Mother Daughter Weekend

Last weekend my mom took me to Mesquite for a mini vacation for my birthday. I know my birthday isn't for a few more weeks but she won't be here so we celebrated early and just the two of us. I honestly don't think we have ever gone away with just each other. Let me tell you though it was so fabulous and I do believe we will be doing this once a year now.


We laid out by the pool all day on Saturday and yes I sat in my pool circle lounger thing and read a book. Awww, it was so relaxing!

The best part of it just being the two of us was we could lay out on the chairs or get in the water when we wanted to and not when the kids wanted us to play or the husbands needed a break. Oh how it was so nice to not have anyone calling my name! And yes these are the only two pictures we took at the pool that day. LOL I'm usually such a picture freak, but this just shows you how much we sat back and enjoyed ourselves.

For dinner we ate at a restaurant called Catherine's. If anyone is ever in Mesquite you have to go here! It is a somewhat pricey steak house but oh so delicious! There hot spinach salad is to die for.

Our lovely waiter heard mom mention oh about 30 times how it was my birthday (now people think I was born in July) so he generously brought me a chocolate cake with some liquor that was on fire for our dessert, compliments of him. If I wasn't so full I would have ordered another slice it was that good.

Thank you mom so so so much for our vacation! I loved absolutely every second of it and I can't wait till next year when we can do it again. You are truly the best and I am so thankful to have you as my mom. So here's to you, Happy 23rd anniversary BIRTHday!

Water Park

The kids and I needed to cool off one day after the gym so we ventured to the water park that is by our house. Nothing to fancy but has really cold water that sprays every where. At one point I even ran around with them and got soaking wet. I believe it was about 112 out that day. Thank goodness there are things like this to do when it is so hot here in the summer.

Hot Dog on a Stick

I love this place. James and I never go to the mall unless its holiday season. We recently had to make a trip down to the local mall to have my ring fixed and re sized. After we dropped my ring off the kids were starving so we headed to hot dog on a stick. This is now Brock and Alyvias favorite place for food. I know it's nothing special but if you go on I think Tuesdays all hot dogs are only $1.

Friends are amazing!

How true is my title? Every once in a while we are all blessed with schedules that are the same and can meet up for a friendly game of phase 10. This month Samantha and Mark invited everyone over to their house for a game night. By everyone I mean Alicia and Nick and their 2 kids, Sherry and Ryan and their 3 kids, and James and I with our 2 kids. So there were 8 adults and 9 kids! It was such a fun night given the amount of people there.

We played half of phase 10 and then switched to scategories. Samantha also performed one of her favorite dances for us to a Hannah Montana Song. Let's just say she's a little weird :). Most of the kids also joined in the fun and were all dancing around the room. The night was filled with a lot of laughter and great company. I am so grateful to have amazing friends even though we may not see each other as often as we would like, when given the opportunity to hang out it seems like we just pick up right where we left out. It's also extra special that everyone gets along including all the kids.

Thank you Sam and Mark for hosting game night! Can't wait to get together again.

Kissey Faces!

Thank you cousin Tiffany for showing the kids how to blow kisses to the camera! HAHA Brock is still a little camera shy when it comes to this but miss Alyvia took right to it!

Freemont Street Experience100

My Mom invited us to go downtown to Fremont Street this past weekend. There are bands playing all summer long, street artist, and lots of weirdos down there so we figured the kids and all of us would have a blast! We enjoyed a really inexpensive dinner at CiCi's pizza (if you haven't been there I highly recommend it) and then a nice stroll down town in 100+ heat at night. It was a fun family night and thanks Tiff for joining in on the fun!

Hair Frenzy

I am having a serious problem with Alyvia's hair. She hates when I try to comb it or put in any form of hair clip or ties. As you can see in the picture its a curly mess, oh what to do, what to do?

Pool Time

There is nothing better then going to the pool during our hot summer days. Lately we've been swimming a lot and the kids love it. Brock is now a professional swimmer (his words) and Alyvia just likes to play on the step areas. Sometimes she has a brave moment and will jump in the water but sometimes she doesn't and wont get in at all. James was telling me how much more fun it is now that Brock can swim. Brock loves to race and do cannon balls, he is just like all his big cousins now. Its so fun to watch them all. Alyvia likes to cheer everyone on someday soon I'm hoping she will put on her floaties and join in all the fun.

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July! James had to work so it was just me and my mom for fireworks with the kids. Next year I so hope he can get the time off because me and fireworks just don't mix. I like to stand back and watch and not light. My mom lit most of them for us thank goodness. LOL After we went to the park to watch fireworks that the Station Casinos did. And then to top off our wonderful night Brock got sick so him and I were up majority of the night. Yes, this is definitely a holiday for the memory box.

Me lighting some snakes

Brock playing with sparklers

We had a mishap and he burned the top of his foot

It wasn't that bad but we doctored him all up

My mom lighting some fireworks

He loved to pose and she wouldn't take her hands off her ears

This is what happens when you let Brock throw a smoke bomb

Alyvia's favorite were the snakes

She loved the ones that popped and string came out

Fireworks from the Red Rock Casino

Papa and Brock

Nay and Alyvia

Parking lot traffic was so fun!