Hurry, Vegas!

We are back from Vegas and now getting ready for Iowa, but I have to do a quick post about the awesomeness that was our time in Vegas.

I'm going to do bullet points, but first a summary.

I am beyond grateful to Nate and Amy for not only coming to help celebrate my 30th, but for being our personal tour guides and overall Vegas experts. The trip was a success because of their planning and we can't thank them enough.

So now, a bullet point/quick look into our trip.

• Land in Vegas, head straight to the hotel pool (we stayed at MGM)

•  Beers and Margaritas were had by all, except Amy cuz she has a bun in the oven

Nate and I enjoying the pool

•  I am maybe a little excited about being in Vegas and drink a little more than normal, so a 2 pm siesta/pass out is in order
• After naps we do Margaritaville and the Belagio fountains
• Monday morning we head down to the pool, it's cabana day!!!! BEST DAY EVER!

•  We play cards, drink, swim, lay out, and eat. It's beyond fabulous. 

View from our Cabana

•  We are there from 10-5, but have no fear, we had plenty of shade and sunscreen, no gets sunburned, score!
• The evening includes slots and dinner at Gallaghers steak house. AMAZING dinner, seriously so good I wanted to keep eating even though I was on the verge of throwing up because I was so full

•  A lady took our picture and then wanted $45 to purchase it, I'm not kidding. So when she wasn't looking I snapped a picture of the pictures, I'm so bad ass ;)

Group photo

Us

• After an amazing dinner we hit up the town, aka we walked around playing slots and seeing the sights 

•  Then ended at the Chandelier which was gorgeous

•  Next morning we did Rain Forest cafe for breakfast and then headed to the pool again, we got a daybed and it was alright, but we missed our Cabana and awesome waitress, Christie.

The girls

The guys

• That night we did dinner and a show to celebrate my actual birthday. We ate at Lupo's and it was absolutely divine, best food ever.
• Tom Bauer (Nate's dad) called and sent a bottle of wine and appetizers to our table, talk about amazing surprise! Seriously, the Bauer's are the bomb, one of a kind.

Brian's Blue Steel impression

• So, what show did we see?

•  AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• If you know me, you know I love Michael Jackson, and you might know that he unfortunately passed away on my birthday :( So it felt fitting to go and see his show while we were in Vegas. It did NOT disappoint, I was on the edge of my seat the whole show, dancing and singing to the music I love.
• Also, before the show started we were in our seats trying to take a picture of all four of us, the lady next to us offered to take it for us which was super nice. She took it and then headed up on stage, she was part of the show!!! 

• I can't say it enough, we had the absolute BEST time. It was such a wonderful vacation and definitely what we needed, we will be doing more of these vacations for sure :)

Normal days

I've been posting about all our big events but we have also had lots of normal days just hanging out. 

Our favorite evenings are with our friends. The Buell boys came over to scooter and bike around.

Reese wanted to be just like Bennett

Road Rally Racers! 

During Reese's naps I've been trying to spend quality time with Bria for at least half hour before having her go and do some quiet time. She seems to be in a much better mood because of it and I am too. Sometimes we'll play Candyland or Memory, other times it's Go Fish or Fairies.

Patiently letting me take her picture

 I also enjoy watching my girls spend time together, this particular time they are watching something on the iPad:

 Oh the new generation!

We are currently attempting to get ready for our two big vacations we have planned, they are back to back so it's a little hectic. I foresee massive amounts of laundry and packing and unpacking in my future. Wish me luck!

Brasada Ranch

Oregon is where it's at. Yes, it rains a majority of the time but it sure is pretty. And we do have pretty summers...once they start (which isn't until like July). 

One of my favorite places to visit is over in central Oregon, Bend/Sunriver area. Well apparently there is a gorgeous Ranch called Brasada and we were lucky enough to get invited to come stay at a family condo there with the Buell's. Brian had to work but I packed the girls up and headed over! Dusty was doing a work thing there (I officially want to work at Nike) so we saw him a few times. Amanda's Mom and brother, Ryan, and his girlfriend, Maggie came too. It was a recipe for awesomeness.

Loaded up and ready to go!

The ride there went pretty well, Reese was cranky at times and after 3 1/2 hours Bria was ready to get out of the car with a crying baby...so was I.
The moment we got there we suited up and went swimming. They have the coolest outdoor swimming area, equipped with an awesome water slide that Bria went down about 5,436 times.
Also, Amanda took what is now officially my FAVORITE picture of Reese and I.

My sweet baby!!

Believe it or not, Reese went down twice by herself. The first time she was fine, the second time she was not too happy with me but survived :) We didn't get the first one on video and I really wanted it so I sent her down again, mean mom!

After some solid swim time we let the kids relax with a movie and snacks.

 Then Uncle Ryan and Maggie took Bria and Bennett on the golf course. Weston wanted to go but he had to stay with the mommies and he was so sad. Bria was sad for him and reassured him she would be back.

Explaining to Wessy that she will come back for him

 She called him her Wessy sunshine and made sure he felt better before she left.

 Melt. My. Heart.

It's a special bond between these two, brother/sister, BFF's, just precious.

With so many helping hands I was able to get in relaxing time with Amanda and it was just what I needed. It's been such a long time since I've had such a close girlfriend and I feel so grateful to have found her. She is the best.

Attempting a photo shoot, it did NOT go well.

 The second day we were there it was stormy and at one point it was TORRENTIAL downpour. But that didn't stop us from having fun. They had an awesome game room that was perfect for kids.

A little air hockey fun

Rock wall

Indoor pool

 Nana (Amanda's Mom) found a bunch of golden books and the kids sat and read those for quite awhile.

My little bookworm

 That evening we drove into Bend which is only 20 minutes away. We went to Abby's Pizza and the kids had a blast in the game room.

Camo shorts and all :)

Uncle Ryan with all 4 kids! 

Bennett and Bria relaxing on the couch

Nana gave each of the kids a dollar to buy candy at the lodge, I'm not sure what they were more excited about, the dollar or the candy :)

Weston petting Reese :)

The last night there we put the kids to bed and relaxed in our jammies. Then we got a text from Dusty and it was a picture of his work group playing flip cup. Amanda and I dug deep and got in the game mood and walked down. Nana and Maggie stayed back with the sleeping kiddos and we went and had some college fun!

We are super fun! And super weird :)

The Buell's, adorable!

 We had such a fun time in Brasada and can't wait to go back!