January Randoms

Things to note from January 2023 - I went on a glorious winter hike with Amy Burtenshaw and Melanie Arkoudas.  It was hard work but beautiful and so peaceful. 

Our neighbor Scott Parks passed away so the first two weeks in January heavily revolved around that as we took in meals, babysat Shu shu (Maylee & Ace), cleaned their house, and attended the viewing, burial and funeral.  It was a beautiful service and he will be very missed.  The kids loved him very much.  He was such a kind man that never complained about his cancer in the two years he had it.

Wyatt stuck some magnetic beads up his nose.  He had to have everything x-rayed to make sure there weren't errant beads floating around causing problems.

Marae had a cactus day at school.

I went with Boonie on his last elementary school field trip.  They went snow shoeing at Stokes Nature Center.  He's a foot taller than everyone else in his grade.  He's so cute.

We celebrated my birthday at home with the kids.  They all made me homemade gifts that made me cry.  I couldn't love them anymore.  My parents had me over for lunch on my birthday.  They made me all sorts of delicious sea food.  My mom made me Grandma's cream puff recipe she's been telling me about for years.  I like this new tradition of lunch at their house with them for my birthday.

One of my preschool dance students Zoey Ford shares a birthday with me.  We had class on our birthday!!

Allison's 40th Birthday - Las Vegas!!

For my 40th birthday I planned a mini vacation with my college roommates/bridesmaids to Las Vegas.  Kara Miller, Natalie DeStJoer, Emily Townsley and myself all met there where we didn't have a thing planned other than the hotel.  I left Wednesday evening and came back late Sunday.  We had an absolute blast being ourselves which means crazy shenanigans, dancing, eating, and a whole lot of laughing.  I love these ladies who are like sisters to me.  The trip started out by me staying the night with the Lefler's.  Laura left a card on my pillow with chocolates that I thought was really cute.

The first night we ate dinner at a fancy French restaurant right across from the Belliagio fountains.  It had outdoor heaters and was the perfect ambiance to kick off the trip.  I had the most delicious french onion soup of my life and we had a great time people watching.  The rest of that evening we spent walking around shops at Caesars Palace and dancing at any location that had loud music playing over the speakers.

The next morning we had a delicious breakfast at the Hash House.  The eggs benedict was incredible.  We then went to two museums at the Luxor - Body Worlds and The Titanic Exhibit. 

After the museums was our 'fancy' night out.  We got dressed up and went to an Elvis show.  Then we had dinner at the Aria at Bardot (another delicious French restaurant).  Lastly, we danced the night away at club jewel where they played all our favorite songs for the first hour and a half.  We concluded that was the case so all the old ladies could come dance and then head home after they got warn out after two hours.  It was PERFECTION - the whole night.

Saturday we drove out to The Valley of Fire and hiked all day.  It was warm and the red rocks were gorgeous.  We saw petroglyphs and went through a slot canyon.  The weather was a perfect 58 degrees which filled my cup bc when I cam back to Logan it was a record breaking -16 degrees.

Mason surprised us all with tickets to the Bruno Mars Concert.  It. Was. Amazing!!!  Seriously so fun.  The lasers and smoke and special effects - not to mention the perfect singing and swag going on onstage was fantastic.  As Emily said, "I sold my soul at the Bruno Mars concert."  We had a blast which was exactly as Mason had hoped.  What an amazing birthday!!

Afterwards we got to go to the Bruno Mars afterparty.  His drummer is his brother and he showed up at the afterparty along with a couple of the other members of the band.  We were an arms length away from his brother where we got to watch him play and dance some more.

It was a perfect weekend to celebrate turning 40.  I'm okay with being 40.  It feels appropriate and time.  I'm ready for this decade!!