Chicks Retreat 2011

 Oh this year it was grand! Started off a little rocky though...

  That indeed would be a policeman in the rear window. We got pulled over just as we were talking about tickets and how my mom has never gotten OUT of one.  But there's a first time for everything! We were so happy, we could tell this was gonna be our lucky weekend! Cruise control set, Vegas here we come!

 First off, we hit the spa.  These ladies were headed for facials and massages. 

 Me and Deidre had serious issues with being touched by strangers and being unclothed in robes that weren't our own.  So we opted for pedi/manis.

 Our suite was so sweet, thanks Marv and Edna for hooking us up!
(That's Erica, my sis from Georgia and Deidre, my sis in Utah.)

 Erica Mom Me Mindi  Deidre and Natalie

                                            

 Anxiously awaiting Donny and Marie...

 Came within arms reach of Donny as he walked on top of the tables, that guy definitely knows how to work the crowd.  It was a fun show, completely exceeded my expectations.

 Day 2, shopping and Erica giving us her Angelina lips with some yellow Mac.

The girl can wear any color.

 Flowers at the Bellagio, my fave.

 The owner of this shop was not impressed with this display at his store front.

I thought they could of gone out and made a few bucks on the street with these moves.

Speaking of moves, what could possibly move Mindi to this?

 Sprinting like I've never seen Nat sprint before....

 Let me give you the answer in a word:

 We grew up listening to him.

We know every word by heart.

(just ask those sitting around us)

He got a standing O after every single song.

(except maybe that one song...barry please don't sing new songs we don't know)

He was FABULOUS. 

 Loved Loved Loved it!

 FACT: Now I know why I have a thing for shirts with puffy sleeves.

 Still groovin to Barry...

 Day 3, Craps. 

Nat Mind and Dee and that little man next to them had us rolling in the dough.

Oh how we shoulda walked!

 But by the time Mom got the dice, they were cold as ice.

 Ere and I walked away with just the smiles on our faces
(but my, those teeth are white!).

Had to walk through the botanical gardens at the chocolate factory to work off those samples.

 We were sitting saguaro.

 Nat and Mind, my Cali sisters.

 Blow that chocolate factory man a few kisses and you'll get a wave alright.

 Erica and Mindi taking a rest from their labors.

 Reliving a favorite childhood pastime.

 She likes to walk the store at least 50 laps before deciding on a purchase.

She reminds me of someone I know.

Good thing me and Dee like to sit and talk.

 After 6 hours at the outlets, our dogs were tired. So we fired up the hot tub in our room and squeezed all 6 of us in there.  And we spent the entire time trying to work in a good pic. 

Too many good times to remember them all. Like Erica bringing new meaning to the word chubby, skin sloughing pedi, baby masseuses, BINGO score cards gone wrong, 6 Bingo girls gone wild in that crowd, the TP incident coming out of the bathroom, Dee and Ere and the loop, chasms, the $3000 man, the dollar loan, cracks at the outlets, the young Asian surprise attack, the Barry stake out that was a bust, Nat jumping out to save us at CVS, youtube videos, sukurity, nixing the raised eyebrow pics, that winning white tooth smile, waiting patiently to eat our fries, easy seconds on the chocolate samples, and 18 solid pics.

Loved it and LOVE my mom and sisters.  

They have no idea.

Thanks Mom and Dad!!!

(love you too dad)

 Next year it's my pick...any suggestions out there?

(and no dad, we aren't going to the Australia exhibit at Balboa Park. Nice try tho!)

Sty

Poor Girl! She couldn't open her eye for 3 solid days and it was painful and uncomfortable.

Love those antibiotics. And warm compresses. And her attitude.

She endured it with hardly a complaint.

She's a keeper.

Manly

 We bought a new TV that was just bursting to get out of the box so instead of sitting around watching the game on the old one....

 Like kids in a candy store. Aren't they the nicest friends?

 And Super Manly.

 Now they can watch March Madness without the binocs.

 And Jon took his manliness to the next level when he took ownership of our remote.

 But this was the ultimate manly move:)

Love him. There is none Manlier than he and I'll tell you why.

He came home all tired last night after a very long day and just wanted to relax but I convinced him it was time to move the old TV to the playroom.  Now, he can carry it on his own (he moved it from the family room to the kitchen before I got this great idea...), but that TV weighs at least a ton and I thought it would be so nice of me to help out and lighten his load.  So after much persuasion, he consented to let me help.  He lifted his end and then I lifted mine. I held it for a maybe a milisecond before the weight of that beast bore down so heavily it took out my buff arms and then my buff thighs (which tried to catch it) as it came crashing down onto our tile floor.  It all happened in slow motion so I was literally waiting for the glass to go flying but believe it or not no toes were lost, no tile broken and the TV still works!

(once Jer got it all moved and situated by himself that is:) 

That Jer is one Manly Man. 

Me....not so manly.

Like Riding a Bike....

 I was wondering if he would be as brave this summer as he was last....and that would be a yes!

 Breezy still has a thing for that high dive!

 Jake showin his stylin jump.

 Loved going tandem with our BFF Brit.

Oh I love pool season!

St. Paddy's Day!

 We met up with two real leprechauns...still looking for that pot of gold.

 A toasty day at the ball park but Spring Training was in high gear for the Dodgers and DBacks. 

Did not know the ball park characters were allowed to drink beer on duty.  Turns out these two weren't working. They were Irish. Of course. Lots of funny things today. Chikfila and my sense of directions coming through again, then the ballpark near mishap thank heavens Jamie thought to clarify that before it was too late. Then me rolling Dax and his head right into the green bum of the man in front of us, Grady telling the stadium worker what's up, Jer sneaking off to find shade, free tix, grass parking, bulging pockets, shirtless voluptuousness that should have remained unseen, catching up, winning the yearbook bff game, BYU victory and a deliciously fun dinner to top it all off!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Dad

 Oh I love my dad.  And being able to go spend a few days with him this week was heaven.

That's him with my baby sister Mindi (Spinder).

 Cooper, Natalie, Spinder, Grandma, Grandpa, Me and Luke

 We played games, watched movies, hit the park and just soaked in being under the same roof as Dad.  I was pretty bad about taking pictures, but Jake came through with some pretty good candid shots.

Thanks Jake!

Troy and Grandpa.

Two of my favorites.

I love you Mom and Dad.

Just counting down to when I see you again!