what happens in vegas: part 2... (aka: Lola and Tina finish their trip)

After our first night out on the town, we decided to get up and spend the day in the pool. We put on a good deal of sunscreen and jumped into the pool hoping that our VERY white skin did not burn. (I'm happy to say that, for the most part, it didn't.) I know you are probably extremely jealous of us relaxing in such amazingly warm water in perfect weather, but don't be. It was freaking HOT! The water felt great, but the sun was intense. We had to do our swimming/sunbathing in shifts while reapplying sunscreen in between. I mean, yes, it was still heavenly, but I'm trying to lessen the blow of how great it was just a bit.

After we got out of the pool, we spent more time taking pictures... mostly because that is what we do. If you put Lola and I in a room together, we will eventually start clicking away on one of our cameras.

That evening, Heidi made an amazing stir fry. After dinner and a lot of re-hydration, we were taken to the mega church that Heidi's dad and step-mom go to. It was huge and uncomfortable to me. I can appreciate what they are doing, but I don't think it is a place that I could ever find a home. It felt commercial and foreign and made me want the tiny little church where I grew up.

After a healthy dose of church, we hit the strip. (You know, maybe that was the plan all along! Maybe they were trying to keep us on the straight and narrow by giving us church guilt before we went out to party.) Anyhow, we made a quick stop at the Las Vegas sign to get a couple of pictures and then headed down Las Vegas Blvd. toward the Venetian where we were going to start our evening. It took us getting out of the elevator and walking down a hall before a drunken guy started yelling at us to come do jello shots with him. We kept walking. The minute we left the first hotel, we were asked by a couple more guys where we were going to party. We kept walking. Seriously, neither of us are very good at that sort of thing. Talking to strange drunk guys, that is. But we still had fun... and took more pictures.

Toward the end of our very long, super fun, sweltering, but amazing evening we ended up at New York, New York and found Coyote Ugly. We, of course, had to go. They were doing free shots for ladies who would dance on the bar. You would never catch me dead doing such a thing, but there was a bachelorette party that jumped up and seemed to have a great time. We needed a picture of us at such a landmark, and so we took one.

The night was long, and we were out late, and we had to get up for a REALLY early flight. After the first leg of our trip, we had a layover in Salt Lake. The airport was boring and we were cranky and tired, so we took naps. After we woke up, we complained a bit about how long our layover was on Twitter and Facebook, and then we eventually got to board. The flight between Salt Lake City and Boise is ridiculously short and somehow we were even way ahead of schedule. It made for a nice last leg of our trip.

what happens in vegas... (aka: Lola and Tina take a trip)

Lola and I got into Las Vegas yesterday evening. We had been bored on a plane for hours, and were starving, so our first stop was In-N-Out. It was yummy.


After we got done eating, we drove to Heidi's dad's house and got settled in. Then we decided it was time for a late night swim... it was pretty much fantastic. After we got out of the pool/spa, we had some "ice cream" and then it was bed time.


Today we got up late and lounged around the pool.


After we finally got ready, we went to Starbucks for some much needed caffeine, and then we were off to the mall (but really just H&M). Most people blow all their money gambling on the strip, but our money never made it there...


After we got done shopping, we went back to the house to change and get ready for the Bellagio and O. Both of these things, I was very excited for. The Bellagio has been beckoning to me for quite some time, and I was pretty eager to finally go meet it and let it know how much I had been wanting to get acquainted. It was definitely worth the wait.

Inside, O was amazing. We had terrific seats! Literally, there are not words that could describe just how great it was. The theater was breathtaking and the show had me completely enraptured throughout.


Outside, the strip was humming. I love how cities can be so alive! The fountain show was exactly how I had imagined it, complete with the perfect song.



Tomorrow we are heading back down to the strip to do some more exploring... That is, after we get up late, spend some time in the pool, and get ourselves ready.

oh, the summer is gone...

Getting ready to flee this city to a different city. It seems like forever since the last time that Lola and I ran away for a hastily planned trip. It's super exciting, and I can't wait! It's funny, I always plan these escapes ready to get away for a bit, but when it comes right down to it, I dread leaving my kids. I'm going to miss them. They, will probably not miss me. They will be very busy and having a very good time.

Life has been so busy this summer that I've forgotten most of it. It almost feels like we didn't do anything, but the truth is, we were so busy that I barely had time to think.

The comic is going well. I'm enjoying it and am starting to feel the characters take on their own personalities. It's funny how that happens. It's like they exist outside of me, even though I created them. They have full control of where the scripts go now.

My latest trial has been trying to stay grounded. I know what I believe and how I want to view the world and how I want the world to view me. I get frustrated when I catch myself thinking negatively or living in the past. I also get frustrated when those little nagging comments start to come to the surface again. I know there are people out there that think they could do better than I am doing with my life. (I say "I know" because they tell me.) Honestly, I'm sure that by their standards, they could. The problem is that I am happy with how I have chosen to live and with the general direction my life is going. It's true that I make mistakes, but I just can't regret any of them. Why regret things? Why spend so much time feeling down on yourself that you forget how to be happy? Forget how to smile? I just don't get it. I'm continuing on quest to not judge those around me and to forgive, but sometimes, people just make it hard. Seriously, ridiculously, hard.

I should think about sleeping now. Lots to get done before I leave tomorrow! (Well, technically today.)

don't judge me...

This past weekend I packed up in the car with several good friends and drove to Portland for a guildie's wedding. It was awesome. You can think what you want about my obsessive online game play or the fact that I actually know the people I play with well enough to drive six hours to one of their weddings: I really do not care (at least not much). It was fun! And, really, it was good for me. I have been spending a lot of time in a hole and that is not healthy. This stretched me. I was able to socialize with people that I knew at varying levels without having (much of) a panic attack. Go me! I even survived a hug or two. I'm proud of me... don't ruin it.

It was a beautiful weekend to go on a road trip. The weather was perfect for rolling down the windows and soaking in the fresh air and sunshine. I think I need to get out more often.

It was strange to leave the kids and not be able to visit them for an entire weekend. I had an iPod full of pictures to help sate my desire for contact with them, and it really did help. However, when we got home, I was extremely glad for the hugs and snuggles I got from both of them. I didn't even mind reading Jenna the stack of 10ish books she brought to me and insisted that I read. Leaving my kids was tough, but I think it was a good thing. The break reminded me how blessed I am to spend every day loving on them.

mom and dad's new house...

Today Josh and I drove to Weiser to see my mom and dad and their new house. On the drive over and back we listened to Eldest, the sequel to Eragon, which was great and made the trip really quick. My parents both seem really happy with the place they are renting, and my mom has already been hard at work making it feel like home. The house itself is great. There is a lot of space and it is really cute. However, what makes the place amazing are the yards. The front yard has amazing trees, and the backyard has a ton of grass. The backyard also has a great climbing tree, a tree that is perfect for a tire swing, and an amazing garden to keep my mom busy in her free time. I think it is going to be a great place for them, and it is going to be nice to have them closer to visit.

My mom starts her new job at the hospital (which is right across the alley from their house) on Monday and I think she is excited. My mom is a great nurse, and I'm glad she is going to be using her talents on more than just family. It is nice having her to take care of me when I need her, but I know there are a lot of people out there that are in much greater need of her love and caring.

one wedding and a road trip...

This weekend I went to be in Becky Igo's wedding. I was a little nervous about whether or not I would make it through the weekend being as anemic as I have been and as pregnant as I am getting. However, I had a great time! I tried really hard not to overdue things and to rest when I needed to (even when I didn't want to). There were only a couple of times where I felt like the huge pregnant lady (one of these times being during the reception where we, the wedding party, were forced to do the Chicken Dance). The wedding was beautiful and I definitely approve of Becky's choice of husband. Kyle is a really great and really sweet guy and he seems like a lot of fun as well. The reception was great fun. There was a lot of good food, dancing and music. Everyone was having a wonderful time.

After the wedding we went to the beach for a little while to introduce Jenna to the Oregon coast. It was so much fun! At first Jenna reacted to the sand the same way that she reacted to grass. She was so scared of it! However, after some coaxing, she seems to have moved past that fear. We got some great pictures and had a good time. The weather was amazing and we felt really lucky to somehow make it to the coast on a warm day with no wind or rain. It was fantastic!

Today we drove back to Idaho. It was a little bitter sweet because we wanted to come home, but the weather on the coast was way better than it has been here. On the way we stopped to introduce Pete and Kerri to Ikea in Portland. That store makes me wish that I had a big house to decorate and a lot of money. We also stopped off at Multonmah Falls. It is one of my favorite places and I wanted to introduce it Jenna. I still remember the first time that I remember seeing it. I was with my mom, Jennie, Karen, Cailin and my grandma Irene. I can't help but think about Grandma and Karen every time I go there now. For some reason it has become a kind of living memorial to them in my head.

It was a great trip, but I am ultimately glad to be home. Our puppy must have missed us like crazy because she has been so clingy ever since we got home. I think she was ready for us to get back too (even though Jennie took amazing care of her I'm sure). I'm excited to go to bed now... in my own bed... one that is a king... one that is NOT a double... one where I don't have to touch my husband unless I want to! YAY! He has his own side and so do I... sleep is going to be a lot better tonight. Heehee.

merry christmas to all...

...and to all a good night!


(Rhode Island is amazing... I'll write more when I get home... cheers!)

puff, puff, toot, toot, and off we go...

Josh and I are trying to come up with a list of amazing things to do while we are in Rhode Island.

So far on the list:
1: visit Boston
2: visit New York
3: ?????? (any suggestions?)

Anyhow, I am really starting to look forward to our trip. I'm not looking forward to flying with Jenna, but I am definitely looking forward to going somewhere fun to see people we love and hang out with them! Now, I just need to make it through 6(ish) more weeks of school...

North...

Not just a strange and old Elijah Wood Movie, it is also where I directed my travels this past weekend. Josh, Jenna, and I packed up and headed to Moscow and CDL for some NEA stuff that Josh had to do. We made a quick stop in McCall because my parents let us borrow their Toyota SUV (I want one now!). The drive was beautiful, but better than the drive was the time I got to spend alone talking and hanging out with my husband. It was nice and refreshing to have him all to myself and to just get to chat about anything and everything. Every now and then I forget how great it is to be just the two of us...