October 12, 2009 by Ashley.

Gosh, I’m beginning to think this is the “Ashley” blog. (Mal, you don’t write on your blog enough to have your own!) ANYWAYS…

Pat and I have not had the chance to go anywhere “vacation-type” since our honeymoon, especially not on our own. So when our friends the Fairbanks suggested a trip we thought it’d be a great idea. It was actually supposed to be a surprise for me, but I’m quite good at figuring things out and Pat isn’t the most secret about it either, so I ended up guessing where we were going and thus was able to help plan the trip. Things were a little tough though seeing as Pat had, like, 1-2 vacation days (HP forces him to take all of it during Christmas) and finances as always were very tight, but I worked extra and we’d been saving for a super long time so we were able to work a budgeted trip to Las Vegas. Mom had just moved to Utah so it worked out too that she was able to watch Lydia and thus Lydia was able to get some time with her Grandma, which I thought was good.

This tunnel was part of the “Fremont Street Experience.” It’s where the original casino and Vegas experience started. The roof of the tunnel is actually all lights and lights up every night at a certain time

The theme of Fremont Street this year was a 60’s/70’s theme (there was a new Beatles Cirque de Soleil show in Vegas I think they were trying to promote). All the workers wore tie-dyed shirts.

The Fairbanks and us at Maggiano’s on the strip. It was our first time there – it was delicious!

Pat and I at the Wynn just before seeing Le Reve (pronounced La Rev). It was a Cir de Soleil show all done in water. It was our giant splurge for the vacation, but I really wanted to see a Cirque de Soleil show. Watching those performers made me want to recommit to exercise – they were in such good shape!

This was inside the Venetian, which I believe was my favorite hotel/casino. The whole thing is set up like Venice, Italy. At this part it looks like you’re outside…but you’re not!

Every night in front of the Bellagio there’s a water show set to music. (This is the same hotel with the fountain at the end of Ocean’s 11 or 12 – I forget which one, if you’ve seen it).

In front of the Luxor, the hotel we stayed at. It’s a black pyramid with an Egyptian theme. We probably spent way more time though in other hotels (especially the Venetian, so I don’t feel like I got to know the Luxor very well). One this though, the Luxor actually had a McDonald’s in its food court with a dollar menu! That saved me when I just wanted to chill and eat cheap food.

We saw a lion exibit. There’s a tunnel that you can walk though that goes through the lion habitat. This is the female lion sleeping right on top of the tunnel. The male lion was with her too. They just layed there the whole time. Lions are so incredibly lazy.

The New York New York hotel. It’s cook they make it look like a bunch of buildings when it’s just one.

The M&M store. I was majoring craving chocolate walking through there. You can make your own custom bag with any color you want for a mere $12/lb… I don’t think so.

One day I left a note for housekeeping asking for more shampoo, conditioner, etc. This is what I found that afternoon. I thought it was pretty funny.

Each hotel had it’s own “theme.” This was at the MGM Grand. There were lots of waterfalls, flowers, etc.

Oh, and did I mention every hotel is a casino too? Wouldn’t be Vegas without that!

Posing with the Blue Man Group (actually just a statue in the Venetian)

In the Venetian we went on a gondola ride with our very own gondolier. I didn’t get the picture I quite wanted because we were on the side of the boat opposite the gondolier, but that’s ok. We rode on the river inside the hotel and he even serenaded us.

At the Venetian right before Phantom of the Opera (we got tickets for $10 by going to this awful 4 hr long Time Share thing. They say it’s “no pressure sales” but oh my gosh, but by the 4th level of sales people I couldn’t even understand what the heck they were even talking about - throwing all these numbers around and writing literally nonsense on paper. But hey, we got to see another show and for a 10th of the price Le Reve cost.

The conservatory at the Bellagio. They made a giant garden with flowers covering the grounds and even a little greenhouse with parakeets in them. When we went in the greenhouse all the birds were all curled up in their own feathers asleep – it was really cute. I have a thing for hot air balloons and they had a bunch of them hanging from the ceiling. The lady bug and other decorations were also made of flowers. And there was this really cool fountain that was a sphere (which I also really like – it’s one of the reasons I have a pearl for a wedding ring instead of a diamond). We tried to get a picture like we were holding it.

The Eiffel Tower outside the Paris hotel. There’s a restaurant at the top or you can just pay to go to the top, but we decided to pass on that one.

We took a tour of Madame Toussaud’s (pronounced Tooso) Wax Museum. We had fun going through getting our photos with all the “celebrities.” Many look really good in the museum, but unfortunately our flash makes them look quite waxy. Can you guess each one??

We’re blocking his arms, but Pat and I were copying his stance. Notice how they changed his “terminator” look to a more appropriate “governor of California” business suit.

I didn’t like this one of Matthew McConaughey because I though his hair just made him look fake. They could’ve done better I think.

Overall, it was good to get away but the photos don’t show the ridiculous amount of walking we had to do! After Le Reve we had a 2 hr walk back to our hotel (because we hadn’t discovered a free mall parking lot at the other end of the strip at that point), which just about killed me and I don’t know if I ever fully recovered after that. You must remember I’m pregnant and get tired easily! Plus, I don’t think Vegas is my kind of town. The big appeal is night life, gambling, and being able to smoke EVERYWHERE…which I do none of. So I think next vacation I’m visualizing a beach where I do absolutely nothing!

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October 12, 2009 by Melanee.

Life looking back had so many-challenges, blessings, joys, sorrows-all for me and my family’s growth and progression. Now I am living 2000 miles away from my home state. Because of the emotional support I receive from my new husband I almost feel emotional and physically normal. He has told me he feels back to normal too. We both understand each other very well since both of us lost our spouses.
The majority of the time I am-going through boxes, changing addresses, getting a new driver’s license, and other official business. Also I have been organizing my new home so I know where things are and seeing what there is already. While I was living alone I did not cook too often for myself now I am back to baking and cooking and giving away the leftovers to our young married children. Helping to raise two more girls has been great too.

I love being with my youngest daughter Marlene since she is lives the closest to me. She is super busy with school, a new married life, so its great to be with her when I can. I miss my grandchildren so I booked to flight to see them. I am excited. Seeing Ashley and Lydia was such a treat. And I can’t wait till I get to see Mallory when they comes out for her husband’s internship working as an optometrist.
Making friends is on the agenda. We have gone on dinner dates with other couples and we will be inviting people for dinner soon. Missing my east coast friends dearly though. All those years of experiences will never be forgotten.
Randy’s oldest daughter, Laura, is expecting in December, Ashley is expecting is February, and Mallory is expecting in March. Last year was the year of marriages and this next year is the year of babies. So, I will be very busy being a grandma helper.
Peace has entered my life once again. My soul feels at rest. I know there is much more for me to accomplish and hopefully with the guidance and promptings from the Lord I will do what I need to do while I am here. –Off to live my adventure.

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