Anniversary Trip

My sweet husband surprised me this year for our Anniversary by taking me on a trip to Vegas! We've decided it would be a lot of fun if every other year I plan the trip and every other year he does, so it was his turn. We got an executive suite at the MGM grand and it was an absolutely GORGEOUS room. :) Friday night we ate dinner and then wandered around the strip for a few hours. Saturday morning we got up and went shopping in the Las Vegas Outlets. After shopping we headed back to the room where we caught up on Football and I took a nap :) and then we got ready to go out for the night. We went to a really nice dinner at the Grand Lux Café in the Venetian - wonderful waiter & wonderful food I would highly recommend it. Afterwards we went to the show Rock of Ages (also located in the Venetian) Jake LOVES 80's rock as do I so this was a lot of fun for us. (10 MILLION times better than the movie I promise) After the show was over we ran into Kody Brown & his 2nd wife Janelle inside the Venetian - for those of you that don't know they are T.V. stars on the show "Sister Wives" on TLC. Haha I wasn't star struck or anything just kind of cool to say "Hey I saw a celebrity while I was in Vegas." I tried to get a picture of them but it was kind of awkward so I didn't end up getting any - and I was a complete space cadet and forgot my camera on this trip that's why these pictures below aren't very good. They were all cell pictures (except what I stole from the internet). We did a LOT of walking after that... we went from basically one end of the strip to the other, from Treasure Island to MGM and only took a cab twice.

 

Another year down and I am happier today than I was the day we got married. I'm so glad that I found Jake and that we are so good together. He means the whole world to me, he is the best husband I could've ever asked for and he is the best father to my children. I don't remember life before him and I can't imagine life without him! Here's to a million more anniversary's honey :) Love You! 

 

Christmas Round #2

After we opened presents on Christmas day we went to my mom & dad's house for the Nativity Story and Christmas dinner. Our family, Matt & Shari's family, Lauren & Beau, my grandparents, Robert, Racquel & Jericho & Randy all were there. The kids opened their presents that they got each other & my parents, grandparents & Matt & Shari opened their gifts from us and vice versa. The kids always have so much fun having Christmas together! They loved the nativity story that my parents put together about the true meaning of Christmas and we had an amazing Prime Rib dinner with the fixings!

 

Addi got a new Desk & Chair set for her bedroom so that she can do homework in a quiet space & do her art in a quiet space. Kam got a Merida doll with a matching horse & a Merida dress for her so she could play along & Doc McStuffins with a doctor kit. She absolutely loved it! Aria got a Pig Ball (for lack of a better word) that shakes and giggles. They all got new clothes and Jake & I were spoiled with gift certificates, cash & of course Christmas Jerky! :)

 

Christmas Round #1

Well we had an amazing Christmas this year - every single one of us were completely spoiled! We got a new fireplace/entertainment center for the basement. (Hoping to cut down heating costs plus it looks cool) I got a brand new Samsung Washer & Dryer set - I was able to finally retire my 16 year old set. Poor Addi had to wait until 2 after Kam got home to open presents - but she was such a good sport and didn't complain once about not getting to open anything. Once Kam got home the fun began I attempted to do something different this year and while it failed this year when they get older it will be a great thing. I numbered all of their presents and had them draw a number to see who got to open a present. It worked really good for the first little bit until the only person who was getting to open presents was Addi because her numbers were the only ones being drawn for some reason.... Then Kam said it was her turn and I couldn't disagree with her so I bagged the numbers and they just opened away. I just tried the number thing to try and drag out Christmas a little longer - when you prep for MONTHS for Christmas and then it's over in a few minutes it's kind of sad. I think in a few years I will try this again. The girls had a lot of fun and loved everything that they got - Some of Addi's favorite things include her Camera, Fish Tank, Frozen CD and Diary. Both of the girls love the Lego Friends and the Doll Set. Kam's favorite things were her Pink Gun, Jake & the Never Land Pirates, Barbie Cruise Ship & Tinkerbell Fairy Dolls. Aria absolutely loves her Exersaucer & Singing Bee. Jake got a GPS, Gun Cleaning kit & a new Razor. I got a Flat Iron & Black Diamond Earrings (Yes he spoils me!!) Martha spoils the children every year with gift cards for shopping sprees to Wal-Mart. :)

 

Also we got 2 more giant things that aren't pictured here. Randy bought us a new Fireplace Insert for our house that will heat our home better as well as be safer for the children than the one we have now. It's going to be installed after the first of the year. My parents bought me a new set of tires for my car (in a round about way ;) ) which I so desperately needed before it has to be inspected in a few months.

 

We were so blessed to have my parents, Lauren, Beau, Randy & Martha there on Christmas afternoon to watch the kids open presents. Nothing is better than spending time with family during the holiday season - it makes it all worth it. I hope everyone had just as great of a Christmas as we did! :)