I just returned from a 5 day vacation to Las Vegas. Our move to North Carolina happened so quickly, I have never felt like I got the closure I so desperately needed. So, when my good friend Angela mentioned going on a weekend getaway, this seemed like the perfect opportunity for me to go and properly say my goodbyes to Las Vegas. I arrived on Wednesday Feb 13th. Upon arriving, I met up with some of my favorite ladies from my old ward for lunch at my favorite restaurant, Cafe Rio. The food was just as good as I remembered and my dear friends were even better. Several of them have had babies since I left and it was so fun to see them with their new little ones. That evening I met up with a couple of my friends from my old work. I didn't get any pictures with them, but it sure was fun catching up with Christi and Olivia.On Valentine's Day, I hung out with my friend Jenna and her daughter Jocelyn. Jenna is one of my favorite people in the entire world and she was kind enough to let me and Ang stay at her house for free even though she is 7 months pregnant and is getting ready to move in a week. What a sweet girl! Angela arrived in Las Vegas on the 14th and we went out to dinner at Mandalay Bay with my friend Mindy, who was in town for a work convention. After dinner, we were able to see a press conference that Cris Angel was doing at the hotel. I have pictures, but they came out black so I have no proof. At least I can say I saw someone famous!
On Friday, Angela and I did some shopping in the morning. That night we went and walked the Strip. We watched the fountains at Bellagio, walked through the Bellagio conservatory, went to the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace and ate dinner at Cheesecake Factory. On our way back to Jenna's, we stopped at Green Valley Ranch Casino and played some poker for my Mom. Neither of us won anything, but it was a fun waste of time.
Saturday we just kind of wasted the day. We stopped by a friend's house, drove through my old neighborhood, and took a nap. That evening we got tickets to Toxic Audio at Planet Hollywood. It was a really cool show where the cast members used their voices to create instrument sounds. The show was about an hour long and involved different skits and songs.
On Sunday, we went to breakfast at IHOP and then went to church at my old ward. After church, we drove up to the LDS temple and just walked around the temple grounds for a while until Angela had to be at the airport. After I dropped her off, I went to see my old house. We are currently renting it out to a couple that was in our ward and I just wanted to take an inventory of everything. Lucky for us, they have kept the house in really good condition. It looks just how we left it, except with someone else's furniture. What a weird feeling! I flew out of Las Vegas on a red-eye and arrived home Monday morning. Dylan had spent the weekend with my parents in South Carolina. When I got home, he either didn't remember me or he was giving me payback for leaving him for so long - he wanted NOTHING to do with me. With my lack of sleep, I just started crying. My baby didn't want me! I was so sad. Luckily, he woke up loving me this morning!
As much as I miss my friends, I finally feel like we are in the right place for us at this point in our lives. It took me 6 months and a visit back to finally feel this way, but I finally feel at peace. I guess I have Angela to thank for her brilliant idea of a girl's weekend! That being said, Las Vegas will always hold a special place in my heart - it is where my little family got its start!
This is the view from the temple grounds. It sits right up next to the mountains and looks out over the entire Las Vegas valley.
Jocelyn is such a cute little firecracker! It took her a little while to warm up to me again, but by the middle of the first day, we were best friends. I love that little girl!
Tiffany is one of my dear friends and I was so excited to see her with her little Jackson. He is such a doll.
This is me with my good friend (and ex-visiting teaching companion) Heather. I was so glad that she was able to meet me for lunch.
And, last, but most certainly no least...Grandpa gave Dylan a big boy haircut while he was in SC. Doesn't he look like such a kid now?
2 comments:
Looks like you two had a lot of fun! I know how it feels to get that kind of homecoming...it's truly is like their way of payback...although you know they had a great time while you were gone!!
It was a fun trip, I'm glad we gave ourselves a little break! It may have been my idea, but you worked out all the details, so, thanks!
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