A Las Vegas Weekend

Last week was our 8th wedding anniversary.

To celebrate we decided a family trip to Las Vegas was in order.

THURSDAY'S AGENDA:

Wake up by 7:00 am and load up the car.

Pile in the car and hit the road.

Take a nap to help pass the time.

Arrive in Vegas, check in, get settled.

Enjoy a tasty, entertaining meal at Rainforest Cafe inside the MGM Grand.

Walk the strip and look at "the big pretty lights".

Check out the Belagio fountain.

FRIDAY'S AGENDA:

Wake when Miles gets tired of being quiet.

Chow down on some cold cereal w/milk and bananas.

Visit the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay.

Grab a quick lunch. We drove for an hour only to find the restaurant we were told

to hit up was closed then after another hour we ended up at McDonald's.

Relax at the hotel so Miles can take a much needed nap.

Hit up a random restaurant at Mandalay Bay.

Stop by MGM Grand to see the Lion Habitat.

SATURDAY'S AGENDA:

Wake whenever Miles decides it's time.

Catch the train in Boulder for a 45 minute ride at the Nevada State Train Museum.

Grab lunch on our way back to the hotel.

Nap as long as Miles thinks is necessary.

Hit the America Restaurant inside New York, New York.

Visit the free aquarium at the Silverton.

We asked Miles to take our picture...

Watch the Mirage volcano.

SUNDAY'S AGENDA:

Pose with my favorite little man while Daddy checks out.

Drive the 7.5 hours home.

It was a good trip, but it is always great to be home.

Where I was

Our generation will always remember where we were on that fateful morning of

September 11, 2001.

I was a senior in high school. Waking up that morning it seemed like any other. After getting ready for school I came bounding down the stairs. From the stairs I could see my parents room and my mom sitting on the edge of her bed, staring at the television, crying.

Not sure what was going on or even able to imagine the horror that would unfold, I walked into her room to see what was wrong. By the time I realized what was happening the second plane had already hit the second tower. My mom and I sat there together watching, speechless, terrified. I don't even remember if we said anything to each other. I just remember sitting on her bed crying as the reality of that day sunk in.

Finally, I pulled myself away from the screen and headed to school. Once at school we were kept up to date on the latest developments as each class/teacher either had their televisions, radios, or computers tuned in to what was going on. Then we heard the Pentagon had been hit and the World Trade Center buildings fall one after the other. The rest of the day was a blur.

Following graduation, I visited New York City with two good friends for our senior trip. We visited the wreckage of the World Trade Center. Words cannot describe the feeling of seeing the rubble and buildings several blocks in either direction draped in large white sheets.

Today marks ten years, and the feelings of that horrible day come rushing back. Yet I am proud of the heroism of so many citizens on that day, so proud to be an American, and so grateful for the knowledge of a loving Heavenly Father and His eternal plan for us.

Thomas S Monson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints recently wrote an article for the Washington Post (found here). It emphasizes that yes, we do need our Heavenly Father to make it through tragedy and loss as seen on Sept 11th, but we should not forget Him when the aches of such tragedies fade. May today also serve as a reminder that 10 years later, "{We} need thee every hour".

Another Year Already!?!

Sunday Gabe and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary.

We decided to take a quick trip to Park City. It is so beautiful this time of year!


I love downtown Park City, but during the fall season the mountain trails are the place to be.

We haven't been able to muster the courage or desire to leave Miles home. So we took him with us. He LOVED spending so much time outside exploring new places. He wouldn't hold still for more than two seconds so we got a lot of action shots.

It was more of a quick family vacation rather than a romantic getaway, but we had fun and were glad to have some time together.

For Eternity My Love

Here's a recap from the last 6 years...

Dated for a year and half.
Fell in love.
Got married in the Logan Temple on 10.17.2003.

Moved into our first super tiny apartment on the Island.
Went on our first road to Zion & Vegas for our honeymoon.

I dropped out of school.
Quit my part-time job & went to work full-time for Dr. Cunningham.
Gabe decided he better stick it out and stayed in school.

Celebrated our first anniversary in Park City.
Which became a tradition for about 4 years.

Gabe got in a bad car accident...one of the scariest days of my life!
Gabe Started working in the detail department at Wilson's.

Went on our second road trip to San Diego for Spring Break.

Moved into a slightly bigger apartment.
Gabe got promoted to sales.
I decided to go back to school.
Quit my full-time job for another part-time job at Darrell's Appliance.

Took our third road trip to Seattle.
I flew to Chicago to visit family.
Had a fabulous time!
Missed Gabe like crazy!
{I'm behind the camera}

Quit Darrell's to get a more nutrition related job at Avalon Hills.
Moved into a bigger apartment thinking we'd soon start our family.

Took our fourth road trip to San Fransisco & Santa Cruz.

Gabe graduated.

Found out I was pregnant!

Went on our fifth & final road trip just the two of us.
Headed to Yellowstone & Grand Teton with Gabe's family.

Moved into our current apartment to get ready for baby.

Miles was born.

I graduated.

That's right 5 cars, 2 diplomas, 4 apartments, 7 jobs, 5 road trips, 1,000,000,000+ kisses, 1,000,000,001+ hugs, 1 sweet little man, and 6 years later Gabe is still the love of my life, my eternal companion, my best friend. He is my perfect fit!

Happy Anniversary! I love you!!