Merry Christmas Everyone!

Due to a very busy month, including some unforeseen circumstances, I did not get a Christmas card in the mail this year. Therefore I have decided to post our Christmas card online and hope that family and friends will see it and know that we are thinking of them….

Here it is!

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-Having a healthy Mary Kate once again after enduring a scary, rare illness and a long hospital stay.
(All of us)

-Yanking flags and blocking opponents to help your team win flag football games. Having your dad be your coach. (Jeffrey)

-Learning to master those tricky chords on the piano so you can accompany yourself while singing Jingle Bells and Frosty the Snowman. (Jonathan and Jeffrey)

-Making it to the top of Mount Timpanogos without dying! Making it back down again without dying! The view at the top was spectacular too. (Jill)

-Finding the perfect paint color for the master bedroom and installing a new toilet in the master bath that actually flushes! (Jill and Mike)

-When the home improvement projects are finally complete! (Jill and Mike, mostly Mike)

-Making it to the halfway mark of your first year of Jr. High and discovering that you actually like Jr. High. (Mary Kate)

-Sitting all alone in the wide open, on the top of Boulder Mountain, during a raucous and breathtaking thunderstorm while all the scared Scouts hide in their tents. (Mike)

-Gawking at the sights on the the streets of New York with some of your favorite people. (Jill)

-Finally learning the trick to a perfect back bend at Gymnastics class. (Jonathan)

-Making it to the halfway mark of your first year of 1st grade and discovering that you actually like 1st grade. (Jonathan and Jeffrey)

-Celebrating 15 years of marriage to your best friend. (Mike and Jill)

-Making it to the end of Pioneer Trek without dying. (Mike and Jill, mostly Jill)

-Having fun in the sun with family and friends at the lake. (All of us)

-Having friends and family as wonderful as all of you.

-Celebrating the season with thoughts of our Savior’s birth and His life lived for all of us.

It has been a wonderful year full of JOY! We hope your year was JOYFUL too.

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Love,
The Dickey Family

Christmases Past

Today (inspired by my friend Nicole) I went searching for some old pictures of Christmases past. I hit the jackpot. As I thumbed through the pictures I got to thinking…

…It wasn’t all that long ago that I was a little one, enjoying the magic of Christmas, as only a child unencumbered by the responsibilities of making Christmas magical for others, can.

I’m in love with the photo above of me with my red stocking and my beautiful mom. She’s so young, and enjoying Christmas, as only a parent who is encumbered with the responsibility of making Christmas magical for another, can.

I love the smile on her face in the photo below. I know that smile.

I’ve been a mom long enough to know first hand how hard parents work to make Christmas magical, special and meaningful for their children. As I looked through my stack of photos, happy memories flooded back to me, and I know who I owe those memories to. My parents (and I expect especially my mother) did a wonderful job of making Christmas something I can look back on a remember fondly.

Examples…

This was taken at a Christmas party at our house, a party thrown just for the neighborhood kids, complete with a visit from Santa. My mom made that velvet dress and blouse for me, special, just for Christmas. I clearly remember feeling so beautiful in it, with my hair all curled and clipped up.

I love this picture of Andrew and I in front of the tree.

Mom always decorated our tree so perfectly with her handmade ornaments. I remember the felt Christmas characters on the flocked tree above, then later the styrofoam balls covered in Twelve Days of Christmas wrapping paper, dipped in hot wax and tied with a golden bow. I also remember the colorfully iced gingerbread men that Andrew and I had fun breaking the limbs off of and eating right off the tree, the little pom-pom panda bears in red and green yarn-stitched boxes, and the little wooly Christmas sheep with googly eyes glued on. I used to stare at each individual ornament of hours, every year.

Mom also sewed me new pajama’s every year i.e.the flannel, lace-trimmed beauties above. Love the Heidi braids too!

I remember this life size doll like it was yesterday. I played with that yarn hair for hours.

I love how happy we all are in this picture.

Mom made these Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls too. I remember snooping around in the fruit room under the stairs looking for Christmas presents and finding these two hidden in a bag all ready for Christmas morning. Somehow my mom found out that I had been snooping. Understandably she wasn’t very happy with me. Luckily she forgave me. I treasured Raggedy Ann and Andy for years. Still have them in the cedar chest for safe keeping.

I had to add this picture because it just shows that some things never change. Look how organized my presents are, all stacked in a neat little pile. I was OCD even way back then!  And…do you remember the good old-fashioned Spyrograph sets? I wish they still made those. I loved that set!

This picture was taken the year we went to my Grandma and Grandpa Stauffer’s house for Christmas. I love so many things about this picture, mostly that I’m wearing my Grandma’s old lady slippers, and that my dad (and all my brothers for that matter) are holding He-man toys. That was the year of He-man. I’m sure there was a Castle of Gray Skull somewhere in that room too. Mike clearly remembers having a He-man Christmas as well. My guess is that it was the same year, only a few miles away in Millville.

That year I also remember that my parents gave me my very own stereo and the Footloose soundtrack cassette tape to go with it. I remember loving that stereo so much and especially loving that my parents thought I was grown up enough to have my very own stereo and rock-n-roll tape. That was a happy Christmas.

I remember this Christmas as the Christmas of Denver Bronco mania. My brothers got everything Denver Broncos, check out Eric’s shiny jacket. (Looks like Andrew got a BB gun too. Maybe it was a Red Rider BB Gun?)

Coats with big shoulder pads and attached scarves were so in fashion that year. I remember wanting one so badly. Looks like mom and dad delivered again. I love how mom is looking me over to see if the coat fits right.

I wish I had a picture of the Christmas I got the Cabbage Patch doll that my mom made for me. I wanted one so desperately. I had opened all my presents. There was an Angel Face Barbie, but no Cabbage Patch doll. After all the presents were opened I remember trying so hard to be grateful, not to cry, and not to be disappointed that there was no Cabbage Patch doll. Then dad went to the coat closet and pulled out one last gift. Of course it was a beautiful Cabbage Patch doll that my mom had made for me by hand. I was in love! I still wonder how many hours my mom worked on that doll.

I just wanted to say thank you to my parents this Christmas, for all they did over the years to make Christmas magical and special for all of us. I have good, happy memories of Christmas because of you Mom and Dad. I know how hard you worked and how much you sacrificed to make it happen. Thank you!

*It wasn’t just all about the gifts, ornaments and PJs either. My parents taught us the true meaning of Christmas too. Mostly by the way they lived their lives. Thanks for that especially Mom and Dad. Merry Christmas! We miss you.

A Lovely Kiwi For Christmas

We’ve had a visitor from far, far away this Christmas season. Brodie Ridler, a close friend and student of my parent’s from New Zealand, has been in Utah on holiday and we’ve been lucky enough to have her with us for a few weeks of her stay. Jonathan gave her a big hug the other night before bed adding the comment, “I can give Brodie a big hug like that because she’s family!”

She truly is.

After spending time with Brodie and hearing her tell stories of my parents (all the Young Single Adults call my parents Mama and Papa Stauff) I’m starting to see how hard it’s going to be for my parents to leave New Zealand. They have family there now, family that will not be happy to see them go.

Brodie and I have been all over the place together. She will even go eat Sushi with me, something that no one else around here will do. Brodie claims that normally she hates to shop, but says she doesn’t mind it with me (I tend to have the affect on people, right Belinda!). It’s a good thing she likes shopping with me because I’ve dragged her to many a store as I’m trying to get ready for Christmas.

Costco was the most fun so far…

Brodie’s mind was blown!

When you stop to think about it and look at Costco from a foreign perspective, it really is an insane place and a pretty accurate representation of American culture (don’t know if that’s a good thing or bad thing, I mean who needs a box of 60 processed waffles?). In New Zealand there is nothing like Costo (or huge boxes of waffles) to be found.

(We did find this during one of our shopping sprees though. I true gift from heaven. I will never be the same again!)

Brodie is a fairly recent convert to the Church and she loves seeing the temples that dot this state. Her goal is to see all the temples in Utah while she’s here. She’s seen several so far, a few left to go. Her favorite is the Manti temple and she hasn’t seen that one yet, so there may be a road trip in the near future.

Yesterday morning Brodie and I went with Mary Kate (her first time) and Mike to the Timpanogos Temple to do baptisms. It was a neat experience for all of us. As we were driving home (just 4 minutes from the temple to our driveway) Brodie talked about how wonderful it would be to have a temple close enough that you could go to the temple in morning before work or school and then go on with your day, as we were doing. She shook her head and said, “You guys are so lucky!”

It was a much needed reminder for me not to take the close proximity of so many temples for granted. Brodie’s closest temple is a plane ride away.

Brodie has been a great sport as I’ve also dragged her along to Young Women’s activities, Relief Society Christmas dinners, 1st grade class parties and the like. She’s been so gracious as I’ve introduced her to all my friends. She even got to meet my neighbor, little baby Nila. They took to each other right away.

Everyone loves Brodie…her Kiwi accent, her personality, and her single status. I can’t tell you how many times someone has asked if they could set her up with a cousin, a brother or a friend, but I think Brodie’s heart is somewhere in Samoa. :-)

Last night Brodie and I had tickets to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert (thanks to a very kind connection of my parent’s). We brought the family along with us to kill time before the concert began. It was a beautiful night at Temple Square, not too crowded, not too cold.

The boys were in rare form though, they made certain to put on a good show for Brodie providing her with the opportunity to seriously ponder over the question of whether on not she wants to have children in the future. After their behavior last night, I think she’s undecided about that at the moment. Can’t say that I blame her. Brodie is certainly patient!

The concert was peaceful though. Brodie confirmed that enjoying the concert was the highlight of her holiday so far. She was in heaven, as was I. Nothing brings the spirit of the true meaning of Christmas quite like music and stories about the Savior or Richard Elliot’s organ solos, WOW! The Mormon’s brought it again, along with Nathan Gunn and Jane Seymour who where fantastic!

We’ve loved having Brodie here, she will certainly be a friend for life.

Now I have another reason to wish that New Zealand wasn’t so far away.

A Little Christmas and Culture and Girl Time All Mixed Together

I got it into my head this year that I wanted to take Mary Kate on a little mother-daughter outing to see the Nutcracker performed by Ballet West. I thought it would be a fun way to celebrate Christmas while exposing Mary Kate to the Arts; but mostly I just like hanging out with my MK. I remember going with my mom to see the Nutcracker when I was about Mary Kate’s age and it’s a happy memory for me. I wanted that same kind of memory for Mary Kate.

We picked the perfect afternoon to get away, just us girls. The twins were on one and totally out of control today! The peace and quiet enjoyed with only my mild mannered daughter by my side was so lovely.

The Ballet was lovely as well. Ballet West’s Nutcracker always gets great reviews and it’s easy to see why. Our favorite dances were the Danish Marzipan Shepherdesses (beautiful costumes), Waltz of the Flowers (beautiful, tiny little Asian ballerina), and of course the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. What little girl doesn’t secretly wish she could be the Sugar Plum Fairy? I know I did.

Aside from the girl constantly digging into her noisy cellophane bag of jelly beans to our right, and the older lady behind us with the oxygen tank that hissed loudly every three seconds causing us to beg the usher for new seats (which were granted thank goodness), it was a perfect performance. A much quieter second half to be sure. (Does anyone agree with me that Utah audiences tend to be a little rude and rowdy? Maybe it was just the matinee performance with lots of kids present, who knows?)

The Nutcracker is so very Christmas. Just hearing the music brings that Christmas spirit flowing in. Like I said though, mostly I just enjoyed spending the day with MK. I hope she now has a good memory to keep forever.

(There was even a giant PUPLE nutcracker right in the lobby. Of course she spotted that one right away)

I love you Mary Kate. Thanks for coming with me!

Holiday Rhythm

We’re into a holiday rhythm.

Me, I like a good tradition. Traditions solidify, enhance, protect, move things along steadily. I like it, being the obsessive, compulsive kind of person that I am.

When December rolls around I can count on a few things always taking place, starting with the decorating of the Christmas tree while listening to our favorite Christmas tunes. Every year this is our first Family Home Evening after Thanksgiving; then we have Mary Kate’s piano recital on the first Saturday of the month (she was fantastic this year), then the ward Christmas party, then we throw the neighborhood bonfire on the first Monday. If I’m lucky I’ll see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Concert during the third weekend (somehow I’ve figured out a way to get there every year), then we see the lights at Temple Square as a family, we read all our Christmas books, I make Italian meat balls….you get the idea. I love it.

I most love the traditions that allow for association with friends, neighbors, and family. Along with being obsessive, compulsive, I’m also a social creature. Put me in a room (or a driveway) full of people I love and I’m in heaven. I love what ward parties and neighborhood gatherings do for the holiday season.

Ward Christmas parties (well, ward parties in general) are possibly the tackiest parties ever thrown, with their hap-hazard decorations, amateur entertainment and Jello salads, but I love them! (Let it be known that I probably wouldn’t say that if I was in charge. Way to go Elayne!)

Our Luau themed party this year was super fun. (Incidentally, our party here in Utah wasn’t much different from the one that my parents attended in New Zealand. We had Polynesian dancers and Kahlua pork, so did they; evidence that the church is the same no matter where you go in the world). 

Mary Kate with my beautiful friend Michelle

Look at this spread of typical ward party potluck fare (Martha Stewart would turn over in her grave if she was in one). Mormons definitely know how to bring Jello salads in large, plastic bowls. Apparently we know how to consume large amounts of margarine from huge plastic tubs too.

I got suckered into getting up on the stage with the ladies and learning the Hula. Turns out I’m a natural. I think this means I might need to move to Hawaii, at least for January, February and March. (It’s hard to see, but check out little Hailey up front with her Hula skirt and coconut shells bra. She wore it with pride).

Mike got suckered into going up on stage to learn a Maori war dance. A ward party is nothing if it isn’t subjecting various ward members to humiliation for the entertainment of all. Some of the guys were pretty good though.

The highlight of the night (next to the Jello salad selection) was the nativity put on by the Primary children. The boys were so excited to be the shepherds. They were pretty decent up there too, except when Jonathan almost dropped his staff on the baby Jesus…

All the kids were reverent and sweet. I’m not ashamed to admit that I got a little weepy eyed. Just look at that little Mary holding swaddled baby Jesus who was played by baby Aiden, a foster baby (his mom was on drugs her whole pregnancy) who is being loved and adored by a sweet young couple in our ward that want a baby more than anything in the world and just might get this one for real. Crossed fingers.

It was a good party.

And the rhythm continues…

That Monday (because it’s now tradition) we put on our 5th or 6th (I lose count) annual neighborhood bonfire…

It was FREEZING COLD so only the bravest and most dedicated showed up this year. Luckily, Boy Scout Mike got the fire a-blazing and we had gallons of piping hot chocolate.

Mary Kate is demonstrating with her nose and cheeks, just how cold it was.

I love our neighborhood. We got some good donations for the Food Bank, visited and enjoy each other’s company, and ate plenty of sugary foods. A great time was had by all, but I felt a few waves of sadness this year. We’ve had so many good friends move out of our neighborhood over the last few years and I couldn’t help but think of those people and miss them tremendously. We miss you all! It’s not the same without you here.

Anyway, we’re full swing into the Christmas grove and loving it. Hope you are too.

Now we just need some snow!

For Laughs

My cousin Stephen has a new blog. It’s very funny and makes me laugh so I thought I would share it with all of you so you can enjoy a few more laughs in your day. Who doesn’t need that? 

Apparently Emilie gave Stephen a gift (a little astronaut figurine) and Stephen has found a genius use for him. Tune in to: www.moonmandotcom.tumblr.com to see where Moon Man’s adventures take him next.

I love it!

38 Birthdays and Counting

It’s my favorite person’s birthday. He will have celebrated a total of 38 birthdays after today. 16 of those birthdays I’ve had the good fortune of being able to celebrate with him. That’s not quite half, but still quite a few. What makes me the most happy is that I anticipate being able to celebrate many more future birthdays with the person I like most.

Just a few reasons I like to celebrate that Mike is alive…

-After he plays ball or goes on a run he fixes himself a tall, cold glass of ice water to rehydrate. He then leaves that glass on the counter, always half-full. When I find it I drink the rest of the water and chew on what’s left of the ice and he doesn’t even mind.

-His body temperature is always at least 10 degrees higher than mine. When I get cold (which is often), I know where to go to find some warmth.

-He thinks everything I cook is delicious even when it’s not.

-He will watch a second and maybe even a third episode of “Friday Night Lights” with me if I really want him to, even when he’s sick of watching TV.

-He willingly runs to the grocery store for me anytime, for anything.

-I have no idea what it’s like to have computer problems. He keeps our computers running perfectly. (He keeps a lot of other people’s computers running smoothly too, come to think of it) He’s like a ‘cool’ geek.

-He has a major soft spot for our daughter and our dog and it’s very sweet.

-He’s nice and respectful to his parents. He’s nice and respectful to my parents.

-He’s an awesome basket ball player (but don’t tell him I said that).

-He picks up all the dog poop and it doesn’t even bother him.

-He’s fills out a shirt quite nicely with those broad shoulders of his.

-In all the time I’ve know him, I’ve never heard one person say they don’t like him or have had trouble getting along with him.

-He’s very precise and careful when doing home improvement projects.

-He doesn’t need very much sleep so he always gets up with the kids at night. How many kids want Dad in the middle of the night instead of Mom? Ours.

-He can put anything together without even looking at the directions. Impressive.

-He lets me drive so I won’t get car sick. I know he hates this, but he still lets me.

-He’s really nice to me…all the time.

I like him very, very much.

Happy Birthday Michael. You really are my favorite person.

Where Much Is Given

Yesterday, as I sat down to my extra large plate piled high with Thanksgiving delights, I found my thoughts going back several years to the evening I attended my first and only Hunger Banquet at BYU. For those of you not familiar with the Hunger Banquet it’s basically this: You purchase a ticket to the banquet and upon arrival you will randomly be assigned a particular meal. 70 percent of those in attendance will be assigned a seat on the floor and be served a meager meal of rice and beans to be shared among those sitting around them. Another 20 percent of attendees will be seated in chairs (no table) and be served a very basic meal, nothing too special. The rest, about 10 percent, will be seated at fancy, candlelit tables and served a lavish meal with all the fixings (similar to my plate of Thanksgiving dinner pictured above).

As you look around the room during the banquet (as I did from my seat on the floor eating rice and beans with my fingers) you can witness a powerful visual representation of the real distribution of our world’s resources. You see, in a whole new way, what it means that 70% of the the world’s population has very little to call their own or to fill their bellies. It’s quiet an experience and one that I have never forgotten. (Thanks Julie for introducing me to the Hunger Banquet) I remember feeling quiet a bit of shame that evening, because I knew that I personally took so much of what I had for granted. I’m sure I still do.

Thanksgiving is of course a time to reflect on one’s many blessings. Just the fact that I can sit down to a Thanksgiving feast like yesterday’s and fill my belly, along with other’s in that 30 percent of the world’s well-fed category, is proof of all that I’m blessed to enjoy in my life. No one has to be told that the world is an unfair place. It’s obvious. There are so many who have very little, some who have more than they could ever need, and several in between. I wish that I had the answers or even satisfactory explanations for why things are this way, but I do not. Though I do feel compelled to ask myself, what does it all mean for me, someone who has been blessed with so much?

Partially the answer is in a principle that I have been taught all my life: Where much is given, much is expected. Because I believe this principle is truth, it has many implications for me. Over the last little while I have been thinking more than I usually do about how this principle plays itself out in my life. I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to do better. I need to do more. I must do a better, more conscientious job of living up to the things that God, who is the source of all my blessings, expects of me, because I have been given much. (The last part of that sentence would be a good title for a song, don’t you think?)

One thing I am most grateful for are the people around me who live this principle consistently and show me how to do it. My Uncle Rob and Aunt Mary are two people who I feel are perfect examples of this. In the last few years Rob and Mary have had the blessing of being able to build an addition on to their home, complete with a large gourmet kitchen and dining area. It really is a beautiful, functional space that is most often filled to full capacity. Rob and Mary are always inviting over, feeding amazing food too, and loving and serving a household full of friends, neighbors, strangers (who quickly become friends), and family. Uncle Rob and Aunt Mary share their blessings with everyone. They truly live the “where much is given, much is expected” principle. (Thank you Rob and Mary for that amazing Thanksgiving feast and for all the love and service you give our family!)

I know so many, like Rob and Mary, who live this principle. I’ve so often been the recipient of service given by people who live this principle; even those who don’t have much but still give much. So many of those people are you who are reading these words right now. Thank you, thank you!

At this Thanksgiving time, I resolve to be more like you.

Master

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, Mike and I spent most of the month of October doing some home improvement projects. It was mostly chaos and hard work and we are totally sick of painting, moving furniture and hanging things, but we are really pleased with the results of our industry. We didn’t do too much, mostly cosmetic stuff like new carpet and paint, some new bedding and pillows. Mostly we just rearranged and re-appropriated things that we already had around the house.

I’ve decided the Mike and I make a good team. I enjoy the design aspect of the redecorating process and Mike is a true handy man.

So without further ado, the results…

Before…

After…

As you can see, it’s not that different…just some color changes, a fresh coat of paint, new carpet (after 20 years of use out of the old stuff), a rearrangement of the book shelves, some new drapes.

My jumping off point for this room was the Pottery Barn bed duvet cover that I found on EBay for way less than I would have paid at Pottery Barn. Definitely the way to go if you like Pottery Barn stuff but don’t want to pay through the nose. I knew I wanted to go with gray on the walls (and the duvet has some gray in it), but I wanted to warm the room up with some golds, browns and corals, so it was perfect.

My favorite things about the master bedroom now are the paint (Martha Stewart’s Bedford Gray from Home Depot, highly recommend it) and the picture frames above the bed displaying photos from my trip to Paris. I got the frames about ten years ago from Joann’s for like $5 dollars a piece. Still love them.

Before…

After…

My other favorite thing in our new room is the vanity that I got for free from a neighbor’s garage sale. Mike and I repaired and refinished it together this summer. You should have seen it before. Now it looks as good as new! I also love the pictures on either side of the vanity mirror. They’re of Mike and I when we were kids. They make me smile.

The pictures in the gold frames above the rocker were hanging in my room at home when I was growing up, and on the opposite side of the window is a picture that used to hang in my Grandpa’s office. I’ve always loved it, and it matched perfectly. I like the sentimental touches that these things add to the room.

We also redecorated the bathroom.

Before…

After…

We stripped the wall paper and painted a coordinating color (Martha Stewart’s Morning Fog from Home Depot. Martha has helped us a lot with our painting projects this time).

My favorite thing about the bathroom is the new caulking around the tub and shower. I scrapped up all the old stuff and now it looks awesome, almost like new! I can’t believe how much difference little things like that make. I also love the little white cupboard that keeps all our toiletries out of sight. Much more neat and tidy.

As you can see, our improvements aren’t anything earth shattering, but it’s nice to have everything looking fresh and different.

Now if I could just convince Winnie that she can’t sleep on my new bedding…

*I would still like an end-of-the-bed bench for this room, something to fill the empty space and to sit upon when tying shoes and such, but I can’t find the right thing for the right price (I don’t want to spend too much for it). Any suggestions out there? Maybe I should have Mike build one? You up for that Mike?

Good night…

What Happened in Vegas

Every November Mike goes to a NextGen training conference. (NextGen is the company that produces the electronic medical records software used at the pediatric clinic where he works) These NextGen conferences take place in all different parts of the country such as Washington D.C., Florida, and Tennessee. This year the conference just happened to take place in Las Vegas, Nevada. Usually I stay home and hold down the fort while Mike attends these annual events, but this year I decided to tag along with him; mostly because some friends of ours (one of the pediatricians at the clinic and his wife) were also going and with Kristin there I would have someone to hang out with during the day while Mike was in classes.

I personally have a love-hate relationship with Vegas. Sleaze is everywhere in Sin City, but so are bright lights, great shopping, world class entertainment, and the most delicious food…not to mention 3 floors worth of the M&M store!

The Strip is something that never fails to blow my mind, in more ways than one. As soon as we had checked into the hotel (we stayed at the MGM Grand Signature Towers which are smoke and Casino free and very nice), Mike and I took a stroll from one end of the Strip to the other to see the sights. I brought along my trusty camera…

Las Vegas is the only place where you can see Lady Liberty…next to a garish medieval castle…next to a near exact replica of the Eiffel Tower…next to a larger-than-the-original Egyptian pyramid…next to a volcano that actually erupts…next to a ginormous pirate ship teaming with actual pirates. Las Vegas has multiple personality disorder.

For example: If the Lady Liberty outside doesn’t satisfy, you can take just a few short steps inside and see her made entirely out of Jelly Bellies…

…Walk just a few blocks further and along the way you will see the worlds largest chocolate fountain, a lion habitat, water fountains that spray in time to music, and a talking apple tree whose eyes follow you as you walk past…

… If that doesn’t do the trick for you, you can push and shove your way through the crowds, find a empty spot along the marble fence, and watch the water show out front of the world famous Bellagio hotel and casino…

…the Bellagio water show is totally nuts. As you watch, it suddenly dawns on you that you’re standing in the middle of the desert hovering over eight acres of water that periodically sprays 100 feet in the air. How can this be?

The multiple personality factor doesn’t stop there. In Vegas you’ll see stretch limos, Gucci stores, restaurants menus featuring meals at $250 a plate, and people walking around dressed to the 9’s; while the homeless are everywhere too, sitting along the Strip, hoping someone will be kind enough to throw them a bone. There are people of all ages there too, stand all night on street corners, wearing sweatshirts with girls, girls, girls printed across the front, trying to shove pornography in your hands in hopes of luring you into tawdry strip joints and night clubs. Multiple personalities indeed!

You know me, if there is a documentary to be seen I am compelled to watch it. I found a interesting documentary on the history of Las Vegas, all about how this crazy place in the middle of nowhere came to be. It was very compelling and full of interesting facts. Did you know that Casinos make a whopping 70 percent of their gambling profits from slot machines alone? It’s not that hard to imagine since most of the noisy, obnoxious things seem to be going 24-7, with people sitting at them for hours and hours trying their luck against the house. (The house always wins in the end. They make certain of it).

Gambling isn’t for me though, I would rather sample the delicious food. If it’s good food you’re after, Vegas is the place. Good heavens, we ate well…

Tuesday nights dinner: Portobello Mushroom Ravioli with with Champagne cream sauce, here at this little gem of a Italian restaurant in Caesars Palace. And how about breakfast from Las Vegas’s own Serendipity 3. The breakfast platter was as long as my arm. I couldn’t make it through half of it.

I’ve wanted to try Frozen Hot Chocolate for years, but the wait at the restaurant was always too long in New York City. There was no wait in Las Vegas on a Tuesday morning, and the Frozen Hot Chocolate did NOT disappoint…

Kristin was a convert as well…

Kristin and I also did a little shopping, mostly at the 40%-off-the-sales-price rack at the Loft and a little at H&M…most everything else was way out of our price range. Kristin was a perfect shopping partner though, she has great taste.

My favorite event of the trip… seeing Mystere by Cirque De Soleil at Treasure Island…

It was incredible. I’m dying to take the kids sometime. It would blow their little minds!

p.s. If you do go see Cirque De Soleil I would warn you not to use you cell phone to take pictures or video. You WILL get you phone confiscated until after the show.

Second favorite event…

…stopping at Trader Joe’s on the way home. I must admit I went a little over board there, throwing things in the cart for us to try and filling orders and requests from folks at home. We’ve now got Trader Joe’s groceries and food storage to last us until we get back to Las Vegas…someday. I so wish Utah would get a Trader Joe’s!

It was a fun filled few days, especially since most of the major expenses were on the company dime (except the Trader Joe’s shopping spree of course). Mostly I loved spending time with Mike. He’s the perfect traveling companion and we never get sick of each other.

A heartfelt thanks to Rebekah, Grandpa Dave and Mary Kate who were vigilant and capable babysitters for the boys. Anytime you travel together as a couple you are at the mercy of someone who’s willing to watch your kids. Thanks Grandpa Dave and Rebekah. The kids and the dog were all safe, sound and happy when we arrived home. We can’t thank you enough!

*I forget to mention that we also attended a big event for all the NextGen clients where we saw STYX in concert (which was awesome) and also Sammy Hagar of Van Halen fame, who was totally crazy and WAY to loud. Mike stuck it out, but I went back to the hotel so my ears would stop ringing!