Las Vegas - November 2011

Traci & I left for Vegas on Friday night, November 18th and we came back on Tuesday, November 22.  We had a great time, we stayed at The Luxor and had so many memories!  We think the cleaning lady - Martha - stole Traci's hair clip! LOL  We got lost and ended up by some outlet malls, we had late night/early morning giggling attacks, we got lost a couple times on the strip (yes, we're cool) and we turned $5 in to $10 twice!  Both of us did that - yes, that was our winnings - we're awesome like that!  We had a great time!!  Here are a couple pictures from our adventures in Sin City! <3

Traci found a smurf!

Drinking beer watching all the crazies!

Good Morning, time for beer?

I have a lot more but I will add them in later.

100 Monkeys

So, Traci & I saw 100 Monkeys play 3 nights!  The first night was a Friday downtown and it was informal and it was more of a meet & greet and that's where we met all 5 guys.  The band consists of five guys: Jackson Rathbone, Jerad Anderson, Ben Graupner, Ben Johnson & Lawrence Abrahms (aka Uncle Larry) Jerad is adorable, he's the only married man in the group and she's lucky because he's a cutie!  The Ben's are both really nice and laid back.  Larry is probably the sweetest guy in band, he's sooo nice!  Then there's Jackson - the douche.  Seriously, he needs to come out of the clouds, he's really NOT that great.  There are plenty of people more famous than him and I'm sure they're more humble.  He's just a jerk and thinks everyone should bow down.  Booo!  Anyway, then Saturday we saw them play downtown and we got a bad seat but still had a great time!  Sunday we drove to the Springs to see them play and we got front row and it was amazing!  We had a blast!  Here are a couple of pictures from our weekend with 100 Monkeys!

Traci & I with Uncle Larry

With Ben J, Ben G & Jackson

with Jerad <3

Happy Holidays!

Well, it's been awhile.  I keep saying I will start blogging more and then I disappear for far too long!  I hope everyone had a nice holiday and I wish everyone a very happy 2012!  I'm excited to see what the New Year will bring.  I'm going to do my best to make it a GOOD year - so let's hope that will happen!  I was planning on making 2011 an amazing year and while it was good, I didn't do half the things I planned.  I seem to get lost in time, time goes so fast and it's easy to just flow through life and not really do anything but exist.

I'm still working as a nanny to Eleyna - she's one year old now!  Hard to believe. 

Aside from work, I went to see 100 Monkeys in August with Traci.  It was a nice time, we love the band and we met all of the guys.  The disappointing part was meeting Jackson Rathbone - he was a bit of a MEAN boy!  He was a princess and you could tell the fame has gone to his head, he thinks he's a little too cool than he is.  So, the love is gone there, but I loved the other guys, they're all so very nice!

In November, Traci & I went to Las Vegas!  We had a blast!  I  love that place a little too much,  I could go monthly and still love it!  That was my 4th time there, Traci's too!  It's so funny how it changes there each time you go, they're always building stuff, ripping stuff down ... fun city for sure!

Christmas was really nice this year.  Christmas eve we went to my Uncle Greg & Aunt Paulette's like we do every year.  It was fun, it is nice to be able to spend time with all of my cousins and family!  The kids were funny this year, especially my 3 year old little cousin Rylan - he is such a hilarious little guy!  The things that come out of his mouth ... well you can't help but to laugh at him!  (example: he was walking around and tripped over his sister - who didn't do it on purpose, she wasn't even paying attention - so he falls down, turns around slaps her in the head and says "damn brat" LOL)  Christmas Day we had my Uncle Todd, Aunt Sherry & cousin Mark over.  It was enjoyable for sure!  Ma made homemade raviolis and they turned out delicious!  We had a nice time talking, eating and lauhing!  Too bad Nick wasn't here though, he's over in Japan (he's in the Navy)

I really plan to make more entries, I will give it a shot anyway to be more of a blogger!  xoxo

Jackson Rathbone

Jackson Rathbone was born in Singapore and has lived in places ranging from Indonesia to Midland, Texas. He started out in local theatre, The Pickwick Players. In high school, he went to Interlochen Arts Academy, a private school for the arts in Michigan. After graduation, he had planned to go to the Royal Scottish Academy but went to LA to experiment with the big screen. He immediately signed onto Disney's 411. He had a leading role in the ABC Family show Beautiful People, which premiered in fall 2005 and the second half of the first season began in spring 2006.

When not busy pursuing a TV/film career, he also enjoys music, writing, singing and producing.

My favorite things about him are the crazy hats he wears and the fact that he can sing - WELL!  He is in 100 Monkeys - the band I cannot wait to go see in August!  I am so excited!  Yes, he may be from the movie "Twilight" and I know there are haters out there, but honestly, he's beautiful and talented!

Just thought I'd share a little somethin' about an up & coming hottie! 

Peace & Quiet

Right now I'm sitting here listening to nothing ... well peace & quiet.  I enjoy that sometimes but other times it's kinda eerie.  Well as you can tell by the fact that I'm posting - the world didn't end!  As if they could have put a time on it.  What a weirdo that guy was.  I mean, he did some math and called himself good but you can't put a time on things like that!  Only God knows when that will really happen.

Our end of the world party never happened because sadly, Traci's Grandpa passed away.  Death is so awful.  I felt bad for their family, it's always hard to see people you love and care about upset and sad.  But, time heals all. 

What else?  I really don't have much of anything exciting to talk about.  Eleyna is still a joy, though today she was a bit on the cranky side!  Everyone has their days, sadly today was one of mine too!  So two cranky grouch monsters hanging out together for 12+ hours was not too fun.  But what can you do? 

This past weekend was eventful.  Traci & I got together Friday night and Andy made us these great margaritas.  I'm not much of a margarita girl, but they were delicious!  They had a little taste of orange to them and for some reason lately I've been addicted to orange flavoring.  We played a couple of silly games and then called it a night.  It was nice.  I wasn't feeling well Saturday, I was supposed to go to a comedy club with them that night but instead hung out and napped and just rested.  I saw the little neighbor boys for a while and they're just so cute!  They make me laugh.  Then Sunday my mom had friends over - Adam & Tara and their kids (Connor & Emily) and Chris & Melanie and their kids (Abby & Brooklynn) it was nice.  I didn't stay very long because it's tradition that Traci and I watch the MTV movie awards together.  Lame, I know.  There are times we seem like 14 year olds again!  But the weekend was nice overall.  Now it's only Tuesday.  Sigh.  Well I guess it's practically Wednesday.  I'm looking forward to ... August.  I'm just excited to go see 100 Monkeys!  LOL  In closer future, I'm looking forward to a couple weeks from now my parents have the week off, so I'm going to bring Eleyna over to meet them!  They will fall in love with her, she's such a cutie!  Then I think I"m going to take Eleyna to get her pictures professionally taken.  She's never had them done before, her parents say they like my pictures and while that's a huge compliment, every kid needs a professional picture or two in their life prior to school pictures!  They're so fun to look back on!

Well, anyway, I guess I should go to sleep!  4:20am comes too early in the morning! 

Talk to you soon ....

3 months? Really?

I can't believe it's been three months since my last entry!  Time sure flies.  What has happened since February?  Gosh, sadly not too much.  My poor little nephew Noah was in the hospital with asthma - glad to report that he's better and at home.  I went to visit him and got to see Nellie!  Nathan was at home, I miss that little guy!  I love those kids and I don't get to see them nearly as often as I'd like. 

I have been loving my job.  Eleyna is getting so fun!  She's 5 months old now and so silly!  She makes the funniest faces and noises and she just started rolling over.  We play a lot, read, sing and now that the weather is getting nicer we enjoy time at the park on the swings!  She's the sunshine of my days Monday - Friday.  Here are a couple recent pictures of her:

How cute is she?  I just love her.

Other than work ... my cousin Amanda had her 3rd baby - a boy named Darrian.  He's pretty cute!  I can't believe she has 3 kids and she's only 22!  I can't even imagine!  I know my dad would be happy if I would've had 3 kids by the time I was 22 but wow - that's a lot of work!  She's a great mom though, so I'm happy for her! 

There's a lot of talk about the world ending this year ... and while I don't buy it - it better not!  I have a couple things coming up that I'm looking forward to far too much for the world to end yet!  In August, one of my favorite bands is coming to Denver!  100 Monkeys - they are awesome!  My friend Traci and I are psyched!  They will be playing in Denver one night and then in Colorado Springs the next night - so of course we're going to both!  They don't come here very often, so we can't pass up the opportunity!  Then in November we are going to Vegas!  I'm madly in love with Vegas.  The first time I went was for my dad's 50th birthday in 2004.  Then in 2006 Traci and I went ... we went again in 2009 and now we are going again this year!  It's so exciting!  I can't wait, there is something about the atmosphere on the strip that I just ... there's nothing quite like it and I absolutely LOVE being there!

Aside from there, there's nothing much to report.  Tomorrow (supposed judgment day) Traci & Andy are having an end of the world party so I'm looking forward to that.  It should be a lot of fun!  Last Saturday night we had game night with Todd and we had a great time! 

I will come back much sooner than 3 months from now ... until then ...

What a weekend!

I spent my weekend with Tucker & Jackson!  I have missed them and since I hadn't seen them in two weeks, I volunteered to help with the boys because the family moved!!   Their old house was cute, but their new house is gorgeous!  I love it!  It's massively  huge!  Crazy!  It was hard work, as there are many places for the boys to go and Tucker is walking very fast these days and while Jack is much slower, they go in opposite directions & it seemed like both of them were headed for trouble so they kept me on my toes!  Zzzzzz  I am glad I got to spend some time with them though and I'm also glad I got to see their mommy - Patty is such a nice person, I really like her and it was great seeing her also!

Things are still going great with my new job!  Eleyna is still making me smile every day!  I made elkloaf and elk enchiladas (the family has a lot of elk in their freezer) and I was told that I did a good job!  They seem to approve of my cooking, so that's a good thing! 

I'm really looking forward to the next few months.  I am excited about my future and I haven't said that in quite some time.  I'm hoping to find some time to go visit some friends soon!  Especially Rome' & her three little dudes Ian, Isaac & Alex ... and Eva & her little man Hunter ... and Suzie & her little men Ethan & Lane ... JoJo and her little lady Savannah ... and of course make another trip to see Shannon & my three little monkeys Nellie, Noah & Nathan!  I miss my buddies!

Until next time .... 

Loving it!!!

I have to say, I am loving my new job!  It's awesome.  I have to get up at 4:20am to be able to leave my house at 4:45am so I can get there by 5:30am when they leave for work!  It's an adjustment for sure because I'm not really much of a morning person!  But, it's all worth it when little Eleyna smiles at me when I get there!  She's the cutest little baby!  I just adore her.

 Here is Eleyna when she was first born on December 16, 2010

 Here she is ready for Santa!

 Little lovebug!

 Such a big yawn!

 So Serious!!!

 I absolutely love this one!

She's such a little sweetheart and such a joy to spend the day with!  Such a little cuddle bug and such a happy baby!  I have been working a bit on my cooking skills too!  I have a whole little menu planned out and I'm super psyched to start really being able to call myself a "good cook" I hope that day will come!

Brrr

It's so cold in Colorado!  I can't believe it's February!  I start my job on the 7th and it's really growing close!  I wanted to go visit 3 of my favorite kids before I started work, so on Feb 1st I went to visit Nellie, Noah & Nathan ... they were entertaining as usual!  Noah is addicted to Super Mario Brothers 3 on the Wii ... I remember being addicted to that on the Nintendo!  He does pretty good, it's amazing!  Nellie was pretty darn good at it too!  Pretty cute!  Here are a couple cute faces that make me smile ...

We listened to some Christmas songs and they did some acrobatic moves!  They're hilarious kids!  I couldn't love them more if I tried ...

Cotton Candy Vodka? YES, please!

I'm pretty tired and should probably already be asleep, but I wanted to add some pictures and make a little entry! Last night was a lot of fun - Traci & Andy made homemade enchiladas & homemade ice cream! It was delicious! Melissa & Eddie were there, along with Traci's brother Todd. We played Pictionary on the Wii and we played Apples to Apples! It was fun to spend time with friends laughing & having a good time! We had yummy drinks - my favorite was cotton candy Pinnacle Vodka mixed with cranberry juice & sprite. I know, it doesn't sound delicious, but it really is!



Melissa & Traci


I had already had too many vodka drinks ... oh dear


We're so happy!


Todd


Melissa & Eddie


Traci & Andy


The group picture didn't turn out very well ... I got 3 out of 6 ... could have been worse!


Murray's fake smile


It was a good night ... with great friends .... who could ask for much more?

Can you guess?

Delicioso!!!

Is he hot? Um definitely ...

Yummy this man is ... yummy!

I have a small celebrity crush on 3 out of 5 of these guys ... can you guess which ones?


Sorry, I couldn't help myself ... single girls can dream, can't they?