said it was okay but about 20 mins too long. I'm just happy that he took me. 1 wish down, only 50 to go. The Lexus would put it at 49.



The next day we decided to go to the Adventure Dome at the Circus Circus to ride the roller coasters. That was really fun but it's quick to make you feel old because you can't handle those things like you could when you were 15. We ended up getting Kennedy a spray painted T-Shirt with SpongeBob on it and her name below it. We were able to convince her when we got home that he had made it for her. She was a little more than jealous on that. I also had the chance to have my wedding ring resized for my chubby little fingers cause it hasn't fit me for the past year and I have felt naked without it.

Little ol' Steph wanted to visit a real nightclub in Vegas in the hopes of meeting Justin Timberlake. I know... it was a Wednesday and my chances were pretty slim, but I was gonna give it a go. Dear Sweet Ashley and one of her friends were able to get us into the Beatles Revolution Lounge at the Mirage as VIPS. Unfortunately, the VIP badge only went so far. You got free drinks but no where to sit. The seating areas were reserved for the people who had either paid massive amounts of money or actually were a VIP celebrity. I talked to one bouncer who said that Criss Angel the Magician was going to be in that night, so I waited... and waited... and waited. He never came. I was totally bummed out so Lucas and I decided to call it a night at 5 A.M. I have to say it was still really fun cause I got to feel like a 20-something again.







That's where Criss would have been sitting.


The next morning we had to pack up and leave after only a few hours of sleep but we survived. Got to Salt Lake City and drove my mothers pickup home so we could work on the yard. That drive was pretty tough since we took off about 8:30 P.M. and arrived at Ang's house when the sun was coming up at 5. Lucas was great and took care of the kids while I slept.

All in all it was a fun trip. Still doesn't compare to Sydney but the flight is a bit more tolerable. We'll see when that one fits back in...

Thanks again everyone for letting us do this!

The Sweetest Thing Ever!

For months now I've been trying to teach Kennedy the importance of giving to those less fortunate than us. We have been very blessed in life and I want her to learn to share with those in need. One night we tried going through her old toys and separated out some that we could give away to others in need. Well, the pile of toys started off good but every few items or so that ended up in the give-away pile kept ending up back in her toy boxes. She just didn't want to part with her things saying "Now I don't get any toys!". I felt like a failure because I hadn't been able to teach her that very important lesson... until now. We picked up Kennedy and Rowan in Sheridan this afternoon and as we got off the exit to our house we saw a man with a sign asking for any little bit of help to get him some gas to get him home. Kennedy saw this and said "Mom, we need to stop and help that man... he needs our money, he needs our help".

If you have ever spent very much time in Billings you will notice that we have a regular group of beggars that are out everyday in the same spots with the same signs. I used to want to help them until I realized that no matter what you could do for them they would just continue in their ways.

This man on the side of the road seemed different. I'd never seen him before and I felt like he truly did need some help. I asked Lucas if I should turn around and go help him and he didn't think it was necessary, but Kennedy and I could not get him out of our minds. When we got home she went up to her piggy bank and got out all the "silver" coins, a $1 bill she had and then Lucas and I tossed in another $5. She begged me to drive back to the exit as fast as I could and hoped that he would still be there so she could help him. He was still on the side of the the road and Kennedy walked up to him with a little ziploc bag full of dimes, nickels, quarters and a few dollars and told him that he could have what she had to spare. Turns out he was driving into Billings to turn in some scrap metal but the business was closed due to Memorial day. He said he would be able to use the money to take care of himself until the next day when the scrap yard would be open. He also went to his truck and got Kennedy a small little porcelin tray that looks like open childrens hands. It wasn't much but it was nice that he wanted to do a little something back for her. We got back in the car and were driving home and she told me how happy she was that she could help that man out and that we needed to give to those who need things more than we do. I cried the whole way home and still do as I keep thinking about how generous she was. It was only a couple of dollars of coins from her piggy bank but I think she finally understood the meaning of charity. I am so proud of her and hope she remembers this lesson throughout life. I hope it also inspires others to do what they can to help those around them in need.

VOTE FOR DAVID COOK!!!!!!!!!!!

1-866-43657-01

1-866-43657-03

1-866-43657-05

I know I'm from Utah and should be voting for that David Archuleta teenybopper but I won't. He can sing but other than that he has no talent. Vote for DAVID COOK cause he rocks!

And I'm done.

Happy 3rd Anniversary!

Just a little something I pulled together for your anniversary. I didn't have many pictures of you kids so this is what you end up with.... oh and I know how much Miles loves Hall and Oates so he should love this and just want to watch it over and over again! I have to say that it's full of laughter, tears, drama and suspense, oh and the occasional car chase scene.

I really hope you guys like this and find it funny cause it worked on it for like 3 hours. If you don't then prepare to meet my little friend.... his name is Rowan and his shit stinks. I swear it's like something died in his butt and then he let it out for all the world to smell.

This one's for Lucas... the yard.

Here's how the lawn is looking. Like I said... sporadic patches of grass. It's getting better but I know we need to lay down more seed and if I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna lay it down thick. No matter how much we use it will still cost less than sod.





Here's our lovely tree in the front yard. I can't even remember what kind it is but it's pretty.




WAYNE WAS RIGHT!!! Those trees weren't dead.... at least one of them for now. For those of you who don't know, we bought three aspen trees last fall when they were all on clearance. They looked very healthy at the time and so we left them in their containers and watered them daily... or at least when we remembered. Well, we never got around to planting them because I was indecisive and didn't know where I wanted them. They basically sat in front of the garage and we kept forgetting more and more to water them. When winter hit we eventually thought that they were goners. Well, the nice man named Wayne that came to level out our yard a few weeks ago told Lucas that the trees weren't dead and that we just needed to plant them. So we took them in the back yard and loaded them up with healthy soil and have been watering them on a regular basis to try and bring them back to life. Well what do you know... I looked outside this morning and one of the trees came back to life. The other two still don't look great but they only cost us $10 a piece so I won't cry myself to sleep if we only rescue one.

Some fun new pictures

Rowan tried putting Kennedys snow hat on his head the other day. Once I fixed it he just looked too cute not to put on film.



Yesterday afternoon we went over to our neighbors, the Morris', and had a barbeque and played on their new waterslide. This is Kennedy and all her friends. They had a great time. Note to Shasta and Sicily... most of the pictures I took inside of the girls didn't turn out because I didn't have the flash on. Sorry.... we'll try it again.





We had a great time and were glad to visit with our friends. It can get a bit lonely when Lucas is gone.

Happy Mothers Day Grandma Rena!!!!

A little photo tribute to our Mom, Grandma Rena!

Look at this fine bunch of kids you raised. Can you believe we are all standing next to each other and not beating each other up or flipping off the camera? It was a monumental day!



Mom, we love you because you think your funny.



See, she tried it again... still not funny.



Kennedy and Grandma.... she was always napping on the job. I would've demanded my money back... if I'd actually paid.



Look Grandma... I can ride a bike if you hold me up and push me!



You even passed on your loves (obsessions) to our kids.



I'm not sure how many child experts would recommend giving a 4 year old Diet Coke...? And sitting on that counter looks like a safety hazard.



With good supervision you can be trusted with a baby... Rowan wasn't crying or anything!



Oh wait... maybe you can't. I'm sure Kennedy has recovered physically from this incident... but it may take years of therapy to help her mentally. I hope you sleep well at night....



Aside from all of that... we love you. I only know what it was like to raise one child on my own and how difficult that was. You did it with the three of us and though there were difficult times we all know you did the best you could. I am so happy that I was chosen to be your child and I can't thank you enough for the life you've given me. You are kind and generous and have sacrificed so much for all of us. I only wish there was a way to thank you enough for being my Mom. Just know that if I ever find Elvis alive, I will kidnap him on the spot, take him to the basement of Casa de Sugarhouse and you can keep him forever... or at least until he dies for real. I love you, Steph.

P.S. Please remember that when you want to make me my favorite desert for my birthday it's chocolate cake... not that pineapple crap cake. That's Angs favorite!