What happens in Vegas . . .

It has been YEARS since we had a GIRLS TRIP so this year we decided to bite the bullet and just DO IT!

I have the most amazing mother and equally amazing sisters who I LOVE to spend time with.  None of us were having babies (Mary Kay is pregnant) but none of us were nursing and couldn't leave home so we decided that the first weekend in May would be our Girls Weekend!

I love my sweet mama!!

We decided on Las Vegas because it was a pretty central location for us all and fairly inexpensive with the airfare from Allegiant Airlines.  :)

Suzanne surprised us with matching pink, fuzzy slippers and chocolates, then Melanie brought more chocolates from Idaho--which only added to our giddiness and we talked for hours before we finally fell asleep!  My mom got a suite for us that slept 6 people so we could all be in the same room.  

L to R - Suzanne, Melanie, MaryKay, and Tamara (me)

The first morning we headed over to the Venetian to have breakfast at Bouchon.  I had the apple custard french toast and it was divine!

All fueled up-----we hit the shopping!!!

Poor MaryKay ---we ran her everywhere and by late afternoon, she was exhausted!!  (doesn't she look like Snow White sleeping there?  She is so beautiful!)

For dinner we ate at an amazing Italian Restaurant near the Mall.

I had to give her bum a little squeeze to remind her of the crazy event of the night!!

After dinner, we walked out of the restaurant only to have some random guy come over and grab my sister Suzanne's behind!  She thought it was my sister, Melanie, so she said, "Oh, well thank you!"  Then, when she saw it was a strange guy, her face turned bright red and we all seriously cracked up!!! 

Ahh - The Bellagio

It's just incredibly beautiful!

The next day we headed over to Mandalay Bay to swim and have a brunch/lunch.  It was super hot outside so the pool felt great!!

 Dressed up that night to go to the awesome buffet at the Wynn Hotel and then see the show called "La Reve!"

These are the most amazing floral decorations I have ever seen.  Can you imagine them at a wedding reception? They were all real flowers.  This was in the lobby of the Wynn Hotel. 

Yes - this is the incredible dessert bar that we went absolutely NUTS over!!

I love my mother so much.  She wanted this weekend to be so special and she worked so hard to plan it all for us.  She is the best! I also love her because out of all the crab legs, shrimp, and other gourmet fare that was available, my mom opted for roast beef, mashed potatoes, and corn!  She says she still is an "Idaho Girl" at heart!!  I love it!

This is actually a cake decorated to look like Marie Antionette.  It was breathtaking.

The answer is, "Yes - I ate ALL of these desserts!"

I am a performer and have been all of my life.  I have been on the stage in multiple situations and have witnessed many musical shows and plays in my lifetime.  NEVER before have I seen ANYTHING like this show.  My mouth was open the entire time!!!  The entire stage turned into water and people dropped down from 9 STORIES high into that middle area.  They were the most highly trained acrobats/dancers/gymnasts who performed the most dangerous feats OVER WATER I have ever seen.  It was by far the most jaw-dropping show I have ever witnessed.  I can't wait to take Tom to see this.  As a former stage manager, he will go nuts watching what it takes to put on a show like this!

Well, for 4 girls and their mother left alone in Las Vegas, we were really, really good!  ha ha---The only crimes committed were we LAUGHED way too hard, ate WAY too much, and LOVED each other more for being together.  

 . . . I miss them already . . . 

Annual Girl's Weekend + 1

Every December, Kelsey and I fly to Utah for our Annual Girl's Weekend.  We have done this for five years now, but this year, we decided to add one . . .

 Yes . . . Hailey girl came with us this year.  

I asked my girls to indulge me in these darling red coats I found.  I have just had a dream to take my girls to NYC, dressed in red coats, and walk around the tree at Rockefeller Center, go ice skating, and then see the darling Christmas show at  Radio City Music Hall.  Maybe someday NYC will happen, but for now, Salt Lake City is good for us.  There is something magical about Salt Lake during the holidays and we wanted to be a part of it.

 We met my parents at the airport and then headed to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building for lunch.

 Hailey made a wreath on the ground with leaves while we were waiting to get in to the tabernacle.

 We heard the most amazing organ recital from Richard Elliott.  He played an incredible arrangement of "Come, Come Ye Saints" that brought me to tears as I sat in the very tabernacle that those blessed pioneers built by hand.  Then, Bro. Elliott played the same song that I played at our Stake Christmas Concert a few years ago, "Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella" - only he was absolutely masterful.  I got chills listening to him!

What did I ever do to be blessed with the most amazing parents in the world?  

 After lunch, we walked around some shops and saw this enormous Christmas ornament decorated ALL with candy!

Hailey and Hayden enjoying their strawberries and cream!

 At 4:00 we went back to the Grand America Hotel for Afternoon High Tea.  (one of our favorite traditions!)  Ali (my sweet sister-in-law) met us with her darling girls, Hayden and Parker.  

Here is Ali and her little Parker Belle.  

 They had the most delicious hot chocolate, finger sandwiches, and desserts!

Hailey loved the hot chocolate but didn't even touch the sandwiches or dessert.  She is my picky eater and it drives me nuts.  Kelsey is always so good to try new things (except seafood!)     But even this year Kelsey didn't eat very much of the finger foods.  Soooo, we may be skipping the afternoon tea next year . . .

 Of course, Grandpa couldn't resist playing with Parker.  She is such a little cutie!

No snow again this year!

   

 We stayed at the Grand America this year and really loved the beautiful rooms.  The view of the city was pretty awesome too!

 The next day, we went and did some Christmas Shopping at City Creek.  Wow - is that place impressive!

 Mom found a new coat which looked absolutely amazing on her.  My parents are so fun to be with and so classy.  They have taught me so many good things and I am so grateful to them for all they do for me and my children.  

 Yes, Hailey loves her new ear muffs!  She slept with them the night before and wore them practically every waking minute after. ha ha!

 This is a gorgeous outdoor fireplace that you can sit by and relax at City Creek.  Kneaders, where we ate lunch, is right behind it.  

I can't believe this little girl is now almost 15 years old.  I love her so much!

 After City Creek and a fun lunch at Kneaders (yum!) we headed down to Gardner Village. Hailey had two wishes coming on this trip.  One was to ride a horse (which I didn't know if we could make that happen) and the other was to find a reindeer stuffed animal.  Luckily, we found a reindeer at Kneaders and she named it, "Jingle" --then we saw that there were horses at Gardner Village!   Hailey was so excited that they had horses to ride!  Her other wish came true! (phew!)

 That night we went to the BYU Folk Dancers concert called, "Christmas Around the World."  It was really fun for me to show the girls that I performed on that same stage about 20 years ago.  

They did a really beautiful Chinese Dragon dance which Hailey loved, since she is obsessed with any sort of reptile!

I sure love my daddy!  We have the same brown eyes :)

 The next day we had a nice breakfast and packed up our things. My mom and dad treated Hailey to an art kit that she picked out for her birthday coming up this month.  She loved it and used it on the trip home.  

I am forever grateful that I have daughters.  I love my sons and am truly so grateful for them as well.  But, it's just a really special thing for me to have two daughters to share special moments like these with.