Jeff and I decided to go on a trip just the two of us to Las Vegas! I'm not gonna lie, I've been pretty worn out lately. Between being pregnant, having two young kids, and Jeff working a lot I was so ready to take a break! Jeff and I had booked Vegas back in May and it fell through when I had to get my appendix out instead. We thought we'd try again. This time I was a little worried when, the night before we had to leave, Jeff couldn't find his passport. We literally tore the house apart at 10 at night looking for it. It was finally found in his sports jacket, but for a while I thought we weren't going...again! Anyways, we dropped off the kids that night at my parents house who watched the kids most of the time while we were gone. Don and Cindy watched them the last day. It was so nice to leave and know that my kids are in such good hands. I didn't have much of a problem missing them this time...I think I was just so in need of a holiday away, as well as some ME time and husband time.
We stayed at the Venetian, which was beautiful. It had a heated pool and hot tub that we got to enjoy, and a salon where I got a mani pedi. So relaxing! We did lots of shopping, with the fashion show mall right across from us. Of course I had to buy something to give the kids when we got home. There was so much to do and explore, we never ran out of things to do. In fact, our list was a lot longer than the time we had. Jeff wanted to do the indoor skydiving, and I planned on doing it with him until I realized I couldn't because I was pregnant! But we still decided to have Jeff go and it was pretty entertaining to watch him as well. We had lots of fun eating out, although we realized the prices have sure gone up on the strip, so it was always pretty pricy to eat. We ate at some really delicious Italian places though, my favorite.
One day, we took an Uber to a bowling alley off the strip and were happy to see the normal prices. It was actually a really fun day. All in one place we did a couple games of bowling, went to a movie, played in the arcade (and got prizes for the kids with our tokens!), and ate some lunch. Jeff and I obviously don't gamble, but we decided to put 5 dollars in the penny slots, just to prove that gambling is not a good idea. We ended up winning 100 dollars with it. We calculated it and it meant our whole day of food and activities were free! We sure didn't learn our lesson.
We also booked 2 shows to see - Tape Face and Michael Jackson Cirque du Solei. They were both really good, but I was surprisingly more impressed with Tape Face. It may have made it even more fun that Jeff was one of people who got picked to help him up on stage!
A lot of our other time was spent just wandering the strip, there is so much to do and see! And shopping galore. We also took a ride in the gondola at our hotel, since we had done the real thing in Italy, we had to experience it again. And the gelato in the Venetian was quite delicious as well.
Well, we spent 4 whole days there and had a fabulous time! The weather was not too hot, but enough that you didn't always need a jacket. It was nice to get away from the snow at home. And so nice to relax and spend some time with Jeff. That time is so limited now, so I always cherish any date time together. Most of all, when we came home, I was rejuvenated and ready to put my energy into being a good mom again! Especially before we have another baby. When we got home, Deacon clung to me like crazy. He hardly let me put him down all night! He also wouldn't go to Jeff. He must've missed me lots...and it took him almost a week to get back to normal. Bentley was great with us being gone though. I think she just had a blast with her grandparents!!
Here's a few pics shoveling the snow before we left. Deacon thinks it's the coolest thing ever, and Bentley loves to use her shovel.
Most of my side of the family was away for Thanksgiving, so we spent the Monday with the Ady's. We had a delicious turkey dinner! Bentley and I even made turkey hats for everyone to make it more festive! My parents are doing a turkey dinner this Sunday to make up for it.
When Halloween starting creeping up on us it brought with it lots of parties and fun activities. As is tradition, we carved pumpkins with the Bennett's. We went to their house, ordered some food, and started gutting and carving pumpkins. The kids helped a little bit with digging the guts out, and helped Jeff decide what to carve for his pumpkin and watched him. The best part, though, is always when it's all done. We light up the pumpkins and bring the kids in. Hearing their "oohs and ahhs" is so fun!!
Bentley decided to be Minnie Mouse, but was also a witch and Rapunzel sometimes. Bentley and I decided Deacon should be a tiger because he's really good at saying "roar!" and it's a warm costume! They dressed up for a Potluck the Gallups had, Play School, Preschool, the trunk or treat, and of course trick or treating Halloween night. The trunk or treat turned out to be super fun! Bentley was so into it, filling up her bucket of candy, and Deacon was just thrilled with all the pumpkins and cool things he saw. He loved wearing a costume too. Luckily we had these other events to go to because on Halloween night Bentley and I were both pretty sick with a bad cold and weren't really in the mood for trick or treating. We went over to my parents house first and had some soup and buns (so delicious, we all loved that!), then put on our costumes and got the first candy bag from my parents. Then we drove over the Jeff's parents house and met up with Scott and Kellie so the kids could go around the block together. As I figured would happen, Bentley didn't last very long since she wasn't feeling well and it was really cold! I took her back early and we stayed at the Ady's handing out candy. Jeff took Deacon around longer and he loved it, up until he got scared of some decoration. After that we went home pretty early and got some much needed rest!
Christina Parker also took some cute photos of the kids in their costume using a green screen.
To finish off the summer, Jeff and I took the kids to Granary Road, and Kayben Farms, which were both such fun places to play and pet animals. The kids had a blast, especially since we were all together as a family.
I had to post this picture...we were super nervous when the donkey snatched Deacon's arm!! We pulled it out and luckily there wasn't any damage, but we were pretty scared and so was Deacon!
We also went to the Tyrell Museum in Drumheller one Saturday for Breanne Gallup's little girl Addie's birthday party.
We visited the zoo, and went to the Corn Maze with Lena and Katherine before it started to snow.
Bentley finished up soccer with all her friends. Thanks to Lena and Jennie for coaching and putting this together!! And to Janine for making the adorable shirts. It was so fun to have this in the field in Legacy right near our house. We walked there each day and got to enjoy our own new community.
Grandpa turned 90!! We threw him a surprise party!
And Jeff's Grandpa turned 85! Another party!
We had some family adventures hiking and going out for ice cream in Bragg Creek.
Bentley and Deacon have been getting along very well for the most part. They can be so cute together!!
And more parties and friends...
I planned a mother daughter girls night where we had foot baths, painted nails, let the girls do our makeup, and ate chocolate fondue. It was seriously such a blast! There were lots of laughs!! Bentley was so excited, she helped me put all the fruit on the tray in quite an organized fashion, and then was excited it was girls only! I feel like I give a lot of my attention to Deacon, as he's pretty needy, so I love my girl time with her. She couldn't stop talking about it afterwards and how fun it was!
I also took her to the play called "Pinkalicious" at the Story Book Theater downtown. We got all dressed up in pink, watched the play, and bought a pink cupcake. The play was an hour long and had her attention the entire time. She thought it was so fun and afterwards kept saying "remember when we saw pinkalicious!" So much fun!
Boy this is getting long...it sure looks like we've been having a blast! For the most part we have, but there has been some sickness that always comes when it starts getting cold. The time we were all throwing up was when Jeff was away on a business trip. It was probably the hardest week. I have no idea how I made it through, but somehow I did. It's so lovely throwing up with the kids beside you laughing! Needless to say, when Jeff came home we were all so excited!!
